County · code 12027
DeSoto CountyFlorida
DeSoto County is a county in Florida, with its seat in Arcadia, formed in 1887.
- Founded1887
- County seatArcadia
- Named forHernando de Soto
- Land area637 sq mi + 2.4 sq mi water
- Population33,976 2020 Census
- Parcels mapped20,129 checked 14 October 2026
Where it is
DeSoto on the map of Florida
Florida has 67 counties and county equivalents, each with its own records office. Shapes with a page are links.
History
Formed in 1887 from Manatee County
An old deed may name a county that no longer exists, or a boundary that has since moved.
DeSoto County was created from Manatee County on May 19, 1887, and named after Hernando de Soto. On April 23, 1921, DeSoto County lost territory to the creation of Charlotte, Glades, Hardee, and Highlands counties.
- 1887DeSoto County created De Soto created from Manatee. · Fla. Laws 1887, 1st sess., ch. 3770, secs. 1-3/pp. 151-152
- 1921Lost territory De Soto lost to creation of Charlotte, Glades, Hardee, and Highlands. · Fla. Laws 1921, 18th sess., gen., ch. 8513, pp. 279-281
Land and parcels
What the maps cover in DeSoto
Who publishes each layer, how good it is, and when we last checked.
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Parcels Good enough
Lot lines and tax-map numbers for 20,129 parcels. Drawn for tax purposes: usually within a few feet of a survey, but not a survey.
checked 14 October 2026 -
Address points Missing
No public address points layer found for DeSoto County yet.
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Buildings Reference
Roof outlines traced from aerial imagery from FEMA Response Geospatial Office with Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL). Good for seeing what is on a lot; not accurate enough to set a fence from.
checked 18 October 2026
- Official
- from the office that keeps the record
- Good enough
- a reliable statewide or national copy
- Fallback
- a guide only; check the official record
- Missing
- nothing public found yet
People and land
DeSoto by the Census
Source: US Census Bureau, 2020 Census; US Census Bureau, 2020 Gazetteer Files. Not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.
Rules and offices
Who to ask before you build, dig or sell
Official county pages only. We link to them; we do not copy them, because they change.
Inside a city or town, permits usually come from that city rather than the county.
Permits
- Health department: septic and well
Landfill & Environmental Services Department
- General Permit FAQs
- Permit Exemption FAQs
Zoning and code
GIS and maps
County government
- County government
The official website of DeSoto County.
See your own lot on these maps
Open DeSoto County on Parcel Chart's free map and click your parcel. Save it with a free account; the full record of your place (site map, projects, documents) is Pro, in early access.
Questions
Common questions about DeSoto County
- When was DeSoto County founded?
- DeSoto County was founded in 1887, formed from Manatee County, and named after Hernando de Soto.
- What is the county seat of DeSoto County?
- The county seat of DeSoto County is Arcadia.
- Is there an online parcel map for DeSoto County?
- Yes. A public source publishes a parcel map of 20,129 parcels, rated good enough here. You can click any parcel on it in Parcel Chart's free map, no sign-in needed.
- Has DeSoto County's boundary or name changed?
- DeSoto County was created in 1887 from Manatee County. Since then the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries records 1 later change, chiefly involving Charlotte County, Glades County and Hardee County.
- Who issues building permits in DeSoto County?
- The county's page on building permits: General Permit FAQs. Inside a city or town, ask that city first.
- Who issues septic and well permits in DeSoto County?
- The county's page on septic systems and wells: Landfill & Environmental Services Department.
- Is my lot in a flood zone?
- We do not have flood maps for DeSoto County yet. Look up the address on FEMA's Flood Map Service Center, which shows the effective flood map for any lot.
Nearby