Franklin County Property Records

Franklin County Property Search

Franklin County property records refer to legal documents that contain information about a piece of real property in Franklin County, Ohio. Generally, requestors who obtain property records can expect to find information such as the property owner’s name, property tax assessment, property boundaries, legal description, sale and transfer history, and any liens on the property.

The County Recorder’s Office is the record custodian of property records in Franklin County. The Office is responsible for recording, maintaining, and dispensing official records of all real property transactions that occur within the county, including deeds, mortgages, liens, and other related documents. In addition to the Recorder’s Office, the Treasurer’s Office and the County Auditor’s Office also maintain certain property-related records, such as tax payments, tax delinquency, and property assessment records. The Recorder’s office disseminates these records, along with other Franklin County Public Records, in keeping with Ohio’s public record laws.

A Franklin County property records search can be useful for:

• Researching the history or chain of ownership of a particular property
• Doing due diligence before purchasing a property
• Determining the boundaries and legal descriptions of a property
• Checking for liens or encumbrances on a property
• Determining the value of real estate property.

Are Franklin County Property Records Public?

According to Ohio Revised Code 317.42, property documents recorded in the Recorder’s Office are public records and are open to the inspection of the public. As such, any member of the public can access property records in Franklin County to either view or make copies.

However, under some circumstances, property record information may be deemed confidential or restricted from public disclosure. For example, information that would constitute an invasion of personal privacy may be redacted from property records to protect the privacy of individuals. Additionally, information related to ongoing legal proceedings, trade secrets, and information that could jeopardize legal proceedings may be restricted from public disclosure.

What Do Franklin County Property Records Contain?

A typical property record in Franklin County may contain several types of documents, including:

• Property Deeds: Deeds are legal documents that transfer ownership of real property from one person to another. They typically include the names of the buyer and seller, a legal description of the property, and the sale price or transfer condition.
• Mortgages: Mortgages are documents that provide security for a loan made to purchase a property. A mortgage document will contain the names of the borrower and lender, the loan amount, and the terms of the loan.
• Liens: Liens are legal claims against a property that are used to secure payment of a debt. They can include tax liens or judgment liens. Liens usually include the name of the lienholder, the amount of the debt, and the date the lien was filed.
• Easements: Easements are legal agreements that allow someone else to use a portion of a property for a specific purpose. It could be utility easements, driveway easements, or access easements. Easements typically include the easement's location and the agreement's terms.
• Property tax records: Property tax records provide information about the amount of property tax owed on a property as well as any payments that have been made. They will contain the property owner's name and address, the tax assessment, and the amount of tax owed.
• Building permits: Building permits provide information about any changes or improvements made to a property. They typically include the name of the property owner, the name of the contractor, the type of work being done, and the cost of the project.

All these documents are meant to provide a comprehensive picture of the history and current status of a property.

Where to Perform a Franklin County Property Lookup

Interested individuals can lookup property records in Franklin County, and this may be done through the three basic options available to the public.

1. The Franklin County Recorder’s online database of property records: This database can be accessed remotely, and searches can be made to retrieve property documents and information. It is available 24/7, and one only requires a device connected to the internet to lookup the database.
   A search in the database typically involves using the document title, recorded dates, parcel number, legal descriptions, or name of the property owner as the search criteria. Inspection of property records in the database is free, but printing or downloading them may attract a fee, and fees are set in accordance with Ohio Revised Code Section 317.32. Additionally, the database for certain property-related records provided by the Franklin County Auditor’s Office and the Franklin County Treasurer’s Office could be used to search and lookup property information in Franklin County.
2. In-person search: Members of the public can also visit the Franklin County Recorder’s office in person to access property records. With this option, inquirers have the benefit of being able to obtain certified copies of property documents. Requesting individuals are expected to visit Monday through Friday, during work hours, except on holidays.
   Wait times may vary depending on the volume of requests and the complexity of the information being sought. Fees may apply for printing and certified copies of documents. The title of the document, name of the property owner, legal description, or address of the property are some of the information an inquirer is expected to supply to the Recorder’s Office to facilitate the search.
   Franklin County Recorder
   373 South High Street, 18th Floor
   Columbus, OH 43215-6310
3. Mail Requests: Written request through U.S. mail to the County Recorder’s Office for certified copies of property documents. Written requests must include information about the property, such as the name of the property owner, the title of the document, the parcel number or legal description of the property, and the applicable fee.

Franklin County Recorder
373 South High Street, 18th Floor
Columbus, OH 43215-6310

Alternatively, property records requests can be made on the Recorder’s Office website by filing a form, providing property information, and paying the necessary fees to receive the property documents via mail.

The amount of time it takes to perform a property record lookup depends on the method used and the complexity of the information sought. Online searches on the database are typically the quickest and easiest option and can be completed within a few minutes. In-person searches may take longer depending on the number of records being requested.

To facilitate a property record lookup, inquirers should have as much information as possible about the property, such as the property address, owner's name, parcel number, or legal description. This will help to ensure that the correct records are located and that the information provided is accurate.

How to Perform a Property Owner Lookup in Franklin County

Property owner records are public information and can be accessed by anyone without restriction. However, one must be able to provide the necessary information, like the parcel number or address of the property, to facilitate the search of property ownership records.

Once this information is available, inquirers can use it to retrieve property ownership records from the online database provided by the County Recorder’s Office or from the other Franklin County offices offering property-related information on their websites.

Alternatively, individuals can visit the Franklin County Recorder’s Office in person to use the parcel number or legal description of a property to access property ownership information.

How to Find Franklin County Property Records Online

All Franklin County property documents indexed by the County Recorder’s Office are publicly available to be viewed through the online records database maintained by the Recorder’s Office. Additionally, all property records connected to the County Auditor’s Office are available online and can be inspected via the property record database maintained by the Franklin County Auditor’s Office. Similarly, one can view certain property information on the records database maintained by the Franklin County Treasurer’s Office.

Alternatively, one may choose to use any available third-party aggregate database to access Franklin County property records. These databases typically gather information from multiple sources and provide users with access to a wider range of data that may not be available through a single source. One can find a third-party property records database by simply searching online.

When using third-party sites, fees and required information may vary depending on the specific service being used. Some sites may offer basic information for free, while more detailed reports or historical data may require a fee. Required information may include the property address, owner's name, or parcel number. While these sites may provide useful information, they are not affiliated with the Franklin County official record custodians. Thus, these sources may not provide the most up-to-date or accurate information.

How to Find Property Owner by Address for Free

The public property records database maintained by the Franklin County Recorder’s Office is free to use, and one can use it to uncover a property owner's information. On the website, perform a property search with the address of the property under the “legal description” search criteria. Additionally, one may find a property owner’s name and other identifying details by searching for an address on the Franklin County Auditor’s address search page.

Alternatively, inquirers can make in-person visits to the County Recorder’s office and use the real property address as the search criteria to lookup a property owner’s information.

Franklin County Property Tax Lookup

The Franklin County Treasurer’s Office collects and distributes property taxes in Franklin County. When property owners pay their property taxes, the Treasurer's office records the payment and updates the tax records for that property. These records are used to track the payment of property taxes, and they are public records. This means that individuals who wish to conduct a property tax lookup in Franklin County may do so. The following are the available ways to conduct a property tax lookup in Franklin County:

1. In-person property tax lookup at the County Treasurer’s Office: The County Treasurer’s Office is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 A.M. - 5:00 P.M., except on holidays. Inquirers are expected to provide the property owner's name, parcel number, or street address to facilitate the lookup. In-person requests should be made at:
   Franklin County Treasurer
   373 South High Street, 17th Floor
   Columbus, OH 43215-6306
   Phone: (614) 525-3438
2. Property tax bill records database search for remote property tax lookups: Individuals can view their property tax bills on the property records database available through the County Treasurer’s office. One can search by name, street address, or parcel ID on the search tool to retrieve property tax records. The tool is free to use, and records are almost instantly retrieved.
3. Property tax records request form: Alternatively, individuals who wish to lookup a tax record may fill out the property tax information request form on the County Treasurer’s website to receive the property tax information being sought via mail or e-mail.

A property tax lookup in Franklin County may be conducted for different purposes or situations, such as:

• When a property owner wants to confirm that they are paying the correct amount of property tax.
• When potential homebuyers want to estimate their future property tax payments.
• When a homeowner believes their property has been overvalued and wants to appeal their property tax assessment.
• When a property owner wants to know the tax status of their property before selling or refinancing.

How to Find Franklin County Property Appraiser

Individuals in Franklin County can find property appraisers through the Appraisal Institute of Ohio. On the website, click on “find an appraiser” to visit the find an appraiser directory. On the appraiser search tool, search for an appraiser based on designation, county, chapter, and specialty. The online directory offers inquirers the opportunity to search for appraisers according to their specific appraisal needs.

• A property appraisal is a valuable tool for determining the fair market value of a property for tax, commercial, or insurance purposes.
• Property appraisers offer a comprehensive range of services, such as analyzing local real estate trends, comparable sales data, and property features to determine the market value of a property.
• These professionals also assess the condition of a property to identify any necessary repairs or upgrades and draft written reports on the property valuation.

Franklin County Property Assessor

The Franklin County Assessors assess the value of all taxable properties in the county for the Franklin County Auditor's Office. They offer services like determining market value, updating property records, evaluating property tax exemptions, and responding to taxpayer inquiries.

To contact a Franklin County property assessor, reach out in person or in writing to the County Auditor’s Office at:

Franklin County Auditor
373 South High Street, 21st Floor
Columbus, OH 43215
Email: auditorstinziano@franklincountyohio.gov
Phone: (614) 525-HOME (4663)