What are District of Columbia Property Records?
District of Columbia property records are legal documents containing details about real property within state limits. Washington DC Property records provide information on land, homes, and commercial properties, including titles, property deeds, mortgages, property ownership, property taxes, valuations, and land and zoning records. Persons seeking information concerning the state property should contact the District of Columbia Office of Public Records Department, where these records are compiled.
Are District of Columbia Property Records Public?
Yes, property records are public documents in the District of Columbia. Individuals needing property information must book an appointment with the District of Columbia Archives via an email at archives@dc.gov or visit the Office between Tuesday and Thursday, 9 am to 12 pm at
District of Columbia Archives,
441 4th Street, NW.
Phone: (202) 671-1105
Fax: (202) 727-6076
Property records are available for public viewing through government agencies or third-party aggregate websites. Accessing property records through third-party sites is typically straightforward, and the records are not geographically limited. However, because the sites are not government-affiliated and run independently, the information contained in the records may vary. Searching parties should include the following information to obtain complete property records:
- The property’s exact location.
- The property owner’s details.
What Information is Included in District of Columbia Property Records
The information included in District of Columbia property records typically differs by record type. For example, individuals seeking property tax records should expect to retrieve the following information:
- Property owners’ names
- Property details (SSL, premise address, balance)
- General details including use code, neighborhood, sub-neighbourhood, ward, appraiser, mailing address, sales information (instrument number, record date, and sales, type, code, and price
- Assessment including assessment information (tax type and class, land area and appraiser) and assessment values (half, class, land value, building value, assessment value, total taxable, and tax relief)
- Tax information including tax summary (half, tax type, and balance), tax history (description, amount, and balance), billing history (tax issued and type), and payment history (deposit date, payment type, status, and payment amount)
- Maps
Where to Search District of Columbia Public Property Records
Requesters can search for D.C. public property records at the State Archives Office or Recorder of Deeds office. All public property records searches at the Archives office are done by appointment. To schedule an appointment, inquirer's may send an email to archives@dc.gov or call (202) 671-1105.
How to Do a Property Records Search in District of Columbia
Washington DC Property records are available to interested members at the State Recorder of Deeds office. Any individual seeking property records must provide specific information required to facilitate the search such as the record holder’s first and last name and property location. To access property records, inquirer's must visit the Office to conduct searches by themselves. The Office is located at:
District of Columbia Government
Recorder of Deeds
1101 4th Street, SW, 5th Floor
Washington, DC 20024
Phone: (202) 727-5374
Alternatively, interested persons can hire local title companies or attorneys familiar with DC land records to conduct property records searches on their behalf.
How to Find the Owner of a Washington DC Property Using Public Records
The District of Columbia Recorder of Deeds has a database that traces transfers of property ownership from 1921 to the present. Individuals seeking information about the property owner must do their own research. To do this, they should visit the District of Columbia Recorder of Deeds office in person, hire an attorney or a local title agency accustomed to property records to research on their behalf. Inquirer's should have the grantor and/or grantee’s name and the transaction year to facilitate the record search..
What are District of Columbia Property Records Used For?
District of Columbia property records provide property records containing state property details. Individuals or agencies can use Washington DC property records for different reasons, including:
- To retrieve property sale information
- Settlement of disputes between landowners
- Retrieving pre-purchase information
- Learn about a property's historic value
How to Find District of Columbia Property Tax Records
Property tax records in the District of Columbia are records of all the taxes on properties owned by individuals or other legal entities and corporations. The D.C. Office of Tax and Revenue (OTR) provides online access to property tax information. However, individuals can still find property tax records manually at the OTR Customer Service Center located at:
Customer Service Center
1101 4th Street, SW, Suite W270
Washington, DC 20024
Phone: (202) 727-4TAX (727-4829)
Fax: (202) 442-6890
What to Do When You Can’t Find Property Records in the District of Columbia
Occasionally, inquirers might experience difficulty finding property records in the District of Columbia. This may be because the property was not recorded with a District’s Recorder of Deeds office. In such a case, the individual seeking a property record can ask the property owner to contact the mortgage companies to see if they are holding the original deeds of the property. Also, the property owner can contact their lawyers to inquire if the property deed was placed with their Wills. Lastly, the individual may consider using alternative third-party sites to conduct a search. The individual will be required to provide the property owner's first and last name or the property location in the search boxes available on the website.
