Bremerton Property Records
Bremerton property records are held by Kitsap County, which maintains all parcel data, ownership information, and deed filings for properties within city limits. The Kitsap County Assessor is the primary office for valuation and parcel details, while the Kitsap County Auditor handles recorded documents like deeds, mortgages, and liens. You can search Bremerton property records online using the county's free public tools or visit the office in Port Orchard for in-person requests.
Bremerton Overview
Bremerton Property Records Overview
All property records for Bremerton parcels are managed through Kitsap County. The city sits entirely within Kitsap County, so there is no split jurisdiction to worry about. The Kitsap County Assessor values every taxable parcel at 100% of true and fair market value as of January 1 each year, as required under RCW 84.40.020. Those values are used to set levy rates and calculate property taxes owed each year.
Property records in Washington are public by law. Under Chapter 42.56 RCW, the Public Records Act gives anyone the right to request and inspect government records, including property assessments, ownership data, and recorded documents. This means you don't need a specific reason to look up Bremerton parcel data. The online tools provided by Kitsap County make that process fast and free.
The assessor's parcel search lets you look up any Bremerton address and see the current owner of record, the legal description, assessed land and improvement values, lot size, building characteristics, and sales history. Assessment rolls and property characteristics are public records available for inspection at any time.
The City of Bremerton maintains its own permit and planning records separately from the county assessor. If you need building permits, zoning information, or municipal code data, the city's website is the right starting point. Those city-level records complement the assessment and deed data held at the county level.
Kitsap County Assessor for Bremerton Property Records
The Kitsap County Assessor is the main source for Bremerton property records. The office is located at 619 Division Street in Port Orchard and is open Monday through Thursday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and Friday from 9:00 a.m. to noon. You can reach the assessor by phone at 360.337.5777 or by email at assessor@kitsap.gov. A secure document drop box is available after hours at the main entrance of the Administration Building on Division Street.
The assessor's primary role is to value all real and personal property for tax purposes. State law requires that all taxable property be assessed at 100% of market value. Bremerton property owners can search parcel details, view assessment books, and download GIS data through the county's online tools at kitsap.gov/assessor. Search by street address or parcel number to find the current valuation, ownership name, and property characteristics for any Bremerton parcel.
Washington State law requires that property be physically inspected at least once every six years, with annual review and updates based on sales analysis. The Kitsap County Assessor also administers tax relief programs for qualifying property owners. Seniors, disabled persons, and agricultural open space owners may reduce their tax burden through programs run by the assessor's office. Appeals of assessed value can be filed with the Kitsap County Board of Equalization, not the assessor directly.
The Bremerton city website and the Kitsap County Assessor portal are shown below:
The Bremerton official website provides links to city permits, zoning, and planning information that complement county property data.
The city's permitting and inspections section connects to Bremerton's local development records, which can be useful alongside county parcel data.
Recording Bremerton Property Documents
Deeds, mortgages, liens, easements, and other instruments affecting Bremerton real estate are recorded with the Kitsap County Auditor. The auditor's office is located in Port Orchard and handles recording for all property transactions within the county. Under RCW 65.08.070, a conveyance of real property is not effective against a subsequent bona fide purchaser unless it is recorded. Recording creates public notice to all parties.
The Kitsap County Auditor handles elections, financial reporting, licensing, and property recording. You can look up recorded property documents through the auditor's document search tool at kitsapgov.com/auditor. Documents must meet state formatting standards under RCW 65.04.045, including margin and legibility requirements, and must include a completed cover sheet. The auditor serves as the recording officer under RCW 36.22.010 and must record qualifying documents promptly upon payment of the required fee.
Before any deed or transfer document can be recorded, the county treasurer must confirm that property taxes are current. This step happens automatically in closings handled by title companies, but it is worth knowing if you are managing a transfer on your own.
The Kitsap County Assessor's online property search is shown here:
You can view the Kitsap County Assessor property search to find parcel details, assessed values, and ownership records for any Bremerton address.
The assessor's tool lets you search by address or parcel number and view full valuation and ownership data for Bremerton properties.
Note: The Kitsap County Auditor also provides veterans' records services and access to the Washington State Archives for historical documents.
Bremerton Property Tax Information
Bremerton property owners pay taxes to multiple taxing districts. These include Kitsap County, the City of Bremerton, local school districts, fire districts, library districts, and other special purpose districts. Each district sets its own levy rate. Those rates are applied to the assessed value of your parcel to produce the annual tax bill.
Property taxes in Kitsap County are due in two installments. First half payments are due April 30 and second half payments are due October 31. Late payments will accrue interest and penalties. The Kitsap County Treasurer handles billing and collection for all Bremerton parcels. If taxes go unpaid, the treasurer manages delinquency proceedings under state law.
Real estate excise tax, known as REET, is due when property changes hands in Bremerton. Washington uses a graduated rate structure under RCW 82.45, meaning higher-value sales are taxed at a higher rate. The tax is typically collected at closing and paid to the county treasurer before the deed is recorded.
The Washington Department of Revenue maintains a directory of all county assessor and treasurer websites at dor.wa.gov. This is useful if you need to reach specific Kitsap County offices or look up statewide property tax rules.
The Washington State Digital Archives at digitalarchives.wa.gov holds historical property records including early deeds, mortgage records, and land transaction documents for the Bremerton area. These records are useful for chain-of-title research or tracing long-term ownership history.
Searching Bremerton Property Records Online
The fastest way to find a Bremerton property record is through the Kitsap County Assessor's online portal. Enter the street address and you get immediate results showing the current owner, parcel number, legal description, assessed land and improvement values, building square footage, lot size, year built, and prior sales. The tool is free and does not require you to create an account or provide a reason for your search.
For recorded documents like deeds and liens, use the Kitsap County Auditor's document search. You can search by grantor or grantee name, parcel number, or document type. Documents recorded after a certain cutoff date are available as scanned images online. Older records may require a visit to the auditor's office or a formal records request.
The Kitsap County Assessor also provides GIS maps, plat searches, assessment books, and data download options for more detailed research. These tools are linked from the assessor's main page at kitsap.gov/assessor. Chapter 36.21 RCW governs the county assessor's role and confirms that assessment records are open public records.
Key Bremerton property records sources include:
- Kitsap County Assessor parcel search at kitsap.gov/assessor
- Kitsap County Auditor document search at kitsapgov.com/auditor
- Washington State Digital Archives at digitalarchives.wa.gov
- Washington DOR county assessor directory at dor.wa.gov
- City of Bremerton permits and planning at bremertonwa.gov
Kitsap County Property Records
All Bremerton property records are held by Kitsap County. The county assessor, auditor, and treasurer each maintain separate records related to Bremerton parcels. Visit the Kitsap County property records page for full detail on search tools, office locations, recording fees, and county-wide resources.
Nearby Cities
These nearby cities also file property records through Washington county offices.