Find Des Moines Property Records
Des Moines property records are maintained by King County, which handles all parcel data, ownership information, assessed values, and recorded instruments for properties within Des Moines. The King County Assessor is the primary office for valuations and parcel details, while the King County Recorder holds deed filings, liens, and mortgages affecting Des Moines real estate. Free online search tools from King County let you look up Des Moines property records at any time, or you can visit county offices in person for assistance.
Des Moines Overview
Des Moines Property Records Overview
Des Moines sits entirely within King County, meaning all property records for city parcels are held by King County offices. The King County Assessor is required by state law to value all taxable parcels at 100% of true and fair market value as of January 1 each year, as set out in RCW 84.40.020. Those values determine the property tax bills sent to Des Moines property owners each spring and are publicly available for anyone to look up.
Washington's Public Records Act under Chapter 42.56 RCW makes property assessment records open to the public. You don't need a specific reason to search Des Moines parcel data. Ownership names, assessed values, parcel characteristics, and recorded documents are all available through King County's free online tools.
The City of Des Moines maintains its own Community Development section, which handles building permits, planning reviews, and property profiles at the city level. The city's website also includes a GIS mapping tool and a public records request portal. These local records are separate from county assessment data but are often useful together when researching a specific property.
King County Assessor for Des Moines Property Records
The King County Assessor maintains assessment data, parcel maps, ownership records, and sales history for every taxable parcel in Des Moines. Use the eReal Property tool at blue.kingcounty.com to search by street address or parcel number. Results show the current owner of record, assessed land and improvement values, building details, lot size, year built, and sales history. No account is needed and the tool is free.
The assessor's portal at kingcounty.gov/en/dept/assessor also provides access to exemption programs for qualifying Des Moines property owners. Seniors, disabled veterans, and persons with qualifying disabilities may be eligible to reduce their property tax liability through programs the assessor administers under state law. If you think you may qualify, the assessor's staff can help confirm eligibility and walk you through the process. Assessment rolls and property characteristics are public records available for inspection.
Disputes over the assessed value of a Des Moines parcel go to the King County Board of Equalization, not the assessor's office. Appeals must be filed by a set deadline each year, so it is important to check the calendar if you plan to contest a valuation. The King County GIS Open Data Portal also provides downloadable parcel files, zoning layers, and aerial imagery for Des Moines at no charge.
The King County Assessor property search portal is shown here:
Use the King County eReal Property search to look up any Des Moines parcel by address or parcel number.
The eReal Property tool shows ownership, assessed values, and parcel characteristics for all Des Moines properties in King County.
Recording Des Moines Property Documents
All deeds, mortgages, liens, easements, and other instruments affecting Des Moines real estate must be recorded with the King County Recorder. Under RCW 65.08.070, a conveyance of real property is not valid against a later bona fide purchaser unless it has been recorded. Recording gives legal notice to anyone who later searches the public record for that parcel.
The King County Recorder accepts documents in person at the King County Administration Building or through eRecording services. Documents must meet formatting requirements under RCW 65.04.045, including margin standards, legible text, and a completed recording cover sheet. Under RCW 36.22.010, the county auditor acts as recording officer and must record qualifying documents without delay after the fee is paid.
Before any deed or transfer document can be recorded, the King County Treasurer must confirm that property taxes on the Des Moines parcel are current. Title companies handle this step automatically during standard closings. If you are managing a transfer on your own, confirm tax status with the treasurer before submitting documents to the recorder.
Des Moines Property Tax and Fees
Des Moines property owners pay taxes to several taxing districts at once. These include King County, the City of Des Moines, local school districts, fire districts, library districts, and other special purpose districts. Each district certifies its levy rate, and those rates are applied together to the assessed value of each parcel to produce the annual tax bill. The total combined rate varies by parcel depending on which districts apply.
King County property taxes are due in two installments. First half is due April 30 and second half is due October 31. Late payments accrue interest and penalties. The King County Treasurer handles all billing, collection, and delinquency proceedings for Des Moines parcels. Property owners can look up their current balance and payment status through the King County Treasurer's online portal.
Real estate excise tax applies when Des Moines property changes hands. Washington uses a graduated REET rate under RCW 82.45, where higher-priced transactions carry a higher rate. The tax is typically collected at closing and paid to the King County Treasurer before the deed is recorded. The Washington Department of Revenue publishes a county assessor and treasurer directory at dor.wa.gov, which is a good resource for finding office contacts and understanding state tax rules.
The Des Moines official website is shown here:
The City of Des Moines provides access to property profiles, building permits, and the city's GIS mapping tool for local land use research.
The city's Community Development and Planning Division pages offer building permit histories and property profiles for Des Moines parcels.
Searching Des Moines Property Records
The fastest way to find Des Moines property data is the King County eReal Property search at blue.kingcounty.com. Enter the street address and you get immediate results: owner name, parcel number, legal description, assessed values, building details, and prior sales. No account is needed. This tool is free and works at any time of day.
For deed copies and other recorded documents, use the King County Recorder's document search. You can search by grantor or grantee name, parcel number, or document type. Documents recorded after a certain date are available as scanned images online. Older records may need a formal public records request or an in-person visit to the King County Archives.
The Washington State Digital Archives at digitalarchives.wa.gov holds historical property records for Des Moines and surrounding areas, including early deeds, mortgage records, and tax assessment cards. These are useful for chain-of-title research or tracing long-term ownership history going back several decades.
The Des Moines city website also includes a property profiles tool and a GIS mapping section under Community Development. These local resources show zoning information, land use designations, and permit histories that can be valuable alongside the county assessor data.
Note: Chapter 36.21 RCW establishes the county assessor's responsibility to maintain public assessment records, confirming that parcel data is a legal right of access, not a courtesy.
King County Property Records
All Des Moines property records are maintained by King County. The county assessor, recorder, and treasurer each hold separate records related to Des Moines parcels. Visit the King County property records page for complete detail on search tools, office locations, recording requirements, and county-wide resources.
Nearby Cities
These nearby cities file property records through King County and Pierce County offices.