University Place Property Records
University Place property records are maintained by Pierce County, which serves as the primary government agency for all property record functions within the city. The Pierce County Assessor-Treasurer holds ownership data, assessed values, tax accounts, and parcel information for every University Place property. Recorded deeds and other instruments go to the Pierce County Auditor. Both offices are accessible online, and most University Place property record searches can be done from the county's e-PIP portal without any account or fee.
University Place Overview
University Place Property Records Overview
University Place is an incorporated city in Pierce County, located along the Puget Sound shoreline west of Tacoma. While it has its own city government, property records are maintained at the county level. The Pierce County Assessor-Treasurer holds assessment data, ownership records, and tax accounts for all University Place parcels. The Pierce County Auditor records deeds and other instruments that affect title. Neither the city hall nor any University Place city office holds the official property assessment or recording functions.
Under RCW 84.40.020, all real property in Washington must be valued at 100% of true and fair market value as of January 1 each year. That rule applies to every University Place parcel regardless of property type. The Washington Public Records Act under Chapter 42.56 RCW keeps these records open to the public. Anyone can search and access them.
The Pierce County Assessor is required to assess all taxable real property on a fair and equitable basis. For University Place property owners, the assessed value determines a portion of your annual tax burden. The combined Assessor-Treasurer office allows you to check both the valuation and your tax account through the same e-PIP portal at property.piercecountywa.gov.
The University Place Official Website at cityofup.com provides access to city-level public records, permits, and city services:
The city site handles permit records and public records requests for city-specific documents, which complement the county property records held by Pierce County.
Pierce County Assessor for University Place Property
The Pierce County Assessor-Treasurer at property.piercecountywa.gov is the primary source for University Place property records. The assessor function values every taxable parcel. The treasurer function bills and collects taxes. Together, they maintain the most complete set of property data available for University Place. You can search by street address, parcel number, or owner name through the e-PIP portal. Results display the current owner, legal description, assessed land and improvement values, tax history, and prior sales.
The assessor is required by Washington State law to value University Place property at 100% of fair market value as of January 1 each year. Assessment data is public, and you can look up any parcel in the city. The assessor uses comparable sales, physical inspections, and market trend data to set values. If your University Place parcel shows an assessed value that seems out of line with the market, you can file an appeal with the Pierce County Board of Equalization. Appeals must be filed within a specific window after the notice of value is sent.
Exemption programs for seniors, disabled persons, and open space parcels are available through this office. Qualifying University Place property owners can reduce their assessed value or their tax liability. Contact the Pierce County Assessor-Treasurer to check eligibility and request application forms.
Recorded Documents for University Place Properties
Deeds, mortgages, liens, easements, plats, and other instruments affecting University Place real estate must be recorded with the Pierce County Auditor at co.pierce.wa.us/88/Auditor. Under RCW 65.08.070, recording is the legal mechanism that protects a buyer's ownership interest against later claims. An unrecorded deed leaves the transaction vulnerable. Recording creates constructive notice to all parties that a transfer occurred.
The auditor's office provides public access to recorded instruments through an online document search. You can look up by grantor or grantee name, document type, or parcel number. Documents recorded in recent decades are available as scanned images at no cost. Certified copies are available for a fee and can be ordered online or in person at the Pierce County offices in Tacoma. For older documents, an in-person research visit or a formal public records request may be needed.
Before recording any deed or transfer instrument for a University Place parcel, the Pierce County Treasurer must confirm that property taxes are paid and current. This tax certification step happens at closing in standard real estate transactions. If you are recording on your own, build this step into your timeline to avoid delays.
University Place Property Tax Records
University Place property owners pay taxes to multiple taxing districts. These include Pierce County, the City of University Place, local school districts, fire protection districts, library districts, and other special purpose districts. Each sets its own levy rate. The combined rate applied to your parcel's assessed value produces your annual tax statement. The Pierce County Treasurer at co.pierce.wa.us/87/Treasurer sends out statements and handles collection for all these districts.
Tax payments for University Place properties are due in two installments. First half is due by April 30 and second half by October 31. Missing these dates triggers interest and penalties. If taxes become severely delinquent, the treasurer can initiate foreclosure proceedings. Property owners in difficulty should contact the treasurer's office early to ask about payment plans or assistance options before delinquency progresses.
Real estate excise tax under RCW 82.45 applies to all University Place property sales. Washington's graduated REET rate structure ties the rate to the sale price. The tax is collected by the county treasurer at closing before the deed is recorded. Title companies handle this automatically in standard transactions, but it is good to know about for private sales.
Pierce County Property Records provides a useful overview of the systems and offices that serve University Place. Visit Pierce County Property Records for more on available tools and services:
This resource covers the assessor-treasurer, auditor, and GIS tools that University Place property owners and researchers rely on for parcel data.
Searching University Place Property Records
Start with the Pierce County e-PIP portal for most University Place property record needs. Enter a street address and get the owner name, parcel number, assessed values, tax status, and sales history in under a minute. The tool is free and requires no account. If you want a map-based view, use the Pierce County GIS property search at propertysearch.co.pierce.wa.us to see parcel boundaries, zoning, flood zones, and aerial imagery alongside the assessor data.
For deed copies and other recorded instruments, use the Pierce County Auditor's online document search. Search by name or parcel number. Scanned images of recent documents are available free online. Certified copies require a fee. For very old records, the Washington State Digital Archives at digitalarchives.wa.gov holds digitized Pierce County property cards, early deeds, and plat maps. These are free to access and useful for tracing ownership history on older University Place properties.
The City of University Place handles public records requests for city-specific documents -- permits, council minutes, city contracts, and similar materials -- through its online public records portal at cityofup.com. City permit history is a good complement to the county assessor data when you want a full picture of what was built and when on a University Place parcel.
Pierce County Property Records
All University Place property records are held by Pierce County. The assessor-treasurer, auditor, and related county offices serve University Place parcels from their Tacoma offices. Visit the Pierce County property records page for a full overview of tools, office contacts, and resources for University Place property owners.
Nearby Cities
These cities are near University Place and share Pierce County property record offices.