Find Property Records in Ferry County

Ferry County property records are held by the county Assessor, Auditor, and Treasurer, all located at the County Courthouse in Republic, Washington. If you need to look up a parcel, find a recorded deed, check a tax balance, or research property ownership, each office plays a separate role. Ferry County is a rural county in northeastern Washington, and its property records system reflects that most work is done in person or through the county's online TaxSifter and MapSifter tools. This guide explains where to go and what each office provides for property record research in Ferry County.

Ferry County Assessor

The Ferry County Assessor is Rachel D. Siracuse, who has held the office since 2002. The Assessor's job is to value all real and personal property in the county for tax purposes. Washington State law requires that all property be assessed at 100% of market value, as set out in RCW 84.40.020. Market value is determined by recent sales of comparable properties within the county. Every parcel gets a Change of Value Notice when assessments are updated.

The office is open Monday through Thursday, 8 am to 4 pm, and is closed on Fridays. You can reach the assessor at 509-775-5225 ext. 2502. Staff at the Ferry County Assessor office include a Chief Deputy Assessor, a Deputy Assessor who handles senior and disabled exemption applications, and an appraiser who conducts field inspections.

The Assessor's office administers several exemption programs. Seniors and disabled persons may qualify for reduced property taxes. Agricultural and forestland designations are also available under current use programs. Taxpayers who dispute their valuation can appeal to the County Board of Equalization by July 1 of the assessment year.

The Ferry County Assessor page provides access to TaxSifter and MapSifter parcel search tools, exemption forms, and revaluation area information.

The Ferry County Assessor maintains records on all taxable parcels, including land and improvement values, ownership data, and tax codes accessible through the TaxSifter tool.

Property Assessment in Ferry County

Under RCW 84.41.030, counties must revalue property on a continuous basis. In Ferry County, the Assessor sends out Change of Value notices to every property owner whenever assessed values are updated. The notice lists separate land value and improvement value. Improvement value covers structures and utility features beyond the raw land.

Values are based on sales of similar properties in the county over the last three years. If you get a notice and think your value is wrong, contact the Assessor's office at 509-775-5225 ext. 2502 between 8 am and 4 pm and ask to speak with the county appraiser. The deadline to file a formal appeal with the Board of Equalization is July 1.

The Assessor also handles personal property returns for businesses. The deadline for personal property reporting forms is April 30 each year. Chapter 36.21 RCW governs the assessor's authority statewide, while Ferry County follows all state-mandated procedures for appraisal and valuation. Records maintained by the Assessor including legal descriptions, parcel numbers, and assessed values are all public record.

Recording Documents in Ferry County

The Ferry County Auditor, Dianna Galvan, serves as the official recorder of all real property documents in the county. Under RCW 36.22.010, county auditors act as recording officers throughout Washington State. Deeds, mortgages, liens, plats, and other instruments affecting title to real property are recorded here to provide constructive notice under RCW 65.08.070.

The Recording Office closes at 3:30 pm each day, while the main Auditor's office is open until 4 pm. The office is staffed by seven full-time employees. You can contact the Recording Deputy, Corrine Parkins, at ext. 1136 or by email at records@co.ferry.wa.us for questions about recorded documents. The Ferry County Auditor page also covers elections, vehicle licensing, and public records requests.

Ferry County does not appear to offer a full online search of recorded documents, so in-person visits or written public records requests may be needed for older deed research. New recordings follow the standard Washington State format and are indexed by grantor and grantee name.

The Ferry County Auditor handles all property recording, elections, and licensing at 350 E Delaware Ave #2 in Republic.

All recorded property documents in Ferry County deeds, plats, liens pass through the Auditor's office, which maintains the official land records for the county.

Ferry County Treasurer

Ferry County Treasurer Shannon Jensen oversees tax collection for all property in the county. Property taxes are due in two halves: April 30 for the first half and October 31 for the second half. If the first half is not paid by April 30, the full year's tax becomes delinquent. Interest and penalties accrue from the first day of each month after the due date.

You can pay taxes online by credit card through the county website. The TaxSifter link on the Treasurer's page lets you search your parcel and pay electronically. The Treasurer's office is located at the County Courthouse, 350 E Delaware Ave #13, Republic, WA 99166. Phone is 509-775-5225 ext. 2503. Starting September 2025, the Treasurer's office is closed on Fridays.

When a property is sold, the Real Estate Excise Tax under RCW 82.45 must be paid to the Treasurer before the Auditor can record the deed. The Treasurer also manages tax foreclosure sales for properties with unpaid taxes. Foreclosure sale dates and property lists are published on the county website.

The Ferry County Treasurer page covers tax payment, parcel search, REET, and foreclosure information for all properties in the county.

Property tax payments in Ferry County can be made online, by mail, or in person at the courthouse the Treasurer also handles real estate excise tax on property transfers.

Searching Ferry County Property Records Online

The main tools for online property research in Ferry County are TaxSifter and MapSifter, both linked from the Assessor's page at ferry-county.com. TaxSifter lets you search parcels by owner name, parcel number, or address. You can view assessed values, tax codes, and land use data. MapSifter provides an interactive map view of all parcels in the county.

For recorded documents, the Auditor's office is the primary source. Since Ferry County is small and rural, digital tools for recorded documents may be more limited than in larger counties. In-person visits to the courthouse in Republic are sometimes necessary for deed research or title work.

State-level resources can supplement local searches. The Washington Department of Revenue links to all county assessor and treasurer sites. The Washington State Digital Archives holds older historical records for many counties, including deeds and land records that predate current digital systems.

For any public records requests not available online, Ferry County follows the Washington Public Records Act under Chapter 42.56 RCW. Written requests can be submitted to the county directly through the county website.

Historical Property Research in Ferry County

Ferry County was carved out of Stevens County in 1899, so historical property records go back to that period. For older records deeds, mortgages, and plats from the early 1900s through mid-century the Washington State Digital Archives is the primary online source. The Digital Archives holds digitized land records for many Washington counties and is accessible free of charge around the clock.

The Ferry County Auditor's office also retains older recorded documents. For pre-digital records, an in-person visit or a formal public records request is usually needed. Staff can assist with historical deed research and help you identify the right index books or grantor-grantee indexes to search. The Colville National Forest and other federal lands make up a large share of Ferry County, so some property research may also involve federal land records at the Bureau of Land Management.

Note: The MRSC county officials guide explains the statutory basis for county assessors and recorders under Washington State law, which is helpful context for understanding what records each office maintains.

Cities in Ferry County

Ferry County is one of the least populated counties in Washington. The county seat is Republic. Other communities include Curlew, Danville, Inchelium, Keller, and Orient. None of these communities meet the population threshold for a dedicated city page on this site. All property records for these areas are maintained at the county courthouse in Republic.

Nearby Counties

Ferry County borders these counties. Property near a county line may fall under a neighboring county's jurisdiction for records purposes.