Search Kitsap County Property Records

Kitsap County property records are kept by the Kitsap County Assessor, the County Auditor, and the County Treasurer, all based in Port Orchard. You can look up parcel data, ownership information, assessed values, recorded deeds, and tax details for any property in the county. Kitsap County has about 285,000 residents across the Kitsap Peninsula, with communities ranging from Bremerton to Poulsbo and Bainbridge Island. The county's assessor and auditor offices provide online search tools and in-person services. This page explains where to find Kitsap County property records and what you can expect from each source.

Kitsap County Assessor – Property Records and Valuation

The Kitsap County Assessor is responsible for valuing all real and personal property for tax purposes. The office is required by Washington State law to assess all taxable property at 100% of market value under RCW 84.40.020. Those values are used to set levy rates across the county's taxing districts. The assessor appraises property both through physical inspection and by reviewing market sales data. Washington law mandates a physical inspection of each property at least once every six years, with annual updates based on sales analysis.

The Assessor's Office is located at 619 Division Street (2nd floor of the Administration Building) in Port Orchard, WA 98366. The mailing address is 614 Division Street, MS-22, Port Orchard, WA 98366. Office hours are 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. on Friday. You can call at 360.337.5777 or email 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 database contains parcel data for all properties in Kitsap County. This includes ownership information, assessed land and improvement values, building characteristics, and levy rates. The Assessor's Office also handles recorded document searches, GIS maps, plat searches, and historical data downloads. Property tax relief programs for seniors and disabled persons are administered here as well.

The Kitsap County Assessor's website offers parcel details, sales trends, and links to GIS mapping tools.

The Kitsap County Auditor handles document recording for deeds, mortgages, and other instruments affecting real property.

Kitsap County Property Records – Recorded Documents

The Kitsap County Auditor's Office records property documents for the county. Under RCW 36.22.010, the county auditor serves as the recording officer for all instruments affecting real estate. That means deeds, mortgages, liens, easements, satisfactions of mortgage, and similar documents all go through this office. Recording gives the public constructive notice of property interests and establishes their legal priority under RCW 65.08.070.

The Auditor's Office is at 614 Division Street in Port Orchard. You can reach them at 360-337-7129. Their website at kitsapgov.com/auditor has a link to an online document search and a recording fee schedule. The auditor also handles marriage licensing, vehicle licensing, and elections in addition to property recording. For property records specifically, look under the Recording section of their site, where you can find an online record search and instructions for e-recording submissions.

Before the Auditor can record a property transfer document, the real estate excise tax under RCW 82.45 must be paid. The Treasurer affixes a stamp confirming that taxes are paid or none are due. This happens as part of the standard recording process for deeds and similar transfer documents.

How to Find Kitsap County Property Records Online

The Kitsap County Assessor's Office provides several tools for searching property records online. From the assessor's website, you can access parcel details, sales trend data, recorded document searches, GIS maps, plat searches, historical assessment books, and downloadable data. These tools are free to use and do not require a login or account.

For parcel lookups, go to kitsapgov.com/assessor and look for the Parcel Details link. You can search by address or parcel number. The results include ownership information, assessed value, levy data, and links to recorded documents and GIS maps. The recorded document search lets you look for deeds and other instruments by party name or document type.

The Washington State Digital Archives at digitalarchives.wa.gov also holds historical Kitsap County property records. Digitized collections include deeds, mortgages, plat maps, and survey records going back to territorial times. The archive is free and available 24 hours a day. It is the main source for older property records not yet available through the county's online systems.

Note: For the most current ownership and tax data, always use the Kitsap County Assessor or Auditor tools directly rather than third-party sites.

Kitsap County Property Record Contents

Kitsap County property records contain a range of information depending on the source. Assessor records focus on valuation, ownership, and physical property data. They include the owner's name and mailing address, parcel number, legal description, lot size, land use, assessed land value, assessed improvement value, total assessed value, and levy rate information. Building data covers construction year, square footage, number of bedrooms and bathrooms, and notable features.

Recorded documents at the Auditor's Office provide a different kind of record. A deed shows who sold a property and who bought it, the date of the sale, and the legal description of the parcel. A mortgage shows the lender and the borrower. Liens show financial claims against the property. These documents form the chain of title and are critical for anyone researching ownership history or verifying that a title is clear. Most recorded documents also include the excise tax affidavit, which shows the sale price.

Together, assessor records and recorded documents give you a complete picture of any Kitsap County property. Assessor data tells you what the county thinks the property is worth and who pays taxes on it. Recorded documents show the legal history of ownership and financial interests tied to the land. The Washington Department of Revenue lists all county assessor and treasurer websites as a reference.

Kitsap County Property Tax Information

Property taxes in Kitsap County are based on the assessed value determined by the Assessor's Office each year. Values are set as of January 1 under RCW 84.40.020. Levy rates come from the various taxing districts that cover a given parcel, including the county, cities, school districts, fire districts, and library districts. The county assessor calculates levy rates under Chapter 36.21 RCW to fund these services.

If you disagree with your property's assessed value, you can appeal to the Kitsap County Board of Equalization. The assessor's website has information on the appeal process and deadlines. Senior citizens and disabled persons may qualify for tax exemptions administered through the Assessor's Office. Property owners can also find current levy rate sheets and assessment books on the assessor's website.

The Washington State Treasurer's directory confirms that property tax administration in Washington is handled at the county level, with no single statewide property database.

Cities in Kitsap County

Kitsap County includes Bremerton and several other communities. Property records for all of them go through the county offices in Port Orchard.

Other communities in Kitsap County include Poulsbo, Silverdale, Bainbridge Island, Port Orchard, and Kingston. All property records for these areas are maintained by the Kitsap County Assessor and Auditor in Port Orchard.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Kitsap County. Check the property address to confirm which county holds the records you need.