Search Stevens County Property Records

Stevens County property records are held by the county Assessor, Auditor's Office, and Treasurer, all operating out of Colville in northeast Washington. With about 48,000 residents and a large rural land base, Stevens County covers a wide range of property types from timber and agricultural land to rural residential parcels. You can search property records, pay taxes online, appeal your assessment, and find deed filings through the county's official website at stevenscountywa.gov. This page covers how to access Stevens County property records and what each county office provides.

Stevens County Assessor

The Stevens County Assessor values all taxable real and personal property in the county each year. This includes residential homes, commercial buildings, timber land, agricultural parcels, and manufactured homes. Under RCW 84.40.020, all assessment records are available for public inspection, and the assessment date is January 1 of each year. The assessor's office is a key starting point for any Stevens County property records search.

Through the assessor's section of the county website, you can access property search tools, view assessment and valuation information, check district values and levy rates, and find information on tax relief programs. The site also includes FAQ sections on the appraisal process, current use land programs, and personal property tax. The assessor handles tax parcel maps and legal descriptions for all parcels in the county.

Taxpayers who disagree with the assessor's value can file an appeal with the Stevens County Board of Equalization. The county website has information on the appeal process and the forms needed to challenge a value. Under RCW 84.41.030, the assessor must revalue properties on a continuous basis to keep assessments reasonably current.

The Stevens County Assessor's page provides access to property search tools, assessment information, tax relief programs, and links to GIS mapping resources.

Stevens County Property Records Search

Stevens County provides an online property search tool through its official website. You can access it from the Assessor's section at stevenscountywa.gov. The search lets you look up parcel information by address or parcel number. Results include ownership data, assessed values, and tax status. The county also has a GIS and Mapping division that maintains spatial data for all parcels.

For historical research, the Washington State Digital Archives holds older property records for Stevens County. These include deeds, mortgages, and land transfer documents going back to the county's early history. You can search by record type, date range, and party name. The digital archives are free to use and available 24 hours a day online.

The Washington Department of Revenue directory links to the Stevens County assessor and treasurer websites. If you need state-level context for your property records research, the DOR also publishes the County Assessor's Manual, which explains how assessors value property under Washington law.

Stevens County Auditor and Recorded Documents

The Stevens County Auditor's Office records all real property documents in the county. Deeds, mortgages, deeds of trust, liens, releases, and easements are recorded here under RCW 36.22.010. Recording gives constructive notice to all parties about ownership and any encumbrances on a parcel. Under RCW 65.08.070, any instrument that creates or transfers an interest in real property must be recorded in the county where that property is located.

When a property is sold in Stevens County, the Real Estate Excise Tax under RCW 82.45 must be paid before the auditor can record the deed. The Treasurer's office confirms payment. This process ties together the Auditor and Treasurer in any property transfer. Checking the auditor's records is an important step when researching who owns a piece of land or what liens or encumbrances exist.

The Auditor's Office in Colville records deeds, mortgages, and other instruments affecting title to real property throughout Stevens County.

Stevens County Treasurer and Property Taxes

The Stevens County Treasurer collects property taxes and handles tax foreclosure for delinquent accounts. The county website allows you to pay taxes online. First half property taxes are generally due April 30. Second half payments are due October 31. The Treasurer's section of the county website also includes information on tax relief applications, which can help property owners who qualify for senior, disabled, or other exemptions.

The Treasurer also collects Real Estate Excise Tax on real property sales. If taxes on a parcel are delinquent for a set number of years, the Treasurer can initiate foreclosure proceedings. Tax title property, which is land acquired by the county through foreclosure, is sometimes available for purchase from the county. The Treasurer's page on stevenscountywa.gov has details on the foreclosure process and available tax title properties.

Note: If you are paying taxes by mail, allow enough time for the payment to arrive before the due date to avoid penalties and interest.

The Treasurer's page on the Stevens County website lets you make online payments and access information on tax rates, due dates, and foreclosure procedures.

Property Records Law in Stevens County

Stevens County property records are governed by state law in the same way as all other Washington counties. Chapter 36.21 RCW outlines the assessor's duties to value all taxable property and set levy rates. The Public Records Act, Chapter 42.56 RCW, ensures that most county records are available to the public. Property ownership data, assessed values, and recorded deed indexes are all public information in Stevens County.

Title 65 RCW governs recording of real property instruments. Documents must be recorded in the county where the property sits. Under RCW 65.04.045, documents must meet formatting requirements before the auditor will accept them. Failure to record means the instrument may not be effective against later buyers who had no notice of it.

The MRSC guide on county officials explains the role of the assessor, auditor, and treasurer under Washington law in plain terms. The Washington State Treasurer's directory at tre.wa.gov also links to Stevens County's official offices.

Communities in Stevens County

Stevens County includes the city of Colville and a number of smaller communities including Chewelah, Northport, Kettle Falls, and Marcus. No cities in Stevens County meet the population threshold for a dedicated city page on this site. All property records for parcels in the county are maintained by the county offices in Colville.

Nearby Counties

These counties share borders with Stevens County in northeast Washington. Each has its own property records system.