Utah County Property Search
Real estate paperwork generated to document a property's existence, ownership, description, sales history, tax assessment, and other related transactions in Utah County constitute the county's property records.
In Utah County, different county government offices collect and maintain property records, including the county recorder, treasurer, and assessor. The County Recorder is the main custodian of documents containing different information about a property, such as ownership, legal description, title, surveys, maps, and transaction history.
The County Assessor is responsible for creating and holding paperwork regarding a property's appraisal for tax purposes.
The office of the County Treasurer collects property taxes and keeps records to this effect.
While other bodies may create and maintain different property records, the public can inspect and obtain them (and other Utah County Public Records) through the office of the county's recorder.
These documents are important to property owners, intending buyers, realtors, sellers, and the government. They all need access to property records for verification, due diligence, decision-making, and assurance for sundry real estate matters.
Are Utah County Property Records Public?
Yes, property records are treated as public records in Utah County. UCA 63G-2-201 affords members of the public the right to assess and obtain (copies of) records maintained by governmental bodies in the state of Utah as part of their official duties.
However, not all property records are open to public access. According to the law, records marked confidential by state regulation, federal statute or regulation, or court rule are not subject to public inspection.
For example, UCA 63G-2-302, which lists private records in the state, stipulates that the public cannot access a person’s financial information, phone number, or email address on tax documents.
UCA 63G-2-303 and UCA 53-18-103 allow some former or present government officials, including law enforcement personnel, to request the sealing of specific sensitive information about eligible family members or themselves.
What Do Utah County Property Records Contain?
The following are typical property details, including documents, that members of the public can access in Utah County:
- Ownership information: Details about the property's legal ownership, such as owners' names, addresses, respective tenure years, and handovers between a grantor and grantee.
- Value History: Official historical estimates of the property's value derived from the County Assessor’s periodic appraisals.
- Tax History: Changes in the taxes paid on the property, reflecting the results of adjustment in value after periodic assessment.
- Plats: Maps that show how pieces of land are divided into individual properties, clearly indicating their boundaries, precise measurements, notations, and dimensions.
- Photos: Current visual representation of the property.
- Legal Description: A unique identifier that independent surveyors can use to locate and recognize pieces of real estate. It usually includes the name of the property's subdivision, land area, block and lot, and parcel map.
- Deeds: Legal instrument used to transfer property ownership from one party to the other.
- Deed of Trust (D TR): Legal paperwork documenting a process that often serves as an alternative to a mortgage. It is used to transfer a property's rights (legal title) to a third-party trustee as collateral (security) for a loan. The trustee can start a foreclosure process on the lender's behalf to recover the debt if the borrower defaults.
- Quitclaim Deed (QCD): Legal document often used in non-sale situations where the grantor (owner) transfers their stake in the property to another individual - usually a family member - without guaranteeing the property's title.
- Encumbrance: A restriction on a property's use imposed on the owner due to a claim by another party as a result of a lien, such as tax, court judgment, or mortgage.
Where to Perform a Utah County Property Lookup
People who want to look up and obtain records of a specific property in Utah County have different options, including requesting by mail and in person and searching online. Details of each process will follow below, starting with mail-in and in-person requests.
Obtaining Copies of Property Records by Mail
Individuals can request copies of property documents by sending a self-addressed stamped envelope containing details of the documents they want to obtain alongside the appropriate fee to:
County Recorder
100 East Center Street
Suite 1300
Provo, UT 84606
This service allows requesters to get documents that may not be available online. These may include documents created from 1870 and before 1978.
Visiting the Country Recorder’s Office
Members of the public can also walk into the County Recorder’s office to obtain copies of property documents. Like the mail request service, individuals can also obtain records that may not be available online. This service also comes with a fee.
They can visit the recorder's office at:
100 East Center Street
Suite 1300
Provo, UT 84606
Fees
Viewing property records online is free. However, one must pay to obtain physical copies of official documents and certify them. Here are the fees for obtaining copies of different documents:
- Recorded Document: $1 per page
- Ownership Plat: $2 per copy
- Official Subdivision Plat $4 per copy (can be reduced by 50%)
- Document Certification $5
- Computer Screen Printout 50 cents
How to Perform a Property Owner Lookup in Utah County
The best place for people to check property ownership details is online. Utah County’s government provides a helpful database that allows interested parties to lookup property records for free, and they can start a search using property addresses.
How to Find Utah County Property Records Online
Finding records on properties in Utah County online is easy, straightforward, and free. Individuals can visit the Web Access to Utah County Land Records webpage to look up property records. The database provides an assortment of property information, including ownership history, location, tax history, photos, value history, acreage, subdivision map filing, and recorded documents. Searchers can also view and print electronic copies of documents.
The online system allows users to search for documents using the following parameters:
- Name Search: Users can enter the owner's last name (or entire name) to find a property’s records. People can also use owner names to narrow down their search to find specific property documents.
- Address Search: Searchers can use a property’s location to look up its records.
- Serial Number Search: Individuals can enter a property's unique identification number to check its records without going through a search result page. Searchers can also use the serial number to limit their search to specific types of documents and information. For example, one can check for only the property’s valuation, tax information, or judgment liens.
Using Third-Party Aggregate Sites
Third-party aggregate sites also offer robust online services that may make the search process even easier. However, individuals must note that these services almost always come at a cost, regardless of user experience and ease.
In the case of Utah County, users will be able to find almost every document they need on the database provided by the county for free. If those records are not online, they can contact the County Recorder’s office or use the services of a professional title company. Some third-party sites may also offer more information. It is important that searchers do their due diligence before engaging any firm.
How to Find Property Owner by Address for Free
One can easily find and view property records of eligible parcels in Utah County for free using the property address search option on the online platform provided by the county’s government. When they open the page, individuals are expected to enter a house number, direction (east, west, north, or south), street, street type (optional), and city/location. The results contain ample information about the property’s ownership history.
Utah County Property Tax Lookup
Every property owner is required to pay property taxes to the county government. In some situations, taxes are levied by cities and municipalities. The county Assessor’s estimated property value generally determines real estate taxes.
Individuals usually look up a property’s tax information to determine how up-to-date they are on their payments, whether taxes are not owed on the property they want to purchase, and if they are being taxed fairly.
They can also obtain tax records on a property for insurance purposes and in preparation for tax appeals to adjust property value. Moreover, property taxes are often a critical part of legal real estate processes, such as transfer of ownership, deeds of trust, and wills.
Individuals can look up any property’s tax information using the Utah County government’s Tax Information search portal. They have to provide the property’s serial number to initiate the search and can filter the results by year.
How to Find Utah County Property Appraiser
Property owners need the services of property appraisers to get professional valuations on their real estate. Appraisers can help in different scenarios, including investment analysis, property tax appeals, divorce and legal matters, estate planning, real estate buying and selling, and mortgage lending.
Individuals can search online for the closest property appraisers in Utah. That said, they must only hire professionals with valid licenses. Utah law (UCA 61-2g-301) makes it illegal for individuals to provide professional appraisal services without obtaining the required license.
Members of the public can use the online service provided by the Utah Real Estate Division to confirm that an appraiser is licensed. The system allows searchers to find real estate appraisers using the company's or individual's names.
Utah County Property Assessor
The Utah County Assessor is the main office that classifies every property in the county and determines their value for tax purposes.
People who disagree with the assessor's estimate of their property's value can contact the office at:
100 East Center Street, Suite 2300
Provo, UT 84606
Phone: (801) 851-8244 (personal property), (801) 851-8295 (business personal property)
