Franklin County property records are public files that show who owns each parcel of land, how much it is worth, and what taxes it pays each year. The Franklin County Auditor keeps most of the property data for this Ohio county.
The Franklin County Recorder keeps the deeds, mortgages, and liens. Both offices let you search their records online for free. Anyone can look up a home, a lot, or a commercial building in Franklin County using an address, a name, or a parcel number.
Franklin County sits in central Ohio and includes the city of Columbus. It is the most populated county in Ohio. More than 1.3 million people live here. With more than 500,000 parcels of land, the county runs a large public records system. Most searches start on the Auditor’s website or the Recorder’s website.
What Are Franklin County Property Records
Property records in Franklin County include any official file that lists data about a piece of land. These records cover three main groups.
- Ownership records show who owns the parcel, when they bought it, and how the title passed to them.
- Value records show the Auditor’s market value, the taxable value, and any exemptions that lower the tax bill.
- Lien records show debts tied to the land, such as a mortgage, a tax lien, or a court judgment.
All these files fall under Ohio’s public records law. Ohio Revised Code Section 149.43 says that government records must be open to the public. You do not need to give a reason to view them. You do not need to show ID. You can print, copy, or save most records for personal use.
Three Offices That Keep the Records
Three county offices handle property records in Franklin County. Each one has a different role.
Franklin County Auditor
The Auditor sets the value of every parcel for tax purposes. The office runs the official property search tool at franklincountyauditor.com. The Auditor’s site is the best place to look up current ownership, lot size, building size, year built, sales history, and tax bill totals.
Franklin County Recorder
The Recorder files and stores documents that change ownership or put a lien on a property. This includes deeds, mortgages, assignments, releases, easements, and plats. The Recorder’s office runs its own search site at recorder.franklincountyohio.gov. You can view scanned images of the original documents on that site.
Franklin County Treasurer
The Treasurer collects the tax payments. The Treasurer’s site shows what taxes are due, what has been paid, and if any taxes are delinquent. The Treasurer’s site is at franklincountytax.com. The Treasurer’s office is the only one of the three that charges fees for some online services.
How to Search Franklin County Property Records Online
The fastest way to find property data is to use the online search tools. You do not need an account. You do not need to pay. You only need basic details about the property you want to look up.
Property Search by Address
To search by address, go to the Auditor’s home page. Type the house number and street name into the search box. Pick the correct result from the drop-down list. The result page shows the parcel number, the owner name, the mailing address, the legal description, the lot size, the building size, the year built, the most recent sale price, and the current tax bill.
If the address has a unit number, such as an apartment or a condo, include the unit number. The Auditor’s search handles condos and subdivisions with the same tool.
Parcel Number Lookup
The parcel number is the fastest way to find a record. A parcel number in Franklin County is a 10-digit code that looks like this: 010-234567-00. The first three digits are the taxing district. The middle six digits are the parcel. The last two digits are a check number.
You can find the parcel number on a prior tax bill, a closing statement, or the Auditor’s site. Type the number into the Auditor’s search box with dashes or without dashes. Both work.
Property Owner Lookup by Name
To search by name, go to the Auditor’s owner search. Type the last name first, then the first name. The search shows all parcels the person owns in the county. The result list shows the address, the parcel number, and the most recent tax bill. Click any result to see the full record.
Common names return many results. You may need to filter by street name or parcel number to find the right one. Business names work the same way. Type the full business name or a key part of it.
Property Records Search by Subdivision
If you only know the subdivision name, the Auditor’s site lets you search by subdivision. Pick the subdivision from the drop-down list. The search returns every parcel in that subdivision. This is useful for buyers who want to see all homes in a neighborhood before making an offer.
Franklin County GIS Property Search and Map Tools
The GIS map tool is the most visual way to search. GIS stands for Geographic Information System. The Franklin County Auditor hosts a free GIS viewer at maps.franklincountyauditor.com.
The map shows every parcel in the county as a colored shape. Click any shape to see the parcel data. You can zoom in to see a single home or zoom out to see the whole county. You can turn on layers that show flood zones, school districts, voting precincts, and zoning.
To use the map, point your browser at the GIS site. Wait for the parcels to load. Click the parcel you want to see. A pop-up box shows the owner, the address, the parcel number, and the latest value. Click “View Full Record” to open the full Auditor page for that parcel.
The GIS site also has a tool that lets you draw a shape on the map. The tool then lists every parcel inside the shape. This is useful for agents who want to see all homes within a certain distance of a school or a park.
What a Franklin County Property Record Shows
A full Auditor record has many fields. The main fields fall into five groups.
| Group | Sample Fields |
|---|---|
| Owner | Owner name, mailing address, owner type (individual, trust, LLC, corporation) |
| Parcel | Parcel number, taxing district, legal description, lot size, zoning |
| Building | Year built, square footage, number of rooms, number of bathrooms, garage size |
| Value | Market value, assessed value (35% of market), taxable value, CAUV value (if farmland) |
| Tax | Annual tax bill, amounts paid, amounts due, any special assessments |
For a more detailed list, you can view the Auditor’s property record card. The card includes the full sales history, building sketches, and a list of every tax district that bills the parcel. To view the card, click “Property Record Card” on the parcel page.
Deed Records and Recorder of Deeds Search
Deed records are the legal proof of who owns a property. In Franklin County, deed records are filed with the Recorder’s office. The Recorder’s office has filed deeds in the county since 1803, the year Franklin County was created.
To search the Recorder’s database, go to recorder.franklincountyohio.gov. You can search by name, by document number, by book and page, by parcel number, or by legal description. Each record shows the document type, the recording date, the grantor, the grantee, and the document image.
Common document types include:
- Warranty Deed – the standard deed used in most home sales
- Quit Claim Deed – a simple transfer with no warranty, often used between family members
- Trustee’s Deed – used in foreclosure sales
- Sheriff’s Deed – used after a court-ordered sale
- Transfer on Death Deed – lets an owner name a beneficiary to receive the property after death
Each deed image is a PDF that you can view and download for free. The image shows the original signatures, the legal description, and any tax stamps that show the sale price.
Mortgage Records and Lien Records
The Recorder’s office also files mortgage documents. A mortgage is the public record that a lender has a lien on the property. When the loan is paid off, the lender files a release of mortgage to clear the lien.
To check if a mortgage is active, search the Recorder’s site for the owner name. Look at the list of recorded documents. A mortgage that is still active will show a recorded mortgage with no matching release. You can also check the Auditor’s site, which lists the most recent transfer and any active tax liens.
Other common lien records include:
- Mechanic’s Lien – filed by a contractor who was not paid for work on the property
- Judgment Lien – filed after a court ruling against the owner
- Federal Tax Lien – filed by the IRS for unpaid federal taxes
- State Tax Lien – filed by the Ohio Department of Taxation for unpaid state taxes
All of these liens can affect a sale. Buyers should run a full lien search before closing. Title companies do this as part of a standard title search.
Plat Records, Easements, and Rights of Way
Plats are maps that show how land was split into lots, blocks, and streets. The Recorder’s office stores all the recorded plats for Franklin County. A plat shows the lot lines, the dimensions, the street names, and any easements that were created when the plat was recorded.
To view a plat, search the Recorder’s site for the subdivision name. Older plats may be in the “Plats” document type. Newer plats are usually large format images. The Recorder’s office can print large copies for a small fee.
Easements and rights of way are a type of recorded document. An easement gives another party the right to use part of the land. Common types include utility easements, drainage easements, and access easements. The Recorder’s office stores these as separate document types. You can search for them by parcel number or by owner name.
Buyers should check the plat and any easements before closing. An easement that runs through the back of the lot may limit what the owner can build there.
Property Tax Records and Payment History
The Franklin County Treasurer’s site shows the full tax bill for any parcel. The bill includes the charges from every taxing district that covers the parcel. These districts include the county, the city or township, the school district, and any special districts like a library or a fire district.
To look up a tax bill, go to franklincountytax.com. Type the parcel number or the address. The site shows the current bill, the past bills, and the payment history for the last several years.
Ohio property taxes are paid in arrears. The bill for 2025 is paid in 2026. The first half is due in February. The second half is due in July. After the due date, a 10% penalty applies. After the second deadline, the parcel goes to a tax lien list, and a certificate is sold to investors. After three years of non-payment, the parcel may be foreclosed.
Property Valuation and Assessment Records
The Auditor’s site shows the current market value, the assessed value, and the taxable value for each parcel. The Auditor updates these values every three years for most properties, with a full reappraisal every six years. The last full reappraisal in Franklin County was 2024. The next one is 2030.
Between reappraisals, the Auditor updates the value when a property sells, when a building permit is pulled, or when a parcel is split. The Auditor’s value is used to set the tax bill. The value is not the same as the sale price or the appraised value from a lender.
If you think the Auditor’s value is too high, you can file a complaint with the Board of Revision. The complaint must be filed by March 31 of the tax year. You can file online through the Auditor’s site. The Board of Revision holds a hearing where you can present evidence of a lower value. Comparable sales, photos, and an independent appraisal are common forms of evidence.
Transfer on Death and Owner-Specific Records
Ohio law lets property owners file a Transfer on Death deed, also called a TOD deed. A TOD deed names a beneficiary who will receive the property when the owner dies. The owner keeps full control of the property while alive. The deed does not count as a gift for tax purposes during the owner’s life.
To check if a property has a TOD deed on file, search the Recorder’s site for the owner name. The TOD deed is recorded as a separate document type. The document lists the named beneficiary. A TOD deed can be revoked at any time by recording a revocation document.
Trust-owned properties do not show the names of the trust beneficiaries in the public record. The owner field on the Auditor’s site will show the trust name, such as “The Smith Family Trust.” The full trust document is not a public record.
Official Property Records: Certified Copies and In-Person Requests
Online records are good for most uses. Some uses need a certified copy. A certified copy has a raised seal or a stamped seal from the issuing office. A certified copy is often needed for legal action, immigration cases, name changes, and some financial transactions.
To get a certified copy of a deed, contact the Franklin County Recorder. The fee is set by Ohio law. The current fee is $2.00 for the first page and $1.00 for each additional page. The Recorder’s office can mail the copy to you or you can pick it up in person.
To get a certified copy of an Auditor’s record, contact the Auditor’s office. The fee is $1.00 per page. Some records are available only in person at the office.
The Auditor’s office is in the Franklin County Courthouse at 373 South High Street, Columbus, Ohio 43215. The Recorder’s office is in the same building, on the 18th floor. The Treasurer’s office is in the same building, on the ground floor. The building is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The phone number for the Auditor is (614) 525-4663. The phone number for the Recorder is (614) 525-3930. The phone number for the Treasurer is (614) 525-3438.
Common Questions About Franklin County Property Records
Are the records really free?
Yes. The Auditor’s site and the Recorder’s site let you view records at no cost. Some certified copies, large format prints, and bulk data requests have fees set by Ohio law. The Treasurer’s site charges a small convenience fee for online tax payments. The fee goes to the payment processor, not the county.
How often is the data updated?
The Auditor’s data is updated every day. New sales, new building permits, and new tax bills appear within 24 hours. The Recorder’s data is updated the same day a document is recorded. The Treasurer’s tax data is updated the same day a payment is received.
Can I see who owned a property 20 years ago?
Yes. The Recorder’s site has records going back to 1803. The Auditor’s site shows the full sales history, but the older data is sometimes only in the Auditor’s archive. You can request the older archive data from the Auditor’s office in person or by email.
What if the owner is a business?
The Auditor’s site shows the business name as the owner. You can search for the business by name. To find the person behind the business, you may need to look at the Ohio Secretary of State’s site for the business’s articles of incorporation. That site is at businesssearch.ohiosos.gov.
Can I remove my information from the public site?
No. Ohio law does not allow removal of property records from public view. Even if a property is your primary residence, your name and address are public. Some states let victims of domestic violence seal their records, but Ohio’s property records law does not include this option at the state level.
What is the difference between the Auditor and the Recorder?
The Auditor values the property and keeps the current record. The Recorder keeps the legal documents that prove ownership and create liens. Use the Auditor for current value, current tax, and sales history. Use the Recorder for the actual deed, mortgage, and lien documents.
How do I check if a home is in a flood zone?
The Auditor’s GIS map has a flood zone layer. Turn the layer on and click the parcel. The map shows the FEMA flood zone for that parcel. For a more detailed flood map, use the FEMA flood map service center at msc.fema.gov.
Tips for Buyers and Researchers
Run a full title search before making an offer. A title search checks the deed, the mortgage, the liens, the easements, and the judgments. A title company does this for a fee, usually between $200 and $600. The fee covers the search and the title insurance policy.
Check the Auditor’s site for tax delinquency. A parcel with unpaid taxes may have a tax lien filed. The lien is recorded with the Recorder. The lien may be sold to an investor. Buying a property with an unpaid tax lien means you take on the debt unless you negotiate a payoff at closing.
Check for open building permits. The Auditor’s site lists the building permits on file. A permit that was opened but never closed can cause problems for the next owner. The new owner may have to pay to close the permit or to fix any code violations.
Check the legal description on the deed against the legal description on the Auditor’s site. If the two do not match, there may be a recording error. A survey can clear up the issue. A survey costs between $300 and $600 in Franklin County.
Check the zoning of the parcel. The Auditor’s site shows the zoning code. The city of Columbus or the local township office can tell you what the zoning allows. Zoning rules affect what you can build, what you can use the property for, and what setbacks apply.
How Records Are Used by Different Groups
Real estate agents use property records to set listing prices, to run comparables for buyers, and to check the sale history of a home. They also use the records to pull the property data sheets that go on the Multiple Listing Service.
Title companies use the records to run title searches and to issue title insurance. Title insurance protects the buyer and the lender against losses from title defects.
Appraisers use the records to find comparable sales. The Auditor’s sales history is one of the data sources appraisers use, along with private sales data and MLS data.
Attorneys use the records to research ownership, to clear title, and to file quiet title actions. A quiet title action is a lawsuit that asks the court to settle a dispute over who owns the property.
Tax assessors in other counties use the Franklin County data as a reference. They check how the county handles certain property types, such as condos, mixed-use buildings, and tax-exempt properties.
Homeowners use the records to check their own tax bill, to verify their exemptions, and to challenge their property value if they think it is too high.
Records and Privacy
Property records are public. This is set by Ohio law. The records do not include Social Security numbers, bank account numbers, or credit card numbers. They do include the owner’s name, the owner’s mailing address, the property address, the parcel number, the value, and the tax bill.
You can ask the Auditor’s office to remove your mailing address from the public site if you are a victim of domestic violence, a protected witness, or a law enforcement officer. This requires a court order or a letter from the law enforcement agency. The property record stays public, but the mailing address is suppressed.
You can also ask the Treasurer’s office to send your tax bill to a different address. The change is for billing only. It does not change the public record.
How Long Records Are Kept
The Recorder’s office keeps deeds and liens forever. The oldest record in the Recorder’s database dates back to the founding of the county in 1803. The records are stored in paper form in the county archive and in digital form in the Recorder’s database.
The Auditor’s office keeps the current record and the sales history forever. The building sketches and the older paper cards are kept in the Auditor’s archive. The archive is open to the public by appointment.
The Treasurer’s office keeps tax payment records for at least 10 years. Older records may be on microfilm. The Treasurer’s office can pull older records by request.
Bulk Data and GIS Downloads
Researchers and businesses can buy bulk data from the Auditor’s office. The data includes all parcels, all sales, all values, and all tax bills. The data is sold as flat files in CSV or shapefile format. The fee is set by Ohio law. The fee covers the cost of preparing the data.
The GIS data is also available for download. The shapefile includes the parcel boundaries, the parcel numbers, and the basic attributes. The data is updated every week. The download site is at gisdata.franklincountyauditor.com.
Buyers should not pay for data that is free on the Auditor’s site. Some third-party sites charge for data that is free on the county’s site. The county’s data is the same data. There is no extra or better data on the paid sites.
Official Contact Details
Franklin County Auditor
373 South High Street, 21st Floor
Columbus, OH 43215
Phone: (614) 525-4663
Website: franklincountyauditor.com
Hours: Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Franklin County Recorder
373 South High Street, 18th Floor
Columbus, OH 43215
Phone: (614) 525-3930
Website: recorder.franklincountyohio.gov
Hours: Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Franklin County Treasurer
373 South High Street, 1st Floor
Columbus, OH 43215
Phone: (614) 525-3438
Website: franklincountytax.com
Hours: Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
FAQ
What is the difference between the assessed value and the market value in Franklin County?
The market value is the Auditor’s estimate of what the property would sell for on the open market. The assessed value is 35% of the market value, per Ohio law. The taxable value is the assessed value minus any exemptions. Property tax bills are based on the taxable value, not the market value. The market value can change every year based on sales, building permits, and market trends. The assessed value is locked for most owner-occupied homes under the homestead exemption rules. The assessed value goes up by no more than 2.5% per year for homesteaded properties until a sale occurs.
How do I find out who owns a property in Franklin County?
Go to the Auditor’s site at franklincountyauditor.com. Type the address or the parcel number into the search box. The result page shows the current owner’s name, the mailing address, and the date the current owner took title. The data is updated every day. The Auditor’s site is the official source. Third-party sites get their data from the same source. Use the county’s site for the freshest data.
Are Franklin County property records free to view?
Yes, the public search tools on the Auditor’s site and the Recorder’s site are free. You can search by address, name, parcel number, or subdivision. You can view and download scanned copies of deeds, mortgages, and liens on the Recorder’s site. Certified copies have a small fee set by Ohio law. The Treasurer’s site shows current tax bills and payment history for free. Online tax payments have a small convenience fee charged by the payment processor.
Can I find the sales history of a Franklin County home?
Yes. The Auditor’s site lists the full sales history for each parcel. The list includes the sale date, the sale price, the grantor, and the grantee. The Recorder’s site has the actual deed that documents the sale. Older sales are in the Recorder’s archive. The Auditor’s archive has property record cards that go back to the 1970s with hand-drawn building sketches and older sales data.
What is a parcel number in Franklin County?
A parcel number is a 10-digit code that the county uses to identify each piece of land. The number looks like 010-234567-00. The first three digits are the taxing district. The next six digits are the parcel. The last two digits are a check number used to catch typos. You can find the parcel number on a tax bill, on a closing statement, on the Auditor’s site, or in the GIS map viewer. Each tax district has its own range of parcel numbers.
Can I see a property’s zoning on the Franklin County records?
The Auditor’s site shows the zoning code for parcels inside the city of Columbus. For parcels in other cities or townships, the zoning is on file with the local zoning office. The Auditor’s GIS map has a zoning layer for the city of Columbus. For other areas, contact the city or the township zoning office. The zoning code tells you what the parcel can be used for, such as single-family home, multi-family home, commercial, or industrial.
How do I get a copy of a deed from the Franklin County Recorder?
Go to the Recorder’s site at recorder.franklincountyohio.gov. Search for the deed by owner name, parcel number, or document number. The deed image is a PDF that you can view and download for free. If you need a certified copy with the Recorder’s seal, you can order one online for a small fee, or you can visit the Recorder’s office in person. Certified copies are often required for legal cases, name changes, and some financial transactions. The Recorder’s office can mail the certified copy to you or you can pick it up the same day.