Multnomah County property records serve homeowners, investors, and researchers who need accurate information about ownership, value, and legal history tied to real estate. These records include deeds, appraisals, transfers, liens, and tax information, each maintained by the county’s Division of Assessment, Recording, and Taxation.
Understanding Deeds and Property Transfers
A deed is a legal document that records the transfer of property ownership from a seller (grantor) to a buyer (grantee). Deeds, along with mortgages and liens, are recorded with Multnomah County and become part of the permanent public record. You can search for recorded deeds and other documents dating back to February 2002 through MultcoRecords.com, searchable by name, date, or document type. The search results include the document number, type, recording date, party names, and legal description. For records predating February 2002, deed indices going back to 1855 are available on public access terminals at the Multnomah County Recording Office.
Certified copies of deed records cost $3.75 each, whether requested in person, by mail, or at a public terminal. Mailed requests require a completed Combined Copy Request Form along with the document type, document number (or book and page), year of recording, and the full name on the document. In-person requests at the Recording Office, located at 501 SE Hawthorne Blvd, Suite 175, Portland, OR 97214, are typically processed on the spot, while mailed requests are usually completed and returned within five business days.
Property Appraisals, Liens, and Tax Information
Property appraisals determine the assessed value used to calculate annual property taxes, and Multnomah County maintains characteristic cards with full appraisal information and values dating back to 1991. Liens, which represent legal claims against a property for unpaid debts, can be researched for free using the public terminals in the Customer Service Lobby. According to Multnomah County, lien information is not available over the phone. Subscribers can also search the lien index online through the county’s Digital Research Room.
For tax records, MultcoPropTax.com offers free access using a guest login, allowing users to search ownership, land and building details, assessed values, and tax amounts by Property ID or address. The TaxGraph tool lets you view how a property’s assessed value has changed over the past five years. Tax bills are available online from 1988 to present, while older tax rolls (1942–2010) and block books (1907–1942) require a records request by mail or email. For specific questions about property tax records, contact Multnomah County at 503-988-2225 or propertytax@multco.us.