Franklin County, WA Property Records: Search Deeds, Owners, Tax Records, and Maps

Franklin County’s rising property demand has been fueled not only by affordable housing but also by its integration into the economically booming Tri‑Cities metropolitan area. Single-family detached homes dominate the county’s real estate market, and a typical listing goes under contract in less than 50 days.

If you are researching property in Franklin County, three county offices hold the information you need. The Auditor records deeds, deeds of trust, and plats. The Assessor determines the value of every parcel, while the Treasurer issues tax bills and collects payments. Together, these offices maintain records for more than 36,000 parcels in the county.

Recent records reveal the underlying factors influencing the local real estate market, with a median home value of $210,700 and median rent of $917, alongside a median household income of $68,789 and a median real estate tax rate of 0.82 as a percentage of the property's assessed value.

How to Look Up Franklin Property Records

Franklin County offers free access to property records through several online portals. You can access Franklin County's specific property records through any of the resources listed below.

Who Keeps Franklin County Property Records

Franklin County property records are maintained at the county level and access to these records is governed by the state’s Public Records Act. You may contact the following offices to view and copy property records in Franklin County:

• The Franklin County Auditor's Office (Recording Department) maintains all recorded documents for the county. These include deeds, deeds of trust, plats, liens, and easements.

• The Franklin County Assessor's Office manages valuation and assessment records of every parcel in the county.

• The Franklin County Treasurer's Office maintains all tax records and collects real property tax on every parcel in the county.

How to Search Franklin County Property Records Online

When researching a property in Franklin County, keep in mind that records are spread across different official databases. Each database contains a specific type of property record, and combining information from these sources gives you the complete record. You can obtain a comprehensive record by taking the following steps:

1. Start your search at the Property Search Portal. This portal gives you access to a property's ownership and valuation records, characteristics, and sale history. You can search by address or owner name.
2. Next, use the Auditor's Public Records Portal to view deeds linked to the property owner's name. You can search by grantor and grantee name to build a full chain of titles.
3. Review the most recent deed to confirm the current owner, then work backward through earlier deeds. This step ensures each grantor matches the grantee on the prior deed.
4. Review the same index for deeds of trust, liens, and easements. Pay close attention to access easements and shoreline designations, as these can significantly affect a property’s use and value.
5. Finally, use the county's Property tax portal to confirm the tax status.

County Auditor: Deeds, Deeds of Trust, and Plats

The Franklin County Auditor’s Office (Recording Department) is responsible for indexing and recording all official real estate documents in the county. Once recorded, a document becomes part of Franklin County's official records. Anyone can access these documents on the Auditor's Public Records Portal.

County Assessor: Ownership, Values, and Parcel Data

The Franklin County Assessor's Office appraises every parcel in the county. This process allows the office to determine each property's fair market value. The Assessor's Office updates assessed property values every year. However, the office must physically inspect all taxable property in the county at least once every six years. See the table below for more information about the office.

County Treasurer: Taxes, Bills, and Payments

In Franklin County, the Treasurer's Office handles billing and collecting taxes on every property. Franklin County mails annual property tax statements in February. Homeowners may pay their taxes in two equal installments. The first payment is due on April 30, and the second is due on October 31.

Property Tax in Franklin County: Levies, Exemptions, and Appeals

Property taxes in Franklin County are determined by dividing a parcel’s assessed value by 1,000 and applying the levy rates established by taxing districts.

How the 1 Percent Levy Limit Works

Washington State’s Constitution limits regular property tax levies to 1% of a property’s assessed value, equal to $10 for every $1,000. Voters may approve additional levies for schools and other districts, which are added on top. A separate cap also limits the total revenue a district can collect each year. This cap applies to revenue, not to assessed value. If your property value rises faster than the district average, your share of the levy may increase.

Exemptions and Relief

Appealing Your Assessment

If you disagree with your property’s assessed value, you can file an appeal with the county's Board of Equalization (BOE). Your appeal must be submitted by July 1 of the assessment year or within 30 days of when the change of value notice was mailed. To appeal a valuation, you must show where the Assessor made an error in the property assessment. Homeowners can take their appeal further to the Washington State Board of Tax Appeals if the Board of Equalization rejects the initial petition.

GIS Maps and Parcel Viewer

In Franklin County, you can view a parcel’s physical characteristics, ownership and assessment records, as well as boundary lines using interactive maps. For records that predate the online systems, the Washington State Digital Archives holds historical documents.

Foreclosure and Tax Sales

Washington uses two separate processes for foreclosure sales, and it’s important to understand both.

Trustee Foreclosure

This process is used when a homeowner defaults on mortgage payments. The trustee named in the deed of trust can hold a public sale under the Deed of Trust Act without going to court. The sale is advertised ahead of time, and the process usually moves faster than a court‑based foreclosure.

Judicial Tax Foreclosure

If a homeowner is delinquent for three years, the county may initiate a tax foreclosure. The process usually takes weeks to complete, as tax foreclosures must be filed with the superior court.

Costs to Access Property Records

Searching online is free. Fees apply when you need a copy or are recording a new document.

How to Record a Document

Washington’s recording act outlines the rules for recording any document that conveys an interest in real estate. The process follows four basic steps:

1. Confirm that your document meets Washington’s requirements under RCW 65.04. That means it needs a cover sheet, signed originals, a notary stamp, a proper legal description, and the right margins and paper size.
2. Complete a Real Estate Excise Tax (REET) affidavit stating either the sale price or the basis for exemption. For a sale, the Treasurer reviews the affidavit and verifies that all taxes are current before recording.
3. Submit to the Auditor in person, by mail, or through an approved e-recording vendor. Pay the recording fee and any excise tax due.
4. After recording, the filer gets the original back. The document is then scanned, indexed, and made available quickly.

FAQs

Quick Reference: Your Franklin County Property Records Checklist

Match each row to your task to find the fastest path through the system.

Key Contacts and Official Portals