Brown County Property Records

Brown County property records are managed by Auditor Jill Hall and Recorder Mariah Votel in Georgetown. You can search for deeds, tax data, parcel maps, and ownership info through the Auditor's online search tool or the Recorder's document portal. Both offices are at 800 Mt. Orab Pike in the County Administration Building. The Auditor handles property valuations and tax bills. The Recorder stores deeds, mortgages, liens, and subdivision plats. Ohio law makes these records public and free to inspect during business hours.

Brown County Auditor Office

Auditor Jill Hall runs the Brown County Auditor's Office from the County Administration Building, Suite 181, at 800 Mt. Orab Pike, Georgetown, OH 45121. Hours are Monday through Friday, 7:30 AM to 4:00 PM. That early start is unusual for Ohio county offices. Call 937-378-6398 or use the toll-free line at 888-244-6420. Fax is 937-378-6038. Email JHall@BrownCountyAuditor.org with questions.

The Auditor calculates property tax bills and reappraises real property every six years as required by Ohio law. As the county's chief fiscal officer, the Auditor ensures all expenditures follow the law and certifies revenue estimates for the county budget. The office manages property valuations for all parcels in Brown County, including residential, commercial, agricultural, and exempt properties.

Search Brown County Property Records Online

The Brown County real estate search offers three main search methods. Address Search lets you enter the full street number and name. Parcel Number Search takes the exact parcel ID from tax bills or deeds. Owner Name Search lets you enter at least a few letters of the last name. Each method pulls up matching parcels with full property reports.

Property reports show the owner name, property address, parcel number, assessed value, land and building details, tax payment history, property classification, and sales and transfer information. The website also has a Tax Estimator calculator to help you estimate tax bills. A Conveyance Fee Calculator helps figure transfer fees when property changes hands. Real Estate Sales reports show recent transfers in the county. Property Data Downloads are available for users who need bulk data for analysis.

The Auditor's website also provides GIS mapping. Search the interactive map by parcel number, owner name, address, or subdivision. The map shows parcel boundaries, ownership history, plats, tax maps, recorded deeds, soils data, and aerial photos. This is a good tool for seeing lot shapes and how parcels relate to each other in Brown County.

The Brown County Auditor real estate search provides the main property lookup tool for Brown County.

You can search by address, parcel number, or owner name and view full property reports with tax and sales data.

Brown County Recorder and Deeds

Recorder Mariah Votel runs the Brown County Recorder's Office from the Administration Building, Suite 151, at 800 Mt. Orab Pike, Georgetown, OH 45121. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Call 937-378-6478 or fax 937-378-2848. The Recorder is the county's official record keeper. She protects legal documents related to real estate transactions.

Documents maintained include deeds, mortgages, liens, and all subdivision plats filed in Brown County. Online real estate search is available at BrownCountyRecorder.org. The system offers land records search, old index books, and document images. You can search by party name with simple, standard, or advanced search options. CAPTCHA verification is required for access.

Before any deed can be recorded, the buyer must present it to the County Auditor with a Conveyance Fee Statement (DTE Form 100) under ORC Section 319.202. Recording fees are set by Ohio law.

The Brown County Recorder maintains all deeds, mortgages, and liens for public access.

All subdivision plats filed in Brown County are kept on record in the Recorder's Office.

The Brown County Recorder online search provides access to land records and document images.

Search by party name to find deeds, mortgages, and other recorded documents in Brown County.

Brown County Property Tax Records

Property taxes in Brown County fund local schools, roads, and public safety. The Auditor sets assessed value at 35% of market value under ORC Section 319.54. Tax rates vary by taxing district. The Ohio Property Tax Rate Database shows current rates for all Brown County districts including townships, school districts, and special levies.

Ohio law requires full reappraisal every six years with a statistical update at the three-year mark. The Ohio Department of Taxation certifies value changes based on sales ratio studies. Conveyance fees follow the state cap of $4.00 per $1,000 of sale price plus $0.50 per parcel under ORC Section 319.20. Before any deed can be recorded, the buyer must present it to the County Auditor with a Conveyance Fee Statement (DTE Form 100) under ORC Section 319.202.

The Homestead Exemption shields up to $25,000 of market value from taxation for qualifying homeowners. You must be 65 or older or permanently disabled, and your Ohio MAGI must be under $40,000. Apply by December 31st through the Auditor's office. The application is signed under penalty of perjury. Making a false claim is a fourth-degree misdemeanor. The CAUV program provides separate tax relief for farmland of ten or more acres devoted to commercial agriculture in Brown County. This can cut tax bills considerably for working farms.

Brown County Property Records Resources

The GeoOhio Statewide Parcel Viewer lets you search parcels across county lines. Under ORC Section 149.43, all Brown County property records are public and free to inspect during business hours. The Ohio Secretary of State business search helps when the property owner is a corporate entity or LLC.

Nearby Counties

Brown County sits in southwest Ohio. If you need property records from a neighboring county, these pages may help.