Pike County Property Records

Pike County property records are kept by the Auditor and Recorder offices at the courthouse in Waverly. You can search for deeds, tax records, parcel information, and land transfers through the Auditor's online property search system. The Auditor handles all property appraisals and tax calculations for Pike County. Davida Brown serves as the current Auditor and oversees a staff that manages property data for the entire county. Public access is free for basic searches, both online and in person. Ohio's public records law under ORC Section 149.43 ensures you can view any property record held by a county office without charge during business hours.

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Pike County Auditor Office

The Pike County Auditor is the chief fiscal officer, chief assessor, and sealer of weights and measures for the county. Davida Brown holds this position and manages all property assessments across Pike County. The office sets fair market values on every parcel of land, then applies the 35% assessment rate required by ORC Section 319.54 to calculate tax bills. The Auditor's website provides online property search tools where you can look up any parcel by owner name, address, or parcel number.

The office is at 230 Waverly Plaza, Suite 200, Waverly, OH 45690-1222. Phone number is (740) 947-4125. Hours run Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM. Walk in during those hours to view records or ask questions. Staff can help you with deed transfer questions, tax bills, and assessment appeals.

The Auditor also handles forfeited land sales. Lands, lots, and parts of lots that are forfeited to the state for non-payment of taxes get offered for sale through the Auditor's office each year. If your property was damaged or destroyed in the first nine months of the year, you can file for a deduction from the current year's value. That application has to be in by December 31st.

The Pike County Auditor website provides access to property search tools and tax information for all parcels in Pike County.

Pike County property records auditor search portal

Search by owner name, address, or parcel number to pull up full property details and tax history.

Pike County Property Transfers and Deeds

When land changes hands in Pike County, the new deed must be recorded to give public notice of the transfer. The Pike County property transfer page covers what you need to know about deed transfers, surveys, splits, easements, affidavits, land contract transfers, and mobile home transfers. If you have questions about any of these, call the Auditor's office before submitting your documents.

For deed transfers, the buyer must present a Conveyance Fee Statement (DTE Form 100) to the Auditor before the deed can be recorded. The conveyance fee is $4.00 per $1,000 of the purchase price, rounded up to the nearest hundred. There is also a $0.50 transfer fee per parcel, as set by ORC Section 319.20. If you are claiming an exemption from the conveyance fee, use DTE Form 100 (EX) instead of the regular form.

Manufactured homes have special rules in Pike County. Any manufactured home moved on a public road must have a relocation notice attached to the rear. You get the relocation permit from the Auditor's office, and all taxes must be paid before they will issue it. This keeps the county from losing track of mobile homes that owe back taxes.

Pike County Property Tax Records

Taxes in Pike County fund local schools, roads, and public services. The Auditor sets each parcel's assessed value at 35% of market value. Tax rates are expressed in mills. One mill means $1 of tax for every $1,000 of assessed value. The Ohio Property Tax Rate Database shows current rates for all taxing districts in Pike County, including townships, school districts, and special levies.

Ohio law mandates a full reappraisal every six years with a statistical update at the three-year mark. The Ohio Department of Taxation oversees this process and certifies value changes based on sales ratio studies. If your value seems too high, you can file a complaint with the Board of Revision. The filing window runs from January 2nd through March 31st each year.

Tax Relief Programs in Pike County

Pike County offers the Owner Occupancy Credit to property owners who live in their home. This credit gives a 2.5% reduction on property taxes for your primary residence. You apply through the Auditor's office. It is separate from the Homestead Exemption.

The Homestead Exemption shields up to $25,000 of market value from taxation. You must be 65 or older, or permanently disabled. Your Ohio Modified Adjusted Gross Income has to stay under $40,000. You must own and live in the home. Apply by December 31st. Making a false statement on the form is a fourth-degree misdemeanor. If convicted, you repay the exempted taxes plus interest and lose eligibility for three years.

The CAUV program provides separate tax relief for farmland in Pike County. It allows agricultural land to be valued based on its farm use instead of its highest potential use. You need ten or more acres used for commercial farming, or under ten acres producing at least $2,500 in average yearly gross farm income. Applications renew each year through the Auditor's office.

Note: The Owner Occupancy Credit and Homestead Exemption are separate programs with different eligibility rules in Pike County.