Bedford County, VA Property Records: Search Deeds, Owners, Tax Records, and Maps

Bedford County is currently the fifth-largest county by area in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The Clerk of the Circuit Court, the Commissioner of the Revenue, and the Treasurer handle property records in the county. These records cover over 55,000 parcels of land.

Single-family homes are the predominant housing type in Bedford County, accounting for about 80% of its inventory. The Forest Area, which has the largest population, holds most of these homes. An average home goes pending in about 26 days, which is slightly slower than in the rest of Virginia, where the average home sells in 16 days. While agriculture continues to drive local real estate, the tourism and retail industries are also flourishing.

Recent records reveal the underlying factors influencing the local real estate market, with a median home value of $254,750 and median rent of $869, alongside a median household income of $79,293 and a median real estate tax rate of 0.49 as a percentage of the property's assessed value.

How to Look Up Bedford County Property Records

You can access Bedford County property records through several official online databases, in-person visits, or other formal request methods. Use the Bedford County public GIS Map Viewer to view assessment values, parcel details, maps, and ownership records. The Circuit Court's Land Records Portal is a good way to access recorded deeds, deeds of trust, and plats. Property tax bills and payment history are available at the treasurer’s payment portal.

Who Keeps Bedford County Property Records?

Bedford County allows the public to view property records at the local level. Thanks to the Virginia Freedom of Information Act, these documents are open to any member of the public. The following offices can help you view or request copies of property records:

• The Circuit Court Clerk’s Office handles land records for the County of Bedford and Town of Bedford. The office records deeds, deeds of trust, plats, liens, and other official instruments and documents that are associated with land transactions in the County.

• The Commissioner of the Revenue assesses every taxable property in Bedford County and administers tax relief programs to residents. It receives applications for exemptions from eligible individuals in the county.

• The Bedford County Treasurer issues tax bills and collects all real estate and personal property taxes for all taxing entities in the county. It also handles all county revenue and invests all county funds.

How to Search Bedford County Property Records Online

You can search Bedford County property records remotely by following these steps:

1. Identify information about a parcel through the official real estate search portal. You can search using a parcel number (Real Property Code, or RPC), tax map, address, owner name, or street name.
2. Your search on the portal will reveal the parcel ID, owner name, acreage, legal description, valuation, tax bill data, and exterior and interior information about the parcel.
3. Check the Circuit Court land records for the complete history of the chain of title, active deeds of trust, and any outstanding liens. You can search the platform by using the owner’s name, book/page number, instrument number, recording date, or tax map.
4. Visit the treasurer's payment portal to review property taxes, confirm tax status, and check for any outstanding balances or interests.
5. If you need a certified copy of recorded land documents, submit a formal request to the Circuit Court clerk's office.

Clerk of the Circuit Court: Deeds, Deeds of Trust, and Plats

The Clerk of the Circuit Court is the custodian of all land documents in Bedford County. The clerk’s office provides a property notification service. This free service notifies users by email when land documents are recorded in their names, so they can confirm their validity.

Commissioner of the Revenue: Ownership, Values, and Parcel Data

The Commissioner of the Revenue assesses and reassesses every taxable property every two years in Bedford County. The office applies tax rates approved by the Bedford County Board of Supervisors to properties.

Treasurer: Tax Bills and Payments

The Treasurer’s Office issues tax bills, collects taxes on all taxable property, and remits the funds to taxing entities in Bedford County. It usually mails bills out to residents in April. Real estate taxes follow a semiannual schedule with deadlines on June 5 and December 5. The office also maintains official ledgers for tax accounts and collects delinquent taxes.

Property Tax in Bedford County: Rates, Exemptions, and Appeals

Bedford County calculates real estate property taxes by dividing a property's assessed value by $100 and multiplying that figure by the current tax rate of $0.41.

Exemptions and relief

Appealing your assessment

You can request an informal review with the Commissioner of the Revenue to verify your property details and the valuation methodology. If the informal review does not resolve the issue, submit a formal appeal to the Board of Equalization. If you are not satisfied with the Board’s decision, escalate the matter to the Bedford County Circuit Court.

GIS Maps and Parcel Viewer

Bedford County's Geographic Information System (GIS) Division develops, manages, and displays location-based information about the county. It provides a GIS Map Viewer that provides land records, transportation data, voting information, school locations and attendance zones, zoning and land use, and aerial imagery to the public. The state-level Virginia GIS Clearinghouse also provides unified, cross-jurisdictional spatial data for the county.

Foreclosure and Tax Sales

Foreclosures and tax sales in Bedford County are conducted through two separate processes.

Trustee foreclosure

Defaulting on your home mortgage can lead to foreclosure. In Bedford County, Title 55.1 assigns a trustee to oversee the foreclosure process once the property is secured by a Deed of Trust. The process is conducted through a non-judicial sale, which means the action does not require court intervention. The property is advertised in a local newspaper and then sold at a public auction to the highest bidder, who subsequently receives a trustee’s deed.

Judicial tax sale

If your property taxes remain unpaid for two years after the due date, the county initiates a judicial foreclosure against your property. Under state law, Bedford County does not sell tax liens. It simply sells the property at a public auction to recover the taxes. The Circuit Court must review and approve the sale to ensure fairness. You can halt the foreclosure at any point before the auction is confirmed by paying all accumulated taxes, penalties, interest, and legal costs.

Costs to Access Property Records

To record a land document or obtain copies of property records in Bedford County, you must pay the following fees:

How to Record a Document

Under state law, you must take the following steps to record a land document in Bedford County:

1. Prepare your document and ensure it meets Virginia's formatting standards, including original signatures, a notary acknowledgment, a proper legal description, and a cover sheet.
2. Use the Virginia Supreme Court Deed Calculator to find the exact recording fee for a land document. It determines the total amount due based on your document type, technology trust fund fee, state or local transfer taxes, page county, and property value.
3. Submit the completed document to the land research area in the Bedford County Circuit Court Clerk’s Office. You can submit the documents by mail, in person, or through an authorized e-recording vendor. Beware that documents submitted at the counter for recording will not be accepted after 4:00 pm.
4. Once the clerk accepts your document for recording, you can verify it on the public computer terminals located in the clerk's office. You can also view or download copies of the record through the Circuit Court land records portal.

FAQs

Quick Reference: Your Bedford County Property Records Checklist

Key Contacts and Official Portals