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

Buckingham County's local housing market offers affordable rural living for buyers seeking quiet surroundings and proximity to Charlottesville. The county’s local inventory contains single-family detached homes, agricultural parcels, and large acreage tracts.

On average, listings take about 31 to 55 days to go under contract in Buckingham County. Property records in the county are managed by local offices such as the Treasurer, the Clerk of Circuit Court, and the Commissioner of the Revenue.

Recent records reveal the underlying factors influencing the local real estate market, with a median home value of $154,750 and median rent of $716, alongside a median household income of $57,573.5 and a median real estate tax rate of 0.56 as a percentage of the property's assessed value.

How to Look Up Buckingham County Property Records

Buckingham County provides multiple tools for answering property-related questions. The county’s Interactive GIS Map is used to identify parcels and view available property details. Property owners can also use the PayGov platform to pay their real estate taxes to the Treasurer’s Office.

The Secure Remote Access (SRA) system has index information and images of land documents. To use the system, interested parties must complete and notarize the SRA Application and Subscriber Agreement.

Who Keeps Buckingham County Property Records?

Property records in Buckingham County are public records open to inspection and copying under the Virginia Freedom of Information Act. Government offices holding these records must provide them upon request unless a specific exemption applies.

In Buckingham County, VA, the following offices manage property records:

• The Clerk of the Circuit Court is the legal repository for all land transactions conducted in the county. The office maintains both historical and current land records through its land records division.

• The Commissioner of the Revenue discovers and values all real property within the county for taxation purposes. It preserves assessment records and updates tax mapping data.

• The Treasurer bills and collects real estate taxes based on the Commissioner of the Revenue’s valuations.

How to Search Buckingham County Property Records Online

You need to use three property databases to conduct a comprehensive search for property records in Buckingham County:

1. On the Interactive GIS Map, click on the search icon at the left corner of the map. From the drop-down menu, select “quick search” and enter any known information, such as parcel number, address, or owner name. Once you find the parcel, click the “Just the Facts” button to view basic details.
2. For detailed information, scroll down and select “Tax Cards.” This will display the assessment records, including the map and address numbers, improvement description, land valuation, deed book and page numbers, legal description, and total property value.
3. If you subscribed to the SRA system, enter the property owner’s name to confirm ownership and trace the chain of title. You can also look up other recorded documents tied to the property.
4. Buckingham County does not provide property tax information online. To make inquiries about tax payment status, tax sale, or outstanding balances, visit the Treasurer’s Office in person.

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

The Buckingham County Clerk of the Circuit Court provides both in-person and online access to land records. It creates a searchable grantor-grantee index for easy retrieval of land documents. This office accepts the following documents for recording:

• Deeds of trust

• Notices of lis pendens

• Deeds

• Certificates of partial satisfaction

• Powers of attorney

• Mechanic’s liens

• Certificates of satisfaction

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

The Commissioner of the Revenue in Buckingham County identifies and assesses all real estate within the county. The office also handles applications for elderly or veteran tax relief programs. Under Virginia law, properties are assessed at 100% of fair market value to promote tax equity among property owners. Buckingham County conducts a general real estate reassessment every six years.

Treasurer: Tax Bills and Payments

As the primary financial officer for the county, the Buckingham County Treasurer collects real estate taxes in two equal installments. The first installment is due June 5, and the second by December 5. To avoid a statutory late payment penalty, property owners must postmark or submit payments by the due dates.

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

In Buckingham County, a real property tax bill is calculated by applying the property’s assessed value to the tax rate set by the Board of Supervisors. The county then deducts any applicable exemptions or tax relief from the calculated tax amount to determine the final bill.

Exemptions and relief

Appealing your assessment

A Buckingham County property owner who disagrees with their assessment may submit an application to the Board of Equalization. The application must include the property owner’s name and contact information, current assessed value, tax map number or parcel number, address, supporting documents, and an opinion on the fair value of the property.

Before filing an application, the property owner must gather evidence like a recent appraisal, photos of property defects, and repair estimates. The Board of Equalization will schedule an appeal to consider whether the property is assessed above its fair market value. If needed, the board may arrange a property inspection to check its physical condition.

GIS Maps and Parcel Viewer

The Buckingham County Interactive GIS Map is a useful resource for locating a parcel and viewing its boundaries. It also allows users to identify potential issues that may affect access or ownership by examining neighboring parcels.

The Interactive GIS Map links to assessment records. Anyone looking up a parcel can also access other information such as ownership details, improvement description, land valuation, and total property value. For a comprehensive property review, users can toggle off or on the following map layers:

• Parcels

• Aerial imagery

• E911 Address labels

• Structures

• Roads

• Driveways

• Zoning

• Flood hazards

The Virginia GIS Clearinghouse contains data that crosses county boundaries.

Foreclosure and Tax Sales

Trustee foreclosure and judicial tax sale are two different ways a property can be sold due to a debt.

Trustee foreclosure

When the borrower defaults on a loan secured by a deed of trust, the trustee can carry out a foreclosure sale authorized by Title 55.1 of the Code of Virginia. The property owner must receive a written notice by certified mail at least 60 days before the sale.

As required by state law, the trustee also advertises the sale in a local newspaper in the county. The property owner can stop the sale by paying the debt, interest, and any other penalties. If no payment is made, the trustee conducts the sale at a public auction and sells the property to the highest bidder. Once the sale is reported to the Circuit Court’s commissioner of accounts, the owner loses the right to redeem the property.

Judicial tax sale

Buckingham County can sell a real property to recover unpaid taxes according to Va. Code 58.1-3965. It is the duty of the Treasurer to send formal written notice to the property owner’s last known address at least 30 days before the lawsuit. The Circuit Court appoints a Special Commissioner to handle the sale after receiving a petition from the county.

At the public auction, the Special Commissioner sells the property to the highest bidder and files a motion to confirm the sale. The property owner can stop the sale and reclaim ownership of the real estate by paying the delinquent taxes, penalties, interest, and attorney fees.

Costs to Access Property Records

The state recordation tax is imposed under Va. Code 58.1-801, while the grantor’s tax is levied pursuant to Va. Code 58.1-802. The Circuit Court Clerk must collect both taxes before recording the deed or conveyance document.

How to Record a Document

Use these steps to record a property document in Buckingham County:

1. Draft your document on 8.5 x 11-inch white paper and ensure you capitalize each surname where it first appears in the document.
2. On the first page of the document, list the tax map parcel ID number and state the consideration amount.
3. Ensure your document includes original, acknowledged signatures notarized in compliance with the Virginia Notary Act.
4. The document must be accompanied by the recording fees and applicable transfer taxes. To determine the accurate amount, use the Virginia Circuit Court Deed Calculator.
5. Deliver the document and required fees in person or by mail to the office of the Clerk of Circuit Court.

FAQs

Quick Reference: Your Buckingham County Property Records Checklist

Key Contacts and Official Portals