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

Colonial Heights is an independent city surrounded by Chesterfield County on most sides. City offices maintain the property records rather than the county. Homes here typically receive an offer within 8 to 21 days, indicating strong buyer demand.

More than 80% of homes in Colonial Heights were built before 1978. The city’s housing stock is made up mostly of single-family detached homes, while townhomes and multifamily properties also represent a portion of the market. The Clerk of the Circuit Court, City Assessor, and the Billing and Collections Office handle the city’s property records.

Recent records reveal the underlying factors influencing the local real estate market, with a median home value of $223,100 and median rent of $1,149, alongside a median household income of $76,332 and a median real estate tax rate of 0.94 as a percentage of the property's assessed value.

How to Look Up Colonial Heights City Property Records

Property records in Colonial Heights are available online and on-site in the office of the records custodian. The city has multiple online databases for property research, including the Secure Remote Access (SRA) system, Interactive Map, and CRS Property Search. These resources make it easy to find information by street address, parcel ID, or owner name.

Who Keeps Colonial Heights City Property Records

The Virginia Freedom of Information Act provides public access to records held by government bodies, including property records. In the City of Colonial Heights, the following offices handle different aspects of real estate properties:

• The Clerk of the Circuit Court is tasked with recording all official documents related to land transactions in the city. It provides access to land records and title searches online, or in person during office hours.

• The City Assessor’s Office is responsible for assessing all real property within the city’s limits. It also tracks ownership changes and maintains current building descriptions and property characteristics.

• The Commissioner of the Revenue administers real estate tax relief programs for the elderly, veterans, and spouses of service members killed in the line of duty. This is the only real estate function the office performs.

• The Billing and Collection Office collects city funds, including real estate property taxes. This office issues tax bills and maintains payment records.

How to Search Colonial Heights City Property Records Online

Before searching property records online, note that no single city resource contains all the property information you need. To conduct a comprehensive search, you must consult at least three online resources:

1. Begin your search with the CRS Property Search tool by entering any known parameter, such as parcel ID, street name, owner name, or address. If you are using the owner’s name, you can input the last name to easily find the owner. From the search result, select the correct name and click “Report” to view detailed information about the property.
2. You may use the Interactive Map to confirm that the parcel in the CRS Property Search portal matches the correct property. Enter the street address to locate the parcel and view its boundaries.
3. Subscribe to the SRA site if you need to access documents recorded for the property. The Clerk of Circuit Court does not provide free index information or allow non-subscribers to view images of land documents. You can search the site with the deed book/page number, grantor’s name, instrument type, or document number.
4. For a complete property search, you may request the parcel’s tax payment history directly from the Billing and Collections Office.

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

The Colonial Heights City Clerk of the Circuit Court records and preserves documents that establish or affect interest in real estate. It ensures that the public can access these documents through the SRA site, or in person through the automated index retrieval system in the Record Room. Examples of documents recorded in the Clerk’s office include:

• Deeds of trust

• Deeds

• Certificates of satisfaction

• Assignments of deed of trust

• Subdivision plats

• Federal and state liens

• Mechanic’s lien

• Agreements and covenants

City Assessor’s Office: Ownership, Values, and Parcel Data

In Colonial Heights, the City Assessor’s Office works under the direction of the Department of Finance. The office assesses real estate properties and maintains maps of parcel boundaries. Colonial Heights carries out property assessments biennially, starting on January 1 and ending on December 31.

Billing and Collections Office: Tax Bills and Payments

The Billing and Collections Office began collecting revenues for the city in 2016. It processes payments and collects delinquent real property taxes. The office typically issues real estate tax bills to property owners at least 30 days before the due dates. The first installment is due on May 15, and the second is due on November 15.

Property Tax in Colonial Heights City: Rates, Exemptions, and Appeals

A Colonial Heights real property tax bill is based on the property’s assessed value. It is determined by the City Real Estate Assessor and the real estate tax rate set by the City Council. The resulting tax is billed and collected by the city’s Billing and Collections Office.

Exemptions and relief

Appealing your assessment

Colonial Heights property owners may seek administrative review if they believe their property assessment is incorrect. They may request an Application for the Review of Assessment form from the City Assessor’s Office by phone, in person, or by mail within 30 days of receiving an assessment notice.

The Board of Equalization also grants judicial reviews if the property owner submits the application, required documentation, and a letter of authorization within 60 days of receiving an assessment notice. The property owner may appeal to the Circuit Court if they disagree with the board’s ruling. This is the final stage of the appeal process, which usually requires the service of an attorney.

GIS Maps and Parcel Viewer

The Colonial Heights Interactive Map is part of the city’s Geographic Information System (GIS). It helps you locate a parcel and understand its physical context. To find a parcel, a user can enter an address or use their current location. This shows the parcel’s assessor data such as its zip code, parcel ID, acreage, grantor, sale price, assessed value, land value, and legal description. The map makes it easier to focus on specific property details by toggling on or off the following map layers:

• Resource Management Areas (RMA)

• Resource Protection Areas (RPA)

• Address points

• Zoning

• Parcels

The Virginia GIS Clearinghouse is a useful resource for finding data that crosses city lines.

Foreclosure and Tax Sales

Trustee foreclosure and judicial tax sales may cause financial or legal problems that could affect property ownership.

Trustee foreclosure

A trustee foreclosure is a non-judicial proceeding governed by Title 55.1 of the Code of Virginia. Before the trustee publishes a formal notice of sale, the property owner must be more than 120 days delinquent in their mortgage payments. The trustee must send written notice of the proposed sale via certified mail at least 60 days before the sale. At the sale, the trustee receives bids and executes a trustee’s deed to the highest bidder.

Judicial tax sale

Judicial tax sales in Colonial Heights city are authorized by Va. Code 58.1-3965. Once taxes become delinquent, the city files a bill in equity in the Circuit Court. If the court approves, it appoints a Special Commissioner to manage the sale of the property at a public auction.

The property owner can redeem the property at any time before the sale is completed by paying all taxes, interest, penalties, and administrative fees. The right to redeem the property expires when the court confirms the auction.

Costs to Access Property Records

Virginia Code § 58.1-802 imposes a grantor’s tax on deeds and other instruments that convey real property. A state recordation tax also applies to every deed admitted to record per Virginia Code § 58.1-801.

How to Record a Document

Consider the following steps when recording a property document in Colonial Heights, VA:

1. If your document conveys an interest in real property, the first step is to generate a Virginia Land Records Cover Sheet (VLRCS) online and attach it as the first page of the document.
2. Ensure your document is typed or printed on single-sided, white 8.5 x 11-inch paper. The first page must state the consideration amount, the property tax map/parcel ID number, and the names of all grantors and grantees.
3. The original signatures must be executed in dark ink and properly notarized in accordance with the Virginia Notary Act.
4. The correct recording fee depends on the type, page count, and consideration. You can determine the accurate fee by using the Virginia Circuit Court Deed Calculator.
5. To ensure the safe and timely return of your document after recording, include a self-addressed, stamped envelope. Otherwise, you may pick it up in person at the Clerk’s Record Room.
6. Before submitting, prepare payment as cash, money order, or check payable to the Circuit Court Clerk. You may submit your document in person or by mail to P.O. Box 3401, Colonial Heights, VA 23834.

FAQs

Quick Reference: Your Colonial Heights City Property Records Checklist.

Key Contacts and Official Portals