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

Fauquier County has many owner-occupied homes in suburban and rural areas. The county’s housing stock is dominated by single-family detached homes, while townhouses and other attached homes make up a smaller share. To find property records in the county, interested parties may contact the Clerk of Circuit Court, County Treasurer, and the Commissioner of the Revenue.

Recent records reveal the underlying factors influencing the local real estate market, with a median home value of $495,300 and median rent of $1,533, alongside a median household income of $111,083 and a median real estate tax rate of 0.8 as a percentage of the property's assessed value.

How to Look Up Fauquier County Property Records

Fauquier County property records are split across multiple connected online databases. You can obtain information from most of these portals by using a parcel’s unique parcel identification number (PIN).

The Secure Remote Access (SRA) system is a restricted web portal for limited access to the Clerk of the Circuit Court’s land records. To gain access, you must complete and submit the SRA Application and the SRA Subscriber Agreement. An annual subscription is $400 and allows two users per account.

Who Keeps Fauquier County Property Records?

The Virginia Freedom of Information Act grants public access to most property records, including assessments, GIS mapping, and property tax payment histories. Fauquier County real estate documents are available for inspection per Section 17.1-208 of the Code of Virginia.

Here are the main offices that handle property records in Fauquier County:

• The Clerk of the Circuit Court receives and records all documents that affect real estate in the county. The office assigns deed book and page numbers to every recorded document.

• The Commissioner of the Revenue is the chief assessing office in Fauquier County. Its Real Estate Division updates ownership records and maintains tax maps.

• The Treasurer issues real estate tax bills and processes tax payments. This office also handles tax delinquencies and keeps payment histories.

How to Search Fauquier County Property Records Online

Below is the step-by-step process for conducting a comprehensive online property record search across Fauquier County portals:

1. Search the Fauquier County GIS portal with the property’s address or owner name to find other basic details. In the attribute panel, note the parcel identification number (PIN) and the deed book and page numbers for future reference.
2. On the Real Estate Assessment website, input the PIN in the “PID” box or enter any other known criteria. Once you retrieve the property record card, check the assessed value, acreage, square footage, and historical transfer dates.
3. If you subscribed to the SRA system, use the deed book and page numbers to view the deed, deed of trust, easements, or other recorded documents.
4. You can query the Taxpayer portal with the parcel’s account number or parcel identification number to view payment history, current account balance, and billing schedules.

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

Under Va. Code § 17.1-223, the Fauquier County Circuit Court Clerk has a statutory duty to record and index documents presented for recordation. Examples of real estate and property ownership documents recorded by the Clerk’s Recording Department include:

• Judgment liens, HOA liens, and mechanic’s liens

• Deeds of trust, quitclaim deeds, and warranty deeds

• Survey maps, subdivision plats, and boundary line adjustments

• Utility easements, access agreements, and right-of-way

• Satisfaction of deeds of trust, lien releases, and loan transfers

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

The Commissioner of the Revenue in Fauquier County determines fair market values for real estate across the county as of January 1. It inspects new structures or physical improvements made to parcels between general reassessment cycles.

Virginia law mandates localities to assess real estate at 100% of the fair market value. This value represents the price the property would sell for in an open and competitive market. The Fauquier County Reassessment Office has adopted a two-year reassessment cycle instead of the normal four-year cycle.

Treasurer: Tax Bills and Payments

The Treasurer’s Office bills and collects real estate taxes for all parcels in Fauquier County. It keeps records of property tax payments and outstanding balances. Property owners in the county pay real estate taxes in two installments. The first installment is due June 5, while the second is due December 5.

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

As required by Virginia law, the Fauquier County Commissioner of the Revenue assesses properties at 100% of fair market price. The Board of Supervisors then sets a tax rate per $100 of assessed value. To compute the tax bill, the Treasurer’s Office applies the assessed value to the tax rate.

Exemptions and relief

Appealing your assessment

You can challenge your real property assessment if you believe it does not reflect the actual fair market value. A staff appraisal from the Commissioner of the Revenue can review the assessment and correct factual errors by inspecting the property and examining equity comparables.

If the assessment remains unchanged, you can submit a written appeal to the Board of Equalization. The board conducts a hearing to determine the property’s value. During the hearing, you or your authorized representative must prove the value assessed on your property is incorrect.

GIS Maps and Parcel Viewer

The Fauquier County GIS portal is an interactive map used to locate parcels and review land features. When conducting a search, users can enter a property’s address, PIN, or owner name. It also allows searches by selecting the parcel directly from the map. The portal also includes several data layers, such as:

• Tax parcels

• Aerial imagery

• Zoning districts and proffers

• Building footprints

• Municipal boundary

• FEMA flood zones

• Road centerlines

Anyone interested in data that crosses county lines may consult the Virginia GIS clearinghouse.

Foreclosure and Tax Sales

Checking for judicial tax sales and trustee foreclosures helps you avoid purchasing a property that is undergoing foreclosure or an ownership change.

Trustee foreclosure

Per Va. Code § 55.1-320 et seq., a designated trustee is authorized to sell a property at a public auction if the borrower defaults on a mortgage. This allows the trustee to recover the unpaid debt without filing a lawsuit.

The trustee must mail the homeowner a formal notice at least 60 days before the sale. After the sale, the owner has no statutory right to redeem the property. The trustee executes a deed that transfers ownership to the highest bidder.

Judicial tax sale

Fauquier County uses a judicial tax sale to collect delinquent taxes as authorized by Section 58.1-3965 of the Code of Virginia. The county files a lawsuit to sell the property at a public auction to cover the unpaid taxes, fees, and court costs.

A property owner may stop the sale before the auction takes place by paying the taxes, penalties, and legal fees. Once the court confirms the sale, the owner cannot redeem the property.

Costs to Access Property Records

Va. Code § 58.1-801 mandates a state recordation tax on every non-exempt deed admitted to record. The seller must also pay the grantor’s tax if the deed transfers real property per Va. Code § 58.1-802.

How to Record a Document

You can record a property document in Fauquier County by following these steps:

1. Prepare the document on white paper in at least 9-point font. You must also include the property’s tax map number or PIN on the document.
2. Capitalize and underline the last names of the grantor and grantee to help proper indexing. Ensure that the document is signed with legible stamps.
3. Before submitting, use the Virginia Circuit Court Deed Calculator to calculate the applicable recording fees.
4. If you are submitting the document in person or by mail, prepare payment via cash or check payable to Clerk, Circuit Court of Fauquier County. You may also submit your document to the Clerk through an approved e-Recording vendor like Simplifile. Note that the Clerk does not accept e-recording for easements, plats, and judgments.

FAQs

Quick Reference: Your Fauquier County Property Records Checklist

Key Contacts and Official Portals