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

Lancaster County is a rural coastal area located in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The county contains approximately 10,000 parcels of land, with local property records split among the Circuit Court Clerk, Commissioner of the Revenue, and Treasurer.

Most residential properties are single-family homes, centered in Kilmarnock, Irvington, and White Stone Towns. An average home takes about 36 days to sell, moving slower than the state average of 16 days. Waterfront resorts, beaches, and historic centers all attract people to buy homes in Lancaster County.

Recent records reveal the underlying factors influencing the local real estate market, with a median home value of $326,100 and median rent of $1,055, alongside a median household income of $63,036 and a median real estate tax rate of 0.48 as a percentage of the property's assessed value.

How to Look Up Lancaster County Property Records

You can access Lancaster County property records online, in person, or by filing a formal request. Use the Lancaster County GIS Map Viewer to check assessment values, parcel details, ownership, and maps. For access to deeds, deeds of trust, liens, and plats, head over to the Circuit Court Land Records Portal. Check the Real Estate Public Inquiry platform to review tax balances and payment history.

Who Keeps Lancaster County Property Records

Three elected offices create and manage property records in Lancaster County. Under the Virginia Freedom of Information Act, interested individuals can inspect or request copies of these documents without stating their purpose or any legal connection to the property. These elected offices include:

• The Circuit Court Clerk’s Office is given the responsibility of recording deeds, deeds of trust, plats, liens, and other land transactions in Lancaster County. The clerk’s office offers citizens access to a deed fraud alert system called VADeed Alert. It organizes and indexes public land documents so anyone can easily find what they need.

• The Commissioner of the Revenue is the chief tax assessing officer of Lancaster County and assesses every real estate property for taxation purposes. The office helps citizens file their Virginia income taxes. It also administers real estate relief and land use programs to eligible residents in the county.

• The Treasurer's Office issues tax bills and collects all property taxes in Lancaster County. The office keeps revenue and accounts for the disbursement of the revenue to appropriate taxing entities in the county.

How to Search Lancaster County Property Records Online

You can search Lancaster County property records online by taking these steps in the following order:

1. Identify a parcel through the Lancaster County GIS Map Viewer by searching by parcel number, owner name, or property address.
2. Once you open the map viewer, your search results will bring up property boundaries, tax maps, parcel details, owner information, zoning, aerial imagery, soil maps, and voting districts.
3. Verify your property’s title history, active deeds of trust, and outstanding liens through the Circuit Court land records portal. You can search the database by using the owner’s name, book/page number, instrument number, recording date, or tax map.
4. Finally, confirm the tax balance, account status, and payment history from the Real Estate Public Inquiry portal.
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 land documents in Lancaster County. The clerk’s office records, indexes, and preserves all local real estate documents. The clerk’s office and staff also spend many hours assisting residents of the county and others who come into the office.

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

The Commissioner of the Revenue assesses real estate values of property in Lancaster County for taxation purposes. The office serves as a resource for the County Steering Committee and administers public services taxes, bank franchise taxes, and rolling stock taxes.

Treasurer: Tax Bills and Payments

The Treasurer’s Office issues tax bills and collects property taxes from residents. Lancaster County taxes are due on December 5th. After December 5th, a 10% penalty is added to the bill.

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

Property tax in Lancaster County is calculated by dividing a property's assessed value by $100 and multiplying that figure by the current tax rate of $0.60.

Exemptions and relief

Appealing your assessment

To appeal your assessment, request an informal review with the Commissioner of the Revenue. If the Commissioner cannot resolve the issue, file a formal appeal with the Board of Equalization. If you are not satisfied with the Board’s decision, you may escalate the matter to the Lancaster County Circuit Court.

GIS Maps and Parcel Viewer

Individuals can view digital map details and Geographic Information System (GIS) for Lancaster County through the GIS Map Viewer. This platform reveals parcel details and additional information including streets, zoning, voting precincts, aerial imagery, and town boundaries. You may also obtain unified, cross-jurisdictional spatial data for the county from the Virginia GIS Clearinghouse.

Foreclosure and Tax Sales

Lancaster County manages foreclosures and tax sales through two separate processes.

Trustee foreclosure

If you fall behind on your mortgage in Lancaster County, it can trigger trustee foreclosure. Because Virginia uses deeds of trust, a trustee manages the foreclosure process without court approval or intervention. Under Title 55.1, the trustee must advertise the property in a local newspaper and sell it at a public auction to the highest bidder, who receives a trustee’s deed.

Judicial tax sale

If property taxes in Lancaster County go unpaid for two years after the due date, the county collects them through a judicial tax sale under state law. Virginia Counties, including Lancaster, do not issue or sell tax liens. Instead, the Treasurer’s Office files a civil suit with the Lancaster County Circuit Court to approve the sale of the property. Every sale requires the court's final confirmation and approval. Property owners can redeem their property before it is sold by paying all overdue taxes, interest, penalties, and legal fees in full.

Costs to Access Property Records

You need to pay specific fees before you can record a land document or get copies of Lancaster County property records:

How to Record a Document

Follow the steps listed below to file your land document in Lancaster County:

1. Ensure the document you intend to record complies with Virginia's formatting standards and includes original signatures, a notary acknowledgment, a proper legal description, and a cover sheet.
2. Use the Virginia Supreme Court Deed Calculator to calculate the recording fee. This tool determines the total amount based on the document type, technology trust fund fee, state or local transfer taxes, page count, and property value.
3. Submit the completed document to the Lancaster County Circuit Court Clerk’s Office in person, by mail, or through an authorized e-recording vendor.
4. Once your document is accepted for recording, verify it by using the public computer terminals located in the clerk's office. You can also access the recorded documents through the Circuit Court land records portal.

FAQs

Quick Reference: Your Lancaster County Property Records Checklist

Key Contacts and Official Portals