Access Burien Deed Records

Burien deed records are filed with the King County Recorder's Office in Seattle. Every property transfer in Burien, whether a home sale, a gift, or a refinance, results in a recorded document that becomes part of the public record. You can search those records online or in person at the King County Administration Building. This page covers how to find Burien deed records, what document types are available, and what to expect when you need copies.

King County Recorder's Office for Burien

All deed records for Burien properties are held by the King County Recorder's Office. The Recorder maintains the official repository of recorded real estate documents for all of King County, including Burien. Washington State law designates county auditors as custodians of records, responsible for receiving, reviewing, indexing, preserving, and providing copies of all recorded instruments. Burien property deeds are recorded here alongside documents for Seattle, Bellevue, and dozens of other King County communities.

The King County Recorder's Office is located in downtown Seattle at 500 Fourth Avenue, Room 430. It handles an enormous volume of property documents each year given King County's size and activity. The office provides online access to documents recorded since August 1, 1991. For records before that date, you can search at the King County Archives or the Puget Sound Regional Branch of the Washington State Archives.

Note: The King County Recorder's Office is accessible by public transit. It is a short walk from downtown Seattle light rail stations and served by multiple bus lines. Paid parking is available in nearby garages. Visitors must pass through security.

How to Search Burien Deed Records

King County provides free online access to its recorded document index for documents dating back to August 1991. You can search by grantor name, grantee name, document type, recording date, or document number. The search returns an index of matching records with links to document images for most post-1991 documents. No login or fee is required to view these images online.

The King County Parcel Viewer is a helpful starting point if you only have the address. You can look up the property by address to find the parcel number, legal description, and recent sales data. The viewer links directly to the Recorder's document index for that parcel, letting you jump straight to the deed history without knowing the grantor or grantee names in advance.

The Burien City Clerk manages public records requests for city-generated documents. Deed and property title records are maintained separately by the King County Recorder.

The Burien City Clerk's Office is committed to open government and handles public records requests for city documents under RCW Chapter 42.56. City records include ordinances, resolutions, council minutes, and city contracts. They do not include deed records or other property title documents, which remain with the county recording system. If you need a building permit history, zoning decision, or code enforcement record for a Burien property, the city is the right contact.

Deed Types Recorded in Burien

Washington uses three main types of deeds for property transfers. Knowing which type was used in a past transaction tells you what guarantees were made at the time of sale. The Statutory Warranty Deed under RCW 64.04.030 is the most buyer-protective. The seller guarantees clear title, promises no hidden encumbrances, and agrees to defend the title against future claims. Most standard residential sales in Burien use this deed type.

The Bargain and Sale Deed under RCW 64.04.040 limits seller warranties to only the period of the seller's ownership. Banks and lenders commonly use this after foreclosure. The Quitclaim Deed under RCW 64.04.050 carries no warranties at all and is typically used for transfers between family members, divorce-related property transfers, and title corrections. None of these deeds are valid unless they contain a legal description of the property, are signed by the grantor, and the grantor's signature is notarized under RCW 64.04.020. A property address is not a sufficient legal description.

Beyond deeds, the King County Recorder maintains deeds of trust, releases and reconveyances, liens, easements, plats, and surveys for Burien properties. Each of these documents is indexed and searchable through the county's online system.

Recording Fees in King County

Recording fees in Washington are set by the Legislature under RCW Chapters 36.18 and 36.22. The current standard fee to record a deed is $303.50 for the first page plus $1.00 for each additional page. A deed of trust costs $304.50 for the first page. The fee includes a $183 housing affordability surcharge and a $100 Covenant Homeownership surcharge funding statewide affordable housing initiatives.

Documents that do not comply with the formatting requirements under RCW 65.04 may be returned or hit with a $50 non-standard surcharge. The first page must have a three-inch top margin and one-inch margins on the other three sides. No stamps, seals, or notations should appear in the margins. Copy fees for recorded documents are $1.00 per page for standard copies and $3.00 for the first page of a certified copy.

Digital Resources for Burien Deed Records

The Burien city website connects residents to city services, public records contacts, and information on King County recording resources.

The King County online recorder portal is the main tool for Burien deed research. It covers documents recorded since August 1991 and is available free at the King County website. You can search by name or document number, view document images, and print unofficial copies at no charge. Certified copies require a formal request to the Recorder's Office with payment of the applicable fee.

For records predating the county's online system, the Washington State Digital Archives at digitalarchives.wa.gov provides access to historical land records. The Digital Archives was the first in the nation to digitize both state and local government electronic records. It contains land records, plat maps, real property record cards with 1930s-1940s photographs, and other collections that can help trace older Burien property ownership. King County property tax records at the Puget Sound Regional Branch of the Washington State Archives include photographs of every building in King County taken during those decades.

Public Access to Burien Deed Records

Deed records are public under Washington's Public Records Act, RCW Chapter 42.56. Anyone can inspect and copy recorded documents. No reason is required. The county must respond to records requests within five business days. There are no restrictions on who can access deed records or how they can be used once obtained.

Public terminals at the King County Recorder's Office let you search the full document index and view images on-site without charge. Walk-in visitors can request paper copies for $1.00 per page. Mail-in requests are also accepted. Include the document number and payment with your request. For documents that contain Social Security numbers or other personal identifiers, those elements are redacted from online images. Full copies are available upon request in person at the Recording office.

Washington's priority recording rule means the first party to record their deed wins in a dispute between two claimants. This is why buyers and lenders always record as quickly as possible after closing. Recording creates legal delivery of the document under RCW 65.08.095 and puts the world on notice of the transaction.

King County Deed Records

Burien is in King County, and all deed records for Burien properties are held by the King County Recorder's Office. The county page has full information on the recording system, document search options, and resources across King County.

View King County Deed Records

Nearby Cities

These nearby cities also file deed records through their county recording offices.