Pasco Deed Records Search
Pasco deed records are filed with the Franklin County Auditor's Office, which serves as the official recorder for all real property in Franklin County. Pasco is the county seat and the largest city in Franklin County, and the Auditor's office maintains deed records going back to the 1880s. When property in Pasco is sold, refinanced, or transferred, the deed must be recorded with the Auditor to take legal effect. You can search those records online or visit the office on North 4th Street in Pasco itself. This page covers how the system works, what documents are filed, and where to get copies.
Pasco Overview
Franklin County Auditor for Pasco Deed Records
The Franklin County Auditor's Office is the primary authority for deed records in Pasco. The Auditor is responsible for recording deeds, mortgages, liens, and all other real property instruments for Franklin County. The office maintains deed records from the 1880s to the current day, making it one of the more complete county recording archives in eastern Washington. Pasco sits at the center of the Tri-City metropolitan area alongside Kennewick and Richland, and the Franklin County Auditor handles all property recordings for the Pasco portion of that region.
The office is located right in Pasco on North 4th Street, which makes in-person searches and copy requests straightforward for Pasco residents. Staff can help guide you through the mail process for title transfers and assist with locating specific recorded documents. The Auditor also maintains marriage records from 1890 to present and military discharge and war deed records, though these are separate from real property deed records.
| Office | Franklin County Auditor's Office |
|---|---|
| Address | 1016 North 4th Street Pasco, WA 99301 |
| Phone | (509) 545-3502 |
| Auditor@franklincountywa.gov | |
| Website | franklincountywa.gov |
Note: The Franklin County Auditor's office is in Pasco, not a separate county seat. This means Pasco residents can access deed records without traveling to another city.
Searching Pasco Deed Records Online
The Franklin County Auditor provides online access to recorded documents. You can search by party name, document type, recording date range, or document number. The online system covers recorded land records from 1989 to the present for most document types, along with plats and surveys from 1884 to present and recorded agreements and contracts from 1989 forward. For older records from before 1989, an in-person visit to the office or a request to the Washington State Archives may be needed.
The City of Pasco's official website provides access to city-level services and can direct you to Franklin County resources for deed record searches and property document requests.
The Pasco City Clerk's Office handles city-generated records, permits, and ordinances. That office is separate from the Franklin County Auditor and does not maintain deed records for private property. All real property conveyance documents go to the county. If you need a building permit history or zoning record for a Pasco address, start with the City Clerk. For deeds, liens, mortgages, and property title documents, go directly to the Franklin County Auditor.
The Pasco City Clerk's office manages city-level public records requests and can direct you to Franklin County for deed and property recording research.
Types of Deed Records Filed in Franklin County
Several deed types are used for property transfers in Pasco. The Statutory Warranty Deed under RCW 64.04.030 is the standard in residential sales. It carries full covenants. The seller warrants clear ownership and agrees to defend the title against all future claims. Most buyers in normal transactions get this type. It provides the strongest protection of any deed form under Washington law.
The Bargain and Sale Deed under RCW 64.04.040 limits the seller's warranty to their period of ownership. Banks and lenders often use this form after a foreclosure. The Quitclaim Deed under RCW 64.04.050 carries no warranties and simply passes whatever interest the grantor holds at signing. It is commonly used in family property transfers, trust conveyances, and divorce-related title changes. All three are indexed in the Franklin County system and searchable by party name.
Franklin County also maintains plats and surveys dating back to 1884, which are an important resource for understanding property boundaries and subdivisions in and around Pasco. Plats establish the legal lot descriptions that deed descriptions reference. If you are doing title research on a subdivided property, the plat records are often a necessary part of the search.
Recording and Copy Fees for Pasco Properties
Washington recording fees are set under RCW Chapter 36.18. Recording a deed in Franklin County costs $303.50 for the first page and $1.00 for each additional page. A deed of trust runs $304.50 for the first page. These fees include state housing surcharges. Documents not meeting the formatting standards under RCW 65.04 may be returned or subject to a $50 non-standard surcharge on top of the regular fee.
Copy fees run $1.00 per page for standard copies. Certified copies cost $3.00 for the first page and $1.00 for each additional page. You can request copies in person at the Pasco office, by mail, or by email. Real estate excise tax affidavits must accompany all deeds at the time of recording and are part of the permanent file alongside the deed itself.
Public Access to Pasco Property Records
Deed records are public under Washington's Public Records Act, RCW Chapter 42.56. Anyone can search and view these documents without stating a reason. The Franklin County Auditor cannot ask why you need a deed. This applies equally to property owners, buyers, investors, attorneys, and any member of the public. Access is free for inspection. Fees only apply when you need physical copies.
Walk-in access is available at 1016 North 4th Street in Pasco during regular business hours. Public terminals let you search the index and view documents. Staff can assist with the search tools and help locate specific documents. Mail requests for copies are also accepted at the same address. Include the document number, your name and address, and payment when requesting copies by mail.
The Washington State Digital Archives holds older Franklin County land records. For Pasco properties with long ownership histories, the Digital Archives allows free name-based searches across land records and plat collections. Franklin County Auditor plats and surveys from 1884 to 2023 are available through the Digital Archives system, as are recorded land records from 1989 to 2023.
Franklin County Deed Records
Pasco is the county seat of Franklin County. All deed records for Pasco properties are maintained at the Franklin County Auditor's Office, located right in Pasco. The county page has more detail on the recording office, online search tools, and resources available across Franklin County.
Nearby Cities
These Tri-Cities area cities are near Pasco and file deed records through their respective county recording offices.