Spanaway Deed Records Lookup
Spanaway deed records are maintained by the Pierce County Auditor's Office because Spanaway is an unincorporated community within Pierce County. There is no city government for Spanaway, so all property transfers, mortgages, liens, and related documents are recorded at the county level. You can search those records online through Pierce County's portal, visit the Auditor's office in Tacoma, or request copies by mail. This page explains the recording system and how to access deed records for any Spanaway property.
Spanaway Overview
Pierce County Auditor's Office for Spanaway
Because Spanaway is unincorporated, the Pierce County Auditor's Office handles all deed recording for the area. This means that when a Spanaway property changes hands, the deed is filed in Tacoma at the county level, not with any city office. The Auditor's Office records deeds, deeds of trust, mortgages, liens, easements, plats, and surveys. All of these become permanent indexed public records. Online access goes back to 1984, giving a long view of Spanaway property ownership history.
The Auditor's Recording Department is at 2401 S 35th Street, Room 200, in Tacoma. Phone is 253-798-7440. Regular hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. In addition to deed recording, Pierce County's Assessor-Treasurer maintains property value and sales data for Spanaway parcels. Pierce County Planning and Public Works holds parcel and land use information. Building permit applications and code enforcement records are also available through the county's online portal.
| Office | Pierce County Auditor's Office - Recording Department |
|---|---|
| Address | 2401 S 35th Street, Room 200 Tacoma, WA 98409 |
| Phone | 253-798-7440 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Website | piercecountywa.gov/Recorded-Documents |
Searching Spanaway Deed Records Online
Pierce County provides online access to recorded documents through the Records Available Online page. From there you can reach the Auditor's recording search, the Assessor-Treasurer's property lookup, and the Planning and Public Works parcel database. The recording search is where you will find actual deed documents. The Assessor-Treasurer lookup gives value history and recent sales. The parcel search connects everything to a map view.
To search for a specific deed, you typically need a party name or parcel number. The recording search lets you enter the last name of the grantor or grantee and filter by document type and date range. Results show recording date, document type, and document number. Images are available for most records from 1984 forward, and you can view and print them without paying for copies. Certified copies require a formal request and fee. If you are researching a long ownership history or need older records, the county may be able to direct you to microfilm archives.
Building permits and code enforcement records for Spanaway are also accessible online through Pierce County. These can help fill in the property's improvement history alongside the deed record chain.
Types of Deed Records in Spanaway
Several deed types are used to convey Spanaway properties. Washington law defines each type and what promises the grantor makes to the grantee at the time of transfer.
The Statutory Warranty Deed under RCW 64.04.030 is the standard in most Spanaway property sales. The seller guarantees clear title and promises to defend the buyer against prior claims. The Bargain and Sale Deed under RCW 64.04.040 limits the warranty to the seller's own time of ownership. Banks typically use this after foreclosures. The Quitclaim Deed under RCW 64.04.050 transfers whatever interest the grantor holds with zero guarantees. Family transfers and resolving title ambiguities are the most common uses.
Beyond deed types, the Pierce County system indexes deeds of trust, reconveyances, mechanic's liens, judgment liens, and easements. Real estate excise tax affidavits accompany deeds and are part of the public record. All are searchable through the same county portal.
Owner Alert Service for Spanaway Properties
Pierce County offers a free Owner Alert service for Spanaway property owners. When you sign up, you receive email notifications any time a document is recorded with the name you registered. Deed fraud is a real concern for property owners in unincorporated areas. Without a city-level layer of oversight, it can be easier for fraudulent recordings to go undetected for longer periods. The Owner Alert service helps you catch any suspicious activity early.
Sign up at piercecountywa.gov/Owner-Alert-Service. The service is free. Once you enroll, the system monitors for documents indexed with your name and sends you an email when anything is filed. This does not prevent fraud, but it gives you fast notice so you can act. Spanaway homeowners and landlords should consider this a standard precaution, especially for properties that are vacant or rented where an unauthorized transfer might not be noticed quickly.
The Washington State Archives holds historical land records collections that may predate Pierce County's digital system, useful when researching older Spanaway property chains.
Public Access to Spanaway Deed Records
Deed records are public under Washington's Public Records Act, RCW Chapter 42.56. Anyone can view them. No reason is needed. The county auditor cannot ask why you want to see a record. This applies to all property records held by Pierce County, including those for Spanaway.
Walk-in access is available at the Pierce County Auditor's Office in Tacoma during regular hours. Public computers at the office allow you to search the index and view records on-site. Mail-in requests are also accepted. Include the document number, return address, and payment with your request. If you are looking for a combination of deed history and permit records for a Spanaway property, you may need to make separate requests to the Auditor and to Pierce County Planning and Public Works.
The Washington State Digital Archives provides access to historical land records statewide, including Pierce County collections that may contain older Spanaway property records.
Pierce County Deed Records
Spanaway is an unincorporated community in Pierce County. All deed records for Spanaway properties are maintained at the Pierce County Auditor's Office. The county page has full detail on the recording office, search tools, fees, and resources across the Pierce County system.
Nearby Cities
These cities are near Spanaway and file deed records through their respective county recorders.