Chelan County Deed Records

Chelan County deed records are filed with the County Auditor's Recording Division at 350 Orondo Avenue in Wenatchee, Washington. The office records deeds, mortgages, deeds of trust, easements, liens, plat maps, surveys, and other documents affecting real property throughout the county. You can search recorded documents through the county's online system or visit the office in person during public counter hours. Historical Chelan County land records dating back to 1888 are also available through the Washington State Digital Archives. The Recording Division maintains documents going back to 1900.

Chelan County Auditor Recording Division

The Recording Division of the Chelan County Auditor's Office handles all real property filings in the county. The division records deeds, mortgages, marriage licenses, military discharge records, plat maps, surveys, UCC filings, and business license applications. Under Washington law, the County Auditor serves as the official custodian of these records and is responsible for receiving, reviewing, indexing, and preserving them. The Auditor maintains the official index that allows documents to be retrieved by grantor, grantee, year, document type, or legal description.

The public records counter is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM. The main office hours are 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM. The office is closed weekends and county-observed holidays. Staff at the recording counter can assist you with locating documents and making copies, though they are not able to give legal advice. For court records, the Chelan County Clerk's Office is on Level 6 of the same building, reachable at (509) 667-6380.

Searching Chelan County Deed Records

Chelan County provides online access to recorded documents through the county's recording system. You can search by grantor or grantee name, document type, or date range. Free online access is available for basic property information, assessment values, building characteristics, ownership details, and tax information through the Chelan County Assessor's Property Search. The Chelan County GIS Mapping System provides property boundary visualization, parcel identification, aerial imagery, and zoning information, which is useful for identifying specific parcels before pulling deed records.

In-person searches are also available at the Recording Division counter at Level 3 of 350 Orondo Avenue. Public computer terminals are set up for self-service research. Staff can assist with searching and navigating the system. If you need documents from before the online system's date range, staff can help locate physical records. Fees apply for printed copies: $1.00 per page for standard copies and $5.00 for the first page of a certified copy, with $1.00 for each additional page.

For records dating back to 1888, the Washington State Digital Archives Chelan County Land Records collection is the best resource. The collection includes index and images for land records recorded by the Chelan County Auditor from 1888 to the present. The Archives also maintains a separate Chelan County Agreements and Contracts collection covering 1900 to the present with over 31,000 records. Both collections are free to search online.

The Washington State Digital Archives Chelan County collection includes deed records going back to 1888, making it one of the most complete historical deed databases available for this county.

Chelan County Recording Fees

Recording fees in Chelan County follow the state schedule set by the Washington Legislature under RCW 36.18. The standard fee for recording a deed is $303.50 for the first page plus $1.00 for each additional page. This amount includes a $183 housing affordability surcharge and a $100 Covenant Homeownership surcharge, which fund affordable housing and down-payment assistance programs statewide. A deed of trust costs $304.50 for the first page due to an additional archive fee.

If a document fails the formatting requirements and needs an emergency cover sheet, the non-standard fee adds $50 plus $1 for the cover page on top of all other fees. Documents must meet the standards set by RCW 65.04, which include a three-inch top margin on the first page, one-inch side and bottom margins on all pages, minimum 8-point font, and legible text that will image properly. The Auditor checks documents when they are submitted and will return those that do not comply.

Copies from the Chelan County Auditor's office cost $1.00 per page for uncertified copies. Certified copies are $5.00 for the first page and $1.00 for each additional page. This applies to certified copies of deeds, easements, and other recorded instruments. Bulk data requests and research services that take significant staff time may have additional fees as authorized by RCW 36.18.010.

Deed Types and Property Records

Chelan County property records cover all aspects of real property ownership and encumbrance. The most common type of deed recorded here is the statutory warranty deed, which transfers ownership and includes covenants that the grantor holds good title, has the right to convey, and will defend against title challenges under RCW 64.04.030. Quitclaim deeds under RCW 64.04.050 are common for transfers between family members, clearing title disputes, or correcting prior deeds.

Chelan County property records typically include ownership information such as current and previous owners, chain of title, dates of transfers, and deed information. Property characteristics, assessment and tax information, and legal instruments like mortgages, liens, easements, CC&Rs, and plat maps all form part of the complete picture for any parcel. Pursuant to RCW 65.04.030, the County Auditor must record and index these instruments so they are available for public inspection.

Washington's recording statute gives priority based on order of recording. The party who records first wins in a dispute between two competing interests in the same property. This principle is spelled out in RCW 65.08.070. It means that waiting to record a deed after a purchase is closed carries real legal risk. Chelan County deed records reflect this: the index shows exactly when each document was filed, down to the specific date and time.

Public Access to Chelan County Deed Records

All deed records filed with the Chelan County Auditor are public documents under Washington's Public Records Act, RCW 42.56. Any person can inspect or request copies of recorded deeds, mortgages, liens, or easements. No statement of purpose is required, and no one can restrict your access based on how you plan to use the records. The county must respond to records requests within five business days.

Free in-person access is available at the public counter during business hours. Public computer terminals let you search the recorded documents index without staff help. If you find what you need, staff can print copies on the spot. If you are researching a property title and need a certified copy for legal purposes, ask for a certified copy specifically at the counter. The fee is $5.00 for the first page and $1.00 for additional pages.

For records research that covers many documents or spans a long time period, the Washington State Digital Archives is your best free online tool. The Chelan County Archives collection for the Central Regional Branch is managed at (509) 963-2136 or cebrancharchives@sos.wa.gov. Staff there can help you access records not available through the public online portal and can advise on how to search for specific document types in the archives' catalog.

Cities in Chelan County

Chelan County includes several communities in the Wenatchee Valley and surrounding areas. Deed recordings for all cities and unincorporated areas in the county go through the Chelan County Auditor's office in Wenatchee.

Other communities in Chelan County include East Wenatchee (Douglas County), Leavenworth, Cashmere, Chelan, and Entiat. Property recordings for all unincorporated Chelan County areas go through the Auditor's office at 350 Orondo Avenue in Wenatchee.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Chelan County. Each has its own recording office for deed and property documents.