Access Clallam County Deed Records

Clallam County deed records are filed with the Clallam County Auditor's Office at 223 E. 4th Street in Port Angeles, Washington. The Auditor's Document Recording division handles all real property filings in the county, including deeds, plats, liens, mortgages, and easements. You can search recorded documents online through the county's document search system, which covers records from approximately 1986 forward. Older Clallam County land records, including plat records going back to 1878, are available through the Washington State Digital Archives and the county's own files.

Clallam County Auditor Recording Division

The Clallam County Auditor's Office provides several divisions of service including Document Recording, Elections and Voter Registration, Financial Services, Marriage Licenses, Passports, and Vehicle and Vessel Licensing. The Document Recording division is where you go to file or retrieve deed records. The Recording Officer is the Auditor, acting through the Recording Department. All property filings go through this office and are indexed for public retrieval.

The Recording Department works closely with the Assessor's Office and Treasurer's Office for matters involving property. The Assessor values all real and personal property for tax purposes. The Treasurer collects property tax payments. If you need a complete picture of a property's status, you may need records from all three offices. The Assessor's website at clallam.net/assessor shows ownership information and assessed values that complement the deed records in the Auditor's files.

For public records requests that go beyond deed filings, the Public Records Office coordinates access across county departments. You can reach them at publicrecords@clallamcountywa.gov or (360) 417-2423. Deed records themselves are accessed directly through the Auditor's Recording Department.

How to Find Clallam County Deed Records

The Clallam County Auditor maintains an online document search system for recorded land documents. Documents can be searched by document number, name, legal description, or parcel number. The system includes records from approximately 1986 to the present, with many documents available to view online. Covenants recorded since about 1986 are also available through this system. To find covenants tied to a specific property, use the recording number from the Statutory Warranty Deed or use the volume and page numbers from the legal description.

If you already own a property in Clallam County, the Tax Assessor's website is a good starting point. It shows current and past owners along with the recording numbers of their Statutory Warranty Deeds. Once you have a recording number, you can go directly to that document in the Auditor's online system or request a copy at the counter. The Assessor's main phone is (360) 417-2400.

The Clallam County Recording Requirements page provides complete guidance on the formatting standards that documents must meet before they can be recorded. This page is worth reviewing before submitting any new deed for recording. Documents that fail to meet the standards are returned to the submitter, which delays the recording date. Under Washington's race-to-record rule in RCW 65.08.070, the recording date matters for establishing priority.

The Clallam County Recording Requirements page outlines the formatting and content standards that all deed documents must meet before the Auditor will accept them for recording.

Recording Fees and Copy Costs

Clallam County recording fees follow the state schedule. The standard fee for recording a deed is $303.50 for the first page plus $1.00 for each additional page, as established under RCW 36.18. A deed of trust costs $304.50 for the first page. These fees include housing affordability surcharges that went into effect January 1, 2024. Starting July 27, 2025, assignments or substitutions of previously recorded deeds of trust cost $301.00 for the first page. This is a significant increase from prior rates.

When inspection is free, fees only apply for copies. For non-certified copies, the fee is $0.50 per page mailed or $0.25 per page if emailed. Certified copies cost $5.00 for the first page and $1.00 for each additional page. These copy fees apply to documents obtained from the Auditor's Recording Department. If you are requesting records from another county department, different rates may apply. Always confirm current rates by calling (360) 417-2220 before your visit.

Property Documents Recorded in Clallam County

The Clallam County Auditor records all types of instruments affecting real property. Deed types recorded here include statutory warranty deeds, quitclaim deeds, bargain and sale deeds, personal representative's deeds, and trustee's deeds. Each type carries different warranty protections. Under RCW 64.04.020, every deed in Washington must be in writing, contain a legal description of the property, be signed by the grantor, and have the signature notarized. An address alone is not a valid legal description.

Beyond deeds, the Clallam County filing system holds mortgages, deeds of trust, full reconveyances, partial reconveyances, real estate contracts, contract modifications, easements, rights-of-way, mechanic's liens, judgment liens, federal tax liens, releases of liens, lis pendens filings, and plat maps. Covenants and CC&Rs that restrict property use are also filed and indexed here. All of these documents are part of the complete record for any parcel in the county.

The Washington State Digital Archives maintains Clallam County Recorded Land Records from 1985 through 2014. Plats and Surveys from the same period are in a separate collection. Recorded Agreements and Contracts from 1985 to 2014 are also available. The County Recorder's Office plat records go back to 1878, though records from before that date were destroyed in a fire. For older records or records from after 2014, contact the Auditor's office directly or use the county's online search system.

The Clallam County Auditor's Office at 223 E. 4th Street in Port Angeles is the central location for all deed recordings and property document access in the county.

Online Access and Digital Resources

The Washington State Digital Archives is a free online platform that provides access to historical Clallam County land records from 1985 to 2014. The Archives is maintained by the Secretary of State's office. You can search by grantor, grantee, document type, and year. Many records have images available for direct viewing. For records outside that date range, use the county's own online system for more recent filings or contact the Auditor for older records.

Public access computers are available at the Auditor's office and at local public libraries for people who want to search online resources without using a personal device. If you need records but cannot access the internet, notify the county, and they must provide you with access through an agency computer or provide copies under the Public Records Act. The county must respond to any records request within five business days under RCW 42.56.

The Clallam County Assessor's parcel records include ownership information, assessed values, and property characteristics. These records complement the deed files at the Auditor's office and can help identify which documents to request. The Board of Equalization at (360) 417-2330 handles property assessment appeals for owners who believe their assessed value is incorrect.

Cities in Clallam County

Clallam County includes several communities along the Olympic Peninsula. All deed recordings for cities and unincorporated areas in the county go through the Clallam County Auditor in Port Angeles. No cities in Clallam County currently have individual deed records pages on this site.

Communities in Clallam County include Port Angeles (county seat), Sequim, Forks, and Port Townsend (Jefferson County). Property deed filings for all Clallam County areas are handled at the Auditor's office at 223 E. 4th Street in Port Angeles.

Nearby Counties

These counties border or are near Clallam County on the Olympic Peninsula. Each has its own Auditor for deed and property recordings.