DeKalb County Public Records /DeKalb County Property Records

DeKalb County Property Records

How To Search Property Records in DeKalb County in 2026

DeKalbCountyRecords.org provides access to publicly available information related to property records in DeKalb County, Georgia. Members of the public may search for records including deeds, tax assessments, mortgage filings, liens, plat maps, and ownership histories. The information presented reflects data sourced from official county and state repositories and may not capture the most recent filings or all record types.

Property records in DeKalb County may be searched through several official resources maintained by county and state agencies. The primary repositories include the DeKalb County Property Appraisal & Assessment Department, the DeKalb County Clerk of Superior Court, and the DeKalb County Tax Commissioner's Office. Each office maintains distinct categories of records and provides separate access methods.

Official Resources for Searching Property Records:

DeKalb County Property Appraisal & Assessment — property valuations, ownership data, and parcel information
DeKalb County Clerk of Superior Court — recorded deeds, mortgages, liens, and official instruments
DeKalb County Tax Commissioner — tax bills, payment history, and delinquency records
Georgia Superior Court Clerks' Cooperative Authority (GSCCCA) — statewide index of recorded real property documents

1. Property Appraiser Website

The DeKalb County Property Appraisal & Assessment Department maintains a publicly accessible online database for property information. Members of the public may search at no cost and without registration.

Search Options:

By property address
By owner name
By parcel ID number
By subdivision name
By map or GIS location

Information Available:

Current owner name and mailing address
Property address and legal description
Parcel identification number
Land use and zoning classification
Property characteristics including square footage, year built, number of bedrooms and bathrooms, lot size, and building type
Assessed value of land and improvements
Taxable value and exemptions applied
Sales history
GIS map location and property card

How to Search:

Navigate to the DeKalb County Property Appraisal search portal
Select the preferred search type (address, owner name, or parcel ID)
Enter the search criteria in the appropriate field
Review the results list returned by the system
Select the specific property to view the full property card
Access maps, sales history, and assessment details from the property record page
Print or save the information as needed

2. County Clerk / Recorder Official Records Search

The DeKalb County Clerk of Superior Court serves as the official recorder of real property instruments under O.C.G.A. § 44-2-1, which governs the recording of deeds and other instruments affecting title to real property in Georgia. Basic search access is available at no charge through the GSCCCA statewide index.

Searchable By:

Grantor name (seller)
Grantee name (buyer)
Document type
Recording date range
Deed book and page number
Instrument number

Documents Available:

Warranty deeds and quitclaim deeds
Mortgages and deeds of trust
Satisfactions and releases of mortgage
Mechanic's liens, judgment liens, and tax liens
Easements and declarations of restrictions
Plats and surveys
Powers of attorney affecting property
Lis pendens filings
HOA documents

How to Search:

Access the GSCCCA real property index for statewide recorded document searches
Select the search type (grantor, grantee, or document type)
Enter the applicable search criteria including name and date range
Review the results and select the relevant instrument
View document images where available online
Note the deed book and page or instrument number for reference when requesting certified copies

3. Tax Commissioner Website

The DeKalb County Tax Commissioner's Office provides free public access to property tax information through its online portal.

Search By:

Property address
Owner name
Parcel or account number

Information Available:

Current tax bill and amount due
Payment history
Outstanding balances
Exemptions applied
Millage rates by taxing authority
Tax certificate information for delinquent accounts
Installment plan status and payment options

4. GIS / Mapping System

DeKalb County maintains an interactive GIS mapping system that allows visual property searches with aerial photography, property boundary overlays, zoning layers, flood zone designations, and environmental features. Members of the public may navigate the map to a specific location, click on a parcel, and access linked property information including ownership data and assessment records.

In-Person Searches:

DeKalb County Property Appraisal & Assessment Department
1300 Commerce Drive
Decatur, GA 30030
Phone: (404) 371-0841
DeKalb County Property Appraisal

Services available in person include public access computers, staff assistance, property cards, maps and plats, and exemption applications.

DeKalb County Clerk of Superior Court
556 N. McDonough Street
Decatur, GA 30030
Phone: (404) 371-2836
DeKalb County Clerk of Superior Court

Services available in person include viewing official records, requesting certified copies, searching grantor and grantee indexes, accessing record books, and receiving staff assistance with document searches.

DeKalb County Tax Commissioner's Office
4380 Memorial Drive, Suite 100
Decatur, GA 30032
Phone: (404) 298-4000
DeKalb County Tax Commissioner

Services available in person include tax payment information, copies of tax bills, delinquency information, and tax certificate searches.

By Mail Requests:

Requests for property information from the Property Appraisal & Assessment Department may be submitted in writing to 1300 Commerce Drive, Decatur, GA 30030. Requests should specify the property address or parcel number and include a return envelope. Copying fees may apply.

Requests for copies of recorded documents from the Clerk of Superior Court may be submitted in writing to 556 N. McDonough Street, Decatur, GA 30030. Requests should identify the document by deed book and page, instrument number, or property address and date range. Payment for applicable copy fees must accompany the request. Certified copies are available upon request.

Through Professionals:

Title companies provide comprehensive title searches, abstracts of title, and title insurance commitments that identify all recorded interests affecting a property. Real estate attorneys offer legal title opinions and representation in complex ownership or dispute matters. Real estate agents may access MLS data for listed properties, pull property histories, and provide comparable sales data as part of their representation services.

Search Tips:

When searching by address, members of the public should use the complete street address and try variations with and without directional prefixes such as N, S, E, or W. When searching by owner name, attempting the last name first and checking spelling variations, including business names versus individual names, improves search results. For historical records not available online, an in-person visit to the courthouse or a written request to the Clerk's office is required, as older records may exist only in bound books or microfilm format.

What Is DeKalb County Property Records

DeKalb County property records are official documents related to real property — including land and buildings — maintained by county government agencies as legal records of ownership, transactions, and encumbrances. These records establish chain of title, document property transfers, record mortgages and liens, support property tax assessment, and protect property rights. They are public records accessible to any member of the public without a stated purpose or special permission.

Types of Property Records:

Ownership Records include warranty deeds, quitclaim deeds, special warranty deeds, life estate deeds, trust documents affecting property, and the full chain of title from original conveyance to present ownership.

Encumbrance Records include mortgages and deeds of trust, tax liens, mechanic's liens, judgment liens, easements, deed restrictions and covenants, homeowner association documents, and lis pendens filings.

Tax and Assessment Records include property tax assessments, tax bills and payment history, exemption applications, millage rates, special assessments, and tax delinquency records.

Legal Descriptions include plat maps, subdivision plats, surveys, lot and block information, metes and bounds descriptions, and condominium declarations.

Building and Permit Records include building permits, certificates of occupancy, code violation notices, zoning designations, and land use classifications.

Who Maintains Property Records:

The DeKalb County Clerk of Superior Court records and indexes official instruments including deeds, mortgages, and liens pursuant to O.C.G.A. § 44-2-2, which establishes the legal requirements for recording instruments affecting real property in Georgia. The Property Appraisal & Assessment Department maintains property valuations, assessment records, property characteristics, ownership information, and exemption applications. The Tax Commissioner's Office maintains tax bills, payment records, delinquent tax records, and tax certificate and tax deed information. The DeKalb County Planning & Sustainability Department maintains zoning records, land use designations, permits, and code enforcement records.

Georgia's recording statutes establish the principle of constructive notice, meaning that any instrument properly recorded with the Clerk of Superior Court provides legal notice to all subsequent purchasers and encumbrancers of the property's status.

Are Property Records Public Information in DeKalb County?

Property records in DeKalb County are public information. Under the Georgia Open Records Act, O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70, all records maintained by public agencies are presumptively open to inspection and copying by any member of the public. No special permission, stated purpose, or residency requirement applies to accessing property records.

As the Georgia Secretary of State's office has noted regarding public records access, "Georgia's Open Records Act reflects the General Assembly's intent that public records be open to the public as a general rule, with specific and limited exceptions." Property records fall squarely within this framework of public access.

Why Property Records Are Public:

Property records serve multiple public interests that justify their open availability:

Transparency: The public has a recognized right to know who owns property, how it is assessed for taxation, and what encumbrances affect title.
Commercial Function: Real estate transactions, title insurance, mortgage lending, and property appraisals all depend on the availability of accurate, publicly accessible property records.
Legal Protections: The recording system provides constructive notice of ownership and encumbrances, protecting against fraudulent transfers and establishing priority among competing interests.
Public Interest: Tax assessment transparency, community planning, historical research, genealogical research, and journalistic investigation all rely on open property records.

What Property Information Is Freely Accessible:

Current and historical property ownership
Legal descriptions and parcel identification numbers
Sale prices and transfer amounts
Recorded mortgage amounts
Liens and encumbrances
Tax assessments and payment history
Property characteristics including size, age, and building type
Deeds and recorded document images
Plat maps and surveys

Privacy Considerations:

Certain personal information within property records receives protection under Georgia law. Social Security numbers and financial account numbers are redacted from recorded documents. Under Georgia's Address Confidentiality Program, certain individuals including law enforcement officers, judges, domestic violence victims, and stalking victims may request that their residential address be protected from public disclosure. Homestead exemption applications may contain financial information that is not fully subject to public inspection; members of the public should contact the Property Appraisal & Assessment Department for specific policies regarding exemption application access.

Who Can Access Property Records:

Any person may access DeKalb County property records regardless of residency, ownership status, or business purpose. Common users include prospective buyers, real estate agents and brokers, title companies, appraisers, lenders, attorneys, property owners reviewing their own records, investors and developers, genealogists, historians, and members of the media.

Commercial use of property records — including real estate marketing, property valuation services, title searches, investment analysis, and market research — is permitted under Georgia law. Data aggregation companies that compile public property records into subscription databases operate legally, though anti-harassment laws, fair housing laws, and other applicable statutes continue to govern how information may be used.

How Much Does It Cost to Get Property Records in DeKalb County?

Members of the public may inspect property records at no charge at the offices of the Clerk of Superior Court and the Property Appraisal & Assessment Department. Online access to property appraiser data, tax information, and the GSCCCA recorded document index is available at no cost. Fees apply when requesting physical copies or certified copies of recorded instruments.

Current Fee Structure — DeKalb County Clerk of Superior Court:

Service	Current Fee
Certified copy of recorded document	$2.50 per page
Non-certified copy of recorded document	$0.25 per page
Online document viewing (GSCCCA)	Free for index; image fees may apply
Recording a new instrument (deed, mortgage, etc.)	$25.00 for first page + $2.00 per additional page
Plat recording	$10.00 per page

Georgia recording fees are governed by O.C.G.A. § 15-6-77, which establishes the schedule of fees that clerks of superior court may charge for recording, certifying, and copying instruments.

Property Appraiser Records:

Online access to property data: Free
In-person inspection: Free
Copies of property cards or assessment records: Standard copying fees apply (typically $0.10–$0.25 per page)

Tax Commissioner Records:

Online access to tax information: Free
Copies of tax bills: Free or nominal fee
Certified tax records: Fee varies; contact the office directly

Accepted Payment Methods:

The Clerk of Superior Court accepts cash, money orders, and credit or debit cards for copy and certification fees. Mail requests should include a check or money order payable to the DeKalb County Clerk of Superior Court.

Fee Waivers:

Georgia law does not provide a general fee waiver for property record copies. However, indigent parties in active litigation may petition the court for waiver of certain fees. Government agencies and certain nonprofit organizations may qualify for reduced fees in specific circumstances.

What's Included in a DeKalb County Property Record

A complete DeKalb County property record draws from multiple official sources and encompasses ownership information, physical characteristics, valuation data, tax records, sales history, encumbrances, and legal and regulatory designations.

Ownership Information:

Current ownership data includes the legal owner's name or names, ownership type (individual, joint tenants, tenants in common, tenants by the entirety for married couples, trust, LLC, or corporation), acquisition date, deed book and page or instrument number, and mailing address for tax bill purposes. Previous ownership data includes the chain of title, prior owners' names, transfer dates, and historical deed references.

Property Identification:

Each parcel is identified by a site address, mailing address if different, legal description including lot and block number, subdivision name, plat book and page reference, and section, township, and range where applicable. Condominium records include unit numbers and condominium declaration references. Each parcel carries a unique parcel identification number and tax account number.

Physical Characteristics:

Land information includes lot size in square feet or acres, lot dimensions, street frontage, corner lot designation, land use designation, and zoning classification. Building information includes total living area in square feet, year built and effective year, number of stories, building type, construction type, exterior wall material, roof type and material, foundation type, number of bedrooms, number of full and half bathrooms, and total room count. Additional features recorded include attached or detached garage and number of spaces, in-ground or above-ground pool, porch and patio square footage, fireplaces, central air conditioning, heating type, water source, and sewer system type.

Valuation Information:

Assessment values include land value, building value, total assessed value, market value, and just value as determined by the Property Appraisal & Assessment Department. Historical values for prior assessment years are typically available for review. Agricultural classification values are recorded where applicable.

Tax Information:

Current year tax data includes the total tax amount due, exemptions applied, taxable value after exemptions, millage rate, and a breakdown by taxing authority including the county general fund, school district, municipality, and special districts. Tax history includes prior years' taxes paid, payment dates, and any delinquency history.

Exemptions Applied:

Georgia law provides for several property tax exemptions that are reflected in property records, including the standard homestead exemption, additional homestead exemptions for seniors and disabled persons, veteran exemptions, and agricultural use exemptions. Exemption amounts and eligibility criteria are established under Georgia statute and administered by the Property Appraisal & Assessment Department.

Sales History:

Sales history typically includes the last several transactions showing sale dates, sale prices, deed types (warranty deed, quitclaim deed, foreclosure deed, tax deed), deed document numbers, grantor and grantee names, and qualified or unqualified sale designations used for assessment purposes.

Encumbrances and Liens:

Recorded mortgages appear with original amounts, lender names, recording dates, and book and page references. Recorded liens appear with amounts, lienholders, recording dates, and release information where applicable. Other encumbrances including easements, deed restrictions, covenants, lis pendens filings, and HOA documents are indexed and available through the Clerk of Superior Court's records.

Legal and Regulatory Information:

Zoning classification, land use code, future land use designation, school district assignment, fire district, water district, and other special taxing district memberships are reflected in property records. Flood zone designation under FEMA maps, wetlands designations, and conservation area overlays are accessible through the county GIS system.

What Is Not Typically in Public Property Records:

Current mortgage balances (only original recorded amounts)
Personal financial information beyond what appears in recorded instruments
Interior photographs
Social Security numbers (redacted under Georgia law)
Private agreements not submitted for recording
Actual purchase contract terms beyond the recorded sale price
Confidential details from exemption applications

How Long Does DeKalb County Keep Property Records?

Property records in DeKalb County are maintained permanently. Recorded instruments affecting title to real property — including deeds, mortgages, liens, plats, and easements — are never destroyed. This permanent retention is both a legal requirement and a practical necessity for maintaining an unbroken chain of title.

Legal Basis for Retention:

Georgia's records retention requirements for clerks of superior court mandate permanent preservation of all recorded real property instruments. The Georgia Department of Archives and History oversees records retention schedules for state and local government agencies, and recorded property instruments are classified as permanent records under those schedules. The principle of constructive notice established under Georgia recording statutes requires that instruments remain accessible to the public indefinitely.

Records Kept Permanently:

All recorded deeds are maintained permanently, dating back to DeKalb County's formation in 1822 and including original land grants and early conveyances. All recorded mortgages, satisfactions, and releases are maintained permanently even after the underlying loan has been paid in full. All recorded liens and their releases are maintained permanently. All plats, subdivision plats, re-plats, condominium declarations, and survey plats are maintained permanently. All easements, restrictions, covenants, declarations, powers of attorney affecting property, and court documents affecting title are maintained permanently.

Format and Storage:

Historical records from the 19th and early 20th centuries exist in handwritten ledger books maintained in the Clerk of Superior Court's vault. Mid-20th century records exist in typed bound volumes and microfilm. More recent records have been scanned and are maintained in electronic document management systems with off-site backup and cloud-based redundancy. The Clerk's office maintains climate-controlled storage for paper and microfilm records and multiple digital backups for electronic records.

Online Availability by Time Period:

Time Period	Availability
Recent (last 20+ years)	Fully online via GSCCCA and county portals
Moderate age (20–50 years)	Partially online; microfilm available in person
Historical (50+ years)	In-person access at courthouse; microfilm or bound books
Very old (100+ years)	Archive storage; advance notice may be required

Property Appraiser Assessment Records:

Current and historical assessment records are maintained permanently. Property cards are permanent records. Assessment rolls are permanent. Exemption applications are retained for a minimum of several years following the applicable assessment year, with permanent records maintained for the assessment rolls themselves. Recent years of assessment history are available online through the property search portal; historical assessments are available at the Property Appraisal & Assessment Department office.

Tax Commissioner Records:

Tax payment records are retained for a minimum of seven years. Tax certificates are maintained until redeemed or until a tax deed is issued. Tax deed records are permanent. Delinquency records are maintained for several years. Recent tax history is available online; historical records are available at the Tax Commissioner's office.

Accessing Historical Records:

DeKalb County Clerk of Superior Court
556 N. McDonough Street
Decatur, GA 30030
Phone: (404) 371-2836
DeKalb County Clerk of Superior Court

Members of the public requesting very old records should contact the Clerk's office in advance to allow staff time to retrieve materials from archive storage. Requests should specify the property address or legal description, the approximate time period, and the type of document sought. Retrieval time ranges from same-day to several business days depending on the age and format of the records.

DeKalb County Property Appraisal & Assessment Department
1300 Commerce Drive
Decatur, GA 30030
Phone: (404) 371-0841
DeKalb County Property Appraisal

Digitization of historical records is an ongoing process in DeKalb County. Members of the public conducting genealogical or historical research may contact either office for assistance locating records that predate the online systems.

How To Find Liens on Property in DeKalb County?

Liens on property in DeKalb County are recorded instruments and are searchable through the same official repositories used for all property records. Members of the public may identify liens affecting a specific parcel by searching the DeKalb County Clerk of Superior Court's official records index, the GSCCCA statewide index, and the Tax Commissioner's records for tax-related delinquencies.

Step-by-Step Search Process:

Access the GSCCCA real property search and select DeKalb County as the jurisdiction
Search by the property owner's name as grantor or grantee, or by the property address where the system permits address-based searches
Filter results by document type to identify liens including mechanic's liens, judgment liens, tax liens, and lis pendens filings
Review each result for recording date, lienholder name, amount, and instrument number
Access document images to review the full text of each lien instrument
Search the DeKalb County Tax Commissioner's portal separately for property tax delinquencies, which may not appear in the Clerk's recorded instrument index until a tax lien certificate is issued
Search federal tax lien records through the IRS or through the Clerk's index, as federal tax liens are recorded with the county clerk under Georgia law
For judgment liens, search the DeKalb County Superior Court civil case index through the Clerk of Superior Court to identify judgments that may have attached to real property

Types of Liens Searchable:

Property tax liens: Arise automatically upon failure to pay property taxes; searchable through the Tax Commissioner's delinquency records
Federal tax liens: Filed by the IRS with the Clerk of Superior Court; searchable through the GSCCCA index
Judgment liens: Arise from court judgments and attach to all real property owned by the debtor in the county; searchable through the civil judgment index
Mechanic's liens: Filed by contractors, subcontractors, and materialmen for unpaid construction work; searchable through the GSCCCA index by document type
HOA liens: Filed by homeowner associations for unpaid assessments; searchable through the GSCCCA index
Code enforcement liens: Filed by DeKalb County for unpaid code violation fines; searchable through the Clerk's index

In-Person Lien Search:

Members of the public may conduct in-person lien searches at the Clerk of Superior Court's office at 556 N. McDonough Street, Decatur, GA 30030, where staff can assist with grantor-grantee index searches and document retrieval. Title companies and real estate attorneys routinely conduct comprehensive lien searches as part of title examination and can identify all recorded encumbrances affecting a property.

What Is Property Owner Rule in DeKalb County?

The property owner rule in DeKalb County refers to the legal principle under Georgia law that a property owner is competent to testify to the value of their own property without being qualified as an expert witness. This rule has significant practical implications in property tax appeals, condemnation proceedings, and real estate litigation.

Georgia Property Owner Rule — Legal Basis:

Under Georgia law, a property owner is presumed to have knowledge of the value of their own property and may offer opinion testimony as to that value in legal proceedings. This principle is well established in Georgia case law and applies in proceedings before the DeKalb County Board of Equalization, the Georgia Tax Tribunal, and in Superior Court appeals of property tax assessments.

Application in Property Tax Appeals:

Property owners in DeKalb County who dispute their assessed value may appeal to the DeKalb County Board of Assessors and, if necessary, to the Board of Equalization or the Georgia Tax Tribunal. In these proceedings, the property owner rule permits the owner to present their own opinion of value as evidence without retaining a licensed appraiser, though professional appraisal evidence is generally more persuasive to adjudicating bodies.

The appeal process in DeKalb County proceeds as follows:

Step 1: The property owner receives the annual assessment notice from the Property Appraisal & Assessment Department
Step 2: The owner files a written appeal within 45 days of the assessment notice date with the Board of Assessors
Step 3: The Board of Assessors reviews the appeal and issues a decision
Step 4: If unsatisfied, the owner may appeal to the Board of Equalization, where a hearing is conducted and the property owner may present value testimony under the property owner rule
Step 5: Further appeals may be taken to the Georgia Tax Tribunal or DeKalb County Superior Court

Ownership Requirements for Property in DeKalb County:

Under Georgia law, any individual, corporation, LLC, trust, or other legal entity may own real property in DeKalb County. There is no residency requirement for property ownership. Foreign nationals and out-of-state entities may hold title to real property in Georgia subject to applicable federal and state regulations.

Property ownership is established by a recorded deed meeting the requirements of O.C.G.A. § 44-5-30, which governs the formal requirements for conveyances of real property in Georgia, including the necessity of a written instrument, the grantor's signature, and attestation by a notary public and one witness.

Homestead Exemption and Owner-Occupancy:

Property owners who occupy their DeKalb County property as their primary residence may apply for the homestead exemption, which reduces the assessed value subject to taxation. The standard homestead exemption in DeKalb County reduces the assessed value by $15,000 for county taxes and by $2,000 for school taxes under Georgia's base homestead exemption statute. DeKalb County offers additional local exemptions for qualifying senior citizens, disabled persons, and veterans. Applications must be filed with the Property Appraisal & Assessment Department by April 1 of the tax year for which the exemption is sought.

DeKalb County Board of Assessors
1300 Commerce Drive
Decatur, GA 30030
Phone: (404) 371-0841
DeKalb County Property Appraisal

DeKalb County Tax Commissioner's Office
4380 Memorial Drive, Suite 100
Decatur, GA 30032
Phone: (404) 298-4000
DeKalb County Tax Commissioner