Search Amarillo Property Records
Amarillo property records are filed across two counties because the city sits on the border of Potter and Randall counties. The majority of Amarillo, including downtown and most commercial areas, falls within Potter County. The southern and eastern parts of the city are in Randall County. If you are searching for property records in Amarillo, you need to check the right county clerk for the specific parcel you are researching. Both counties operate separate recording systems. Amarillo is the largest city in the Texas Panhandle with a population of around 200,000. Knowing which county your property is in is the first step before you start searching for deeds or liens.
Amarillo Overview
Where Amarillo Property Records Are Filed
The Potter County Clerk holds records for the northern and central portions of Amarillo. Potter County is where the city was founded, and the county courthouse is in downtown Amarillo. Most properties with a zip code in the 79101 through 79109 range are in Potter County. For those parcels, the Potter County Clerk is where you search for deeds and liens.
The Randall County portion of Amarillo covers much of the south side and includes parts of the Canyon ISD area near the city's edge. Randall County is a separate county with its own clerk's office in Canyon, the county seat. If you are unsure which county your property is in, the Potter-Randall Appraisal District can help. That district serves both counties and operates a joint appraisal system. You can search by address at their website to confirm the county.
| Potter County Clerk | 500 S. Fillmore, Room 301 Amarillo, TX 79101 (806) 379-2250 |
|---|---|
| Randall County Clerk | 501 16th Street Canyon, TX 79015 (806) 655-4016 |
| Hours (both) | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Potter County Website | co.potter.tx.us |
The Potter County Clerk is in the Potter County Courthouse in downtown Amarillo. For properties in Randall County, you will need to go to Canyon or use Randall County's online resources if available.
How to Search Amarillo Property Records
Potter County offers a public records search portal through its county website at co.potter.tx.us. You can look up documents by grantor name, grantee name, or document number. The index shows recorded instrument types, recording dates, and book/page references. Many records are available with scanned images. For Randall County, check their county clerk website for online access options.
The Potter-Randall Appraisal District serves both counties with a single appraisal system. You can search property records there by address or owner name to confirm which county a parcel is in and who owns it. The appraisal records show ownership, appraised value, legal description, and account number. That information is useful before doing a full deed search at either county clerk.
The City of Amarillo's website at amarillo.gov handles city-level records including building permits and development information. If you need permit history or city inspection records for a specific Amarillo property, that is where to look. Building and zoning records are held at the city rather than the county.
The Amarillo city portal is shown below, which provides public access to city services and information for Amarillo residents and property researchers.
The city's online portal at amarillo.gov is the entry point for permit data, city land use records, and other municipal information tied to Amarillo properties.
Types of Property Records in Amarillo
Both the Potter County Clerk and the Randall County Clerk record the same basic types of real property instruments. Warranty deeds transfer ownership and include a title guarantee. Quitclaim deeds transfer whatever interest the grantor holds without a guarantee. Deeds of trust are used to secure home loans and are the standard mortgage security instrument in Texas.
When a mortgage is paid off, the lender records a release of lien. Contractors who are not paid can file a mechanic's or materialman's lien against the property. Plats document subdivision layouts and must be recorded before lots in a new development can be sold. Easements record rights of access or use that one party has over another's land.
- Warranty deeds and quitclaim deeds
- Deeds of trust and assumption agreements
- Release of lien documents
- Mechanic's and materialman's liens
- Subdivision plats and replats
- Easements and rights of way
- Affidavits and muniments of title
Potter-Randall Appraisal District
Amarillo is served by the Potter-Randall Appraisal District (PRAD), which handles property appraisals for both counties under a joint appraisal district. PRAD maintains a free public search at prad.org. You can search by address, owner name, or account number. Results show who owns the property, the legal description, the current appraised value, land and improvement breakdowns, and the tax account history.
Because PRAD covers both counties, a single search there will tell you which county the parcel is in. That is useful when you are not sure whether to go to the Potter County Clerk or the Randall County Clerk. The PRAD record will show which county the account is assigned to. Just match that to the correct clerk's office for deed and lien research.
Property owners who disagree with their appraised value can protest with the Appraisal Review Board. The protest deadline is May 15 or 30 days after the notice of appraised value is mailed, whichever comes later. You can file online through the PRAD portal or in person at their office.
Recording Fees in Potter and Randall Counties
Both the Potter County Clerk and the Randall County Clerk charge recording fees under the state schedule set by Texas Local Government Code Section 118.011. The standard fee is $26 for the first page of a real property instrument and $4 per page after. A typical deed or deed of trust costs $26 to $50 to record depending on its length.
Plat recording fees are based on size. Certified copies cost more than standard plain copies. If you need a certified copy of a recorded deed or lien from Potter County, call (806) 379-2250. For Randall County, call (806) 655-4016. Both offices can tell you the fee in advance so you are prepared when you request the document.
Texas Public Information Act
Property records at both the Potter County Clerk and the Randall County Clerk are public records under the Texas Public Information Act, Government Code Chapter 552. This law opens government records to any person who requests them. You don't need to explain why you want the records, and you don't have to be a property owner or a Texas resident.
Both county clerks already provide public access through their counters and, to varying degrees, through online portals. A formal written request under Chapter 552 is mainly needed when access is being delayed or denied, which rarely happens with standard deed records. Social security numbers and similar personal identifiers are removed from recorded instruments before they are publicly accessible, as required under Texas Property Code Section 11.008.
Additional Resources for Amarillo Property Research
The Potter County Tax Assessor-Collector and the Randall County Tax Office handle property tax collections for their respective counties. Delinquent taxes are a lien on real property. If you are buying or researching a property in Amarillo, check the tax status through the applicable county tax office or through the PRAD website. Unpaid taxes can affect a title search result significantly.
The Texas General Land Office at glo.texas.gov holds original land grant archives for the Panhandle. Some Amarillo area land traces back to original surveys and grants issued during the late 1800s after the Texas Legislature distributed the Panhandle public domain. If you are researching a parcel with a long or unusual title history, the GLO archives may have relevant records.
For legal help in the Amarillo area, West Texas Legal Services provides free assistance to qualifying individuals. The Texas Panhandle also has resources through the State Bar of Texas lawyer referral service at (800) 252-9690, which can connect you with a licensed real estate attorney in the area. TexasLawHelp at texaslawhelp.org has free self-help guides and forms for property-related legal issues.
Potter County Property Records
Most of Amarillo is in Potter County, and the Potter County Clerk holds the majority of the city's property records. For more on the recording office, search tools, and county resources, visit the Potter County property records page.
Nearby Cities
Other Texas Panhandle and West Texas cities with property records pages include: