Access Austin Property Records
Austin property records are filed at the Travis County Clerk's office, which is the official repository for all real estate instruments in Travis County. Whether you're searching for a deed, checking for liens, or need to record a new document, the Travis County Clerk handles all of that for properties in Austin. The office at 5501 Airport Boulevard maintains records from 1840 to the present and provides both an online search portal and in-person access to documents and certified copies.
Austin Overview
Travis County Clerk - Official Property Records
The Travis County Clerk is the legal custodian for all real property instruments recorded in the county. This includes deeds, mortgages, deeds of trust, mechanic's liens, releases of lien, easements, plats, UCC filings, federal tax liens, and assumed name certificates. Records go back to 1840, covering the full history of land transfers in Travis County from the Republic of Texas era through today.
The main office is at 5501 Airport Boulevard in Austin. The building offers full recording and copy services. E-recording is accepted through authorized vendors and is available at any hour. The office also provides a property fraud alert service, which notifies property owners by email or text when a document is recorded against their property. This free service helps catch fraudulent transfers or unauthorized filings early.
| Office | Travis County Clerk - Official Public Records |
|---|---|
| Address | 5501 Airport Blvd Austin, TX 78751 |
| Website | countyclerk.traviscountytx.gov |
| E-Recording | Available through authorized vendors |
| Records From | 1840 to present |
Austin City Clerk and City Records
The Austin City Clerk is responsible for official city records including ordinances, council minutes, resolutions, and other city government documents. While real estate deed recording goes to the Travis County Clerk, the City Clerk's office handles records tied to city decisions about zoning, land use, and development approvals that can affect a property's permitted uses.
For permit history and code compliance records tied to a specific Austin property, the Austin Municipal Court and Development Services are the relevant city departments. The Austin Municipal Court at Austin City Hall handles city ordinance violations and code cases. Permit records for building and development activity are managed separately through Austin's development services system.
How to Search Austin Property Records
The Travis County Clerk provides an Official Public Records search portal at countyclerk.traviscountytx.gov. You can search by owner name (grantor or grantee), document type, instrument number, or date range. The system is free for basic searching. Document images are viewable online and can be printed. Certified copies require either an in-person visit or a formal copy request submitted to the office.
The Travis Central Appraisal District at traviscad.org offers property-level data including current ownership, appraised value, exemption status, tax estimates, and building characteristics. You can search by address, account number, owner name, or legal description. TCAD also provides interactive maps showing parcel boundaries and comparable sales for properties in the area. Chief Appraiser Marya Crigler heads the district.
The Travis County Tax Office at tax-office.traviscountytx.gov handles property tax payments and certificates. You can check whether taxes are current or delinquent on any parcel and pay online. Tax certificates showing current status are available through the same site and are often needed for closings and title transfers.
Property Document Types in Travis County
The Travis County Clerk records a wide variety of real property instruments for Austin. Warranty deeds are the most common type used when property sells from one party to another. General warranty deeds provide the strongest seller guarantees. Special warranty deeds limit those guarantees to the seller's period of ownership. Quitclaim deeds transfer whatever interest the grantor holds without any guarantee of clear title.
Deeds of trust and mortgages are filed when a lender holds a security interest in property as collateral for a loan. When the loan is paid off, a release of lien or deed of reconveyance is recorded to clear that claim. Federal tax liens from the IRS and state tax liens from the Texas Comptroller are also recorded here and show up in title searches. Mechanic's liens filed by unpaid contractors and materialmen are recorded and searchable. Easements define the rights of third parties to use a portion of a property. Plats and subdivision documents establish lot boundaries and are required before land can be legally divided and sold as separate parcels.
Travis Central Appraisal District (TCAD)
TCAD sets appraised values for all taxable property in Travis County, including Austin. The district uses market data, sales comparisons, and property inspections to establish values each year. Online protest filing is available if you believe your value is too high. The deadline is May 15 or 30 days after the notice of appraised value, whichever is later. TCAD's comparable sales tool is useful when building a protest case because it shows recent sales in your neighborhood.
Exemptions available through TCAD include the homestead exemption, the over-65 exemption, the disability exemption, and the disabled veteran exemption. Applying for a homestead exemption saves a fixed amount on your school district taxes each year and caps how much your appraised value can increase annually. Applications are available on the TCAD website and can be submitted online, by mail, or in person. Email notifications are available when your property's appraised value is updated.
Recording Fees and Submission Options
Travis County Clerk recording fees follow the state schedule. The fee is $26 for the first page of a document and $4 for each additional page. If a document indexes more than five names, there is a $0.25 charge per name beyond the first five. These fees apply whether the document is a deed, mortgage, lien, release, or any other recorded instrument.
Documents can be submitted in person at the main office on Airport Boulevard, by mail, or through e-recording using an authorized vendor. E-recording is available around the clock and is the fastest option. Title companies, lenders, and law firms with regular filing needs typically use e-recording as their default method. Once recorded, each document receives a stamp with the official recording date, time, and instrument number. Passport services are also available at the main location.
Texas Public Information Act and Open Records
Austin property records held by the Travis County Clerk are public records under the Texas Public Information Act, Chapter 552 of the Texas Government Code. This law gives any person the right to request and receive these records. Most property deed and lien records are already available online or at the counter without a formal request. If you need records that aren't in the online system, you can submit a written request and the office must respond within 10 business days.
Disputes over access can be referred to the Texas Attorney General's open records division for a ruling. The AG publishes these decisions and they carry weight in how agencies respond to similar future requests. For most routine property research, the online tools from the Travis County Clerk and TCAD will give you what you need without any formal request process.
Travis County Property Records
Austin is in Travis County. Property recordings and deed filings for the city go through the Travis County Clerk. For full details on the county's search portal, recording procedures, and additional resources, see the Travis County property records page.