Find Dallas Property Records
Dallas property records are recorded and maintained by the Dallas County Clerk, which serves as the official custodian of real estate documents for the city and surrounding areas of Dallas County. Deeds, mortgages, liens, easements, and other property instruments are filed here and available for public search. The County Clerk has maintained records going back to 1846. You can search the Official Public Records system online or visit the office in person to get copies and certified documents.
Dallas Overview
Dallas County Clerk - Where to File and Search
The Dallas County Clerk is where all real property documents for Dallas are recorded. This includes deeds, deeds of trust, mortgage releases, mechanic's liens, federal and state tax liens, plats, easements, and assumed name certificates. The office has maintained real property records from 1846 to the present. Both older index-based records and modern electronic records are available through the same office.
The main downtown location handles the full range of recording and retrieval services. There are also sub-courthouse locations throughout Dallas County that offer some services. For property recording and official copies, the main Dallas County Records Building is the primary location. The office has public computer terminals available for free searching, and staff can assist you if you need help navigating older records or pulling specific documents.
| Office | Dallas County Clerk - Real Property Records |
|---|---|
| Address | 509 Main Street, Suite 200 Dallas, TX 75202 |
| Website | dallascounty.org/county-clerk |
| E-Recording | Available through authorized vendors 24/7 |
| Records From | 1846 to present |
The County Clerk also handles UCC filings and federal tax liens, which are relevant for commercial properties and business-owned real estate. These are searchable alongside deed and mortgage records in the same online system.
Dallas City Resources and Property Services
The city of Dallas manages building permits, zoning, and development approvals through its Planning and Development Department. In 2025, Dallas launched DallasNow, a new land management platform that integrates permitting, planning, platting, and engineering into a single online system. Property owners and contractors can track applications and pay fees through DallasNow in real time. This is the place to check permit history on a property or to file for new development approvals.
The Dallas Municipal Court at 2014 Main Street handles city ordinance violations and code enforcement. While this is not a property records office, it is relevant when checking compliance history for a property. Code violation records and judgments can affect a property's title or use.
Searching Dallas Property Records Online
The Dallas County Clerk's Official Public Records system is available online and free to use for basic searching. You can search by grantor or grantee name, instrument number, date range, or document type. The system returns a list of matching records and allows you to view and print document images. Certified copies require either an in-person visit or a formal copy request.
The Dallas County Tax Office at dallascounty.org provides tax payment records and tax certificates. Tax bills are mailed in October, and you can check the current tax status of any parcel through their online tool. Payment by credit card, debit card, or e-check is available. Delinquent tax sale information is published monthly through the same office.
Note: Some parts of Dallas extend into neighboring counties including Collin, Denton, and Rockwall. If you're researching property near the city's edges, confirm which county the parcel is in before searching.
Property Document Types in Dallas County
The Dallas County Clerk indexes and stores a broad range of real property instruments. Knowing what type of document you're looking for helps narrow your search quickly. Warranty deeds and special warranty deeds show transfers of ownership. General warranty deeds provide the broadest seller guarantees. Quitclaim deeds transfer whatever interest the grantor holds without guarantees. Deeds of trust are filed when property is used as collateral for a loan.
Mechanics and materialman's liens are filed by contractors or suppliers who haven't been paid for work on a property. Federal tax liens filed by the IRS and state tax liens from the Texas Comptroller are also searchable in the same system. Releases of lien show when these claims are cleared. Easement and right-of-way agreements define how land may be used by parties beyond the owner. All of these are public records and available through the same County Clerk search portal.
Dallas Central Appraisal District (DCAD)
The Dallas Central Appraisal District sets appraised values for all taxable property in Dallas County. Visit dallascad.org to search any property by address, owner name, account number, or legal description. Results show current ownership, appraised value, exemptions applied, tax estimates, and building characteristics. Interactive maps show property boundaries, zoning, and comparable sales for the area.
DCAD allows online protest filing if you believe your property's appraised value is too high. The protest deadline is May 15 or 30 days after your notice of appraised value, whichever comes later. Chief Appraiser Keith Robinson leads the district. Exemptions available include homestead, over-65, disability, and disabled veteran. Applying for a homestead exemption can save a significant amount on your annual tax bill.
Recording Fees and Submission Options
Recording fees at the Dallas County Clerk follow the state schedule. The base fee is $26 for the first page of a document. Each additional page costs $4. Documents listing more than five indexed names carry an extra $0.25 per name beyond five. These fees apply to deeds, mortgages, liens, releases, and other instruments filed with the office.
Documents can be submitted in person at the main downtown office or through e-recording via authorized vendors. E-recording is available 24/7 and is the fastest method. Title companies and attorneys handling multiple filings use e-recording routinely. Once recorded, each document gets a stamp showing the date, time, and instrument number assigned at the time of recording.
Public Access and Texas Open Records Law
Dallas County property records are public records under the Texas Public Information Act, Chapter 552 of the Texas Government Code. The law gives any person the right to request and receive government records, including those maintained by the Dallas County Clerk. Most records are already accessible online or at the counter without a formal written request. For records not available online, a written request can be submitted to the office, which must respond within 10 business days.
The Texas Attorney General's office handles disputes when a records request is denied. Their open records division publishes rulings on what government bodies must disclose. If you need bulk data or records in a specific format, the PIA request process is the appropriate path. The AG's open records guidance is available at texasattorneygeneral.gov.
Dallas County Property Records
Dallas is in Dallas County. All deed recordings and property document filings go through the Dallas County Clerk. For full county-level details on search portals, fees, and additional resources, see the Dallas County property records page.