St. Charles Property Records
St. Charles property records are maintained by the St. Charles County Recorder of Deeds. The city of St. Charles is the county seat, so the recorder office is right in town. If you need to find a deed, look up a lien, or check ownership of real estate in St. Charles, the county recorder has those files. You can search St. Charles property records online through the county's public records portal or go to the office at 201 N. Second Street. The county assessor also tracks property values and tax data for all parcels in St. Charles.
St. Charles Quick Facts
St. Charles Property Records Office
St. Charles County maintains all property records for the city of St. Charles. The Recorder of Deeds is Mary Dempsey. The office files deeds, deeds of trust, liens, releases, plats, surveys, and other land documents. Every time a property in St. Charles changes hands or a new loan is recorded, that paperwork goes through this office. Under Section 442.380 RSMo, all documents that affect real estate must be filed in the county where the property sits.
The recorder office is in the county administration building in downtown St. Charles. Since the city is the county seat, you do not have to travel far to get St. Charles property records in person.
| Office | St. Charles County Recorder of Deeds |
|---|---|
| Recorder | Mary Dempsey |
| Address | 201 N. Second Street, Suite 338 St. Charles, MO 63301 |
| Phone | (636) 949-7505 |
| Public Records Portal | stcharlescountycourt.org/public-records |
| Recorder Website | recorder.sccmo.org |
Note: St. Charles has a historic district with special building requirements, but property records follow the same county process as other areas.
How to Search Property Records in St. Charles
You can search St. Charles property records online through several county tools. The St. Charles County Public Records portal gives access to recorded documents. The recorder website lets you look up deeds and other instruments by name or document number. For assessed values and tax data, use the St. Charles County Assessor search tool.
The public records portal gives you access to recorded documents for St. Charles property.
St. Charles County has one of the best online property records systems in Missouri. The county has digitized a big share of its land documents, so you can often find what you need without leaving home. If you do need to visit in person, the recorder office at 201 N. Second Street has public terminals for self-service searches. Staff can also help you pull up records and make copies. Call (636) 949-7505 to check hours.
The St. Charles County Collector website lets you look up and pay property taxes online for St. Charles parcels.
St. Charles Property Recording Fees
Recording fees for St. Charles property documents follow the state schedule. The first page costs $24. Each extra page is $3. If a document does not meet the format rules in Section 59.310 RSMo, there is a $25 penalty. Documents must be 8.5 by 11 inches, have a 3 inch top margin, and use at least 8 point type.
Copies of St. Charles property records are available at the recorder office. Plain copies cost a few dollars per page. Certified copies cost more. If you need a certified deed for a real estate closing, call the office to confirm the current rate.
Property Taxes in St. Charles
The St. Charles County Collector handles tax collection for the city of St. Charles. Bills go out by November 1. Payment is due December 31. You can pay online at mo-stcharles-collector.publicaccessnow.com. Late payments get hit with interest and penalties.
St. Charles property owners may qualify for state tax relief programs. The Missouri Department of Revenue offers the Missouri Property Tax Credit for people age 65 and older or those with a disability. The Homestead Preservation Credit and disabled veteran exemptions are also available. Contact the county collector or the state site for details on how to apply for these programs.
Note: St. Charles property values get reassessed every odd year by the county assessor.
Types of St. Charles Property Records
The St. Charles County Recorder files many types of land documents. These include warranty deeds, quitclaim deeds, deeds of trust, beneficiary deeds, release deeds, plats, surveys, easements, and liens. Missouri allows beneficiary deeds under RSMo 461.025. This lets an owner name a person to get the property at death without going through probate. All filed documents become public records that anyone can search.
A title search on St. Charles property will show the full chain of ownership along with any liens or claims. Tax liens, mechanic's liens, and other encumbrances all appear in the recorder's files. If you are buying a home in St. Charles, a title company can run this search for you through the county records.
The Missouri State Archives holds over 280,000 land patent entries from 1777 to 1969. Some of these cover early land grants in the St. Charles area. You can search by name or county to find the first recorded owners of St. Charles property. The Bureau of Land Management also has federal patents for Missouri. St. Charles has deep roots in Missouri land history, and these free tools can help trace property back to its earliest days when land first passed from government hands to private owners.
St. Charles County Property Records
St. Charles is the county seat of St. Charles County. All property filings and deed recordings go through the county Recorder of Deeds at 201 N. Second Street. For the full county page with office hours, fee schedules, and more, visit the St. Charles County property records page.
Nearby Missouri Cities
These cities are near St. Charles and have property records pages: