Search St. Louis Property Records
St. Louis property records are handled differently from most Missouri cities. St. Louis is an independent city, which means it is not part of any county. The city has its own Recorder of Deeds office that files and stores all land documents. If you want to find a deed, look up a lien, or check ownership of real estate in St. Louis, you go through the city recorder rather than a county office. You can search St. Louis property records online through the recorder's land records portal or visit the office in person at City Hall. The system covers deeds, deeds of trust, plats, and other recorded documents for property in St. Louis.
St. Louis Quick Facts
St. Louis City Recorder of Deeds
The St. Louis Recorder of Deeds is the office that handles all property records for the city. Because St. Louis is independent from St. Louis County, the city runs its own recording system. This is a key point. If the property sits inside the city limits of St. Louis, you search the city recorder. If it is in the county, you use the St. Louis County Recorder instead. The two are separate offices with separate records.
The St. Louis City Recorder files deeds, deeds of trust, liens, releases, and other land documents. The office is led by Recorder Michael Butler. All documents that affect real estate in St. Louis must be recorded here per Section 442.380 RSMo. Once a document is filed, it becomes part of the public record and anyone can look it up.
| Office | St. Louis City Recorder of Deeds |
|---|---|
| Recorder | Michael Butler |
| Address | 1200 Market Street, Room 126 St. Louis, MO 63103 |
| Phone | (314) 622-4610 |
| Website | stlouiscityrecorder.org |
How to Search St. Louis Property Records Online
The St. Louis City Recorder offers an online search tool for property records at stlouiscityrecorder.org/land. You can look up real estate documents by owner name, address, or instrument number. The index and images of recorded documents are available through this portal. This is the best place to start if you need to check a deed or find out who owns a property in St. Louis.
The search system is free to use for basic lookups. You can see when a document was filed, who the parties are, and the type of record. If you need a full copy of the document, there may be a fee. The site shows both the index data and scanned images for many St. Louis property records, which saves you a trip to the office.
The Missouri Recorders Association also lists the St. Louis City Recorder contact info and links to their search tools.
Note: St. Louis property records searches are separate from St. Louis County, so make sure you use the correct portal for the city.
St. Louis Property Recording Fees
Recording fees in St. Louis follow the same state schedule as the rest of Missouri. The first page of a document costs $24 to record. Each extra page is $3. If your document does not meet the format rules in Section 59.310 RSMo, there is a $25 penalty on top. Documents must be on standard 8.5 by 11 inch paper with a 3 inch top margin and at least 8 point type.
Copies of St. Louis property records cost a few dollars per page for plain copies. Certified copies cost more. If you need a certified deed for a closing or legal matter in St. Louis, call the recorder at (314) 622-4610 to check on the current rate. The office can also tell you about e-recording options if you are a title company or attorney who files documents often.
Property Taxes in St. Louis
Because St. Louis is an independent city, it handles its own property tax collection. Tax bills go out by November 1 and are due by December 31. The city assessor reviews property values every odd year using the same state rates: 19% for homes, 12% for farm land, and 32% for commercial property. You can look up your St. Louis property tax info through the city collector's office.
Missouri offers several tax relief programs that apply to St. Louis property owners. The Missouri Property Tax Credit is available to people age 65 and older or those with a disability. The Missouri Department of Revenue has details on how to apply. There is also a Homestead Preservation Credit and exemptions for disabled veterans that may help lower your tax bill in St. Louis.
Note: St. Louis property tax rates are set by local taxing jurisdictions and can differ from rates in St. Louis County.
Types of St. Louis Property Records
The St. Louis Recorder of Deeds files many types of land documents. These include warranty deeds, quitclaim deeds, deeds of trust, beneficiary deeds, release deeds, plats, surveys, easements, and liens. Each one plays a role in the chain of title for a piece of real estate. A warranty deed gives full ownership with a guarantee of clear title. A quitclaim deed transfers whatever interest the grantor has without any promise. Deeds of trust secure home loans.
Beneficiary deeds are allowed in Missouri under RSMo 461.025. This type of deed lets a property owner name a person who will get the property when the owner dies. It avoids probate. The deed is filed with the St. Louis Recorder like any other document. Liens, including tax liens and mechanic's liens, also show up in St. Louis property records and can affect whether a title is clear.
Historical Land Records in St. Louis
St. Louis has a long history that goes back to French and Spanish settlement. The Missouri State Archives holds land records from 1777 to 1969, including early claims and federal land patents. The Bureau of Land Management has federal patents from Missouri's earliest days as a public domain state. These resources can help trace the ownership of St. Louis property back many generations.
For more recent records, the St. Louis City Recorder has digitized many documents and made them searchable online. Older records that have not been scanned are still on file at the office. You can visit in person to look through books and indexes that go back decades. The FamilySearch Missouri Land and Property guide is also a good resource if you are doing historical research on St. Louis property.
St. Louis City Property Records Office
St. Louis is an independent city and does not belong to any county. All property filings, deed recordings, and land documents are handled by the St. Louis City Recorder of Deeds at 1200 Market Street. For more details on the St. Louis County recorder office (which covers areas outside the city), visit the St. Louis County property records page.
Nearby Missouri Cities
These Missouri cities are near St. Louis and have their own property records pages: