St. Louis County Property Records

St. Louis County property records are managed by the Recorder of Deeds office in Clayton, Missouri. This is the most populated county in the state, and the recorder handles a massive volume of property filings each year. You can search for property records online through the county's deed search tool, which covers recorded deeds going back through 1974. The office files deeds, deeds of trust, plats, liens, and other land documents for all of St. Louis County. Note that the City of St. Louis is a separate jurisdiction with its own recorder's office.

St. Louis County Recorder of Deeds

Gerald E. Smith serves as the St. Louis County Recorder of Deeds. The office is on the fourth floor at 41 South Central Avenue in Clayton. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM. Staff process thousands of property document recordings each year for St. Louis County. They handle warranty deeds, quitclaim deeds, deeds of trust, releases, liens, plats, surveys, and other land documents. You can walk in during business hours to file a document, search for a record, or request copies.

The office can be reached at (314) 615-7100. You can also email the recorder at GSmith@stlouiscountymo.gov. Visit the St. Louis County Recorder of Deeds page for more details on services, fees, and filing requirements.

Search St. Louis County Property Records Online

St. Louis County offers a free online deed search at stlouiscountymo.gov deed search. The system has recorded deeds going back through 1974. You can search by name to find property transfers, deeds of trust, releases, and other recorded documents for St. Louis County. Basic searches are free. Copy fees are $3 for the first page and $1 for each additional page if you need a physical copy.

The online tool is a good starting point for title research or just checking who owns a property in St. Louis County. For records older than 1974, you will need to visit the office in Clayton or contact the recorder by phone. Staff can search the physical index books for earlier entries.

For historical research beyond what the county holds, the Missouri Digital Heritage land database has over 280,000 land patent entries from 1777 to 1969. St. Louis County has over 900 microfilms of deeds from 1804 to 1901 available through the FamilySearch catalog. That makes it one of the best-documented counties in the state for genealogy and property research.

St. Louis City Property Records

The City of St. Louis operates as an independent city, separate from St. Louis County. It has its own Recorder of Deeds office. If the property you are looking for is within the city limits of St. Louis, you need to contact the city recorder, not the county office. Michael Butler serves as the St. Louis City Recorder. The office is at 1200 Market Street, Room 126, St. Louis, MO 63103. You can call (314) 622-4610 or visit the St. Louis City Recorder website.

This is one of the most common mix-ups when searching for property records in the St. Louis area. St. Louis County covers the suburbs and communities outside the city. The city itself is a separate filing jurisdiction. Always check which jurisdiction the property falls in before you start your search.

St. Louis County Recording Fees

St. Louis County follows the statewide fee schedule for recording. Standard documents cost $24 for the first page and $3 for each additional page. Copy fees for recorded documents are $3 for the first page and $1 for each page after that. Under Section 59.313, non-standard documents get a $25 penalty fee. All documents need 8.5 by 11 inch paper, a 3 inch top margin, and at least 8 point type.

The St. Louis County office handles a very high volume of filings. E-recording through providers like Simplifile, CSC, or eRecording Partners Network is a popular option for title companies and attorneys who file documents regularly. This can speed up the process compared to mailing or hand-delivering documents.

Types of St. Louis County Property Records

The St. Louis County Recorder files all standard property documents. Warranty deeds transfer ownership with a clear title guarantee. Quitclaim deeds pass interest without warranty. Deeds of trust secure loans. Release deeds clear those claims. Under Section 442.380, all documents affecting real property must be recorded in the county where the land sits.

Plats are especially common in St. Louis County given the large number of subdivisions and developments. Surveys, easements, restrictive covenants, tax liens, and mechanic's liens are all on file. Beneficiary deeds under RSMo 461.025 let owners transfer property at death without probate. Under Section 442.410, recording a deed is what makes it valid against third-party claims, so getting documents on file promptly matters.

St. Louis County Property Tax Records

Property taxes in St. Louis County are assessed by the county assessor on odd-numbered years. Missouri uses assessment ratios of 19% for residential, 12% for agricultural, and 32% for commercial property. Tax bills go out by November 1 and are due December 31. St. Louis County has some of the highest property values in Missouri, so tax bills can be substantial. Unpaid taxes lead to a lien on the property.

The Missouri Department of Revenue has information on tax credits and exemptions. The Senior Citizen Property Tax Credit is for residents 65 and older. Disabled veteran exemptions are also available. The St. Louis County collector's office handles all tax payments and can provide receipts or statements for any parcel.

Cities in St. Louis County

St. Louis County has many cities and municipalities. Property records for all locations within the county are filed at the St. Louis County Recorder of Deeds office in Clayton. The City of St. Louis is a separate jurisdiction with its own recorder.

Nearby Counties

These counties are near St. Louis County. Always check that the property falls within St. Louis County before searching here.