Licking County Recorder: Deeds, Land Records, Copies, Recording Fees & Office Guide
The Licking County Recorder’s Office in Newark, Ohio records and preserves public land records for Licking County, including deeds, mortgages, releases, powers of attorney, veterans discharges, partnership agreements, zoning amendments and other instruments accepted for recording.
If you searched for licking county recorder, you are probably trying to find a deed, search a recorded mortgage or release, record a prepared document, estimate recording fees, order copies, or decide whether the Recorder, Auditor or Treasurer is the correct county office.
What Does the Licking County Recorder Handle?
Use the Licking County Recorder when your task involves a recorded public document. Use the Auditor when you need property values, parcel data, conveyance transfer processing or tax-reduction programs. Use the Treasurer when your question is about property-tax bills, payments, receipts or delinquent tax balances.
Use the Recorder For
- Searching deeds, mortgages and releases.
- Recording a prepared deed, mortgage, lien, affidavit or power of attorney.
- Ordering copies, book copies, plat copies and related record copies.
- Finding document numbers and recording dates.
- Researching early land-record index books in person.
Use the Auditor For
- OnTrac property search and parcel information.
- Property values and assessment questions.
- Real-property deed transfer processing.
- Conveyances, exempt transfers, splits and merges.
- Homestead and other tax-reduction programs.
Use the Treasurer For
- Real-estate tax bills and payments.
- Manufactured-home taxes.
- Special assessments and tax receipts.
- Delinquent tax questions.
- Tax payment history and balances.
Why Licking County Deed Searches Need Recorder and Auditor Clues
Licking County includes Newark, Heath, Pataskala, Johnstown, Granville, Hebron, Buckeye Lake, Utica, Alexandria and many rural townships. A mailing address alone can be a weak deed-search starting point, especially when names are common or property has transferred through trusts, estates, LLCs or mortgage assignments.
Start With Auditor Property Search When You Only Have an Address
The Licking County Auditor page links to OnTrac Property Search and says the Auditor is charged with determining property values and transferring real-property deeds. Use it to find parcel details, owner display and tax/transfer clues before using the Recorder index.
Save the parcel or tax-map number, owner name, prior owner and legal-description clues before searching Recorder records.
Older Records May Require Index Strategy
The Recorder page says the office maintains hundreds of index and record books and that records date back to the early 1800s. If an online search does not find an older deed, use the in-office General Index department or ask staff which historical index path applies.
For older research, bring names, approximate year, legal description, township/range clues and any prior book/page reference.
How to Search Licking County Recorder Deeds and Records
The official Licking County Recorder index helps users find recorded documents and information filed with the office. Use it with care: the county disclaimer says the index does not guarantee accuracy or verify the truthfulness of information inside recorded documents.
Open the Official Recorder Search
Start from the Licking County Recorder’s official public-access search, not a paid third-party “instant deed” page. The search is designed to help locate documents recorded in the Recorder’s office.
Search Names Broadly, Then Narrow
Search by grantor and grantee names when building a deed chain. Try current owner, prior owner, trust name, LLC name, bank name and spelling variations. For common surnames, add initials, first names or a date range.
Use the Auditor When the Address Is Your Only Clue
If you only know the street address, use OnTrac Property Search or the Licking County Tax Parcel Viewer first. Find the owner display, parcel/tax-map number, legal-description clues and any recent transfer details before going back to the Recorder.
Read the Document Type Before You Rely on a Result
A deed may transfer ownership. A mortgage or deed of trust secures debt. A release or satisfaction may show a lien or mortgage was released. An assignment may transfer a lender’s interest. Do not assume the first document with a familiar name is the current deed.
Compare Legal Description and Parcel Clues
Street addresses can be missing, abbreviated or changed over time. Compare the legal description, lot, subdivision, township, section, parcel/tax-map number and party names with Auditor and Recorder details.
Review the Image or Ask for a Copy
The Recorder page says citizens can view deeds, mortgages, mortgage releases, mortgage assignments, UCC statements and other documents over the internet. For legal use, ask whether a certified copy is required.
Escalate Title Questions to a Professional
If the goal is to verify lien priority, clear title, probate rights, boundary rights, mineral rights, fraud or marketable ownership, have the records reviewed by a title examiner, real-estate attorney or title company.
How to Read a Licking County Recorder Search Result
A Recorder result is a public-record index entry and document pathway. It is valuable, but the document image and related chain of records matter more than one index line.
| Field / Clue | What It Usually Means | How to Use It | Common Mistake |
|---|---|---|---|
| Document number | The unique number assigned by the Recorder when the document is recorded. | Save it for copy requests, title review, mortgage release checks and future searches. | Using the Auditor parcel number as if it were the Recorder document number. |
| Recording date/time | The date and time the Recorder accepted the document for recording. | Use it to build the public-record timeline and compare priority among related documents. | Confusing signing, closing and recording dates. |
| Grantor | The party giving, releasing, assigning or encumbering an interest, depending on document type. | Search grantor names forward to find later transfers or releases. | Assuming grantor always means current owner. |
| Grantee | The party receiving the interest or benefit of the document. | Use it to identify buyers, lenders, assignees, trustees or recipients of an interest. | Ignoring trusts, estates, LLCs, banks or name changes. |
| Document title | Shows whether the record is a deed, mortgage, release, lien, power of attorney, UCC, plat or other instrument. | Separate ownership documents from security, lien, release and reference documents. | Assuming a mortgage is the same as a deed. |
| Legal description | The formal description of the land or interest being recorded. | Compare it with Auditor parcel data, tax-map information and prior deeds. | Relying only on the street address. |
How to Record a Deed or Document in Licking County, Ohio
The Recorder can record a prepared instrument that is authorized to be recorded and meets Ohio recording requirements. Staff cannot choose your deed, draft legal language, guarantee title, notarize documents for you or decide whether your transfer is tax-safe.
Record In Person
Visit the Licking County Recorder at 20 S. Second Street, Newark, OH 43055. The county page lists general office hours from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and recording hours from 8:30 a.m. to 4:15 p.m.
Record by Mail
Mail only a prepared original document with correct fees and required endorsements. If the document is a conveyance, confirm Auditor transfer requirements before mailing it to the Recorder.
eRecording for Regular Submitters
Licking County explains that eRecording lets a submitter electronically deliver and receive recorded documents. It is commonly useful for title companies, law firms, banks and other businesses that record documents regularly.
Licking County Recording Fees, Preservation Surcharge and Document Requirements
Recording fees depend on document type, page count, marginal notations, non-standard formatting, plats/maps, copy type and whether the document is a standard document type. Verify the live county fee table before mailing payment.
| Item | Planning Rule | What to Verify Before Filing |
|---|---|---|
| Ohio standard recording fee | Ohio Revised Code § 317.32 lists $34 for the first two pages and $8 for each additional page for many recordable instruments. | Confirm the document is a standard instrument and not a special map, plat, federal lien, UCC or other special fee item. |
| Licking County preservation surcharge | The Licking County Recorder fees page posts a $5 preservation surcharge per document for all standard document types as of January 1, 2025. | Add this surcharge to standard-document planning estimates when the county fee page says it applies. |
| Non-standard document fee | Ohio law allows additional handling for documents that do not meet standard-format requirements. | Check paper size, font size, ink color, margins, first-page top space, legibility and required endorsements. |
| Marginal notation | Ohio recorder fee guidance commonly lists a separate fee for each marginal notation. | Ask before recording releases, assignments or documents that reference multiple prior instruments. |
| Copies and certified copies | The Recorder’s Micrographics Department handles book copies, plat copies, fax orders and related charges. | Ask whether your receiving agency needs a plain copy, certified copy, book copy or plat copy. |
| Ohio standard-format requirements | Ohio Revised Code § 317.114 includes requirements for legible print, paper size, ink, margins, first-page top space and remaining-page top space. | Use at least 10-point print, black or blue ink, no highlighting, 1-inch side/bottom margins, 3-inch top margin on the first page and 1.5-inch top margin on later pages unless a statutory exception applies. |
| Authorized-to-record rule | The Recorder search page references that the Recorder accepts for recording only documents authorized by the Ohio Revised Code to be recorded. | Do not assume any private document can be recorded just because it is notarized. |
Licking County Recorder Fee Planning Calculator
This tool is only for planning. It uses the common Ohio standard-document formula plus Licking County’s posted preservation surcharge. The official Recorder fee schedule controls the actual amount due.
Add-ons use $4 per marginal notation and $2 per employee-assisted copy page as a conservative planning placeholder. Actual copy, certification, plat, fax, special-record and payment-processing charges may differ.
Licking County Recorder Office Address, Phone, Hours & Map
The Recorder is located in Newark at 20 S. Second Street. Bring the property owner name, prior owner, parcel/tax-map number, document number, approximate recording date, legal description and payment method before visiting.
Licking County Recorder’s Office
Recorder: Bryan Long
Address:
20 S. Second Street
Newark, OH 43055
Phone: 740-670-5300
Fax: 740-670-5303
Office hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Recording hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–4:15 p.m.
Open Recorder Map ↗Recorder vs Auditor vs Treasurer in Licking County
These offices are in the same county-government ecosystem, but they solve different problems. Use this table before calling or mailing documents.
| Office | Address / Phone | Use This Office For | Do Not Use It For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Licking County Recorder | 20 S. Second Street, Newark, OH 43055 740-670-5300 |
Recorded deeds, mortgages, releases, liens, powers of attorney, UCC-related real-estate records, plat/book copies, document numbers and certified-copy questions. | Preparing deeds, giving legal advice, determining value, collecting taxes or guaranteeing clear title. |
| Licking County Auditor | 20 South Second Street, Newark, OH 43055 740-670-5040 |
Property values, OnTrac property search, parcel data, real-property transfers, conveyances, exempt transfers, splits, merges and tax-reduction programs. | Issuing certified copies of recorded instruments or recording a prepared document. |
| Licking County Treasurer | 20 South Second Street, Newark, OH 43055 740-670-5010 |
Real-estate tax payments, manufactured-home tax, special assessments, receipts, balances and delinquent-tax questions. | Changing legal title, approving transfers or searching deed images. |
| Licking County Records & Archives | 61 East Main Street, Newark, OH 43055 740-670-5121 |
Older county-government records and archival holdings listed by department when the current Recorder directs users there. | Current certified Recorder records unless directed by Recorder staff. |
Official Licking County Recorder, Auditor, Treasurer and Ohio Links
Use these official resources to search records, verify fees, check office hours, use eRecording, find parcel details and understand Ohio recording rules. Each link includes what to do after opening it.
Licking County Recorder
Official Recorder page for office address, phone, recording hours, department responsibilities and record-search context.
- After opening this link: confirm the current Recorder address, phone number, office hours and recording hours.
- Read the Recording Desk and General Index sections to understand what the office records and how older records are handled.
- Call 740-670-5300 before mailing documents with uncertain fees or endorsements.
- Use the Recorder link to move to search, fees or eRecording pages as needed.
Licking County Recorder Public Access Search
Official public-access search for Recorder document information and recorded-document index research.
- After opening this link: read the disclaimer before relying on any result.
- Search by the fields available in the portal, such as name, document/instrument clue, recording date or related index terms.
- Compare party names, document type, document number and legal description before ordering copies.
- Have important results reviewed by a title examiner, attorney or real-estate professional when legal rights are involved.
Licking County Recorder Fees
Official Recorder fee page with document-type fee tables and the January 1, 2025 preservation surcharge notice.
- After opening this link: read the preservation surcharge notice at the top of the page.
- Open the Fees Table by Document Type or Standard Document Fees PDF.
- Count pages, notations and document types before writing a check.
- Call the Recorder if the document is a plat, map, special lien, UCC, non-standard document or multi-transaction release.
Licking County Recorder eRecording
Official eRecording guidance for title companies, law firms, banks and businesses that record regularly.
- After opening this link: read what eRecording is and who it is designed for.
- Review listed vendor options such as CSC, ePN, Indecomm and Simplifile.
- Contact a trusted eRecording vendor if your office records documents regularly.
- For general eRecording questions, call the Recorder at 740-670-5300.
Licking County Auditor
Official Auditor page for OnTrac property search, property values, deed transfer processing, conveyances and tax-reduction programs.
- After opening this link: use the OnTrac Property Search link if your only clue is a street address.
- Save the parcel/tax-map number, owner display and property details.
- Check the current Auditor transfer cutoff before submitting same-day transfers.
- Use Auditor staff for conveyance, exempt transfer, split, merge and value questions.
Licking County Tax Parcel Viewer
Official county map tool for searching by Auditor PIN, address or owner name and reviewing parcel-map context.
- After opening this link: search by Auditor PIN, address or owner name.
- Open the correct parcel result and save parcel/tax-map clues.
- Compare parcel-map details with the legal description in Recorder documents.
- Use this as a support tool, not as a replacement for recorded-document review.
Licking County Treasurer
Official Treasurer page for tax bills, real-estate tax collection, manufactured-home tax, special assessments and payment questions.
- After opening this link: use OnTrac or tax-information links when the issue is tax payment or balance.
- Review current taxes, payment status and receipts through Treasurer resources.
- Do not use the Treasurer site as proof of legal title.
- Return to the Recorder for deed images and recorded-document history.
Ohio Revised Code § 317.32 — Recording Fees
State law for Ohio county recorder recording fees, housing trust fund fees and preservation surcharge authority.
- After opening this link: review the fee language for first two pages and subsequent pages.
- Read the preservation surcharge authority.
- Compare the state statute with the current Licking County fee page.
- Use the county fee schedule for the final amount due at recording.
Ohio Revised Code § 317.114 — Standard Format
State document-format rules for instruments presented to an Ohio county recorder.
- After opening this link: check paper size, legibility, ink color and margin rules.
- Leave the required top margin for county endorsements.
- Avoid highlighting and small print.
- Fix formatting before recording to reduce rejection or non-standard fee risk.
Ohio DTE 100 Real Property Conveyance Form
State conveyance form commonly used when real property is transferred for consideration.
- After opening this link: confirm whether your transfer requires DTE 100 or the exemption form DTE 100EX.
- Complete buyer, seller, parcel, value and transfer details carefully.
- Route the transfer through the Licking County Auditor before final recording when required.
- Ask the Auditor if the transfer is exempt, split, merge, land contract, estate or unusual conveyance.
Common Licking County Recorder Mistakes
Mistakes That Waste Time
- Using the Recorder when the real task is Auditor property transfer or Treasurer tax payment.
- Trying to record a conveyance before Auditor review or required forms.
- Assuming a Recorder index result proves clear title.
- Searching only the current owner and missing prior owners, trusts, estates, banks or LLCs.
- Confusing a mortgage with a deed.
- Expecting a new deed after mortgage payoff instead of looking for a release or satisfaction.
- Ignoring Ohio margin, paper, ink and font-size rules.
- Mailing a document without the preservation surcharge or current fee total.
Better Workflow
- Start with Auditor OnTrac when you only know the property address.
- Use Recorder search for recorded document numbers and images.
- Match names, dates, legal descriptions and parcel clues.
- Verify standard-document fees and the preservation surcharge.
- Check ORC standard-format requirements before recording.
- Use eRecording only through an accepted vendor when appropriate.
- Call 740-670-5300 before mailing documents with uncertain fees.
- Use an attorney or title company for legal-title questions.
What Should You Do Next?
| Your Situation | Best Next Step | Correct Office / Tool |
|---|---|---|
| You need a copy of a deed. | Search the Recorder index by name, date, document number or legal clue, then request the correct plain or certified copy. | Licking County Recorder |
| You only know the address. | Use OnTrac Property Search or the Tax Parcel Viewer to find the parcel and owner clues first. | Licking County Auditor / Parcel Viewer |
| You want to record a deed transfer. | Prepare the deed, complete conveyance forms, route through Auditor requirements and then record with the Recorder. | Auditor + Recorder |
| You paid off a mortgage. | Search for a release, satisfaction or assignment document tied to the original mortgage recording. | Recorder public-access search |
| You need to pay property taxes. | Use the Treasurer’s tax resources, not the Recorder. | Licking County Treasurer |
| You need property value or homestead information. | Use the Auditor because the Auditor handles property values and tax-reduction programs. | Licking County Auditor |
| You are unsure whether a deed is valid. | Do not rely on Recorder staff for legal advice; consult a title professional or Ohio real-estate attorney. | Attorney / title examiner / title company |
Licking County Recorder FAQs
What does the Licking County Recorder do?
The Licking County Recorder records and preserves public documents such as deeds, mortgages, releases, powers of attorney, veterans discharges, partnership agreements, zoning amendments and other instruments authorized for recording in Licking County, Ohio.
Where is the Licking County Recorder’s Office?
The Recorder’s Office is listed at 20 S. Second Street, Newark, OH 43055. The public phone number is 740-670-5300 and the fax number is 740-670-5303.
What are the Licking County Recorder hours?
The county Recorder page lists office hours as Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with recording hours from 8:30 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. Confirm current hours and holiday closures before visiting.
How do I search Licking County deed records?
Use the official Licking County Recorder public-access search to look for recorded documents by available index fields. If you only know the address, start with the Auditor’s OnTrac Property Search or Tax Parcel Viewer, then use owner, parcel and legal-description clues in the Recorder search.
Can I search Licking County property records by address?
For address-based property research, start with the Licking County Auditor or Tax Parcel Viewer. The Recorder search is better for recorded document research, such as deeds, mortgages, releases, liens and instrument references.
How much does it cost to record a deed in Licking County?
Ohio’s common standard recording fee is $34 for the first two pages and $8 for each additional page, and Licking County posts a $5 preservation surcharge per standard document type as of January 1, 2025. Verify the current county fee table before submitting payment.
Does Licking County offer eRecording?
Yes. Licking County’s eRecording page explains that electronic document recording can be an option for title companies, law firms, banks and other businesses that record documents regularly. The county lists vendors and says the actual recording is still completed by the Recorder.
Does the Recorder prepare deeds or give legal advice?
No. The Recorder records documents that are presented for recording and authorized by law, but does not choose deed forms, draft legal wording, notarize documents, determine ownership rights, clear title or provide legal advice.
Why does an old mortgage still appear in Recorder records?
Recorded documents remain in the public record. Paying off a mortgage does not remove the original mortgage record. Search for a later release, satisfaction, assignment or related instrument that references the original mortgage.
Can I use Licking County Recorder records for tenant screening or background checks?
No. This guide is for property-record and recorded-document research. Public property records and owner names should not be used for employment screening, tenant screening, credit eligibility, insurance underwriting or other regulated consumer-reporting purposes.
Independent Educational Guide
County-Appraisal-District.org is an independent informational website and is not affiliated with the Licking County Recorder’s Office, Licking County Auditor, Licking County Treasurer, Licking County Records & Archives, Ohio Recorders Association, Ohio Department of Taxation, any court, title company, law firm or government agency.
Recording acceptance, document validity, copy availability, fees, Auditor transfer processing, Treasurer tax balances, title status, public-record access, office hours and legal effect are controlled by official agencies, Ohio law and the content of recorded documents. This page is not legal, tax, title, escrow or real-estate advice.
Public owner names and property records should not be used for employment screening, tenant screening, credit eligibility, insurance underwriting or other regulated consumer-reporting purposes. This website is not a Consumer Reporting Agency.