Reviewed and updated October 7, 2026 by the SearchSystems.net editorial team. Every office link was opened and checked against the office's own site between September 24, 2026 and September 30, 2026.
Madison County, Iowa, has about 17,000 residents (2024 Census Bureau estimate). The title to a parcel in Madison County is in the deed records of the County Recorder and its taxable value is set by the County Assessor; what is built on it is a matter for the city or the county. This guide says who keeps each record and where the page for each office is.
This guide covers deeds, assessed values, city permits, evictions and court cases, records requests and common questions.
Related guides: Madison County public records, Iowa arrest records and Iowa inmate search.
Deeds, Mortgages and Liens in Madison County
Deeds, mortgages, liens and easements that affect title to land in Madison County are recorded by the County Recorder, which indexes them by name and sells copies.
Assessed Values and the Tax Roll in Madison County
The County Assessor sets the value each parcel in Madison County is taxed on and keeps the parcel maps. Iowa reassesses property in odd-numbered years and applies a statewide rollback, so the taxable value is a fraction of the assessed value.
SearchSystems opened and checked the County Assessor's page at madison.iowaassessors.com/search.php (page title: Madison County), phone (515) 462-4303, which answered when SearchSystems opened it on September 24, 2026.
Permits and City Records in the Cities of Madison County
Building permits, zoning and code cases inside a city are the city's own records. The cities in Madison County with a SearchSystems guide to their offices, with the city page SearchSystems verified:
- Winterset: the city hall page SearchSystems verified is at winterset.gov/286/Mayor-and-City-Council (verified September 26, 2026).
Evictions and Court Cases About Land in Madison County
An eviction, a foreclosure, a lien dispute or a quiet title suit is a court case in the Iowa District Court for Madison County, and the file is public unless sealed.
The court records page SearchSystems verified for the county is at iowacourts.gov/iowa-courts/district-court/judicial-district-5/distr..., phone 515-462-4451.
Asking a County Office for a Record
Under the Iowa Open Records Law (Chapter 22) a county office must answer a request without delay; the law sets no fixed number of days, and a delay past 20 days must be justified, and it may charge the actual cost of copying and retrieval.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who records deeds in Madison County?
The County Recorder.
Who sets the assessed value of a property in Madison County?
The County Assessor, whose page SearchSystems verified is at madison.iowaassessors.com/search.php.
Where are evictions from Madison County filed?
In the Iowa District Court for Madison County. The file is public unless the court seals it.
How is property assessed in Iowa?
Iowa reassesses property in odd-numbered years and applies a statewide rollback, so the taxable value is a fraction of the assessed value.
Is this the official Madison County website?
No. SearchSystems.net is an independent public records guide, online since 1997. It links to the official county, court and state offices described above and does not hold records, charge for them or take requests.