Reviewed and updated October 9, 2026 by the SearchSystems.net editorial team. Every office link was opened and checked against the office's own site between September 26, 2026 and September 30, 2026.
Decorah, Iowa, in Winneshiek County, has about 7,500 residents (2024 Census Bureau estimate). The title to a parcel in Decorah 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. This guide says who keeps each record and where the page for each office is.
This guide covers deeds, assessed values, city permits and records, evictions and court cases, records requests and common questions.
Related guides: Decorah public records, Winneshiek County property records, Decorah arrest records, Decorah warrants, Decorah inmate search, Decorah police reports, Iowa arrest records and Iowa inmate search.
Deeds, Mortgages and Liens in Decorah
Deeds, mortgages, liens and easements that affect title to land in Decorah are recorded by the County Recorder, which indexes them by name and sells copies.
SearchSystems opened and checked the County Recorder's page at winneshiekcounty.iowa.gov/departments/recorder (page title: Winneshiek County Recorder | Winneshiek County), phone 563-382-3486, 201 W. Main Street Decorah, IA 52101, Monday - Friday 8:00 am to 4:00 pm, which answered when SearchSystems opened it on September 30, 2026.
Assessed Values and the Tax Roll in Decorah
What a parcel in Decorah is taxed on is the business of the County Assessor, which also 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 winneshiekcounty.iowa.gov/departments/assessor (page title: Winneshiek County Assessor | Winneshiek County), phone (563) 382-5356, 201 W. Main St Decorah, IA 52101, Monday-Friday 8:00 am to 4:00 pm, which answered when SearchSystems opened it on September 30, 2026.
Permits and City Records in Decorah
Building permits, zoning and code cases are the city's own. For Decorah, SearchSystems opened and checked the city hall page at decorahia.org (page title: City of Decorah Iowa), phone (563) 382-3651, Monday - Friday 7:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m., which answered when SearchSystems opened it on September 26, 2026.
Evictions and Court Cases About Land in Decorah
An eviction, a foreclosure, a lien dispute or a quiet title suit is a court case in the Iowa District Court for Winneshiek County, and the file is public unless sealed.
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 Decorah?
The County Recorder, at winneshiekcounty.iowa.gov, phone 563-382-3486. Deeds, mortgages and liens on land in Decorah are filed there, and the County Assessor (winneshiekcounty.iowa.gov) has the assessment records.
Who sets the assessed value of a property in Decorah?
The County Assessor, whose page SearchSystems verified is at winneshiekcounty.iowa.gov.
Where are evictions from Decorah filed?
In the Iowa District Court for Winneshiek 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 Decorah website?
No. SearchSystems.net is an independent public records guide, online since 1997. It links to the official city, county, court and state offices described above and does not hold records, charge for them or take requests.