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 24, 2026 and October 4, 2026.
Clayton County, Iowa, has about 17,000 residents (2024 Census Bureau estimate). The title to a parcel in Clayton 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, evictions and court cases, records requests and common questions.
Related guides: Clayton County public records, Clayton County arrest records, Clayton County warrants, Clayton County inmate search, Clayton County criminal records, Iowa arrest records and Iowa inmate search.
Deeds, Mortgages and Liens in Clayton County
Deeds, mortgages, liens and easements that affect title to land in Clayton County are recorded by the County Recorder, which indexes them by name and sells copies.
SearchSystems opened and checked the County Recorder's page at claytoncountyia.gov/recorder (page title: Recorder's Office | Clayton County Government | Iowa), phone 563-245-2710, 111 High St. NE, Suite 103 Elkader, IA 52043, Monday - Friday 8:00 am - 4:00 pm, which answered when SearchSystems opened it on September 24, 2026.
Assessed Values and the Tax Roll in Clayton County
The County Assessor sets the value each parcel in Clayton 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 claytoncountyia.gov/assessor (page title: Assessor's Office | Clayton County Government | Iowa), phone 563-245-2533, 111 High St. NE, Suite 104 Elkader, IA 52043, Monday - Friday 8:00 am - 4:00 pm, which answered when SearchSystems opened it on September 24, 2026.
Evictions and Court Cases About Land in Clayton County
An eviction, a foreclosure, a lien dispute or a quiet title suit is a court case in the Iowa District Court for Clayton 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-1/distr..., phone 563-245-2204.
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 Clayton County?
The County Recorder, at claytoncountyia.gov/recorder, phone 563-245-2710. Deeds, mortgages and liens on land in Clayton County are filed there, and the County Assessor (claytoncountyia.gov/assessor) has the assessment records.
Who sets the assessed value of a property in Clayton County?
The County Assessor, whose page SearchSystems verified is at claytoncountyia.gov/assessor.
Where are evictions from Clayton County filed?
In the Iowa District Court for Clayton 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 Clayton 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.