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 September 30, 2026.
Howard County, Iowa, has about 9,400 residents (2024 Census Bureau estimate). The title to a parcel in Howard 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: Howard County public records, Howard County arrest records, Howard County warrants, Howard County criminal records, Howard County court records, Iowa arrest records and Iowa inmate search.
Deeds, Mortgages and Liens in Howard County
Deeds, mortgages, liens and easements that affect title to land in Howard 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 howardcounty.iowa.gov/recorder (page title: Recorder | Howard County Iowa), phone 563-547-9210, 7105 NW 70th Avenue Camp Dodge Bldg. A6A Johnston, IA 50131-1824, Monday - Friday 8:00am - 4:30pm, which answered when SearchSystems opened it on September 30, 2026.
Assessed Values and the Tax Roll in Howard County
What a parcel in Howard County 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 howardcounty.iowa.gov/assessor (page title: Assessor at Howard County, Iowa | Howard County Iowa), phone (563) 547-9201, 137 North Elm Street Cresco IA 52136, Monday - Friday 8:00 am - 4:30 pm, which answered when SearchSystems opened it on September 30, 2026.
Evictions and Court Cases About Land in Howard County
An eviction, a foreclosure, a lien dispute or a quiet title suit is a court case in the Iowa District Court for Howard County, and the file is public unless sealed.
The court records page SearchSystems verified for the county is at iowacourts.state.ia.us/ESAWebApp/ESALogin.jsp.
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. The county records request page SearchSystems verified is at ia.iowadot.gov/openrecords (page title: Open Records Request | FOIA).
Frequently Asked Questions
Who records deeds in Howard County?
The County Recorder, at howardcounty.iowa.gov/recorder, phone 563-547-9210. Deeds, mortgages and liens on land in Howard County are filed there, and the County Assessor (howardcounty.iowa.gov/assessor) has the assessment records.
Who sets the assessed value of a property in Howard County?
The County Assessor, whose page SearchSystems verified is at howardcounty.iowa.gov/assessor.
Where are evictions from Howard County filed?
In the Iowa District Court for Howard 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 Howard 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.