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 on September 24, 2026.
Polk County, Iowa, has about 516,000 residents (2024 Census Bureau estimate). The title to a parcel in Polk 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, directory links, city permits, evictions and court cases, records requests and common questions.
Related guides: Polk County public records, Polk County arrest records, Polk County warrants, Polk County inmate search, Polk County police reports, Iowa arrest records and Iowa inmate search.
Deeds, Mortgages and Liens in Polk County
Who owns a parcel in Polk County and what it sold for are in the deed records of the County Recorder, with every lien or mortgage against the land.
SearchSystems opened and checked the County Recorder's page at polkcountyiowa.gov/county-recorder/search-records (page title: Search Records | Polk County Iowa), phone 515-286-3175, which answered when SearchSystems opened it on September 24, 2026.
Assessed Values and the Tax Roll in Polk County
The County Assessor sets the value each parcel in Polk 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 assess.co.polk.ia.us/cgi-bin/web/tt/info.cgi (page title: Polk County Assessor Property Search), phone (515) 286-3014, 111 Court Avenue #195 Des Moines, IA 50309-0904, which answered when SearchSystems opened it on September 24, 2026.
More Official Property and Land Records Pages for Polk County
The SearchSystems directory, online since 1997, lists the official pages for Polk County and Iowa. These property pages from its Polk County listing were opened again on October 2, 2026 and each one still answers:
- Polk County Assessor Home (web.assess.co.polk.ia.us)
Permits and City Records in the Cities of Polk County
Building permits, zoning and code cases inside a city are the city's own records. The cities in Polk County with a SearchSystems guide to their offices, with the city page SearchSystems verified:
- Ankeny: the city hall page SearchSystems verified is at ankenyiowa.gov/Facilities/Facility/Details/City-Hall-110, phone 515-965-6400 (verified September 26, 2026).
- West Des Moines: the city hall page SearchSystems verified is at wdm.iowa.gov/Home/Components/FacilityDirectory/FacilityDirectory/60..., phone 515-222-3600 (verified September 26, 2026).
- Altoona: the city hall page SearchSystems verified is at altoona-iowa.com (verified September 26, 2026).
- Clive: the city hall page SearchSystems verified is at cityofclive.com/connect/contact_the_city/index.php, phone (515) 223-6220 (verified September 26, 2026).
- Grimes: the city hall page SearchSystems verified is at grimesiowa.gov/m/faq?cat=18#question-76, phone 515-986-3036 (verified September 26, 2026).
- Pleasant Hill: the city hall page SearchSystems verified is at pleasanthilliowa.org/m/directory/department?did=14, phone 515-262-9368 (verified September 26, 2026).
- Windsor Heights: the city hall page SearchSystems verified is at windsorheights.org/187/City-Offices-Holidays (verified September 26, 2026).
Evictions and Court Cases About Land in Polk County
Court cases about land from Polk County, evictions among them, are filed in the Iowa District Court for Polk County.
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 Polk County?
The County Recorder, at polkcountyiowa.gov, phone 515-286-3175. Deeds, mortgages and liens on land in Polk County are filed there, and the County Assessor (assess.co.polk.ia.us/cgi-bin/web/tt/info.cgi) has the assessment records.
Who sets the assessed value of a property in Polk County?
The County Assessor, whose page SearchSystems verified is at assess.co.polk.ia.us/cgi-bin/web/tt/info.cgi.
Where are evictions from Polk County filed?
In the Iowa District Court for Polk 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 Polk 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.