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 23, 2026 and October 2, 2026.
Essex County, Massachusetts, has about 824,000 residents (2024 Census Bureau estimate). The title to a parcel in Essex County is in the deed records of the Registry of Deeds and its taxable value is set by the town 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: Essex County public records, Essex County arrest records, Essex County warrants, Essex County inmate search, Essex County criminal records, Massachusetts arrest records and Massachusetts inmate search.
Deeds, Mortgages and Liens in Essex County
Deeds, mortgages, liens and easements that affect title to land in Essex County are recorded by the Registry of Deeds, which indexes them by name and sells copies.
SearchSystems opened and checked the Registry of Deeds' page at salemdeeds.com/masearches (page title: Southern Essex Registry of Deeds | Search), a site that blocks automated checks (HTTP 403), so open it in a browser.
Assessed Values and the Tax Roll in Essex County
The value each parcel is taxed on is set by the town assessor, not the county. Massachusetts cities and towns assess property every year and recertify their values with the state every five years; there is no county assessor.
Permits and City Records in the Cities of Essex County
Building permits, zoning and code cases inside a city are the city's own records. The cities in Essex County with a SearchSystems guide to their offices, with the city page SearchSystems verified:
- Lynn: the city clerk's page SearchSystems verified is at lynnma.gov/city_government/departments/cityclerk/birth__death__and_... (verified September 25, 2026).
- Lawrence: the city hall page SearchSystems verified is at cityoflawrence.com (verified September 25, 2026).
- Haverhill: the city hall page SearchSystems verified is at haverhillma.gov/contacts-directory, phone (978) 358-1311 (verified September 25, 2026).
- Peabody: the city hall page SearchSystems verified is at peabody-ma.gov (verified September 25, 2026).
- Methuen: the city hall page SearchSystems verified is at methuen.gov/864/City-Hall-Business-Hours (verified September 25, 2026).
- Salem: the city hall page SearchSystems verified is at salemma.gov, phone 978-744-0924 (verified September 25, 2026).
- Beverly: the city hall page SearchSystems verified is at beverlyma.gov/m/directory/department?did=20, phone 978-921-6000 (verified September 25, 2026).
- Gloucester: the city hall page SearchSystems verified is at gloucester-ma.gov (verified September 25, 2026).
- Amesbury: the city hall page SearchSystems verified is at amesburyma.gov/facilities/facility/details/City-Hall-21, phone 978-388-8121 (verified September 25, 2026).
Evictions and Court Cases About Land in Essex County
An eviction is a court case in the District Court and Boston Municipal Court, and so is a foreclosure, a lien dispute or a quiet title suit, in the Essex County Superior Court; the court file is public unless sealed.
The court records page SearchSystems verified for the county is at mass.gov/locations/essex-county-superior-court, phone (978) 744-5500.
Asking a County Office for a Record
Under the Massachusetts Public Records Law a county office must answer a request within 10 business days, and it may charge staff time after the first four hours for towns and two for the state, plus copying.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who records deeds in Essex County?
The Registry of Deeds.
Who sets the assessed value of a property in Essex County?
The assessors of each city and town.
Where are evictions from Essex County filed?
In the District Court and Boston Municipal Court. The file is public unless the court seals it.
How is property assessed in Massachusetts?
Massachusetts cities and towns assess property every year and recertify their values with the state every five years; there is no county assessor.
Is this the official Essex 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.