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 September 27, 2026.
Ottawa County, Ohio, has about 40,000 residents (2024 Census Bureau estimate). The title to a parcel in Ottawa County is in the deed records of the County Recorder and its taxable value is set by the County Auditor; 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: Ottawa County public records, Ottawa County arrest records, Ottawa County warrants, Ottawa County inmate search, Ottawa County criminal records, Ohio arrest records and Ohio inmate search.
Deeds, Mortgages and Liens in Ottawa County
Deeds, mortgages, liens and easements that affect title to land in Ottawa 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 co.ottawa.oh.us/273/Recorders-Office (page title: Recorder’s Office | Ottawa County, OH), phone 419-734-6730, 315 Madison Street Room 204 Port Clinton, OH 43452, Monday through Friday 8:30 am to 4:30 pm, which answered when SearchSystems opened it on September 23, 2026.
Assessed Values and the Tax Roll in Ottawa County
The County Auditor sets the value each parcel in Ottawa County is taxed on and keeps the parcel maps. Ohio counties reappraise every six years with an update at the three-year mark, and tax 35 percent of the appraised value.
SearchSystems opened and checked the County Auditor's page at auditor.co.ottawa.oh.us (page title: Ottawa County Real Estate Search), phone (419) 734-6740, 315 Madison Street, Room 202 Port Clinton, OH 43452, Mon-Fri, 8:00AM-4:30PM, which answered when SearchSystems opened it on September 23, 2026.
Permits and City Records in the Cities of Ottawa County
Building permits, zoning and code cases inside a city are the city's own records. The cities in Ottawa County with a SearchSystems guide to their offices, with the city page SearchSystems verified:
- Port Clinton: the city hall page SearchSystems verified is at portclinton.com/water, phone (419) 734-5522 (verified September 26, 2026).
Evictions and Court Cases About Land in Ottawa County
An eviction is a court case in the Municipal and County Courts, and so is a foreclosure, a lien dispute or a quiet title suit, in the Ottawa County Court of Common Pleas; the court file is public unless sealed.
The court records page SearchSystems verified for the county is at ottawacocpcourt.com/record-search, phone (419) 734-6790. That page belongs to a lower court, the Municipal and County Courts, not to the Ottawa County Court of Common Pleas.
Asking a County Office for a Record
Under the Ohio Public Records Act a county office must answer a request promptly, within a reasonable period of time, and it may charge the actual cost of copying.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who records deeds in Ottawa County?
The County Recorder, at co.ottawa.oh.us/273/Recorders-Office, phone 419-734-6730. Deeds, mortgages and liens on land in Ottawa County are filed there, and the County Auditor (auditor.co.ottawa.oh.us) has the assessment records.
Who sets the assessed value of a property in Ottawa County?
The County Auditor, whose page SearchSystems verified is at auditor.co.ottawa.oh.us.
Where are evictions from Ottawa County filed?
In the Municipal and County Courts. The file is public unless the court seals it.
How is property assessed in Ohio?
Ohio counties reappraise every six years with an update at the three-year mark, and tax 35 percent of the appraised value.
Is this the official Ottawa 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.