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 25, 2026.
Des Moines, Washington, in King County, has about 33,000 residents (2024 Census Bureau estimate). The title to a parcel in Des Moines is in the deed records of the County Auditor and its taxable value is set by the County Assessor; what is built on it is a matter for the city. This guide says who keeps each record and where the page for each office is.
This guide covers deeds, assessed values, city permits and records, evictions and court cases, records requests and common questions.
Related guides: Des Moines public records, King County property records, Des Moines arrest records, Des Moines warrants, Des Moines inmate search, Des Moines criminal records, Washington arrest records and Washington inmate search.
Deeds, Mortgages and Liens in Des Moines
Who owns a parcel in Des Moines and what it sold for are in the deed records of the County Auditor, with every lien or mortgage against the land.
SearchSystems opened and checked the County Auditor's page at kingcounty.gov/en/dept/executive-services/certificates-permits-lice... (page title: Recorder's Office | King County, Washington), phone 206-477-6620, 201 S. Jackson St., Suite 204 Seattle, WA 98104, which answered when SearchSystems opened it on September 24, 2026.
Assessed Values and the Tax Roll in Des Moines
What a parcel in Des Moines is taxed on is the business of the County Assessor, which also keeps the parcel maps. Washington counties revalue every property every year and physically inspect each one at least every six years.
SearchSystems opened and checked the County Assessor's page at kingcounty.gov/en/dept/assessor/buildings-and-property/property-val... (page title: Look up property information | King County, Washington), 201 South Jackson Street, 2nd floor Seattle, WA 98104, which answered when SearchSystems opened it on September 23, 2026.
Permits and City Records in Des Moines
Building permits, zoning and code cases are the city's own. For Des Moines, SearchSystems opened and checked the city hall page at desmoineswa.gov (page title: Des Moines, WA), which answered when SearchSystems opened it on September 25, 2026.
Evictions and Court Cases About Land in Des Moines
Court cases about land from Des Moines, evictions among them, are filed in the District Court or the King County Superior Court.
The court records page SearchSystems verified for the county is at kingcounty.gov/en/dept/dja/courts-jails-legal-system/case-records/r..., phone 206-477-0691.
Asking a County Office for a Record
Under the Public Records Act (RCW 42.56) a county office must answer a request within 5 business days, and it may charge for copies at 15 cents a page, and set fees for electronic records. The county records request page SearchSystems verified is at kingcounty.gov/en/dept/executive-services/about-king-county/busines... (page title: Submit a Public Records Request | King County, Washington).
Frequently Asked Questions
Who records deeds in Des Moines?
The County Auditor, at kingcounty.gov, phone 206-477-6620. Deeds, mortgages and liens on land in Des Moines are filed there, and the County Assessor (kingcounty.gov) has the assessment records.
Who sets the assessed value of a property in Des Moines?
The County Assessor, whose page SearchSystems verified is at kingcounty.gov.
Where are evictions from Des Moines filed?
In the District Court. The file is public unless the court seals it.
How is property assessed in Washington?
Washington counties revalue every property every year and physically inspect each one at least every six years.
Is this the official Des Moines website?
No. SearchSystems.net is an independent public records guide, online since 1997. It links to the official city, county, court and state offices described above and does not hold records, charge for them or take requests.