Brown County Auditor, OH: Property Search, Records (2026)

Brown County Auditor Property Search: Owner, Address and Parcel Lookup

The county’s official real estate database is the fastest place to begin researching a property. It contains public parcel and valuation information maintained for county taxation and assessment purposes.

Official database: Brown County Real Estate Search.

Search property by owner name

1. Open the county’s real estate search website.

   Use the main search field, which accepts a parcel number, owner name or address.

2. Enter the owner’s name.

   Start with the surname. Add more information if several properties appear under similar names.

3. Review the matches.

   Compare property location, owner information and parcel identification before opening a record.

4. Open the correct property.

   Review the record for assessment, ownership and available property details. Save the parcel number for future searches.

Example: If you are looking for property owned by a family in Georgetown, search the surname first. An exact full-name search may miss a property held by a trust, estate or business.

Search by street address

1. Enter the street number and name.

   Start with the main address rather than a long, fully formatted mailing address.

2. Remove unnecessary details if needed.

   If no result appears, try removing road suffixes, punctuation, directions or apartment information.

3. Check the matching parcel.

   Confirm the physical address, municipality or township and owner details.

Search by parcel number

A parcel number is usually more reliable than an owner name when researching a specific property. You may find it on a property tax bill, appraisal notice, deed-related paperwork or GIS map.

1. Copy the complete parcel number.

   Keep all required digits and identifying information.

2. Search the county database.

   Paste or enter the parcel number in the official search box.

3. Verify the resulting property.

   Compare the location and other details. A single home, farm or ownership holding may involve more than one parcel.

What You Can Learn from a Brown County Property Record

Once you find the parcel, take a moment to check the details rather than relying on the first number displayed. This is especially important for buyers, new homeowners and anyone comparing property assessments.

Appraised value versus assessed value

Ohio generally assesses real property at 35% of its appraised value for taxation.

For example, a home with an appraised value of $180,000 would generally have an assessed value of $63,000 before applicable adjustments.

That does not mean the homeowner owes $63,000 in taxes. Tax rates, credits, reductions and other charges determine the actual bill.

A county Auditor’s valuation also is not a guaranteed property sale price. Market conditions, property condition and the date of valuation matter.

Brown County GIS Maps, Parcel Boundaries and Engineer Tax Maps

Brown County GIS is particularly useful for farmland, wooded parcels, vacant lots and properties that are difficult to identify from a street address alone.

The Engineer’s Office is responsible for maintaining tax maps. These maps support the Auditor’s property records, but they are not a replacement for a legal boundary survey.

How to find land using the GIS map

1. Find the parcel number first.

   Use the Auditor’s real estate search whenever possible.

2. Open the official GIS website.

   Choose the available interactive mapping option and allow the map to load.

3. Locate the parcel.

   Use the available search tools or navigate by township, roads and recognizable nearby properties.

4. Inspect the mapped land.

   Review parcel outlines, nearby roads and other available geographic information.

5. Cross-check the data.

   Compare the mapped parcel number and acreage against the official Auditor record.

Historical Brown County tax maps

The Engineer’s archive includes historical tax map scans organized by township and community, along with historical aerial materials.

Open Brown County Historical Tax Map Archive.

The archive covers communities such as Georgetown, Mt. Orab, Ripley, Sardinia, Aberdeen, Russellville and multiple rural townships. It can help researchers trace older parcel configurations, subdivisions and local mapping history.

Parcel splits and deed pre-approval

If you are dividing property or preparing a transfer requiring tax-map review, contact the Brown County Tax Map Department before submitting final documents.

Address: 25 Veterans Blvd., Georgetown, OH 45121.

Phone: 937-378-3494.

Pre-approval email: pre-approval@browncountyengineer.org.

The Engineer’s published Tax Map Department hours are Monday–Thursday, 8:00 AM–5:00 PM. Confirm current staff availability before visiting.

Brown County Property Taxes: Bills, Payments and Delinquent Taxes

One common source of confusion is the difference between the Auditor and Treasurer.

The Auditor determines property valuations and performs tax-calculation functions. The Brown County Treasurer collects property taxes and handles payment questions.

How to research your property tax bill

1. Identify the correct parcel.

   Search by owner, address or parcel number on the Auditor website.

2. Record the parcel number and tax district.

   These help connect valuation information to the tax account.

3. Open the Treasurer’s official website.

   Visit Brown County Treasurer for available tax account and payment resources.

4. Check the applicable tax year.

   Review current and prior charges, payments, possible delinquency and any listed special assessments.

5. Verify the amount before payment.

   Use the Treasurer’s current payment instructions and confirm whether processing fees apply.

Why property tax bills differ

Two homes with similar market values can have different tax bills because they are in different school districts, taxing jurisdictions or levy areas. Credits and special assessments can also affect the amount owed.

A valuation increase does not always cause an equal percentage increase in property tax. Ohio tax reduction factors and other statutory calculations affect many voted levies.

Property tax due dates

Ohio real estate taxes are commonly billed in installments, but Brown County’s exact deadlines can change each collection year.

Check the current Treasurer notice or tax bill for the first-half and second-half deadlines. Avoid relying on an older calendar date found in search results.

Delinquent property taxes

Unpaid property taxes may lead to penalties, interest and additional collection procedures. If your account is delinquent, contact the Treasurer promptly to understand the current balance and available payment arrangements.

Brown County Treasurer: Traci Stamper.

Telephone: 937-378-6705.

Toll-free: 800-229-6177.

Office: 800 Mt. Orab Pike, Suite 171, Georgetown, OH 45121.

Regular hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM–4:00 PM.

How to Use the Brown County Property Tax Estimator

The Auditor provides an online tax estimator for homeowners, buyers and anyone planning for a property value change.

Official tool: Brown County Tax Estimator.

1. Open the tax estimator.

   The form includes property search and proposed calculation fields.

2. Select the property class.

   Use the correct class for the property being estimated.

3. Choose the tax district.

   This is especially important because different locations can have different tax rates.

4. Enter the appraised value.

   The estimator identifies this as the 100% appraised value.

5. Review owner-occupancy eligibility.

   The tool provides an owner-occupancy credit option, but the property’s legal eligibility requirements must be satisfied.

6. Select Calculate.

   Review the estimated result and compare it with your property’s actual tax bill when available.

Use this for budgeting, not as a guarantee of the final tax amount. A pending levy, exemption, reassessment or special assessment may change the amount ultimately billed.

Brown County Homestead Exemption and Owner-Occupancy Tax Reduction

For eligible residents, Ohio’s Homestead Exemption can provide meaningful property tax relief. It is worth checking even if you have owned your home for many years.

The county has also issued a warning about misleading online videos claiming that a new federal senior homeowner tax review program exists. That advertised federal program does not exist. Use the actual Ohio Homestead process and never pay an unofficial website for an exemption application.

Who can qualify for Homestead Exemption?

Eligibility may include qualifying homeowners aged 65 or older, those with permanent and total disabilities, certain disabled veterans and qualifying surviving spouses.

Many standard applications are subject to an income limitation, adjusted under applicable Ohio rules. Certain categories, including qualifying disabled veterans, can have different eligibility standards.

The home generally must be the qualifying applicant’s principal residence. Check ownership, occupancy and category-specific requirements rather than assuming age alone guarantees approval.

How to apply

1. Open the county’s official forms library.

   Visit Brown County Auditor Forms.

2. Find the Homestead section.

   Locate DTE 105A or the relevant category-specific application.

3. Check eligibility.

   Review age, disability, veteran status, income, ownership and principal-residence requirements as applicable.

4. Gather documents.

   Prepare the required identification, tax and eligibility evidence described in the form instructions.

5. Complete and submit the form.

   Follow the current county instructions for submission and the applicable filing period.

Which Homestead form do you need?

Owner-occupancy reduction

The owner-occupancy credit is a separate tax benefit for qualifying principal residences. It is commonly associated with a 2.5% reduction of eligible property taxes, subject to Ohio law and applicable eligibility conditions.

The relevant application is DTE 105C, available through the county forms page.

If your property record already reflects the credit, ask the Auditor whether another application is necessary before submitting duplicate paperwork.

Brown County CAUV: Agricultural Land Valuation and Renewal

Brown County has substantial rural and agricultural land. If you farm qualifying land, the Current Agricultural Use Value (CAUV) program may be especially important.

CAUV values qualifying agricultural land according to its agricultural use rather than its ordinary market or development potential.

Basic CAUV qualifications

Ohio generally requires qualifying agricultural use during the preceding three calendar years.

• Land totaling 10 acres or more and devoted to qualifying agricultural use may qualify.
• Smaller qualifying agricultural tracts generally must satisfy a gross-income requirement, commonly involving an average of at least $2,500 in annual agricultural income or applicable anticipated income.
• Some qualifying land in federal conservation or land-retirement programs may also be eligible.

A residential yard or vacant rural lot does not qualify simply because it is surrounded by farmland.

CAUV initial application: DTE 109

1. Review the land-use history.

   Confirm acreage and qualifying agricultural activity during the required period.

2. Find the parcel numbers.

   Use the Brown County property database to identify all land included in the request.

3. Download DTE 109.

   Find the initial CAUV application on the official county forms page.

4. Complete the agricultural details.

   Provide the land-use and parcel information requested and retain relevant supporting records.

5. File during the appropriate application period.

   Confirm the current deadline and any required fees directly with the Auditor before submission.

CAUV annual renewal

The county provides DTE 109A for CAUV renewal. A continued agricultural valuation should not be assumed to require no further action.

Review annual notices and renewal requirements, especially after changes in ownership, acreage or use.

What happens when farmland changes use?

When enrolled land is converted to a nonqualifying use, Ohio CAUV recoupment provisions may apply. This can create a substantial additional tax cost associated with prior savings.

Before building on farmland, developing a parcel, splitting acreage or selling land for a new use, contact the Auditor’s Real Estate and CAUV staff.

CAUV department email: BDrake@browncountyauditor.org.

The Ohio Department of Taxation CAUV resource publishes statewide soil-type values, including 2026 valuation tables and calculation explanations. The applicable table depends on the county’s valuation cycle; do not automatically substitute the 2026 table for a different effective tax year.

Agricultural district versus CAUV

These are different programs. CAUV concerns taxable agricultural valuation, while agricultural district designation has its own statutory purposes and eligibility requirements.

The Brown County forms library includes Form 11 for farmland agricultural district applications.

How to Appeal a Brown County Property Valuation

If your property’s appraised value appears too high, the Brown County Board of Revision provides a formal procedure for challenging eligible valuations.

Start by checking whether the issue is an incorrect physical characteristic or a genuine disagreement about value.

Practical valuation review steps

1. Review your property record.

   Check the current valuation, acreage, building details and property classification.

2. Look for factual errors.

   Examples include an incorrect building size, an improvement that no longer exists or a property characteristic recorded incorrectly.

3. Collect supporting evidence.

   Consider a recent independent appraisal, relevant comparable sales, photographs, repair estimates and closing information.

4. Obtain DTE 1.

   Download the Complaint Against the Valuation of Real Property from the official forms page.

5. Check the filing rules and deadline.

   Ohio’s ordinary Board of Revision complaint period generally runs from January 1 through March 31, subject to applicable statutory provisions. Confirm the correct filing deadline and tax year.

6. Submit the completed complaint.

   Follow the Board’s instructions and retain copies of the complaint and evidence.

A higher tax bill does not, by itself, prove that the underlying property valuation is incorrect. The strongest complaint explains the value being requested and supports that amount with relevant evidence.

The county also provides DTE 2 for certain valuation complaints other than market value and DTE 1M for qualifying manufactured or mobile homes.

Board of Revision contact: MPotts@browncountyauditor.org.

Brown County Deed Search, Property Transfers and Conveyance Fees

The Auditor’s parcel record can identify a property’s listed owner and transfer history. However, recorded deeds, mortgages, easements and liens are maintained by the Brown County Recorder.

How to research a recorded deed

1. Search the property through the Auditor.

   Record the owner name, parcel number and any available transfer information.

2. Open the Brown County Recorder website.

   Visit Brown County Recorder and select the online document search option.

3. Review the records search disclaimer.

   Follow the Recorder’s instructions for accessing public document indexes and images.

4. Search using the available identifying information.

   Depending on the record system, search by party name, document information or relevant index criteria.

5. Verify the recorded instrument.

   Check the legal description, parties, recording information and related documents.

An Auditor property record alone is not sufficient to establish clear title or prove that a property has no liens.

Property conveyance process

Property transfers may involve tax-map review, conveyance forms, Auditor processing and recording.

For a typical transaction:

1. Prepare the correct deed.

   Confirm legal descriptions, parties and document requirements with your closing professional or attorney.

2. Check whether tax-map pre-approval is needed.

   For parcel splits or survey-related changes, contact the Engineer’s Tax Map Department.

3. Complete DTE 100 or DTE 100EX.

   DTE 100 concerns applicable taxable real estate conveyances. DTE 100EX is used when a legally supported exemption is claimed.

4. Submit the conveyance materials.

   Follow the Auditor’s instructions and pay applicable charges.

5. Record the document.

   Submit the instrument to the Recorder and complete the required recording procedure.

Brown County conveyance fee calculator

The Auditor provides an official conveyance calculation tool where you can enter the number of properties, sales amount and whether an exempt conveyance applies.

Open the Official Brown County Conveyance Fee Calculator.

Only select an exempt conveyance when the transfer meets an actual qualification under DTE 100EX. The final amount may also depend on parcel-transfer and recording charges.

Other Brown County Auditor Services: Licenses and Manufactured Homes

Dog licenses

Ohio generally requires dogs older than three months to be licensed. Annual dog license renewal normally falls within the December 1 through January 31 period, with additional rules for newly acquired dogs.

The Auditor handles dog licensing, and the county’s staff directory identifies a direct contact for dog-license questions.

Licensing email: SHolton@browncountyauditor.org.

Before purchasing, confirm the available annual, multi-year or permanent license options, current fees and any late penalties. Do not use a prior year’s fee schedule without verification.

Vendor and cigarette licenses

The same Auditor department provides assistance concerning vendor and cigarette licensing. Business owners should identify the correct license type before applying.

The official forms library includes ST 1, an application for a vendor’s license to make taxable sales.

A vendor’s license does not automatically replace other permits or registrations that may be required for a business.

Manufactured and mobile homes

Manufactured homes can be assessed and transferred differently from conventional real estate, depending on their legal classification and tax status.

Brown County provides several forms for this purpose:

• DTE 100M: Manufactured or mobile home conveyance statement.
• DTE 100M(EX): Applicable exemption from manufactured-home conveyance fees.
• DTE 41: Manufactured home registration.
• DTE 49: Tax refund or waiver application for destroyed or damaged manufactured homes.
• DTE 55: Election to have a qualifying manufactured or mobile home taxed like real property.
• DTE 56: Owner-occupancy reduction for qualifying manufactured or mobile homes taxed like real property.

The county also publishes rules and declarations concerning conversion of manufactured homes to real estate.

Before transferring a manufactured home, check its existing title and taxation status with the Auditor and the relevant title authority.

Brown County Auditor Forms, Official PDFs and Property Data Downloads

The county maintains a substantial forms collection. Using the correct form is important because applications for a property value complaint, tax exemption, transfer or agricultural program have different legal purposes.

Complete forms library: Brown County Official Auditor Forms.

How to download a form correctly

1. Open the county forms page.

   Use the official Auditor website rather than an unfamiliar PDF download service.

2. Find the matching section.

   For example, choose Homestead, CAUV, Board of Revision, Manufactured Homes or Owner-Occupancy Credit.

3. Open the specific form.

   Check the form number and read its instructions, including any required attachments.

4. Confirm deadlines and submission method.

   Some documents are submitted to the Auditor, while other forms or appeals involve a different agency.

Property data downloads

For researchers, analysts and users reviewing large numbers of parcels, the county publishes property data downloads.

Brown County Property Data Downloads.

The available resources include:

• Full Real Estate Data: Computer-assisted mass appraisal (CAMA) and tax information in XML format.
• Condensed Real Estate Data: A downloadable Excel-format data file.

These files can be useful for property research and analysis. Check the dataset’s update date before treating it as current. The official portal displayed an October 26, 2026 update for its property data download page.

Large datasets are not replacements for recorded deeds or a current Treasurer balance.

Brown County Auditor Office: Address, Hours, Contacts and Directions

The Auditor’s Office is located in the Brown County Administration Building in Georgetown. Property owners from Mt. Orab, Ripley, Sardinia, Aberdeen and other Brown County communities can contact the same county office for Auditor services.

Get directions to the Brown County Auditor’s Office.

Contact the correct department

Before visiting

Bring the property address or parcel number, any completed applications and the supporting documents for your request. For appeals, include evidence of value; for exemptions, bring the eligibility documentation specified by the form.

If you are submitting deed or parcel-split documents, call ahead to check whether Tax Map Department review is required. Its location and hours differ from the Auditor’s main office.

Common Brown County Property Problems and the Right Solution

Nearby Ohio county property searches

Brown County shares boundaries with other Ohio counties, but property records are maintained separately. If you are researching land near a county line, confirm the property’s actual county rather than relying only on its mailing address.

Related independent guides include Ross County Auditor property records and Knox County Auditor services. For searches across Ohio, begin with the Ohio county auditor guide homepage.

For a property directly across Brown County’s boundary, use the official auditor website for the actual neighboring county, such as Adams, Clermont, Clinton or Highland County.