ABOUT County Recorders
Every parcel, building, and piece of property in Iowa is represented in a document that has been recorded in a County Recorder’s Office. These documents are a visible sign of a complex process that is foundational for the economy.
The basic duty of a county recorder is to maintain official records of real estate documents to preserve property rights since the office was created by the Territory of Iowa in 1839. Over time, county recorders gained more responsibilities, which can vary from county to county including serving as Registrar of Vital Records, passport agent, issuer of recreational vehicle registrations and titles. Hunting and fishing licenses are also managed by recorders in some counties.
Many County Recorders work with multiple departments each day including:
- Iowa Secretary of State
- Iowa Department of Health & Human Services
- Iowa Department of Revenue
- Iowa Department of Natural Resources
- U.S. Department of State
County Recorders & Iowa Land Records
As the role of County Recorder continued to grow over the years, so did the need to adapt to the digital landscape. The County Land Record Information System (now the Electronic Services System and Iowa Land Records) was initiated in 2003, when legislation enabled property records to be electronically archived. After a period of development and planning with the Iowa County Recorders Association (ICRA), the first generation of Iowa Land Records Search was launched in 2005. The following year, the electronic submission of documents for recording through Iowa Land Records was introduced. Electronic submission was made possible after the passage of the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act (UETA). As a result of this legislative action, Iowa became one of the first states to establish a statewide system for electronic recording.
Iowa Land Records continues to grow and evolve to meet the needs of County Recorders, industry professionals, and the communities it serves.
“Save time. Save postage and mail time. E-Submission can make recording quick and easy in the comfort of your own office. Give it a try, and we recorders are here to help, along with a great ILR support staff.“
"Your time is valuable! With a quality scan, minimal data entry and the click of a mouse your documents can be submitted to our office for filing in just minutes. Try e-submission today – you’ll be so glad you did!”