Butler County, Ohio • Recorder / deeds / land records guide • reviewed September 19, 2026
Butler County OH Recorder: Deeds, Records, Property Alerts, Copies & Recording Help
The Butler County Recorder keeps official land records for Butler County, Ohio.
This includes deeds, mortgages, releases, easements, plats, powers of attorney, land contracts, liens and other recorded real-estate documents.
The current County Recorder is Danny N. Crank. The office is in the Butler County Administration Building at 130 High Street, 2nd Floor, Hamilton, Ohio 45011.
Use this guide to search deed records, find older books, request copies, understand the recording workflow and sign up for property-fraud alerts.
Start here
Butler County Recorder Quick Facts
Records deeds, mortgages, releases, plats, liens and other land records.
Recorder for Butler County, Ohio.
Hamilton, OH 45011.
Use this for recording, copies and search questions.
The office asks copy requests to be sent to this email.
Check the website before a deadline-day visit.
Search grantor, grantee, subdivision, document type, document number and OCR full text.
Use geographic, alphabetical, historical-book and plat resources.
Free alerts can notify you when matching documents are recorded.
Deeds and recorded documents go to the Recorder. Parcel value and property search go to the Auditor. Tax bills and payments go to the Treasurer.
Correct office
Recorder vs Auditor vs Treasurer: Who Handles What?
Butler County Recorder
Use for: deeds, mortgages, liens, releases, plats, powers of attorney, land records, copy requests and property alerts.
Address: 130 High Street, 2nd Floor, Hamilton, OH 45011
Phone: 513-887-3192
Fax: 513-887-3198
Email: recorder@bcohio.gov
Open Recorder WebsiteButler County Auditor
Use for: parcel search, property address search, owner search, value, tax district, transfer and conveyance review.
Address: 130 High Street, Hamilton, OH 45011
Phone: 513-887-3154
Office hours: 8:00 AM–4:30 PM, Monday–Friday
Conveyance Desk: closes daily at 3:30 PM
Open Auditor Property SearchButler County Treasurer
Use for: tax bills, tax payments, delinquent taxes and payment receipts.
The Treasurer does not record deeds and does not change legal ownership records.
Use the Auditor first for parcel details, then the Treasurer for payment questions.
Open Treasurer WebsiteButler County Clerk of Courts
Use for: court records, civil filings, criminal cases and court-related documents.
The Clerk is not the same as the Recorder.
If you need a recorded deed, mortgage or lien document, start with the Recorder instead.
Open Clerk of CourtsOfficial records search
How to Search Butler County Deeds and Recorded Documents Online
Butler County’s current records platform is the official public search for real-property recordings.
The search page supports a broad search term, date range, document type, grantor or grantee names, subdivision, document number and full-text OCR searching.
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Open the official search portal.
Use the Butler County Recorder public search page.
Open Butler County Recorder SearchAfter opening: check the “Certified through” date near the top. Very recent documents may appear before final office indexing is complete. -
Choose Quick Search or Advanced Search.
Quick Search is best when you have a name, document number, subdivision or document type.
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Use the right search scope.
Choose Search Index Only for indexed fields. Choose Search Index & Full Text (OCR) for the broadest document-text search.
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Use the date range.
The portal includes recorded-date shortcuts such as last 24 hours, last week, last month and last year.
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Open the matching document result.
Review the document type, recording date, parties, book/page, instrument number and legal description.
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Save the permanent reference.
Keep the document number, book/page, recording date and party names for future copy or title follow-up.
Start with the Auditor property search. Butler County Recorder records are indexed by recorded-document data, not primarily by street address.
Owner search format: use last name first in the Auditor owner search, such as Smith John, before moving into deed records.
Address search format: the Auditor address search separates street number and street name and says not to enter the street suffix.
Wildcard tip: the Auditor search supports * as a wildcard for partial names or street searches.
Document tip: if a search by name fails, try the document number, book/page, subdivision, trust name or prior owner.
Historical records
Older Deeds, Book/Page Records, Plats and Historical Indexes
Butler County has invested heavily in online imaging.
The Recorder’s website states that the imaging project is complete and that records are now available online.
If an image still does not appear, the office directs users to email recorder@bcohio.gov.
Use for real-property recorded documents and OCR searching.
Useful when older records are organized by location rather than modern search terms.
Use older party-name indexes when tracing historical ownership.
Use the book/page reference from an old deed, mortgage or release.
Useful for subdivisions, lots and recorded maps.
Older reference books may help when the document is not a deed.
Copies
How to Request a Deed Copy or Recorded Document Copy
Many Butler County documents can now be viewed online through the Recorder search system.
If you need a record that is not available in the search system, the office asks users to email copy requests to recorder@bcohio.gov.
Copy-request details currently posted by the Recorder
Up to 5 requested records may be emailed free per day.
Requests above that limit are listed at $2.00 per page.
The office says requests will be sent within 24 hours or the next business day.
Include: owner names, document type, recording date, book/page or document number if known.
Add parcel details: include the parcel number or property address if it helps identify the record.
Say what you need: state whether you need a plain copy, certified copy or only an emailed image.
Check availability first: search the portal before emailing, because many images are already online.
Recording workflow
How to Record a Deed in Butler County, Ohio
The Recorder records documents. It does not create a deed for you or decide what legal document you should use.
If a deed changes ownership, it usually needs Auditor conveyance review before final recording.
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Start with the current deed and parcel record.
Confirm the owner, legal description, parcel ID and prior recording reference.
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Prepare the correct Ohio instrument.
Warranty deeds, quitclaim deeds, survivorship deeds, fiduciary deeds and transfer-on-death instruments do not do the same thing.
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Complete Auditor conveyance review.
Use DTE 100 for many value transfers and DTE 100EX when an exemption from conveyance fee applies.
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Remember the conveyance desk closes earlier.
The Auditor office lists normal hours of 8:00 AM–4:30 PM, but the Conveyance Desk closes daily at 3:30 PM.
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Confirm the current Recorder fee.
Butler County posts a recording-fee increase effective January 1, 2025, so verify the live fee schedule before mailing payment.
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Submit the document for recording.
Use walk-in, mail or approved electronic recording procedures when available for your document type.
Adding a person to a deed, removing a deceased owner, transferring property to a trust or correcting a deed can affect taxes, mortgages, probate and ownership rights.
Fees
Recording Fees, Conveyance Fees and Fee-Check Tips
Butler County posted a Notice of Recording Fee Increase effective January 1, 2025.
Because fees can depend on page count, document type, formatting, preservation surcharges, cross-references and conveyance review, do not guess the total from an old form.
Ohio law sets a statewide recording-fee framework, but local schedule details must be checked.
Documents that do not meet statutory formatting requirements can cost more.
Ownership transfers may involve Auditor conveyance fees in addition to Recorder filing fees.
Before mailing a deed, call the Recorder with the document type and page count. For transfers, also confirm Auditor conveyance requirements.
Fraud monitoring
Butler County Property Alert and FraudSleuth
Butler County offers a free FraudSleuth property-fraud alert feature through its records system.
The alert can notify you when a document matching your profile information is recorded in the Butler County Recorder’s Office.
Important alert setup details
Create a separate profile for each version of your name.
Use first/last, first/middle/last, first/middle-initial/last, nicknames and alternate spellings when needed.
Do not use periods or commas in names.
Profiles must match recorded-document data exactly to trigger an email alert.
A matching alert may involve another person with the same name. Open the actual recorded document and call the Recorder at 513-887-3192 if the recording appears suspicious.
Map and visit planning
Butler County Recorder Address, Map and Arrival Tips
Butler County Recorder
Butler County Administration Building
130 High Street, 2nd Floor
Hamilton, OH 45011
Phone: 513-887-3192
Current posted hours: 8:00 AM–3:30 PM
Copy email: recorder@bcohio.gov
Bring document numbers, book/page references, owner names, parcel ID and a valid payment method. If your deed needs conveyance processing, arrive before the Auditor Conveyance Desk closes.
Avoid mistakes
Common Butler County Recorder Mistakes
Searching only by address: start with the Auditor if you only know the property address.
Using only one name version: search alternate spellings, trust names, business names and prior owners.
Ignoring book/page references: older deeds and releases may be fastest by book and page.
Assuming a payoff creates a new deed: a paid mortgage usually requires a release or satisfaction document, not a new ownership deed.
Mailing the wrong fee: Butler posted a 2025 fee increase, so confirm the live fee schedule first.
Arriving late for a transfer: the Auditor Conveyance Desk closes daily at 3:30 PM.
Expecting the Recorder to fix title: the office records documents but does not give legal title opinions.
Decision path
What Should You Do Next?
If you need a deed copy: search the Recorder portal first, then email recorder@bcohio.gov if the image is missing.
If you only have an address: use the Auditor address search to find the parcel, owner and transfer clues.
If you are recording a new deed: confirm document standards, Auditor conveyance steps and the current fee.
If you paid off a mortgage: search for a mortgage release or satisfaction document.
If you want monitoring: register for Property Alert and create profiles for each name variation.
If you need a legal conclusion: contact a title company or qualified Ohio attorney.
Important caution
Independent Information, Legal Caution and Property-Records Notice
This page is independent informational content. It is not the official website of Butler County, the Butler County Recorder, the Butler County Auditor or any government agency.
It is not legal advice, title advice, tax advice, a deed-drafting service, a title search or an official record certification.
Recorded documents can affect ownership, liens, mortgages, trusts, probate and taxes. Verify current requirements with the official office or a qualified professional before recording or relying on a document.
Do not use property-record information for employment screening, tenant screening, credit eligibility, insurance underwriting or any other FCRA-regulated consumer-reporting purpose.
FAQs
Butler County OH Recorder FAQs
Who is the Butler County Recorder in Ohio?
The current Butler County Recorder is Danny N. Crank.
Where is the Butler County Recorder’s Office located?
The office is in the Butler County Administration Building at 130 High Street, 2nd Floor, Hamilton, OH 45011.
What is the Butler County Recorder phone number?
The main Recorder phone number is 513-887-3192. The office fax number is 513-887-3198.
What are the Butler County Recorder office hours?
The Recorder currently posts office hours of 8:00 AM to 3:30 PM. Check the official site before visiting near a holiday or deadline.
How do I search Butler County deed records online?
Open the Butler County Recorder public search portal and search by grantor, grantee, subdivision, document type, document number, date range or full-text OCR.
Can I search old Butler County deed books online?
Yes. The Recorder’s site includes historical resources such as geographic indexes, alphabetical grantor/grantee indexes, historical books and plat resources.
How do I request a copy from the Butler County Recorder?
Search the portal first. If the record is not available, email recorder@bcohio.gov with names, document type, recording details and the copy type needed.
Does Butler County charge for emailed copy requests?
The Recorder’s site says up to five requested records can be emailed free per day. Requests above five are listed at $2.00 per page.
Does Butler County offer property fraud alerts?
Yes. Butler County offers a free FraudSleuth / Property Alert tool that can email alerts when matching documents are recorded.
Can the Recorder prepare a deed for me?
No. The Recorder records documents. Deed preparation and title questions should be handled by the property owner, title professional or qualified Ohio attorney.
Official resources