Licking County, Ohio • Recorder deeds & land records guide • Reviewed September 30, 2026
Licking County Recorder: Deeds, Land Records, Search, Fees & Office Information
The Licking County Recorder in Newark records deeds, mortgages, releases, liens, powers of attorney, plats and other documents affecting real property in Licking County, Ohio.
Use the Recorder when you need the recorded instrument itself. Use the Licking County Auditor when you need the current parcel owner, property value or a property transfer.
The Recorder’s public-access system requires an account. County records also extend well beyond the online system, with historical Recorder holdings dating to the early 1800s.
Start here
Licking County Recorder Quick Facts
Records documents that are authorized for recording under Ohio law.
Listed as the current Licking County Recorder on the county site and public-access portal.
Newark, Ohio 43055.
Main Recorder office number.
Monday through Friday.
Recording closes before the general office closes.
Create an account to save searches, history and documents in the public-access system.
The General Index Department maintains books and historical record information.
The Auditor instituted a 4:00 PM same-day property-transfer cutoff effective May 1, 2026.
If your goal is to find the current owner or parcel first, start with the Auditor. If your goal is to inspect the actual deed, mortgage, release or lien, use the Recorder.
Office details
Licking County Recorder Address, Phone, Hours & Related Offices
Licking County Recorder
Recorder: Bryan A. Long
20 S. Second Street
Newark, OH 43055
Phone: 740-670-5300
Fax: 740-670-5303
Office hours: Mon–Fri, 8:00 AM–4:30 PM
Recording hours: 8:30 AM–4:15 PM
Open Recorder homepageLicking County Auditor
Auditor: Michael L. Smith
20 S. Second Street
Newark, OH 43055
Phone: 740-670-5040
Hours: Mon–Fri, 8:30 AM–4:30 PM
Same-day transfer cutoff: 4:00 PM
Open Auditor page- Confirm current office hours before visiting.
- Use the online-search link if you only need a recorded document.
- Open the Fees page before mailing a recording.
- Call 740-670-5300 if document type or fee treatment is uncertain.
Visit planning
Google Map to the Licking County Recorder
The Recorder and Auditor are both located at the Donald D. Hill County Administration Building at 20 South Second Street in Newark.
For property transfers, plan around the Auditor’s 4:00 PM transfer cutoff and the Recorder’s 4:15 PM recording cutoff.
A deed that still needs Auditor transfer work should not be brought in near closing time. Build enough time for the Auditor and Recorder steps.
Online documents
How to Search Licking County Deeds and Recorded Records Online
Licking County uses the DTS Public Access system for Recorder records.
The current portal requires an account. An account lets you save search settings, maintain search history and keep documents in a cart for later reference.
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Open the Recorder Public Access portal.
Use the official Licking County DTS system.
Open Recorder Public Access -
Create an account if needed.
Select Create Account and complete the registration process.
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Use the search options for the document you need.
Common searches involve grantor, grantee, document type, instrument number or other indexed information.
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Open the matching document record.
Review the instrument number, recorded date, document type, grantor, grantee, legal description and page count.
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Review the actual image when available.
The index is a finding aid. The recorded document itself is the better source for the language actually filed.
- Create or log into your account.
- Open the available search tools.
- Try the owner or party name first.
- Use an instrument number when you already have one.
- Open the document details.
- Compare the legal description and parties before assuming it is the correct parcel.
If you only know the street address
Start with the Auditor’s OnTrac property search to identify the parcel and current ownership information.
Then use those names or deed references to locate the recorded document in the Recorder system.
Open Auditor / OnTrac Property Search- Select the OnTrac property-search link.
- Search the parcel by the supported property information.
- Confirm the current owner and parcel ID.
- Note any deed or transfer reference displayed.
- Return to Recorder Public Access for the recorded instrument.
What is recorded
Records Available Through the Licking County Recorder
Deeds: warranty, survivorship, quitclaim, trustee, sheriff and other authorized deed types.
Mortgages: mortgages, assignments, amendments, extensions and releases.
Liens: mechanics’ liens, federal tax liens and other recordable lien instruments.
Easements and rights-of-way: recorded property-use rights and restrictions.
Land contracts: recordable contracts and related assignments or releases.
Powers of attorney: qualifying powers and revocations.
Plats and condominium drawings: land-development and condominium records.
Oil and gas documents: leases, affidavits and related mineral-interest records.
Veterans discharges: military discharge documents received for recording.
UCC real-estate filings: qualifying financing records relating to real property.
Transfer workflow
How to Record a Deed in Licking County
A property transfer involves more than handing a deed to the Recorder.
Licking County’s Auditor transfers real property deeds, and the Engineer’s Map Department reviews surveys and legal descriptions for property transfers.
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Prepare the deed correctly.
Use a legally sufficient instrument with the correct parties, execution, acknowledgment and property description.
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Check the legal description.
The Licking County Map Department reviews legal descriptions and surveys used in property transfers.
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Obtain Map Department approval when required.
The county provides a pre-approval process for legal descriptions and surveys.
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Complete the Auditor transfer step.
The Auditor is responsible for transferring real property deeds and applies a 4:00 PM same-day transfer cutoff.
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Submit the approved document to the Recorder.
The Recorder examines the document and assigns a unique document number and recording time when accepted.
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Keep the recorded instrument number.
This number is useful for future searches, title work, releases and certified-copy requests.
- Review the Map Department’s legal-description review information.
- Use the published submission email when pre-approval is required.
- Do not substitute a tax-map shorthand description for a legally sufficient deed description.
- Complete the Auditor transfer before final Recorder filing when applicable.
If you are adding or removing an owner, correcting title, handling an estate or deciding which deed should be used, consider an Ohio real-estate attorney or qualified title professional.
Recording costs
Licking County Recorder Fees
The county’s standard Ohio recorder fee schedule lists $34 for the first two pages and $8 for each additional page for standard document types.
Licking County also posts a $5 preservation surcharge per standard document effective January 1, 2025.
First two pages under the standard Ohio recorder schedule.
Applies after the first two pages.
County notice applies this surcharge to standard document types.
Listed in the Recorder fee schedule where applicable.
Separate statutory fee listed in the official schedule.
Separate statutory fee listed in the fee table.
A standard two-page document can start at $39 when the $34 standard recording fee and current $5 preservation surcharge both apply. Special document types can use different statutory fees.
- Read the current preservation-surcharge notice.
- Open the Fees Table By Document Type.
- Find your exact document type.
- Count the total pages.
- Add the preservation surcharge when it applies.
- Call 740-670-5300 before mailing if the amount is uncertain.
Copies and certification
How to Get a Deed or Mortgage Copy
Start with the online Recorder index when the document is available there.
If you need a certified copy or an older record that is not available through the current online image system, contact the Recorder directly.
Online document
Search Public Access and open the matching instrument.
Verify the parties, recorded date and legal description before relying on the image.
Certified or older document
Contact the Recorder’s Micrographics or General Index staff.
Historical records can require book/index research rather than a modern electronic search.
The Recorder’s online disclaimer says the index is a guide. A title examiner, attorney or other real-estate professional may be needed to determine actual ownership interests or claims.
Professional filing
Licking County eRecording
Licking County accepts electronic recording through approved eRecording vendors for businesses that regularly submit documents.
The county specifically identifies title companies, law firms, banks and other regular recording customers as typical users.
Documents are delivered electronically to the Recorder.
The county contrasts this with approximately 3–5 working days for traditional return methods.
Recording and vendor fees are handled electronically.
The county currently lists CSC, ePN, Indecomm and Simplifile among available eRecording vendors.
Open eRecording Information- Review the listed vendors.
- Select a vendor that supports your business workflow.
- Register directly with that provider.
- Submit documents and payment electronically.
- Call the Recorder at 740-670-5300 for county-specific eRecording questions.
Historical research
Older Licking County Deeds and Property Records
Licking County Recorder records extend back to the early 1800s, but not every historical record is handled through the current online system.
The Licking County Records & Archives Center holds important historical Recorder series, while the Recorder remains the contact for newer and certified records.
Historical deeds
The Archives Center lists deed records covering 1803–1918 among its Recorder holdings.
Historical mortgages
The Archives Center lists mortgage holdings from 1851–1941.
- Check the record-series date ranges.
- Use Archives for historical holdings listed there.
- Use the Recorder for recent or certified Recorder documents.
- If uncertain, call Recorder staff at 740-670-5300 before visiting.
Office decoder
Recorder vs. Auditor vs. Map Department
Recorder
Best for: deeds, mortgages, liens, releases, easements and recorded-document copies.
Phone: 740-670-5300
Auditor
Best for: parcel ownership display, values, real-property transfers and tax-reduction programs.
Phone: 740-670-5040
Engineer Map Department
Best for: official tax maps and review of surveys and legal descriptions used in property transfers.
Records & Archives
Best for: older historical deed, mortgage and other county record series.
Phone: 740-670-5121
Military records
Veterans Discharge Records and DD214 Help
The Recorder’s Recording Desk accepts veterans discharge records among documents authorized for recording.
Veterans who need help locating a lost DD214 can also contact the Licking County Veterans’ Service Office.
Recorder
Use the Recorder for recording and Recorder-held military discharge documents.
Phone: 740-670-5300
Veterans’ Service Office
Can help eligible veterans or next of kin obtain lost documents needed for benefits.
Phone: 740-670-5430
Decision path
What Should You Do Next?
You need a deed → search Recorder Public Access by owner/party or instrument information.
You only know the property address → start with the Auditor’s property search, then move to the Recorder.
You are recording a transfer → verify legal-description review, Auditor transfer and Recorder requirements.
You need a certified copy → contact the Recorder rather than relying only on a web image.
You need a very old deed → check the Records & Archives holdings by year.
You are changing ownership → obtain legal guidance if you are uncertain which deed or instrument is required.
You need the property’s value → use the Auditor, not the Recorder.
You need title or lien interpretation → use a title examiner or Ohio real-estate attorney rather than treating the Recorder index as a title opinion.
Avoid delays
Common Licking County Recorder Mistakes
Arriving after recording hours: general office hours continue until 4:30 PM, but recording ends at 4:15 PM.
Missing the Auditor transfer cutoff: same-day transfers now have a 4:00 PM Auditor cutoff.
Using only the Recorder for an address search: the Auditor is usually the better starting point for parcel and ownership information.
Using an incomplete legal description: property transfers may require Map Department review.
Forgetting the preservation surcharge: Licking County posts a $5 surcharge for standard document types.
Assuming every record is online: historical records can require General Index or Archives research.
Treating the online index as proof of clear title: the Recorder itself warns that professional review may be necessary.
Important notice
Independent Information, Legal Caution & Public-Records Notice
This page is an independent informational guide. It is not the official website of Licking County or the Licking County Recorder.
It is not legal advice, a title examination or a determination of ownership.
Recorded documents can contain claims, restrictions and interests that require professional interpretation.
Do not use Recorder or property data for employment screening, tenant screening, credit decisions, insurance underwriting or another FCRA-regulated purpose.
This website is not a Consumer Reporting Agency.
Fast answers
Licking County Recorder FAQs
Where is the Licking County Recorder’s Office?
The office is at 20 S. Second Street, Newark, Ohio 43055.
Who is the Licking County Recorder?
Bryan A. Long is listed as the Licking County Recorder on the county’s current Recorder page and public-access system.
What are the Recorder’s recording hours?
The office is generally open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM, while recording hours are 8:30 AM to 4:15 PM.
How do I search Licking County deeds online?
Use the official DTS Public Access portal. The current system requires an account before using its saved-search and document-management features.
How much does it cost to record a standard document?
The standard schedule lists $34 for the first two pages and $8 for each additional page. Licking County also posts a $5 preservation surcharge per standard document.
Who handles property transfers in Licking County?
The Licking County Auditor transfers real property deeds. Effective May 1, 2026, the Auditor uses a 4:00 PM cutoff for same-day conveyances, exempts, splits and merges.
Who reviews legal descriptions for property transfers?
The Licking County Engineer’s Map Department reviews surveys and legal descriptions for property transfers and provides a pre-approval process.
Does Licking County accept eRecording?
Yes. The Recorder lists CSC, ePN, Indecomm and Simplifile among electronic-recording vendors used by regular professional submitters.
Where can I find older Licking County deeds?
The Recorder maintains extensive historical indexes, and the Licking County Records & Archives Center lists deed holdings from 1803–1918 and mortgage holdings from 1851–1941.
Does the Recorder’s online index prove who legally owns a property?
No. The Recorder describes its index as a guide. A title examiner, attorney or other qualified real-estate professional may be needed to determine legal interests or claims.
Official resources