Portage County, Ohio • Deed and land records guide • October 2026
Portage County Recorder: Deeds, Records Search, Fees, Office Address & Recording Steps
The Portage County Recorder maintains recorded deeds, mortgages, easements, liens and other documents affecting land in Portage County, Ohio.
The elected Recorder is Lori Calcei. The office is on the fourth floor of the Portage County Administration Building in Ravenna.
You can search the county’s online record index back to 1979. Images of many documents recorded from 2001 onward can also be viewed and printed online.
01 · Essential information
Portage County Recorder Quick Facts
Responsible for recording and preserving county land records.
Administration Building, fourth floor, Ravenna, OH 44266.
Fax: 330-297-7349.
Monday through Friday, excluding holidays.
The county says its online index extends back to 1979.
Many recorded documents can be viewed and printed online.
Affidavits, federal tax liens, powers of attorney and soldiers’ discharges are not viewable online through the county’s stated access system.
For older or restricted document images, contact the Recorder’s Office.
02 · Online deed search
How to Search Portage County Recorder Deeds and Records
Portage County provides a public Recorder Record Search link through its official government website.
The index covers records back to 1979. Records from 1979 through 2000 generally show a volume and page reference rather than an online document image.
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Open the official Recorder record search.
Begin at the county’s Recorder search link.
Open Portage County Record SearchAfter opening: follow the official search link to the records system. Review the available name, date and document-reference search fields before entering information. -
Search using the relevant party’s name.
Use the property owner’s name, a former owner, trust, lender or another party connected to the recorded document.
Try spelling variations if your first search does not produce a result.
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Check document type and recording details.
Look for deeds, mortgages, mortgage satisfactions, easements, liens or other relevant instruments.
Compare the names, recording date and volume/page or document reference.
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Open the online image when available.
For many documents recorded from 2001 onward, the county says you can select the blue link under the Images column.
Follow the record viewer’s instructions to view or print the document.
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Save the correct record reference.
Record the volume/page, instrument number or other available identifier.
This reference makes later copy requests and ownership-history research easier.
Searching records from 1979 through 2000
The county’s online index can identify older records, but the full document may not be viewable through the search portal.
Use the listed volume and page information when requesting an office copy.
Searching records before 1979
For earlier deed records, contact the Recorder’s Office about historical indexes and available record books.
Staff can explain where records are kept, but the county says staff will not perform title searches for members of the public.
Start with the Portage County Auditor’s property records to find the parcel, current owner or previous ownership information.
Then use the name and document details to search the Recorder’s records.
03 · Local office information
Portage County Recorder Office Address, Hours and Google Map
Portage County Recorder
Recorder: Lori Calcei
Address: 449 S. Meridian Street, Fourth Floor, Ravenna, OH 44266
Building: Portage County Administration Building
Phone: 330-297-3553
Fax: 330-297-7349
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM–4:00 PM
Before Visiting
Bring the instrument or volume/page reference if requesting copies.
For document recording, check legal-description requirements, fee amounts and payment methods first.
Ask about return envelopes if sending documents by mail.
Confirm holiday closures before traveling.
Verify Recorder Office Information
04 · Document recording
How to Record a Deed in Portage County, Ohio
Deed recording is different from searching a previously recorded deed.
The Recorder preserves the official document, but the Auditor handles ownership transfer information before many deeds can be recorded.
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Prepare the correct deed.
Check grantor and grantee names, the full legal description and execution requirements.
Use a qualified Ohio attorney or title professional if the document involves an estate, trust, divorce or disputed ownership.
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Review property and transfer requirements.
Confirm parcel information with the Auditor.
If the transfer involves a lot split, new parcel or survey, check Tax Map and planning requirements before proceeding.
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Complete Auditor conveyance.
The Auditor’s Real Estate Department transfers deeds and other property-transfer documents before recording.
Determine whether DTE 100 or DTE 100EX is required.
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Calculate recording fees.
Count the pages and applicable references.
Check whether the document satisfies Ohio standardization rules to avoid the additional nonconforming-document charge.
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Submit the deed to the Recorder.
Bring or send the completed document, any required approvals and the correct recording payment.
Keep the recording information and arrange return of the document.
How long does recording take?
The Recorder’s FAQ says the majority of documents are processed in one day.
Deeds requiring work by other county departments may take longer.
Recording turnaround is not a guarantee. Verify timing directly if the transaction has a closing deadline.
Portage County’s published subdivision procedures direct certain approved deeds to the Auditor’s fifth-floor Real Estate Office before they go to the fourth-floor Recorder.
Extra steps can apply to lot splits and subdivision transfers.
05 · Recording charges
Portage County Recorder Fees in 2026
Ohio Senate Bill 94 changed the recording-fee structure beginning in 2025.
For most standard documents, the published Ohio fee structure is $39 for the first two pages and $8 for each additional page.
Recording fee examples
Basic recording charge before other applicable fees.
$39 plus two additional pages.
$39 plus four additional pages.
Recorder recording charges and Auditor conveyance charges are different.
The Auditor’s published conveyance fee is $4 per $1,000 of purchase price plus 50 cents per parcel.
Certain exempt transfers follow different rules. Verify the applicable exemption before calculating the total.
Official Portage County Recording Fees
How can recording fees be paid?
The Recorder’s FAQ lists cash and checks as accepted payment methods.
Checks must be written for the exact amount. The office states that it does not give change for checks.
Confirm the current payment policy, exact fee and payee directly with the Recorder.
Do not assume that credit-card payment is available at the counter.
06 · Copies and historical documents
How to Request a Portage County Deed Copy
The Recorder says copies of land records are available upon request.
For older records, the online Images column may not show the true document length.
The office warns that some old entries default to one page even when the document contains additional pages.
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Locate the document reference.
Search the online index and save the volume/page or recorded-document number.
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Contact the copy-request office.
Ask staff to verify the correct number of pages and applicable copy charges.
Phone: 330-297-3553
Email: PCREC.COPIES@PORTAGECO.COM
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Confirm whether certification is required.
A regular copy can be suitable for personal research.
A court, bank, title company or agency may require a certified copy.
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Follow the county’s payment and delivery instructions.
Confirm the total cost and preferred method for receiving the record.
Official Copy Request Procedure and Fees
07 · Electronic recording
Does Portage County Accept eRecording?
Yes. Portage County accepts electronic recording through approved vendors.
The county says it accepts all documents through eRecording except powers of attorney.
One of the county’s published eRecording vendors.
Another electronic recording provider listed by the Recorder.
Also listed as an approved electronic recording provider.
eRecording is commonly used by title companies, financial institutions and law firms.
Vendor enrollment, service charges and document acceptance rules may differ.
Official Portage County eRecording Information
08 · Related county offices
Recorder, Auditor, Tax Map or Clerk of Courts?
Portage County uses different offices for recorded deeds, property ownership, tax records and court cases.
Portage County Recorder
Recorder: Lori Calcei
Location: Fourth floor, 449 S. Meridian Street, Ravenna.
Phone: 330-297-3553
For: deeds, mortgages, easements, liens, plats and recorded land documents.
Portage County Auditor
Location: Fifth floor, 449 S. Meridian Street, Ravenna.
Phone: 330-297-3561
For: property ownership, parcel values, tax information and conveyance processing.
Portage County Tax Map
Location: County Administration Building, Ravenna.
For: legal descriptions, parcel changes, survey matters and subdivision-related review.
Portage County Clerk of Courts
For: civil court cases, judgments, domestic relations records and automobile titles.
Common Pleas General: 330-297-3644
Auto Title: 330-297-3450
Search property ownership by address
The Auditor’s Real Estate Department maintains property ownership histories, valuations and real-estate tax information.
Start there if you know the address but not the owner name or deed reference.
Official Auditor Property and Conveyance Resources
09 · Additional services
Other Records and Services at the Portage County Recorder
Mortgages and releases
The Recorder indexes mortgages, releases and related recorded instruments.
For mortgage-payoff research, locate the original mortgage and search for a corresponding release or satisfaction.
Liens and UCC filings
The Recorder maintains certain federal tax liens, unemployment liens and real-estate-related Uniform Commercial Code filings.
Not every lien affecting a person or property appears only in the Recorder’s database. Court records and other agencies may also be relevant.
Veteran discharge records
The Recorder maintains veteran discharge records and offers Veteran ID card information.
Military discharge images are not available through the public online image viewer.
Recorder Veteran ID Card and Records Resources
Property fraud and deed-copy scams
A recorded document can be misused in attempted property fraud.
The Recorder’s website provides scam warnings and a property-fraud alert resource.
Use the county’s official information before paying private companies for deed copies or record monitoring.
The Recorder maintains the public record. A title examination may also require research into court judgments, probate, liens and earlier ownership transfers.
Use a title company or qualified Ohio attorney for legal title questions.
10 · Search troubleshooting
Why a Portage County Deed May Not Appear Online
- The document was recorded before 1979. Contact the Recorder about historical records.
- The document is indexed but the image is unavailable. For 1979–2000 records, save the volume and page reference.
- The document type is restricted from online viewing. Affidavits, federal tax liens, powers of attorney and soldiers’ discharges are among the county’s listed exclusions.
- The document uses a different name. Try previous owners, trust names, businesses and spelling variations.
- The record belongs to another county. Confirm the parcel’s location before searching again.
- The recording was recently submitted. Allow time for processing and contact the office if a transaction is time-sensitive.
- The title issue requires legal analysis. A record search alone does not determine ownership rights or remove liens.
11 · Frequently asked questions
Portage County Recorder FAQs
1. Who is the Portage County Recorder?
Lori Calcei is the Portage County Recorder, according to the county’s official Recorder website.
2. Where is the Portage County Recorder’s Office?
The office is on the fourth floor of the Portage County Administration Building at 449 S. Meridian Street, Ravenna, Ohio 44266.
3. What is the Portage County Recorder phone number?
The main telephone number is 330-297-3553. The fax number is 330-297-7349.
4. How far back do online Portage County deed records go?
The county says its online index extends back to 1979. Many documents recorded from 2001 onward are viewable and printable online.
5. Can I view every Portage County document online?
No. The county excludes online images for affidavits, federal tax liens, powers of attorney and soldiers’ discharges. Older documents may require an office copy request.
6. How much does it cost to record a deed in Portage County?
Most standard instruments cost $39 for the first two pages and $8 for each additional page. Reference and nonconforming-document charges may also apply.
7. What is the additional fee for a nonconforming document?
The Portage County Recorder says documents failing Ohio’s applicable margin or standardization requirements may incur an additional $20 fee.
8. Does Portage County accept electronic recording?
Yes. The county lists ePN Network, CSC and Simplifile. Its eRecording page says powers of attorney are excluded.
9. How do I request a certified deed copy?
Locate the document reference, then call 330-297-3553 or email PCREC.COPIES@PORTAGECO.COM to verify the page count, fees and certified-copy procedure.
10. Can Recorder staff prepare a deed or complete a title search for me?
The Recorder’s Office says staff will not perform title searches. For deed preparation or legal title advice, consult a qualified Ohio attorney or title professional.
12 · Official resources
Official Portage County Recorder and Ohio Resources
Recorder name, office hours, address, contacts and service descriptions.
Official county link to recorded land documents.
1979 index coverage, 2001 onward images and online viewing limitations.
Official charges and nonconforming-document warning.
County document-copy instructions and fee information.
Electronic recording providers and excluded documents.
Parcel ownership, conveyance fees and property information.
Property, Recorder, court, marriage and other county records.
Ohio statutory recording fees.
Document standardization requirements and related charges.
Independent information notice: This website is not operated by the Portage County Recorder, Auditor or any Ohio government agency.
The information is intended to help users locate official services and understand common recording procedures. It is not legal advice, an official fee quote or a title opinion.
Verify current forms, fees, payment methods and recording requirements directly with the responsible office.
Public land records must not be used for employment screening, tenant screening, credit eligibility, insurance underwriting or other purposes regulated by the Fair Credit Reporting Act.