Access Chelan County Property Tax Records

Chelan County property tax records are maintained by the Assessor and Treasurer offices located at 350 Orondo Avenue in Wenatchee, Washington. The county provides a free PACS-based online portal for searching parcel data, assessed values, ownership history, and sales information. This page covers how to use that portal, understand how the county assesses property, pay your tax bill, and access recorded documents through the county Auditor.

Chelan County Assessor Property Tax Records

The Chelan County Assessor's Office is at 350 Orondo Avenue, Suite 201, Wenatchee, WA 98801. Phone: (509) 667-6365. Email: Assessor@co.chelan.wa.us. The office determines the value of all taxable real and personal property in the county on a fair and equitable basis as required by Washington State law. More information is available at co.chelan.wa.us/assessor.

Chelan County now updates all properties annually according to market sales. The county also conducts physical inspections of every property on a 4-year cycle. State law only requires physical inspections every 6 years, so Chelan County's 4-year schedule is more frequent than required. Washington law mandates assessment at 100% of fair market value. The Assessor's Office maintains a detailed parcel map showing all parcels within the county. You can get parcel numbers, ownership information, tax code areas, and assessed valuations online through the PACS portal or by calling the office.

Search Chelan County Property Tax Records Online

The Chelan County PACS property search portal is the county's primary online database for property tax and parcel data. It is powered by N. Harris Computer Corporation and is available to the public at no cost. You can search by owner name, parcel number, or property address. A dedicated Sales Search tab allows you to look up comparable sales. An Advanced search option lets you refine queries with multiple terms at once.

Property detail pages in the portal display ownership information, assessment values, tax information, building characteristics, sales history, and land use classifications. The system shows both current and historical assessed valuations by allowing you to select the appraisal year for tax year. The parcel layer in the portal is updated approximately once a week through Python scripting, so data is generally current. Users can also search recorded land documents and marriage records through an integrated public records search that lets you look up by name, book and page, or parcel number.

For geographic exploration, Chelan County provides a GIS system at maps.co.chelan.wa.us/GIS. The interactive map shows property boundaries, aerial imagery, zoning designations, special districts, transportation, streams, and critical areas. To use it, click the layers button, check parcels and zoning, and zoom in to your area of interest. Historical plat and section maps are also accessible. The site includes a disclaimer noting that parcel boundaries shown are Assessor tax parcel boundaries and are not legal property lines. Only a licensed survey can establish legal boundaries. For technical help, contact the Chelan County IT Department at 350 Orondo Avenue, Wenatchee, WA 98801, (509) 667-6380.

Chelan County Treasurer and Property Tax Collection

The Chelan County Treasurer's Office manages between $76 million and $101 million in investments depending on the time of year. The office maintains records for over 56,000 tax and assessment accounts. Major divisions include Accounting (investing, disbursing, debt obligations) and Tax Collection (real, personal, and utility taxes). The Treasurer also acts as an agent for the Department of Revenue by collecting Real Estate Excise Tax on property sales. Contact: co.chelan.wa.us/treasurer.

Property taxes in Chelan County follow the standard Washington schedule under RCW 84.56. If your total bill exceeds $50, the first half is due April 30 and the second half is due October 31. Bills of $50 or less must be paid in full by April 30. The Treasurer also forecloses on property for delinquent taxes under RCW 84.64 and issues Mobile Home Movement Certificates. Contact the Treasurer's office for payment options and current balances.

The state image below is from Washington State's personal property tax page, which covers how personal property is assessed and taxed across all counties including Chelan.

Business owners in Chelan County with personal property (equipment, machinery) must report values annually to the Assessor. The DOR page covers that process in detail.

Chelan County Property Tax Exemptions and Relief

Senior citizens and disabled persons may qualify for a reduction in Chelan County property taxes. Washington State sets the income limits and eligibility rules for this program. Applications go through the Assessor's Office in Wenatchee. You must own and occupy the home as your primary residence and meet the income threshold for the current year. Check the Washington DOR exemptions page for the current income limits.

Other programs may apply to open space land, timber land, farms, and historically significant buildings. Each program has different rules. Contact the Assessor at (509) 667-6365 to find out which programs apply to your parcel and what documentation you need to file an application. The DOR site at dor.wa.gov/taxes-rates/property-tax also provides a full overview of Washington's property tax relief options.

Appealing Your Chelan County Property Tax Value

If you think your Chelan County property tax assessment is too high, start by calling the Assessor's Office at (509) 667-6365. Staff can walk you through how your value was set. Property data errors are sometimes the cause of a high assessment and can be fixed without a formal appeal.

A formal appeal goes to the county Board of Equalization. You must file before the deadline on your Notice of Value, typically within 60 days of that notice date. Bring supporting evidence like recent comparable sales data or a private appraisal. If you disagree with the Board's ruling, the Washington State Board of Tax Appeals is the next level of review. Only assessed values can be appealed. Levy rates are set by taxing districts and fall outside the appeal process.

Chelan County Auditor and Recorded Documents

The Chelan County Auditor's Office handles recording of all official public records including deeds, titles, mortgages, liens, and plat maps. The Recording Division maintains a permanent record of these documents. The office is at 350 Orondo Avenue, Level 3, Wenatchee, WA 98801. Phone: (509) 667-6808. The full Auditor's page is at co.chelan.wa.us/auditor. The Licensing Division acts as an agent for the Washington State Department of Licensing and Department of Revenue. The Accounting Division produces the annual financial report, budget, payroll, accounts payable, and centralized accounting functions for the county.

Recorded documents are part of the chain of title for each parcel in Chelan County. When researching a property, it is useful to review both the Assessor's parcel record and the recorded instruments at the Auditor's Office. Contact the office by phone or visit in person for copies of deeds and other recorded instruments. For contact information verified by the state, see propertytax.dor.wa.gov/county-contacts.

Cities in Chelan County

Chelan County includes several communities, with Wenatchee being the largest. Property tax records for all parcels within the county go through the Chelan County Assessor and Treasurer in Wenatchee.

Other communities in Chelan County include Leavenworth, Cashmere, Chelan, Entiat, and Waterville. Property tax records for all parcels in these areas are managed through the county Assessor and Treasurer.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Chelan County in central Washington.