Search San Juan County Property Tax Records
San Juan County property tax records are maintained by the Assessor's Office in Friday Harbor and are searchable online through the county's Parcel Search portal, which covers property values, ownership data, sales history, and tax information for all parcels across the San Juan Islands. The county also provides GIS mapping, historical fieldsheet archives, and an online payment system through the Treasurer's Office.
San Juan County Overview
San Juan County Assessor's Office
The San Juan County Assessor's Office is responsible for determining the value of all taxable real and personal property across the islands for equitable tax distribution. Counter service hours are Monday through Thursday, 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Contact the Assessor at (360) 378-2172 or assessor@sanjuancountywa.gov. For the 2025 assessment year (tax year 2026), the total county value increased from $14.7 billion to $14.8 billion, with $90 million in new construction added to the roll.
The 2025 inspection cycle covered 3,119 properties on the east side of Orcas Island, including Eastsound, plus Obstruction Island and six other small islands. An additional 753 inspections were completed for new construction across the rest of the county. Washington uses a budget-based property tax system; if all taxing district budgets stayed the same, total tax collected would not change even if assessed values doubled or dropped. Assessed values follow market value, but higher values mean lower levy rates, and lower values mean higher rates, which keeps the overall tax burden relatively stable year to year unless district budgets increase.
Tax Code Areas, printed on both your Notice of Value and your Tax Statement, determine the specific levy rates for your property based on which taxing districts it falls within. Taxing districts are limited to a 1% annual budget increase plus a new construction allowance, unless voters approve a lid lift.
| Office | San Juan County Assessor's Office |
|---|---|
| Address | 350 Court Street, Friday Harbor, WA 98250 |
| Phone | (360) 378-2172 |
| assessor@sanjuancountywa.gov | |
| Hours | Monday through Thursday, 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM |
San Juan County Parcel Search Portal
The San Juan County Parcel Search provides property and owner information, taxes, values, property images, assessment history, deed and sales history, all in one place. You can search by Property ID, Tax Parcel Number, Owner Name, Property Address, or Doing Business As (DBA). The system defaults to Account Number search type, but you can toggle it to search by name, address, or DBA. After running a search, results show a summary and clicking "View Details" opens comprehensive property data.
The Polaris Parcel Map is a web mapping application linked from the same page, providing a visual interface for all San Juan County tax parcels. GIS data is available for download from the county. The Assessor's Office recommends reviewing your property data through the Parcel Search before filing an appeal, so you can see exactly what information the office has on record and compare it to your own knowledge of the property.
Online Document Search allows you to search documents recorded by the San Juan County Auditor, and separate links provide access to Recorded Plats, Surveys, and Condominiums. A Sales Search tool is also available as a standalone search linked from the parcel search page.
Treasurer's Office and Tax Payments
The San Juan County Treasurer's Office is located at 350 Court Street, Friday Harbor, WA 98250. Office hours are Monday through Thursday 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM, closed from noon to 1:00 PM. Property taxes are due and payable on or before April 30 for the first half and October 31 for the second half. Tax payments received after these deadlines are automatically charged 1% interest on outstanding balances.
The county's online payment portal at paydici.com allows paying for multiple properties at once, scheduling future payments, and receiving instant digital receipts. You can also create an account to manage payments over time. Phone payments are available through an automated service at 877-816-9299 with processing fees. Credit card processing carries a 2.7% fee; debit card transactions cost 0.95%; eCheck adds a $2.00 flat fee.
Mailed payments go to PO Box 639, Friday Harbor WA 98250 (USPS), or for carrier services like UPS or FedEx, send to 350 Court St, 1st Floor, Friday Harbor WA 98250. A secure drop box is located at the courthouse entrance on 2nd Street on the Sheriff's side. An autopay program is also available; second half payments debit automatically on October 27. Contact the Treasurer at (360) 378-2171 or treasurer@sanjuancountywa.gov with questions.
Historical Records and Assessor Data
The San Juan County Assessor's Data page gives access to a rich archive of historical property records. Approximately 23,000 fieldsheets and 20,000 deed records were digitized through the Washington State Digital Archives with funding from the Washington Secretary of State. Fieldsheets provide historical assessment and permit history on real property, though they are not available for structures built after 2009. Deed records provide a historical ownership index from the late 1960s through October 2015. Search the Digital Archives using a parcel number.
Statement of Assessments booklets for tax years 1988 through 2026 are available online. These booklets contain tax rates for each Tax Code Area, the amount each taxing district will collect, and other county statistics useful for understanding how your tax bill is calculated. Parcel Data and Files, Appraisal Exports, and Assessor's Tax Maps are downloadable directly from this page.
The county's centralized San Juan County Portal consolidates Property Search and Taxes, Permits and Forms, Public Records, GIS Data and Maps, and Licensing into a single hub. Direct links lead to Pay Taxes Online, the Polaris Parcel Map, and Excise Tax Searches going back to 1952.
Appealing Your Property Value
If you believe your San Juan County property value is wrong, start by reviewing your property data in the Parcel Search to make sure the Assessor's records are accurate. Errors in recorded characteristics like square footage, number of bathrooms, or lot size can affect valuations. Contact the Assessor at (360) 378-2172 or assessor@sanjuancountywa.gov to discuss data concerns before filing a formal appeal.
Appeals must be filed within 30 days of the date on your Change of Value Notice. Petition forms can be obtained by contacting the Clerk of the Board of Equalization (BOE) at (360) 378-6312. The BOE is located at 350 Court Street #2, Friday Harbor, WA 98250. Email appeals-related questions to boe@sanjuancountywa.gov. Counter service for appeals questions follows the same Monday through Thursday 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM schedule as the Assessor's Office. Under RCW 84.40, all property must be valued at 100% of market value; if you have sales data or appraisals showing a lower value, bring those to your hearing.
Exemptions for senior citizens and disabled persons, as well as exemptions for nonprofits and current-use programs for forest and farm land, can all reduce your tax burden. The Department of Revenue exemptions page explains statewide rules, while the local Assessor processes applications. If a county BOE appeal does not resolve the issue, you can further appeal to the Washington State Board of Tax Appeals.
Nearby Counties
San Juan County is an island county. Whatcom and Skagit counties are the nearest mainland counties; Island County also lies nearby.