Daviess County Public Records /Daviess County Property Records

Daviess County Property Records

What Is Daviess County Property Records

Property records in Daviess County are official documents that capture the legal history of real property — including land parcels and structures — within the county's jurisdiction. These records document ownership transfers, mortgage liens, easements, plats, deeds, and other encumbrances affecting real estate. The primary purpose of maintaining property records is to establish a clear chain of title, provide constructive public notice of all recorded interests in land, protect the rights of property owners and lienholders, and facilitate real estate transactions by ensuring buyers and lenders can verify ownership status. In Kentucky, the recording of instruments affecting real property is governed by Kentucky Revised Statutes § 382.110, which mandates that deeds, mortgages, and other conveyances be recorded with the County Clerk to be effective against third parties. The Daviess County Clerk's Office serves as the official custodian of these records and maintains an index of all instruments recorded against real property located within the county.

Daviess County Clerk's Office 212 St. Ann Street, Room 102, Owensboro, KY 42303 (270) 685-8434 Daviess County Clerk

Are Property Records Public Information In Daviess County?

Property records in Daviess County are public information under Kentucky law. The Kentucky Open Records Act (KRS § 61.870–61.884) establishes the right of any person to inspect and copy public records maintained by government agencies, including county offices. Additionally, Kentucky's recording statutes require that instruments affecting real property be made available for public inspection once recorded. The legal basis for public access rests on the principle that property ownership is a matter of public record — recording statutes are designed to provide constructive notice to all parties, and transparency in land ownership serves the broader public interest by preventing fraud and protecting buyers, lenders, and neighboring landowners. Members of the public may inspect property records without being required to state a reason or demonstrate a personal interest in the property. This open-access framework applies to deeds, mortgages, liens, plats, and related instruments held by the Daviess County Clerk's Office.

How To Search Property Records in Daviess County in 2026

Members of the public may search Daviess County property records through several official channels. The following steps outline the process for conducting a thorough property records search:

Identify the property: Gather the parcel identification number (PID), property address, or the name of the current or previous owner before beginning a search.
Visit the County Clerk's Office in person: Members of the public may visit the Daviess County Clerk's Office at 212 St. Ann Street, Room 102, Owensboro, KY 42303. Public counter hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Staff can assist with locating deed books, mortgage records, and other recorded instruments.
Use the online records portal: The Daviess County Clerk provides access to recorded documents through its official online search system, allowing users to search by grantor/grantee name, instrument type, or recording date.
Contact the Property Valuation Administrator (PVA): The Daviess County PVA maintains assessment records, ownership information, and parcel maps. These records complement the Clerk's recorded instruments and are useful for identifying current ownership and assessed values.
Submit a written request: Members of the public who cannot appear in person may submit a written public records request to the County Clerk's Office pursuant to KRS § 61.872, which governs the right of access to public records. Requests may be submitted by mail or in person.
Pay applicable fees: Certified copies of recorded instruments are available for a fee. The County Clerk's Office can provide a current fee schedule upon request.

Daviess County Property Valuation Administrator (PVA) 212 St. Ann Street, Room 201, Owensboro, KY 42303 (270) 685-8474 Daviess County PVA

How To Find Property Records in Daviess County Online?

Members of the public may access Daviess County property records online through the following official resources:

Daviess County Clerk Online Search: The Daviess County Clerk's Office provides an online portal where users can search recorded instruments including deeds, mortgages, releases, and liens. Users may search by name, instrument type, book and page number, or recording date range through the Daviess County Clerk's official website.
Daviess County PVA Online Portal: The Daviess County Property Valuation Administrator maintains an online database of property assessment records, ownership information, and parcel data. Users may search by owner name, address, or parcel number at the Daviess County PVA website.
Kentucky Secretary of State: For UCC filings and certain liens affecting personal property used in connection with real estate transactions, the Kentucky Secretary of State maintains a searchable online database.
Kentucky Court of Justice: Judgment liens arising from court proceedings may be searched through the Kentucky Court of Justice case search portal.

How To Look Up Daviess County Property Records for Free?

Several no-cost options are available for members of the public seeking to access Daviess County property records without incurring fees:

In-person inspection at the County Clerk's Office: Under the Kentucky Open Records Act, members of the public have the right to inspect public records at no charge. Viewing records in person at the Daviess County Clerk's Office does not require payment; fees apply only when copies are requested.
Daviess County PVA online database: The PVA's online portal provides free access to property ownership information, assessed values, parcel maps, and tax information without requiring registration or payment.
Kentucky Land Records: Some historical deed and instrument records for Daviess County are available at no cost through third-party genealogical and land records repositories that index publicly available data from county clerks.
Public terminals at the Clerk's Office: The Daviess County Clerk's Office provides public access terminals during regular business hours, allowing members of the public to search and view recorded documents at no cost.

What's Included in a Daviess County Property Record?

A Daviess County property record encompasses a broad range of documents and data elements maintained across multiple county offices. Property records are distinguished from personal property records in that they pertain exclusively to real property — land and any improvements permanently affixed to it. The Daviess County Clerk's Office, the PVA, and the County Sheriff's Office each maintain distinct but complementary property-related records.

Typical information included in a Daviess County property record may consist of:

Grantor and grantee names (seller and buyer in a deed transaction)
Legal description of the property (metes and bounds, lot and block, or subdivision reference)
Parcel identification number (PID)
Recording date, book, and page number
Deed type (warranty deed, quitclaim deed, special warranty deed)
Consideration amount (sale price or nominal consideration)
Mortgage and lien information (lender name, loan amount, recording date)
Easements and rights-of-way
Plat maps and subdivision records
Assessed value and tax information (maintained by the PVA)
Property tax payment status (maintained by the County Sheriff)

The content and format of recorded instruments are governed by KRS § 382.335, which establishes standards for documents presented for recording in Kentucky counties.

How Long Does Daviess County Keep Property Records?

Property records in Daviess County are subject to retention requirements established under Kentucky law and the Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives (KDLA) records retention schedules. Under current law, many categories of property records are retained permanently due to their legal significance in establishing chain of title and resolving ownership disputes.

Retention periods for principal categories of property records include:

Deeds and conveyances: Retained permanently by the County Clerk's Office
Mortgages and deeds of trust: Retained permanently
Releases and satisfactions: Retained permanently
Plats and subdivision maps: Retained permanently
Liens (tax liens, judgment liens, mechanic's liens): Retained permanently or for the duration of the lien plus a statutory period
Property tax records: Retained for a minimum of five years by the County Sheriff, with assessment records retained permanently by the PVA

The Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives publishes the official Local Government General Records Retention Schedule, which governs the retention of records maintained by county offices including the Clerk, PVA, and Sheriff.

Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives (KDLA) 300 Coffee Tree Road, Frankfort, KY 40601 (502) 564-8300 Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives

How To Find Liens on Property In Daviess County?

Members of the public may search for liens affecting real property in Daviess County through several official sources, as liens may be recorded or filed with different agencies depending on their type:

Daviess County Clerk's Office: Mortgage liens, mechanic's liens, and lis pendens notices are recorded with the County Clerk and are searchable through the Clerk's official records index. Members of the public may search in person or through the online portal at the Daviess County Clerk's website.
Kentucky Court of Justice: Judgment liens arising from civil court judgments are docketed through the court system and may be searched via the Kentucky Court of Justice case search.
Kentucky Department of Revenue: State tax liens filed by the Commonwealth of Kentucky are recorded with the County Clerk and may also be verified through the Kentucky Department of Revenue.
Internal Revenue Service (IRS): Federal tax liens are filed with the County Clerk's Office pursuant to federal law and are indexed in the Clerk's lien records. The IRS also maintains a lien search tool through the IRS Centralized Lien Operation.
Daviess County Sheriff's Office: Delinquent property tax liens may be researched through the Sheriff's Office, which is responsible for property tax collection in Kentucky.

Daviess County Sheriff's Office 212 St. Ann Street, Room 106, Owensboro, KY 42303 (270) 685-8441 Daviess County Sheriff

What Is Property Owner Rule In Daviess County?

The property owner rule in Daviess County refers to the body of Kentucky statutes and local regulations governing the rights, responsibilities, and limitations applicable to owners of real property within the county. Under Kentucky law, property ownership confers the right to use, transfer, encumber, and exclude others from real property, subject to applicable zoning ordinances, deed restrictions, and state law.

Key provisions governing property ownership in Daviess County include:

Recording requirements: Under KRS § 382.110, a deed or other conveyance of real property must be recorded with the County Clerk to be effective against subsequent purchasers or creditors without notice. An unrecorded deed is valid between the parties but does not provide constructive notice to third parties.
Property tax obligations: Property owners in Daviess County are subject to annual ad valorem property taxes assessed by the PVA and collected by the County Sheriff. Failure to pay property taxes may result in the filing of a tax lien and, ultimately, a tax sale proceeding.
Zoning and land use: The Owensboro-Daviess County Regional Planning Commission administers zoning regulations that govern permissible uses of real property within the county. Property owners must comply with applicable zoning classifications and obtain required permits for construction or change of use.
Homestead exemption: Kentucky law provides a homestead exemption for qualifying owner-occupied residential properties, reducing the assessed value subject to taxation. Applications are filed with the Daviess County PVA.

Owensboro-Daviess County Regional Planning Commission 1 Daviess County Plaza, Owensboro, KY 42303 (270) 687-8650 Owensboro-Daviess County Regional Planning Commission