Chelan County Assessor

Look Up a Legal Description

The easiest way to find the legal description of a tax parcel is to look up the property on our Parcel Search by clicking here.   Please keep in mind that the legal descriptions contained in the Assessor’s Records are often the abbreviated legal description for the property and may not contain all of the information relating to the legal boundaries of the property.  We currently have all of the deeds of record for the tax parcel in our Assessment Records

If this is your first time using our parcel search you call follow these step by step instructions:

  1. After agreeing to the disclaimer click on the “Search type” drop down menu in the upper left hand corner of the webpage.  Select which type of search you want to conduct and enter your information in one of the boxes below (Hint:  Geographic ID is the same thing as your parcel number).


     
  2. Select the “Appraisal Year for Tax Year” (Hint:  for current year select 2016-2017) using the drop down menu.  Click on the “Search” button at the bottom of the page. 


     
  3. Depending on the data you entered in the parcel search a list of properties will appear.  Click on the “View Details” link in the Property Search Results.

     
  4. Scroll down to the Deed and Sales History bar and click to expand.  The deeds will either be referenced by book (volume) and page or Deed Number (Auditor File Number) for more recent recorded documents.  Write down the book (volume) and page numbers or the Deed Number or simply print out the sheet.  You will need this information to look up the recorded document in the Auditor’s Document Search.  In the future, it is our goal to have these hyperlinked to the document to save you this step and make the ease of accessing the information better.



    Click here to access the Document Search, once you have agreed to the disclaimer either click on the Book/Page or the AFN for the Auditor File Number and enter the information.  Once you’ve entered the information click the Search Records button.  This should take you directly to the recorded document.  The legal description is generally on the first page of the document but depending on length may also be recorded as an exhibit

If you are having a hard time finding the information through our Parcel Search and need assistance please feel free to contact us and we would be more than happy to either walk you through the parcel search or find the information for you.

  • In-Person:  Visit us in the Assessor’s Office located on the main level of the courthouse at 350 Orondo Avenue, Suite 206 in Wenatchee
  • By phone:  Call us at (509) 667-6365 and we can look it up for you.  It is helpful if you have either the parcel number, property id, owner name or situs address ready before calling. 
  • EmailAssessor@co.chelan.wa.us

What is a legal description, anyway?

It’s a method of describing a parcel of real property that is recognized by law, including the lot and block (recorded plat) method, the government survey method (also called the township and rang or rectangular survey method), or the metes and bounds method.  The legal description is used when conveying property ownership

Posted: 01/05/2015 08:04 AM
Last Updated: 04/19/2019 08:59 AM

Chelan County Calendar

Upcoming events and schedules at the county!

  • 18
    Dec 2024
    01:00 PM - 03:00 PM

    Hearing Examiner - December 18, 2024

    Posted by: Community Development

    By Zoom Video Conference or in person
  • 18
    Dec 2024
    06:00 PM - 09:00 PM

    Planning Commission - December 18, 2024

    Posted by: Community Development

    400 Douglas Street
  • 11
    Dec 2024
    10:00 AM - 12:00 PM

    Chelan County Civil Service Commission

    Posted by: Human Resources

    The Chelan County Civil Service Commission will be meeting on December 11, 2024.

    Chelan County Commissioners Office, CM Conference Room 1
  • 04
    Dec 2024
    09:00 AM - 11:00 AM

    Hearing Examiner - December 4, 2024

    Posted by: Community Development

    Chelan County Administrative Building or zoom
  • 26
    Nov 2024
    01:30 PM - 02:00 PM

    Public Meeting: Certify Election

    Posted by: Chelan County Elections

    The Canvassing Board of Chelan County, pursuant to RCW 29A.60.160, will hold public meetings at the dates and times listed below. The meetings of the Canvassing Board are open, public meetings under the applicable provisions of chapter 42.30 RCW, and each meeting shall be continued until the activity for which the meeting is held has been completed.

    Chelan County Auditor’s Office