Lands and Records Management

This area of the office is responsible for recording and maintaining official records of documents affecting real estate. These include deeds, contracts, mortgages, assignments, releases, federal and state tax liens, affidavits, plats and surveys, section corner certificates, military service records, easements, condemnations, trade names, leases, 28E and drainage agreements, bills of sale, articles of incorporation, and financing statements plus numerous other documents. The office records all instruments presented upon payment of the proper fees and compliance with other recording requirements as provided by law. Recording fees collected for the county provide a form of property tax relief. In addition, the auditor’s fee on transfer of property as well as real estate transfer tax is collected on conveyances of property, a portion of which is retained in the county’s general fund. Federal and state tax lien searches are also performed. All records are opened to the public and copies can be obtained for a nominal fee.

The records in this office date back to 1880 and are indexed in books through May 1994. In June 1994, computer indexing was put into place. There are microfilm images available from 1972 through December 2004 and scanned images from March 14, 2002 to the present.

To search the computer index or scanned images, please go to www.iowalandrecords.org. One can search, view or print from this site at no charge.

Vital Records

These duties were added to our office on July 1, 1997 by legislative mandate. This area issues marriage licenses as well as registers birth, death and marriage certificates. Certified and uncertified copies of county vital records are obtained through this office for a fee, a portion of which is retained by the county. Records are available for genealogy research.

The records in this area are indexed in books from 1880 through August 1970 and computer indexed from August 1970 to present. The images of the records are available from August 1970 to present.

Birth records of adopted children are "sealed" at the county level and only available through the state office.

Single parent births prior to July 1, 1995 are "sealed" at the county level and only available through the state office.

Death records from May 1935 to May 1941 are not available at the county level.

Birth, death and marriage records from 1921 through 1941 may not be accurate or complete at the county level.

Drainage Ditches

This area keeps the official records of all drainage ditches in the county. This includes documents and plats for over 22 main ditches and 61 lateral ditches. Levy rates are calculated and applied to respective parcels once a year.

Real Estate

Woodbury County’s real estate records began in the mid-1800’s. The county’s plat and transfer books are housed in this office for public view. The responsibilities of this area include maintaining the plat books, up-dating the transfer books, and changing the respective computer parcel records in accordance with the documents recorded. The records reflect information for taxation purposes only. This area works in conjunction with the new GIS Mapping Project.

Mapping

Please visit the Sioux City Assessor's or Woodbury County Assessor's offices for more information regarding mapping and the GIS project.