Dane County, WI Property Records
Property records in Dane, Wisconsin provide important information about real estate ownership, land parcels, assessed values, tax history, legal descriptions, sales activity, and recorded documents such as deeds, mortgages, liens, and plats. These records are useful for homeowners, buyers, real estate professionals, attorneys, researchers, and anyone verifying ownership, reviewing property boundaries, estimating taxes, or researching a property’s history.
Official Dane property records are maintained primarily through Dane County offices, including the Register of Deeds, Treasurer, and land records systems. Users can access parcel details, assessment information, tax data, and related records through the county’s online resources, including the official Dane property records search. For certified copies of recorded documents or questions about legal filings, users should contact the Dane County Register of Deeds directly.
Dane County, WI Property Records & Statistics
Dane County is one of Wisconsin's most expensive housing markets. The median rent of $1,223 is far above the state median of $814 and the national figure of $840.25, and the median home value of $345,600 is well above Wisconsin's $194,600 and the national value of $173,750. Renters make up 28.2% of occupied homes, compared with 18.62% statewide and 21.81% nationally, reflecting a large rental market.
Owners also face a higher tax rate. The county's median property tax rate of 1.7% exceeds the state rate of 1.47% and the national rate of 0.74%. Combined with high home values, that translates into substantial annual tax bills for property owners.
Strong earnings and employment accompany those costs. The median household income of $93,943 is well above the state figure of $67,963.50 and the national figure of $65,108. The unemployment rate of 1.53% is lower than both Wisconsin's 1.86% and the national rate of 2.87%.
Taken together, the figures show a high-income, low-unemployment county where demand for housing pushes rents, home values, and tax bills well above state and national levels, and where renting is more common than in most of Wisconsin.
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Median Property Tax Rate
Median Home Value
Median Income
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Property Records, Assessments, and Valuations in Dane
Dane County property records cover tax assessments, recorded deeds and mortgages, valuations, and foreclosure filings. The county has 218,660 total parcels, including 171,353 residential and 11,781 commercial parcels, with tax records covering 93.83% of the population for the 2024 assessment year. Recorded documents include 389,346 deeds and 483,439 mortgages, and valuation data is available for 161,396 properties.
| Key Data | Details |
|---|---|
| Total Parcels | 218,660 |
| Residential Parcels | 171,353 |
| Commercial Parcels | 11,781 |
| Tax Record Coverage | 93.83% |
| Assessment Year | 2024 |
| Deed Records | 389,346 |
| Mortgage Records | 483,439 |
| Properties with Valuation Data | 161,396 |
| Latest Valuation Update | August 19, 2025 |
| Lis Pendens Records | 21,932 |
Assignment and Release Records
Assignment and release records track what happens to a mortgage after it is recorded. An assignment shows that a mortgage was transferred from one lender or loan holder to another, while a release shows that a mortgage was paid off and the lien removed from the property.
Dane County has 775,171 assignment and release records. They include 55,372 assignment documents and 719,091 release documents, along with 708 other documents, recorded from January 3, 2005, through August 29, 2025. Search them through the Dane County official records search offered by the Register of Deeds.
For property research, these records show who holds a mortgage and whether earlier loans were satisfied. Buyers, owners, and title researchers can use them to confirm that past mortgages were released, follow a loan as it moved between lenders, and spot liens that may still be open before a sale or refinance.
How to Search Dane County, WI Property Records
Dane County's recorded property documents are kept by the Register of Deeds in Madison. With more than 218,000 parcels in the county, the office holds a deep archive of deeds, mortgages, and related filings that show ownership history and financing.
To search recorded documents, use the Dane County official records search, which lets you look up records by name, document type, or date. The Dane County Register of Deeds website explains the office's services, and its forms page provides the paperwork needed for recording. Documents can also be submitted online through Dane County electronic recording.
The office is at 210 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Madison, and is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Call 608-266-4141 for help with a specific record.
To get started, have the owner name, property address, or approximate recording date on hand. Enter your details, review the results, and open the document that matches the property you are researching.
Dane Registrar of Deeds
The Dane County Probate Office is located at 210 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Madison, WI, 53703 and can be reached at 608-266-4141. Office hours are Monday-Friday 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM. Records can be accessed through tapestry.fidlar.com or the official website rod.countyofdane.com.
Dane County Register of Deeds
Dane County Property Records FAQ
How can I search Dane County property records by address?
Begin with the Dane County Register of Deeds and its official records search for recorded documents. Searches are usually most effective by name or document details, so if an address doesn't return results, try the owner's name or call the office at 608-266-4141 for assistance.
How can I find property owners in Dane County?
Owners are named on recorded deeds. Search by name or date range in the Dane County official records search, or visit the Register of Deeds at 210 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. in Madison, Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
How can I check a property's assessed value in Dane County?
Dane County's records reflect the 2024 assessment year, with the latest assessor update on February 7, 2025. Assessments are set by each municipality's assessor, so contact the city, village, or town where the property sits, or begin at the Dane County website to find the right office.
Where can I find Dane County property tax bills and payment records?
Property tax information is available through the Dane County Treasurer, and bills are also issued by local municipalities. Start at the Dane County Treasurer site to look up and pay bills. Questions about which office holds your parcel's tax record can be directed to the Register of Deeds at 608-266-4141.
How can I find deeds and other recorded documents in Dane County?
Use the Dane County official records search to find deeds, mortgages, and other recorded documents. Deed records run from January 2, 2001, through August 26, 2025. The Register of Deeds site also offers forms and guidance for recording documents.
Where can I access Dane County parcel maps and GIS information?
The Dane County Land Information Office maintains parcel and mapping data. Visit the Dane County Land Information Office for maps and GIS resources. Parcel maps are a useful reference but are not a legal survey, so consult a surveyor for exact boundaries.
How can I check permits and zoning information in Dane County?
Permits and zoning depend on where the property is located. Cities and villages, including Madison, manage their own, while county zoning applies in unincorporated areas. Start at the Dane County website to find the appropriate department, and confirm the rules with your local municipality before building.
How can I create a list of property owners in Dane County?
Online tools support individual lookups, so a list means searching the official records search by date range or document type and noting the parties named. For large or bulk requests, contact the Register of Deeds at 608-266-4141 to ask what is available.