Find Property Records in Roanoke

Roanoke property records are split between two city offices: the Office of Real Estate Valuation handles annual appraisals and tax data, and the Circuit Court Clerk at 315 West Church Avenue records deeds, plats, and other land instruments. Roanoke is an independent Virginia city with its own circuit court, entirely separate from Roanoke County. The clerk records deeds, deeds of trust, plats, liens, and other documents tied to real estate within city limits. All records are public. You can search online through the Virginia courts system, visit the clerk in person, or mail a written request to get copies of recorded instruments.

Roanoke Office of Real Estate Valuation

The Office of Real Estate Valuation is responsible for appraising all real property in the city, including land and buildings, at 100% of market value annually. The appraisals are used to calculate the annual real estate tax bill. Virginia State Code § 58.1-3201 requires all localities in Virginia to assess real property at 100% of fair market value.

The Roanoke City Code § 32-40 requires the assessor to conduct annual assessments of all taxable real estate in the city, including lands, buildings, and improvements, in accordance with Virginia law. The city uses a checks-and-balances system: in accordance with Virginia Code § 58.1-207, the Department of Taxation conducts an annual study to determine the assessment-to-sales ratio for every county and city in the Commonwealth. Results are reported to the General Assembly and to each local jurisdiction no later than November 1.

Contact the Office of Real Estate Valuation at: Mailing Address: 215 Church Avenue, S.W., Municipal South, Room 250, Roanoke, VA 24011. Phone: 540-853-2771. Fax: 540-853-2796. Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Language assistance is available at no cost by calling 540-329-3266.

Roanoke Circuit Court Land Records

The Roanoke City Circuit Court is part of the 23rd Judicial Circuit of Virginia. The clerk of court is Hon. Brenda S. Hamilton. The court is located at 315 W Church Ave, Roanoke, VA 24011. Phone: (540) 853-6702 for civil matters; (540) 853-6723 for criminal. Fax: (540) 853-1024. Clerk's office hours are 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM on weekdays.

All deeds, deeds of trust, plats, judgments, and financing statements affecting real property in Roanoke must be recorded with the Circuit Court Clerk. Under Title 55.1 of the Virginia Code, recording is what establishes constructive notice and protects a buyer's ownership rights against later claims. Any instrument not properly recorded may be void against a subsequent buyer for value who records first.

The Virginia courts statewide land records system at vacourts.gov allows searching of recorded document indexes for the Roanoke City Circuit Court. Subscribers can access document images through the Secure Remote Access (SRA) system. Walk-in searches are available at the clerk's office during business hours. Copies of public records cost 50 cents per page, with an additional fee for certified copies.

Roanoke GIS Maps and Real Estate Portal

The City of Roanoke operates a GIS and real estate mapping portal at gisre.roanokeva.gov. This interactive tool lets users search property data and view real estate valuation information through an integrated GIS interface. The portal is accessible from the Roanoke city homepage under the "GIS Maps and Real Estate" quick link.

GIS data includes parcel boundaries, zoning layers, and other geographic information tied to individual properties. As with all GIS mapping tools, the data is for general reference only. Recorded plats and deeds at the Circuit Court Clerk's office are the authoritative source for legal parcel boundaries and ownership. GIS data should not be used as a substitute for a title search or a professional survey.

The Office of Real Estate Valuation and the GIS system work together. Assessment data in the GIS portal comes from the appraisal office, and updates typically follow the annual assessment cycle. If you spot a discrepancy between the GIS portal and what is recorded at the clerk's office, the recorded instrument controls.

Roanoke Treasurer and Tax Collection

The Roanoke City Treasurer's Office collects local and state taxes and fees for city residents. These include real estate and personal property tax, prepared food and beverage tax, transient occupancy tax, admissions tax, business license fees, and dog tag fees. The Treasurer's Office is accredited through the Treasurers' Association of Virginia (TAV).

The City Treasurer is Tasha L. Burkett. The office is at 215 Church Avenue, Room 254, Roanoke, VA 24011 (P.O. Box 1451). Phone: 540-853-2561. Fax: 540-853-1019. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. DMV Select transactions are handled from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The Treasurer's Office also collects invoices and payments for other city departments. If you receive an invoice for damage to city property, weed abatement, demolition or boarding, false alarms, police reports, or trash pick-up, you can pay it through the Treasurer's Office. Language assistance is available at no cost by calling 540-329-3268.

Roanoke Tax Relief and Exemption Programs

The City of Roanoke offers several tax credit and exemption programs for property owners. These programs are administered through the Office of Real Estate Valuation, the Office of Commissioner of the Revenue, and the Office of Economic Development. Details on all available programs are at roanokeva.gov/458/Tax-Relief-Incentive-Programs.

Common programs include tax relief for elderly and disabled homeowners, exemptions for disabled veterans with 100% service-connected permanent and total disabilities, and incentive programs tied to property rehabilitation or economic development activity. Each program has its own eligibility rules and application process. Contact the Office of Real Estate Valuation at 540-853-2771 to ask about any program that may apply to your property.

Virginia Code requires that exemption applications be filed by specified deadlines. Most exemptions, if approved, take effect January 1 of the following year. Government-owned and religious-use exemptions may be prorated differently. If you believe your property qualifies for an exemption that has not been applied, contact the assessor's office as soon as possible. Late filings may delay relief by an entire tax year.

The broader legal framework for property records in Roanoke is Title 55.1 of the Virginia Code, which governs how instruments are recorded, how constructive notice works, and how ownership is transferred. Under § 55.1-600, a deed must be properly acknowledged and recorded to be fully effective. Anyone buying or selling property in Roanoke should work with a licensed attorney or title professional to confirm the chain of title is clear before closing.