Isle of Wight County Property Records

Isle of Wight County property records are officially recorded with the Circuit Court Clerk in Windsor, Virginia. The clerk keeps deeds, deeds of trust, plats, liens, and all real estate instruments for property in the county. You can search GIS parcel maps and assessment records online through county tools. In-person visits to the courthouse in Windsor give you direct access to deed books and title history. Mail requests for copies of recorded documents are accepted. The Commissioner of Revenue handles property assessments, and the Treasurer manages tax records. This page explains the main ways to find and access Isle of Wight County property records.

Isle of Wight County Commissioner of Revenue

The Commissioner of the Revenue, Gerald H. Gwaltney, is a constitutional officer elected to a four-year term by Isle of Wight County citizens. The Commissioner is responsible for assessing all property for local taxation and administering tax programs mandated by the Code of Virginia and Isle of Wight County ordinances. The office is accredited by the Commissioners of the Revenue Association of Virginia.

You can transact business with the Commissioner's office from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. The mailing address is P.O. Box 107, Isle of Wight, VA 23397. The physical address is 17090 Monument Circle, Suite 113, Windsor, VA 23487. The Commissioner has also installed a drop box outside Building G, Administration and Financial Services, for after-hours submissions.

Contact numbers for specific topics: Personal Property at 757-365-6301, Income Tax at 757-365-6272, Business Tax at 757-365-6321, and Real Estate at 757-365-6219 or 757-365-6218. Using the correct contact number will get you to the right staff person quickly.

If you feel your vehicle has high mileage, you may appeal your tax assessment for a review of its value. High mileage is calculated on the exact or estimated miles as of January 1 of the current calendar year. This appeal is separate from any real estate assessment appeal.

The screenshot below shows the Isle of Wight County Commissioner of Revenue page, covering assessment duties and contact information.

The Commissioner's office is the starting point for questions about assessed values, tax relief programs, and business property assessment in Isle of Wight County.

Isle of Wight County Real Estate Tax Rates and Assessments

Real Estate Assessments in Isle of Wight County are conducted by the Commissioner of the Revenue's office. The current real estate tax rate is $0.775 per $100 of assessed value. The tax is assessed by the Commissioner and collected by the Treasurer.

Under Virginia law, real property is assessed for the entire year in the name of the owner as of July 1 of the year. When you buy or sell property, confirm with the Treasurer how the tax bill will be handled at settlement. The purchaser at a sale is responsible for seeing that proceeds are applied at settlement to any taxes and levies assessed on the real estate.

Payments are made to the Treasurer's Office in two installments due June 5 and December 5. The Stormwater Management Fee is also billed on the real estate bill. All developed residential property owners are assessed a fee of $41.04 per year, billed at $20.52 on each half of the annual bill.

Delinquent real estate payments have specific consequences. Any payment received by the Treasurer is first credited against the most delinquent account, per State Code 58.1-3913. Failure to receive a tax bill does not relieve the penalty and interest charges that must be applied to all past due bills.

If you have an escrow account with a mortgage company, the lender remits payment for your regular taxes. However, supplemental bills issued after a property transfer or new construction are not billed to your mortgage company. Watch for those separately.

The screenshot below shows the Isle of Wight County real estate tax page, covering rates, payment due dates, and relief programs.

Tax Relief for Elderly or Disabled is also available. A deferral or exemption of real estate tax may be available to qualifying low-income citizens 65 years of age or older or to those who are totally disabled. The application should be filed by October 1 and renewed annually.

Isle of Wight County Circuit Court and Land Records

The Clerk of the Circuit Court is a constitutional officer elected by the citizens of Isle of Wight County. Laura E. Smith serves as Clerk. Her office is at P.O. Box 110, 17000 Josiah Parker Circle, Isle of Wight, Virginia 23397. Phone: (757) 365-6233. Email: lksmith@vacourts.gov. The office is open weekdays from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Document recording is accepted from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

The Clerk's Office records deeds, wills, civil suits, financing statements, and other documents relating to real estate and civil cases. The office also serves as the Probate Court, appointing persons to administer estates and recording estate documents. The office was established in colonial times to preserve and make accessible to the public important records such as deeds, wills, and documents relating to real estate ownership.

Isle of Wight County offers a Property Notification Service to help residents protect against property fraud. You can register to receive an email alert if a document with your name or parcel ID is recorded in the county's land records. This free service is a useful tool for anyone concerned about deed fraud.

Many Circuit Court Clerk's Office records are public records and copies can be obtained by visiting the Clerk's Office, calling, or mailing a detailed written request. All documents submitted for recording must be original signed and notarized instruments. No faxed copies are accepted.

All recorded land documents in Isle of Wight County are governed by Title 55.1 of the Virginia Code. Deeds must be recorded under § 55.1-600 to be valid against third parties.

Isle of Wight County GIS Property Map and Parcel Data

Isle of Wight County maintains an interactive online property map through ArcGIS. The map shows parcels, zoning classifications, FEMA flood zones, and aerial photography. Users can search for properties by address, parcel ID, or owner name within the interactive map interface. The map is maintained by the Isle of Wight County Information Technology Department and updated regularly.

The GIS Department is at 17124 Monument Circle, Windsor, VA 23487. The office is generally open from 8:30 to 5:00. Because staff is limited, call first at 757-365-6278 or 6337 before visiting. For data downloads, many GIS layers are available for free through the county's Open Data Site. Other existing layers are available at $15 per data layer in shapefile format. Aerial imagery is available for download through VGIN.

The screenshot below shows the Isle of Wight County ArcGIS interactive property and zoning map.

GIS data is provided on an "as is" basis without warranty of any kind. For official legal descriptions, rely on recorded plats and deeds at the Circuit Court Clerk's office.

How to Search Isle of Wight County Property Records

Property records in Isle of Wight County are accessible through several county offices and online tools. Here is a practical guide for the most common searches.

For deeds and recorded land instruments, visit or contact the Circuit Court Clerk at 17000 Josiah Parker Circle, Isle of Wight, Virginia 23397, phone (757) 365-6233. The office accepts walk-in visits from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on weekdays. Document recording must be done by 4:30 p.m.

For assessed values and current ownership in the tax books, contact the Commissioner of Revenue at 17090 Monument Circle, Suite 113, Windsor, VA 23487. Call the Real Estate division at 757-365-6219 or 757-365-6218 for real estate assessment questions.

For property tax payment status, contact the Treasurer's Office. Real estate taxes are due June 5 and December 5 each year.

For visual parcel data, use the ArcGIS interactive map or the county GIS portal. These tools are free and let you locate a property and get the parcel ID before contacting county offices for official records.

All property in Isle of Wight County is governed by Title 55.1 of the Virginia Code. Rehabilitated Real Estate instructions and applications are available from the Commissioner's office for property owners making qualifying improvements.