Ottawa County, Kansas

Welcome to Ottawa County, Kansas

The duty of the Ottawa County Appraisers office is to discover, list and appraise all real estate and personal property subject to taxation in Ottawa County. The first step in this process is a clear and readily usable mapping system to locate the areas within the county. Maps are available on a scale of one inch equals four hundred feet for rural areas and one inch equals one hundred feet in incorporated towns. The photography for these maps was flown in 1986. These maps can be viewed in the office from 8:00 AM to 5 PM Monday through Friday. Copies of these maps may also be purchased.

Real Estate Parcels are visited once every six years with the information verified. If no one is home at time of visit a card is left asking the homeowner to supply the information by mail. Personal property owners are sent a rendition each year showing what the appraiser has listed for them. If they have sold or made any additions they are asked to note these changes and return the rendition by March 15th. A penalty will be added on all renditions that are not returned by this date.

All real estate parcels are viewed each year and a new value established. The new values will be sent to the owner around the first of April each year. If a property owner feels that the value is incorrect or has general questions they have thirty days to appeal the value. There are two other times in the year that values may be appealed. They are when first half taxes are paid or second half taxes are paid. This gives a property owner three different time frames they may appeal their value. While there are three different time frames in which to appeal you may only appeal the value once within a tax year. Items a property owner may want to consider in their decision to file an appeal are 1.) Is the property worth its appraised value? 2.) Is it equitable with similar properties? 3.) Does the property suffer from a defect that would not be able to be observed from the outside? If the answer to these questions is no then a property owner should consider filing an appeal. The best chance of success lies in good preparation. Simply saying my value or taxes are too high will not result in a successful appeal. If you feel the value is too high you may obtain a list of houses that have sold recently prior to your appeal to support your appeal. If your house has damage, photos of this damage would be helpful, any estimates you have for repair of damages or defects would also be of assistance. This office is only interested in having a value that would be consistent with the sale price of your property if it sold not in the highest value possible. The department of revenue evaluates the work done by the appraisers office on a yearly basis. One standard of measuring the quality of our work is the sales ratio study. Comparing each valid sale's appraised value with the actual sale price does this. Being overvalued penalizes you as much as being undervalued.

Results of the Market Study

Analysis for Ottawa County for the Assessment Year 2026

January 1, 2026

PURSUANT TO L. 1991, CH 2792

(TREND IDENTIFIED) RESIDENTIAL

"A study of the residential real estate market for older houses, i.e. built before 1945, indicated that there is an overall inflationary trend of 5% from 2025.

"A study of the residential real estate market for newer houses, i.e. built after 1945, indicated that there is an overall inflationary trend of 7% from 2025.

"A study of the commercial real estate market indicated there is an overall inflationary trend of 4% from 2025.

"A study of the real estate market for vacant lots indicated there is a stable market with no overall upward or downward trend.

Increase in the value of residences and businesses occur due to buying pressure in the market regardless of whether change has occurred in the property itself. In addition, the value on a specific property may not follow the general market trend due to location or other factors. Changes in buyer demands as to age, style or condition and corrections to descriptive information about the property itself, or adjustments based on specific sales of comparable properties may affect each property differently.

The Clerk has various duties relating to property tax levies. The Clerk submits the budgets for the twenty townships in Ottawa County, along with fourteen cemetery budgets. The Clerk also assists in the county budget preparation. All school districts, cities, townships and other taxing authorities must file their budget with the Clerk. All County property values are filed with the Clerk, and the Clerk sets the official mill levies for each taxing district based on this information. The Clerk’s office maintains records for land transfers of the county for taxation purposes. The County Clerk serves as the official secretary for the Board of County Commissioners. The Clerk records County Commission meeting minutes and produces written minutes of all Commissioner meetings. The Clerk issues various licenses and permits. The Clerk’s staff provides assistance to county residents in preparing Homestead Property Tax Refund Applications. The Clerk’s office prepares the weekly vouchers for approval of all county account payables, and issues checks. The County Clerk’s Office serves as the County Election Office for all elections in Ottawa County, which maintains all voter history and voter registrations.

Clerk Job Description

Our Mission

The Ottawa County Register of Deeds Office is dedicated to safeguarding the county's permanent land records and delivering accurate, timely, and dependable recording services. Through integrity, innovation, and exceptional public service, we are committed to preserving the past, serving the present, and protecting the future of Ottawa County.

Public Records

The Register of Deeds Office operates in accordance with the Kansas Open Records Act. Most records maintained by our office are available for public inspection during regular business hours.

The only exceptions are:

Kansas Real Estate Sales Validation Questionnaires
Military discharge records

These records are confidential and may only be accessed by individuals authorized by law.

Recording Documents

To be accepted for recording, documents must meet the following requirements:

Be properly signed by all required parties.
Be notarized when required by law.
Be clear and legible to ensure a high-quality permanent record.
Include a complete and accurate legal description of the property.

The Register of Deeds Office reserves the right to reject documents that contain incomplete or incorrect legal descriptions.

For platted property, legal descriptions generally include the lot, block, subdivision, and city. For unplatted property, legal descriptions typically include the section, township, and range.

Recording Fees

Recording fees are established by Kansas statute and are subject to change. For the most current fee schedule or questions regarding recording costs, please contact the Ottawa County Register of Deeds Office. We are happy to assist you.

-Refund Policy

Protect Your Property with Property Fraud Alert

Your home and property are among your most valuable investments. While property fraud is uncommon, it can have serious financial and legal consequences if it occurs. That's why the Ottawa County Register of Deeds Office is proud to offer Property Fraud Alert—a free service that helps property owners stay informed and protect their real estate records.

Property Fraud Alert

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Important Information

The Ottawa County Register of Deeds Office serves as the official recording office for land records and other documents authorized by Kansas law.

Please note:

We do not perform title searches. If you need a title search or ownership research, please contact a licensed title company or an attorney.

We cannot provide legal advice. Our staff is happy to answer questions about recording procedures and public records, but we are prohibited from offering legal advice or interpreting legal documents.

The Ottawa County Noxious Weed Department is committed to protecting the county's agricultural resources by helping control invasive and noxious weeds, enforcing Kansas Noxious Weed Law, and providing education and assistance to local landowners.

Our current facility, which includes an office, chemical storage area, and maintenance shop, was constructed in 1980 and continues to serve as the department's headquarters.

History of the Noxious Weed Program

Kansas established county Noxious Weed Departments in 1937, with field bindweed designated as the state's first noxious weed.

Early control methods included the use of salt, which prevented all vegetation from growing. Later, chlorate-based products were introduced, but they proved to be extremely hazardous. During the mid-to-late 1940s, 2,4-D herbicide became the primary weed control product and remains an effective tool today alongside many newer herbicides.

Advances in herbicide technology have greatly reduced the amount of product needed for effective weed control. What once required pounds or quarts per acre can now often be accomplished using only fractions of an ounce per acre.

The Noxious Weed Program was established to help landowners control invasive weeds while making approved herbicides available at a reduced cost.

Kansas Noxious Weeds

A noxious weed is a plant designated by law because it poses a significant threat to agriculture, natural resources, or the environment.

Kansas currently recognizes the following state-designated noxious weeds:

Kudzu
Field Bindweed
Russian Knapweed
Hoary Cress
Canada Thistle
Quackgrass
Leafy Spurge
Musk Thistle
Johnsongrass
Sericea Lespedeza

In addition, Kansas law allows County Commissioners to declare certain local weeds as noxious. In Ottawa County, these include:

Bull Thistle
Multiflora Rose

What We Do

The Ottawa County Noxious Weed Director is responsible for enforcing Kansas Noxious Weed Law throughout the county. The department works closely with landowners and agricultural producers to identify and manage noxious weed infestations.

Services provided by the department include:

Monitoring and enforcing Kansas Noxious Weed Law
Assisting landowners with noxious weed management
Spraying noxious weeds along county roads and rights-of-way
Controlling annual weeds on county property
Investigating weed complaints
Identifying and addressing emerging problem areas throughout the county

Contact Us

If you have questions about noxious weeds, weed control programs, or would like to report a noxious weed concern, please contact the Ottawa County Noxious Weed Department. We are happy to assist you.

Fact Sheets

Error

Noxious Weed Descriptions

The Treasurer's Office is responsible for the tax billing, collection and distribution of real estate, personal property and motor vehicle taxes, special assessments and other miscellaneous taxes for the county, cities, townships, school districts and other taxing entities of Ottawa County. In addition, this office serves as an agent for the Kansas Department of Revenue, Division of Vehicles in regard to vehicle titles and registrations; and a satellite station for Kansas driver's licenses.

Tax Collection

Tax statements are mailed in early November of each year. Taxpayers have the option of paying the full or first half amount by December 20th; the last half is due May 10th of the following year. There are no second half tax statements mailed. Tax statements can be paid in the office, by phone (785-392-3129), by mail, or on-line at https://www.kansas.gov/propertytax/. If you are paying in the office or over the phone please have your tax statements.

Real Estate Tax

If a first half or full tax is unpaid as of December 21st, interest becomes due and payable. After May 10th the full amount plus interest is due. Real estate tax that is unpaid will be published in the designated county newspaper three times in August. Tax on real estate that is delinquent for three years is eligible for tax foreclosure sale.

Personal Property

If the first half or full tax is unpaid as of December 21st interest becomes due. Personal property not paid at least in half by December 21st then must be paid in full plus interest. If personal property taxes are delinquent you will not be able to renew any vehicle tags until the delinquent tax is paid in full.

Protesting Taxes

A tax may be protested if you have not met with the county appraiser in regard to the valuation of your property for the current tax year. Protest forms are available from the County Treasurer's Office or a form can be printed from the Kansas Board of Tax Appeals web site: http://www.kansas.gov/cota/Forms/index.html The protest form must be completed, signed and filed when the tax is paid on or before December 20th. An exception is if a tax is paid by a mortgage company in full by December 20th, then the taxpayer has until January 31st to file the protest form.

Vehicle Tags and Titles

The Treasurer's Office processes tag renewals, titles and transfers, duplicate, secured or reissued titles, handicap placards, temporary permits, and many other transactions. Hours for this section are 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Monday - Friday.

Renewals

Residents of Ottawa County may renew tags on line at ikan.ks.gov, by mail, by phone, or in person at the County Treasurer's Office. If renewing by phone or in the office please have your tag number and insurance information with you. Renewals are based on the first letter of the last name on the schedule below:

Heavy Trucks and Trailers: January 1 - February 28

Last Name	Last Day to Renew
A	February 28 / 29
B	March 31
C, D	April 30
E, F, G	May 31
H, I	June 30
J, K, L	July 31
M, N, O	August 31
P, Q, R	September 30
S	October 31
T, V, W	November 30
U, X, Y, Z	December 31

A vehicle owner must show proof of current insurance on each vehicle being renewed; this includes a current expiration date.

If you did not receive your vehicle renewal notice from the State please click the following link to reprint them. http://mvs.dmv.kdor.ks.gov/printrenewals/

Titling a Vehicle

When purchasing a new or used vehicle an owner has 60 days from the purchase date on the back of the title to complete the transaction without penalty. The title and proof of insurance can be brought to the Treasurer's Office for this process. Other documentation may be required depending on the transaction.

Types of Tags

There are many types of tags available to Kansas residents. Listed below are some of the options:

Standard, Antique, Personalized, College/University, Motorcycle, Motorized Bike, Combat Wounded, Disabled Veteran, Ex-Prisoner of War, National Guard, US Veteran, Pearl Harbor Survivor, Amateur Radio, Children's Trust Fund, Agri-Tag, and others.

Please contact the Treasurer's Office for tag and title inquiries. If additional forms are needed they can be obtained from the Kansas Department of Revenue web site: www.ksrevenue.org/forms-dmv.html

Driver's License

The Ottawa County Treasurer's Office can process Kansas DL renewals with an eye test. Instruction permits, farm permits and restricted licenses can be processed with proper driver's education completion forms and a birth certificate. Identification cards and duplicate licenses can be completed with appropriate identification. There are a few different ways that an address change can be handled. First you can go online to http://www.ksrevenue.org/vehicle.html - this will allow you to print a paper to carry with your license. Second, you can come into the office and fill out a paper to carry with your license, or you can opt to receive a new license. If you opt to do a new license you will be required to bring in proof of current address.

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