Washington County Property Records
Washington County property records go back to 1776, making them some of the oldest post-colonial land records in Maryland. The Land Record Room is at 24 Summit Ave in Hagerstown, and you can reach it at (301) 790-7413 ext. 4. Recording in Washington County requires two steps: the Treasurer's office stamps first, then the recording office processes the document. eRecording is also available through SimpliFile for those who want to skip the in-person visit entirely.
Washington County Overview
Two-Step Recording: Treasurer First
Required Order: In Washington County, you must go to the Treasurer's office at 35 W Washington St, Hagerstown (phone: (240) 313-2110) FIRST to get the transfer and recordation tax stamps. Only after the Treasurer stamps your document can you bring it to the Land Record Room at 24 Summit Ave to complete the recording. Presenting a deed to the recording office without the Treasurer stamp will result in rejection.
The Treasurer's office reviews the deed, calculates what is owed, and stamps the document once payment is made. Washington County's main recording office number is (301) 733-8660, and the Land Record Room direct line is (301) 790-7413 ext. 4. Both offices are in Hagerstown, so you can usually handle both steps in the same trip if you plan ahead. The Treasurer and the recording office are at different addresses, so allow extra time. Confirm hours for both offices before you go, since they may differ.
The Washington County Treasurer's office page at washco-md.net/treasurers-office has details on what the office handles, including the tax stamps required before recording a deed in Washington County.
Washington County Treasurer's office handles the tax stamp step that must happen before any deed can be recorded with the Land Record Room.
The Treasurer's office accepts various payment methods, but note that American Express, Google Pay, and Apple Pay are NOT accepted. Pay by check, cash, or other accepted card types. Call (240) 313-2110 to confirm what forms of payment are currently accepted before you arrive.
The state recording fee of $20 for the first two pages and $5 per additional page applies in Washington County. The $75 state surcharge also applies to most recorded instruments. State transfer tax is 0.5% of the consideration (0.25% for first-time homebuyers). Washington County collects its own recordation and transfer taxes on top of these state amounts. The Treasurer's office will calculate the full amount owed when you present your document.
eRecording Through SimpliFile
Washington County accepts electronic recording (eRecording) through SimpliFile. This lets settlement attorneys, title companies, and other authorized users submit documents online without going to the courthouse. The system handles the two-step process electronically, so the Treasurer's stamp and the recording both happen through the platform. This is a faster option for title professionals who record frequently in Washington County.
If you are a private individual recording a single deed, in-person recording at 24 Summit Ave is still the most common approach. But if your settlement company or attorney uses SimpliFile, ask whether they can handle the Washington County recording electronically. It can cut days off the timeline compared to mailing or hand-delivering documents. SimpliFile is a third-party platform that connects to the county's recording system. Ask your title company for setup details if you want to use it.
The Maryland Manual entry for Washington County's judicial and recording offices provides additional context. See it at msa.maryland.gov for a reference overview of the county's court and recording structure.
The Maryland Manual entry for Washington County covers the county's judicial and recording office structure as maintained by the State Archives.
This is a useful reference for understanding how the county's recording and court offices relate to each other and what each one handles for property records in Washington County.
Search Land Records Online
Maryland Land Records at landrec.msa.maryland.gov covers Washington County deeds and recorded instruments. The system is run by the Maryland State Archives and lets you search by name, document type, and date. Scanned images are available for many records. Washington County's records go back to 1776, and the online system covers a large portion of that history. For the oldest records, you may need to visit the Land Record Room at 24 Summit Ave or contact the Maryland State Archives directly.
Maryland Land Records provides online access to Washington County deeds and recorded instruments, including many historical records from Hagerstown and surrounding areas.
The system is free to use for basic searches. Some older document images may require registration through the Maryland State Archives. Recent Washington County recordings typically appear in the system within a short time after the Land Record Room processes them.
SDAT's Real Property portal at sdat.dat.maryland.gov lets you look up any Washington County parcel by address or account number. The SDAT code for Washington County is 22. The local SDAT office is at 3 Public Square, Hagerstown, and the phone is (301) 791-3050. The database shows assessed value, owner of record, property class, and tax data. Owner-name searches are not available through the public portal, so you need the address or parcel number to find a specific record.
Agricultural Transfer Tax
Washington County collects an Agricultural Transfer Tax of 2% when farmland is converted from agricultural use. This tax applies when land that qualifies as agricultural is transferred to a non-agricultural use. It is separate from the standard transfer tax and is calculated based on the value of the land being converted. If you are buying farmland in Washington County and plan to develop it or change its use, this tax will apply at the time of transfer.
The Agricultural Transfer Tax is an important cost to factor in when planning a farmland purchase in Washington County. Two percent of the consideration can be a significant amount on larger parcels. Consult with the Treasurer's office at (240) 313-2110 before closing to confirm whether the tax applies to your specific transaction and how it will be calculated. In some cases, the land may qualify for an exemption, but you need to confirm that in advance. The Treasurer stamps all taxable instruments and will assess this tax as part of the recording process.
Under Real Property Article ยง 8-703, all instruments recorded in Washington County must meet standard format requirements: white paper, at least 8.5 by 11 inches, one-inch margins, and clear identification of all parties on the first page. Documents that fail to meet these rules will be rejected.
Historical Records: 1776 and Earlier Documents
Washington County was formed in 1776 and has land records going back to that year. These early deeds are part of one of Maryland's oldest post-colonial land record collections for a western county. The Maryland State Archives in Annapolis holds some of the earliest records and can help researchers trace old chains of title. Contact the Archives at (410) 260-6400 or visit msa.maryland.gov to find out what they have for Washington County.
The State Archives also holds pre-Civil War manumission records for Washington County. Manumission documents are legal instruments by which enslaved people were freed by their enslavers. These records are historically significant and are part of the Archives' collections. They can be useful for genealogical research and for understanding the legal history of property and people in 19th-century Washington County. Ask the Archives what access options are available for these records.
PLATS.net provides plat maps for Washington County parcels using the public login (plato / plato#). Plat maps show property boundaries, lot dimensions, and subdivision layouts. They are a useful complement to deed records when you need a visual picture of how parcels relate to each other in a specific area of Washington County. Use both plat maps and deed records together for a complete picture of any parcel's history and boundaries.
Assessments and Tax Credits
SDAT assesses all real property in Washington County on a three-year cycle. If you receive an assessment notice and believe the value is too high, you have 45 days to file an appeal. Start with an informal review at the local SDAT office at 3 Public Square in Hagerstown, phone (301) 791-3050. If the informal review does not resolve the dispute, you can go to the Property Tax Assessment Appeals Board for Washington County. You can also contact state SDAT at (410) 767-1184 or sdat.411@maryland.gov for general questions.
The Homestead Tax Credit, Homeowners Property Tax Credit, and Renters Tax Credit are all available through SDAT for qualifying property owners and renters in Washington County. The Homestead Credit limits how much your assessed value can rise each year on your primary residence. The Homeowners Credit reduces the tax you owe based on your income and assessed value. Apply for these credits through the SDAT website at dat.maryland.gov or ask the local SDAT office for paper forms.
Cities in Washington County
Washington County has no cities that meet the 100,000 population threshold for a dedicated page on this site. Hagerstown is the county seat and the largest city in western Maryland, but its population falls below the qualifying level. All property records for Washington County, including those in Hagerstown, are handled at the Land Record Room at 24 Summit Ave.
Nearby Counties
These counties border Washington County in western Maryland. Each has its own recording office and land record system.