Iron County Property Tax Records
Iron County property tax records are available through the Assessor, Recorder, and Treasurer offices, with locations in both Parowan and Cedar City. These offices manage assessment, recording, and tax collection for all taxable parcels in the county. Whether you need to look up an assessed value, verify ownership, or check the tax balance on a property, the Iron County offices are your official source for property tax records throughout the county.
Iron County Quick Facts
Iron County Assessor and Property Assessment
The Iron County Assessor, Karsten Reed, is responsible for classifying all property in the county and establishing taxable values. Working with the County Recorder, the Assessor's office associates ownership with each property, sets the assessed value, and compiles the reports that the County Auditor uses to calculate tax rates. The Iron County Assessor handles both real property and personal property assessments.
Real property assessments in Iron County cover residential homes, commercial buildings, agricultural land, and vacant parcels. Personal property assessments cover business equipment, including owned or leased furniture, shelves, fixtures, and supplies. If you own a business in Iron County, your equipment and furnishings are taxable personal property that the Assessor tracks separately from the real estate your business occupies.
Utah law under Title 59, Chapter 2 of the Utah Code requires all property to be assessed at 100% of fair market value as of January 1 each year. Section 59-2-103 sets the fair market value standard, and Section 59-2-102 defines what counts as real property versus personal property. The Assessor applies these definitions to every parcel in Iron County when setting values. The state requires physical inspection of every property at least once every five years to keep values current.
Iron County's median home value of $204,600 is above the midpoint for Utah's rural counties. The effective tax rate of 0.51% and median annual tax of $1,043 reflect that higher value base. Owner-occupants can reduce their tax bills by claiming the 45% primary residence exemption, which makes only 55% of the assessed value taxable. Apply for this exemption through the Assessor's office if you have not done so.
The image below is from the Iron County Assessor's website, where you can look up property records and assessed values for any parcel in the county.
The Assessor site is your starting point for finding assessed values and property classification information throughout Iron County.
Motor Vehicle Services at the Iron County Assessor
Iron County's Assessor office also serves as the local motor vehicle office for the county. The Assessor issues title and registration for all types of Utah vehicles, including passenger cars, trucks, trailers, motorcycles, motor homes, off-highway vehicles, boats, and snowmobiles. This is handled through two separate motor vehicle locations in Iron County.
The Parowan motor vehicle office is at 68 S 100 E, Parowan, UT 84761, and can be reached at 435-477-8320. The Cedar City motor vehicle office is at 82 N 100 E #201, Cedar City, UT 84720, with a phone number of 435-865-5360. Both offices can handle title and registration transactions, so you do not need to travel to the county seat for vehicle services if Cedar City is more convenient for you.
Note: Both the Parowan and Cedar City offices handle motor vehicle title and registration on behalf of the Iron County Assessor.
Property Records at the Iron County Recorder
The Iron County Recorder maintains all official real property documents for the county. Deeds, trust deeds, releases, liens, and easements are all recorded here and indexed for public access. You can search the Recorder's records by owner name, parcel number, or document type. These records are public and available to anyone who wants to review them in person or online.
When you research property in Iron County, the Recorder's files show you the full ownership history. Each deed in the index represents a transfer of title. Trust deeds and reconveyances show the mortgage history. Any encumbrance recorded against a parcel appears in the index and must be resolved before a clean title can pass. The Iron County Recorder works closely with the Assessor to keep ownership information current and accurate in the property tax rolls.
Iron County Treasurer and Tax Collection
The Iron County Treasurer collects property taxes and distributes revenues to the school districts, fire districts, water districts, and county government that depend on those funds. Tax notices go out annually to all property owners in Iron County. The deadline to pay without penalty is November 30 each year. After that date, interest and penalties accrue under Utah law.
If you are buying property in Iron County, checking with the Treasurer first is a smart step. Unpaid property taxes become a lien that sticks with the property regardless of who owned it when the taxes went unpaid. If you close on a property with a delinquent tax balance, that balance becomes your problem. The Treasurer can confirm current status and give you a payoff figure for any overdue account. Contact the office in Parowan for current tax records on any parcel in Iron County.
The image below is from the Iron County Treasurer's website, which handles tax collection and account information for all parcels in the county.
The Treasurer's office in Parowan is your source for current tax status and payment information for Iron County properties.
GIS and Parcel Data for Iron County Property Records
The Iron County GIS system provides parcel data and mapping services for property research in the county. The interactive map lets you find any parcel by address or location, view boundary lines, and pull up basic ownership and assessment information. This is useful for buyers, real estate agents, appraisers, and anyone else who needs a visual overview of property in Iron County.
In addition to the county GIS, the Utah statewide GIS portal includes Iron County parcel data. You can use the state tool to search by address or parcel number and view boundaries on a map. The state portal is updated regularly and draws on county assessor files. Once you identify a parcel through the GIS map, use the parcel number to pull up full assessment and ownership records through the Iron County Assessor's office.
Utah Property Tax Law and Iron County
The Utah State Tax Commission provides oversight for all county assessors in Utah, including Iron County. The Commission ensures consistent assessment standards across the state and handles centrally assessed properties like utilities, railroads, and telecommunications companies that operate across county lines. Those valuations feed into Iron County's tax base even though the work is done at the state level.
For centrally assessed properties, the Commission uses several valuation methods depending on the type of property. The cost approach looks at what it would cost to replace the property. The income approach converts future revenue into a present value. For certain large operators, the Commission uses unitary appraisal to value the entire enterprise and then allocate a portion to each state and county where it operates. Property owners can file appeals of centrally assessed values by August 1 through the process described at the Utah centrally assessed property portal.
The image below is from the Utah State Tax Commission's website, which sets assessment standards and provides appeal resources for Iron County property owners.
The Tax Commission site has guidance on exemptions, appeals, and the assessment process that applies to all Iron County property owners.
Appealing Property Tax Assessments in Iron County
If you believe your Iron County property has been over-assessed, you can file an appeal with the Iron County Board of Equalization. The window to appeal opens after assessment notices are mailed in the spring. You have 45 days from the notice date to file. At the hearing, present sales data from comparable properties in Iron County, an independent appraisal, or documentation of any condition or description errors in the Assessor's records.
The Board reviews the evidence and determines whether the assessed value should change. If you are not satisfied with their decision, you can appeal to the Utah State Tax Commission Property Tax Division. That second appeal involves a more formal process, but it is available to every Iron County property owner who wants to push further. Acting quickly and bringing solid comparable data gives you the best chance of success at either level.
Note: File your appeal within 45 days of receiving your assessment notice from the Iron County Assessor or you lose the right to challenge that year's value.
Cities in Iron County
Cedar City is the largest city in Iron County and has a dedicated page on this site with local property tax information.
Nearby Counties
Iron County borders several other Utah counties, each with its own property tax offices and records.