Find Property Records in Ketchikan
Ketchikan property records are maintained by the Ketchikan Gateway Borough Assessment Department. This office tracks over 8,400 real property parcels and hundreds of business personal property accounts across the borough. If you need to look up ownership, assessed value, or parcel details for Ketchikan real estate, the borough's online property search portal is where to start. For recorded deeds and other legal documents, the Alaska DNR Recorder's Office also holds records affecting Ketchikan properties. This page walks you through both sources and what you can find in each.
Ketchikan Overview
Ketchikan Gateway Borough Assessment Department
The Ketchikan Gateway Borough (KGB) Assessment Department is responsible for finding, listing, and valuing all taxable real and personal property within the borough. For Ketchikan city properties, this department handles assessment annually and sends notices to owners. The department also maintains the parcel database that feeds the borough's online search portal.
The department manages over 8,400 real property parcels and more than 700 business personal property accounts. Staff there can help you look up a specific parcel, explain how your value was determined, or walk you through the appeal process. If you are researching a Ketchikan property for any reason, the Assessment Department is a solid first call.
| Office | Ketchikan Gateway Borough Assessment Department |
|---|---|
| Address | 1900 First Avenue, Suite 219 Ketchikan, AK 99901 |
| Phone | (907) 228-6640 |
| Fax | (907) 228-6655 |
| Website | kgbak.us/132/Assessment |
The Assessment Department sends out property assessment notices annually. Owners have the right to appeal their assessed value if they think it does not reflect fair market value. Appeals go to the Borough Board of Equalization. The process starts with an informal review request to the Assessment Department before moving to a formal hearing.
Search Ketchikan Property Records Online
The Ketchikan Gateway Borough runs an online property search portal where you can look up any parcel in the borough. You can search by owner name, property address, or parcel number. Search results show assessed values, property characteristics, tax information, and legal descriptions. It is free to use and does not require an account.
The borough's Assessment Department page at kgbak.us/132/Assessment is the main entry point. From there you can get to the property search tool and find contact info for the department. The search results break out land value and improvement value separately. You can also see the property class, lot dimensions, building square footage, and year built where those are on file.
The borough's property search also shows tax account balances and payment status. If you are buying property and want to confirm taxes are current, this is a fast way to check. For a full title search, you would also want to pull recorded documents from the DNR Recorder's Office and run a court records check for any liens or judgments.
To search Ketchikan property records online, it helps to have one of the following:
- Property street address
- Parcel number (also called account number)
- Owner's full name or partial name
Ketchikan Property Records Online Access
The images below show how Ketchikan property records look through available online tools. The borough's Assessment Department manages the main property database for all Ketchikan parcels.
The Ketchikan Gateway Borough Assessment Department provides online access to property search tools, assessment information, and contact details for in-person records requests. The department is at 1900 First Avenue, Suite 219 in Ketchikan.
For recorded documents, the Alaska DNR Recorder's Office maintains instruments filed in the Ketchikan Recording District. The DNR Ketchikan office is at 415 Main Street, Room 400, Ketchikan, AK 99901. This office handles deeds, mortgages, liens, and easements recorded in the Ketchikan area. You can also search recorded documents through the statewide database at dnr.alaska.gov/landrecords.
Recorded Documents in Ketchikan
Real estate transactions in Ketchikan are documented through the Alaska DNR Recorder's Office. The Ketchikan Recording District office handles document recording locally. When a Ketchikan property is sold, a deed is recorded here. When a lender takes a mortgage on a property, that document gets recorded too. Liens, easements, and plats are also on file.
The DNR Ketchikan Recording District office is at 415 Main Street, Room 400, Ketchikan, AK 99901. Staff there can help you find documents on file for a specific parcel, explain recording requirements, and provide copies. You can also search the statewide land records database at dnr.alaska.gov/landrecords to find Ketchikan documents indexed by grantor or grantee name.
Document copies can be ordered online through the DNR copy request system. The base fee is $1.25 for the first page and $0.25 per additional page. Certified copies add $5.00 per document. Documents are typically sent by email within one to two business days after the request is processed.
Alaska's public records law under Title 40, Chapter 17 of the Alaska Statutes provides the legal basis for public access to recorded documents and assessment data. Property records are public records and can be requested by anyone, not just the property owner.
Ketchikan Property Tax Exemptions
The Ketchikan Gateway Borough offers several property tax exemption programs. Senior citizens 65 or older who own and occupy their primary Alaska residence may qualify for the senior citizen exemption. This cuts the taxable assessed value and reduces the tax bill. Disabled veterans with a service-connected disability rating of 50% or more can apply for the disabled veteran exemption. Surviving spouses may also qualify in some cases.
All exemption applications go to the Ketchikan Gateway Borough Assessor's Office at 1900 First Avenue, Suite 219. You need to submit proof of age, residency, or disability status depending on the exemption you are applying for. Deadlines apply, so contact the Assessment Department at (907) 228-6640 to confirm what is needed and when applications are due.
If you think a Ketchikan property was assessed too high, you can challenge it. First, contact the Assessment Department and ask for an informal review. An appraiser will check the record. If the issue isn't resolved that way, you can file a formal appeal with the KGB Board of Equalization. The appeal deadline is tied to the assessment notice mailing date, so don't wait long before acting.
Note: Median property taxes in Ketchikan Gateway Borough run about $2,157 per year, based on current data. Individual tax bills vary depending on assessed value, applicable exemptions, and the current mill rate.
Ketchikan Zoning and Land Use
The City of Ketchikan runs its own Planning Department separate from the borough. If you need zoning verification, a land use determination, or a building permit, that is handled at the city level. The city maintains zoning maps and development standards. Property owners should check with the City of Ketchikan Planning Department before starting any new construction or change of use.
Zoning affects what you can do with a property, but the assessment and recording functions stay with the borough and the DNR. Keep that in mind when you are researching a Ketchikan parcel. You may need to contact both the borough and the city depending on what information you need.
Ketchikan Gateway Borough Property Records
Ketchikan is the main city within the Ketchikan Gateway Borough. All property assessments and tax records for Ketchikan properties run through borough offices. For a full overview of how property records work across the entire borough, see the borough page.
Nearby Cities
These cities are near Ketchikan in Southeast Alaska. Each has its own local property records offices.