Baton Rouge Property Records
Baton Rouge property records are maintained by the East Baton Rouge Parish Clerk of Court and the East Baton Rouge Parish Assessor. All deeds, mortgages, conveyances, liens, and other land documents for Baton Rouge are filed at the parish level, not by the city. You can search these records online through the clerk's eClerks portal or visit the office in person. Both the clerk and the assessor offer free public access to property record indexes for East Baton Rouge Parish.
Baton Rouge Quick Facts
East Baton Rouge Parish Clerk of Court
The East Baton Rouge Parish Clerk of Court is the official custodian of property records for Baton Rouge. Deeds, mortgage documents, and conveyances are recorded and stored here. The clerk's office handles all filings and provides public access to the records index.
| Office | East Baton Rouge Parish Clerk of Court |
|---|---|
| Clerk | Doug Welborn |
| Address | 222 St. Louis St., Room 334 Baton Rouge, LA 70802 |
| Phone | (225) 389-3950 |
| Website | ebrclerk.com |
The clerk's office is located in the Courthouse at 222 St. Louis Street in downtown Baton Rouge. Staff can help you search by name, address, or instrument number. Bring a valid photo ID when visiting in person. The office is open Monday through Friday during regular business hours.
The screenshot below shows the East Baton Rouge Parish Clerk of Court homepage, where you can access online search tools and find information on recording requirements for Baton Rouge property records.
Source: ebrclerk.com
The clerk maintains records in digital form and offers both in-person and online access depending on the type of search you need.
Online Property Record Search in Baton Rouge
Baton Rouge has several free and paid tools for searching property records online. The best place to start depends on what you are looking for.
The EBRGIS Property Lookup tool is free and hosted on the city-parish website at city.brla.gov/gis/propertylookup.asp. You can search by address, owner name, or parcel number. It shows assessment data, owner information, and parcel boundaries on a map. This tool is maintained by the East Baton Rouge Parish Geographic Information System.
For recorded documents like deeds and mortgages, the clerk's website at ebrclerk.com provides access through their online portal. You can also use Clerk Connect, the statewide online system, to search East Baton Rouge Parish records. Clerk Connect gives access to recorded documents across Louisiana and is useful for title searches and research.
The screenshot below shows the EBRGIS property lookup tool, which lets you find parcel data and assessment information for Baton Rouge properties at no cost.
Source: city.brla.gov/gis/propertylookup.asp
The GIS tool is a good starting point for any property search in Baton Rouge. It does not replace the clerk's recorded document index, but it gives useful parcel details fast.
East Baton Rouge Parish Assessor
The East Baton Rouge Parish Assessor sets property values for tax purposes. The assessor's records are public and can help you find ownership information, land area, and assessed value for any property in Baton Rouge.
| Office | East Baton Rouge Parish Assessor |
|---|---|
| Assessor | Brian Wilson |
| Address | 222 St. Louis St., Room 126 Baton Rouge, LA 70802 |
| Phone | (225) 389-3920 |
| Website | ebrpa.org |
Louisiana property is assessed at different rates depending on the type. Under La. Const. art. VII § 18, residential property is assessed at 10% of fair market value. Commercial property is assessed at 15%. Land used for certain purposes may have different rates. The assessor's office in Baton Rouge applies these rates when setting values.
You can search the assessor's database for free online. The site at ebrpa.org lets you look up parcels by owner name or address. It shows the current assessed value, exemptions applied, and legal description of the property.
If you think your assessed value is wrong, you can appeal. The assessor's office holds an open roll period each year when property owners can review their values and file a formal appeal if they disagree.
Types of Property Records in Baton Rouge
Several types of documents make up the public property record for a parcel in Baton Rouge. Each one serves a different purpose and is recorded with the East Baton Rouge Parish Clerk of Court.
- Conveyance Records: These are deeds that transfer title from one owner to another. They show who sold the property, who bought it, and the legal description. Under La. Civ. Code art. 3338, a transfer of immovable property must be recorded to be effective against third parties.
- Mortgage Records: Loans secured by real estate are recorded here. This includes standard mortgages, home equity loans, and refinances.
- Liens: Tax liens, judgment liens, and contractor's liens (called privileges in Louisiana) attach to property and must be paid at sale.
- Plats and Surveys: Maps that show property boundaries and subdivisions.
- Notarial Acts: Many Louisiana property documents are notarial acts, signed before a notary public, and recorded with the clerk.
Under La. R.S. 44:1, these records are public. Anyone can request to see or copy them. The clerk sets copy fees, which vary by document type and whether certification is needed.
Getting Copies of Baton Rouge Property Records
You have several ways to get copies of recorded property documents in Baton Rouge. Each option has its own steps and cost.
In person at the clerk's office is the fastest way to get certified copies. Go to Room 334 at 222 St. Louis Street. Give the clerk the name of the party, the recording date, or the instrument number. Staff will pull the document and make a copy. Pay the fee at the counter. Certified copies cost more than plain copies.
Online through the clerk's website or Clerk Connect, you may be able to download documents depending on the record. Some older records may only be available in the physical index at the clerk's office. Check the clerk's website for current online access options.
By mail, you can send a written request with the document details, your name and address, and a check or money order for the fee. Call the office at (225) 389-3950 to ask about their current mail process before sending anything.
The Louisiana Tax Commission also maintains statewide data on property values that can help with research. And the Office of State Lands handles state-owned property records, which may come up in searches involving public land grants or state-owned parcels.
Baton Rouge Planning and Zoning Records
For zoning, subdivision plats, and land use records in Baton Rouge, contact the City-Parish Planning Commission. These are separate from the clerk's property records but are important for development research.
The East Baton Rouge Parish Planning Commission handles zoning maps and permits. Their records show how land is zoned and what uses are allowed. Plat records filed with the planning office show how subdivisions were laid out and approved. You can search some of these records through the GIS portal as well.
For title searches and full chain-of-title research, most people work with a licensed Louisiana title company or real estate attorney. These professionals know how to trace ownership through the clerk's index and check for all liens and encumbrances on a Baton Rouge property.
Free Index Search with eClerks
The eClerks Louisiana statewide portal gives free access to the index of recorded documents in East Baton Rouge Parish. You can search by grantor, grantee, or document type to find what has been recorded. The index shows filing dates and instrument numbers.
Keep in mind the eClerks index is not the same as the full document. For the actual deed or mortgage text, you need to get a copy from the clerk's office or through a paid system. But the free index is useful for finding out if a document exists and when it was filed.
Under La. R.S. 44:411, clerks of court are required to keep a conveyance index and a mortgage index. These are the core search tools for property records in every Louisiana parish, including East Baton Rouge.
Nearby Cities
East Baton Rouge Parish Property Records
Baton Rouge sits in East Baton Rouge Parish, and all property records for the city are maintained at the parish level. For full details on recording fees, online access, and all clerk and assessor resources, visit the East Baton Rouge Parish property records page.