Shelby County Public Records /Shelby County Property Records

Shelby County Property Records

What Is Shelby County Property Records

Property records in Shelby County, Tennessee, are official documents that capture the legal history of real property — including land, buildings, and improvements — located within the county's jurisdiction. These records document ownership transfers, encumbrances such as mortgages and liens, easements, plats, deeds of trust, and other instruments that affect title to real estate. The primary purpose of maintaining property records is to establish a clear chain of title, provide constructive public notice of all recorded interests in a parcel, protect the rights of property owners and lienholders, and facilitate real estate transactions by ensuring buyers and lenders can verify ownership status before closing.

Under Tennessee Code Annotated § 66-24-101, certain instruments affecting real property must be recorded with the county Register of Deeds to be effective against third parties. Shelby County's recording infrastructure is administered by two principal offices: the Shelby County Assessor of Property, which maintains current ownership data, parcel maps, and appraisal information, and the Register of Deeds, which serves as the official repository for recorded legal instruments. Together, these offices ensure that property records remain accurate, accessible, and legally authoritative.

Are Property Records Public Information In Shelby County?

Property records in Shelby County are public records under Tennessee law, and members of the public may inspect them without demonstrating a specific legal interest or providing a reason for the request. The Tennessee Public Records Act, Tenn. Code Ann. § 10-7-503, establishes that all state, county, and municipal records are open for personal inspection by any citizen of Tennessee during normal business hours. Property ownership is inherently a matter of public record because recording statutes require that instruments affecting real estate be filed in a publicly accessible registry to provide constructive notice to all subsequent purchasers and creditors.

The legal rationale for public access is grounded in the principle that transparency in land ownership serves the broader public interest — enabling prospective buyers to conduct due diligence, allowing lenders to assess collateral, and permitting government agencies to administer taxation and land-use regulations equitably. No appointment, attorney representation, or formal petition is required to view property records maintained by Shelby County offices.

How To Search Property Records in Shelby County in 2026

Members of the public may search Shelby County property records through several official channels, depending on the type of document sought. The following steps outline the standard process:

Identify the correct office. Deeds, mortgages, liens, and other recorded instruments are held by the Register of Deeds. Assessment data, ownership lists, and parcel maps are maintained by the Assessor of Property.
Gather identifying information. Searches are most efficient when the requestor has the property owner's full legal name, the parcel identification number (PIN), or the property's street address.
Submit an in-person request. Members of the public may visit either office during public counter hours to inspect records or request certified copies. Staff are available to assist with index searches.
Use online portals. Both offices provide digital access to records through official county web applications (detailed in the section below).
Request certified copies. Certified copies of recorded instruments may be obtained for a statutory fee set pursuant to Tenn. Code Ann. § 8-21-1001, which governs fees charged by county registers.

Shelby County Register of Deeds / Archives 1075 Mullins Station Road, Memphis, TN 38134 (901) 222-8100 Register of Deeds / Archives

Shelby County Assessor of Property 1075 Mullins Station Road, Memphis, TN 38134 (901) 222-7001 Public Counter Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Assessor of Property

How To Find Property Records in Shelby County Online?

Shelby County currently provides multiple digital platforms through which members of the public may access property records remotely, at no cost, at any time.

Shelby County File/Search Property Documents portal allows users to search and file property documents, initiate appraisal reviews, look up property tax information, and pay property taxes — all through a single integrated interface.
Shelby County ReGIS Parcel Viewer provides an interactive GIS mapping tool for parcel identification across the county. Users may search by address, owner name, or parcel number to view boundary lines, ownership data, and assessment details overlaid on aerial imagery.
TNMap TN Property Viewer is a statewide platform maintained by the State of Tennessee that provides property ownership and assessment information for all counties, including Shelby. Users may search by parcel or address and are directed to the county Assessor for detailed inquiries.
payit901 is an official Shelby County service that enables residents to pay and manage property taxes online with a secure account.

How To Look Up Shelby County Property Records for Free?

All primary property record databases maintained by Shelby County are currently available to the public at no charge through official online portals. Members of the public seeking free access may use the following resources:

The Shelby County ReGIS Parcel Identification viewer provides free parcel-level ownership and geographic data without requiring registration.
The TNMap TN Property Viewer, administered by the Tennessee state government, offers free statewide assessment data, including Shelby County parcels.
The Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury publishes guidance and data related to property assessments across all Tennessee counties, including Shelby, and this resource is freely accessible online.
In-person inspection of records at the Register of Deeds or Assessor of Property offices is free of charge; fees apply only when certified copies or printed documents are requested.

What's Included in a Shelby County Property Record?

A complete Shelby County property record may encompass documents and data maintained across multiple county offices. Real property records — those pertaining to land and structures permanently affixed to land — are distinguished from personal property records, which cover movable assets assessed separately for tax purposes.

Typical real property records in Shelby County include:

Deeds — warranty deeds, quitclaim deeds, and trustee's deeds documenting ownership transfers
Mortgages and deeds of trust — instruments securing loans against real property
Liens — tax liens, mechanic's liens, and judgment liens recorded against a parcel
Plats and surveys — recorded subdivision maps and boundary surveys
Easements and restrictive covenants — recorded agreements affecting land use
Assessment records — current appraised value, classification, and ownership as maintained by the Assessor of Property
Tax records — current and historical property tax obligations and payment status
Parcel identification data — geographic coordinates, lot dimensions, and improvement descriptions

Assessment records are governed in part by Tenn. Code Ann. § 67-5-101 et seq., which establishes the framework for property classification, valuation, and assessment administration in Tennessee.

How Long Does Shelby County Keep Property Records?

Shelby County retains property records in accordance with the Tennessee Public Records Commission's retention schedules and applicable state law. Recorded instruments such as deeds, mortgages, and liens are considered permanent records and are maintained indefinitely by the Register of Deeds, as these documents form the chain of title and must remain accessible for future title searches. Assessment records are similarly retained on a long-term basis to support reappraisal cycles and historical valuation analysis.

Key retention guidelines currently in effect include:

Recorded instruments (deeds, mortgages, liens, plats): Permanent retention — no destruction authorized
Property tax records: Retained for a minimum of seven years following the tax year in question, consistent with standard fiscal record schedules
Assessment rolls and appraisal cards: Retained permanently or for extended periods as directed by the Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury
Correspondence and administrative files: Retained according to the applicable general schedule, typically three to seven years

The Tennessee Public Records Commission, operating under the authority of Tenn. Code Ann. § 10-7-301 et seq., establishes and approves retention schedules for all county government records, including those maintained by the Register of Deeds and the Assessor of Property.

How To Find Liens on Property In Shelby County?

Liens recorded against real property in Shelby County are filed with the Register of Deeds and are accessible through the same channels used for general property record searches. Members of the public may identify liens on a specific parcel using the following methods:

Online document search: The File/Search Property Documents portal allows users to search the Register of Deeds index by owner name, parcel number, or document type to locate recorded liens, including tax liens, mechanic's liens, and judgment liens.
In-person search at the Register of Deeds: Staff at the public counter can assist requestors in conducting a lien search using the official index. Certified lien search results may be obtained for a statutory fee.
GIS parcel viewer: The Shelby County ReGIS parcel identification tool provides parcel-level data that can be used to identify the correct legal description and PIN before conducting a formal lien search.
State tax liens: Liens filed by the Tennessee Department of Revenue are recorded with the county Register of Deeds and appear in the same index as other encumbrances.
Federal tax liens: Internal Revenue Service liens are also filed with the Register of Deeds pursuant to federal law and are searchable through the county's document index.

What Is Property Owner Rule In Shelby County?

The property owner rule in Shelby County refers to the body of Tennessee statutes and local regulations that govern who may own real property, how ownership interests are established and transferred, and what obligations attach to property ownership. Under Tennessee law, any individual, corporation, partnership, trust, or other legal entity may hold title to real property in Shelby County, subject to applicable state and federal law.

Ownership is established through the recording of a valid deed with the Register of Deeds. Pursuant to Tenn. Code Ann. § 66-26-103, an unrecorded conveyance is void as against subsequent purchasers for valuable consideration without notice, meaning that recording is essential to protect an ownership interest against third-party claims. Property owners in Shelby County are subject to annual ad valorem taxation based on the assessed value determined by the Assessor of Property, with assessment ratios set by state law according to property classification — residential, commercial, industrial, or farm.

Owners also bear responsibility for compliance with local zoning ordinances, building codes, and any deed restrictions or covenants running with the land. The Shelby County Assessor of Property maintains current ownership records and is the authoritative source for identifying the legal owner of any parcel within the county. The Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury provides oversight of assessment practices statewide, and its property assessments division publishes guidance applicable to all county assessors, including Shelby County.