Deschutes County Property Database

Deschutes County property records are among the most accessible in Oregon thanks to the county's DIAL online search system. With about 200,000 residents, Deschutes County is the largest county in Central Oregon. The Assessor's Office in Bend keeps records for every parcel in the county, from downtown condos to high desert ranches. You can search by owner name, address, account number, or map location through the DIAL tool. This page explains how to find Deschutes County property records, what data is available, and how to use the county's free online tools.

Deschutes County Assessor Office

The Deschutes County Assessor's Office sits at 1300 NW Wall Street in Bend. Its mission is to provide quality service through fair and accurate property appraisals. The office sets values for all real property in Deschutes County each year and keeps the assessment roll current.

Staff at the Deschutes County Assessor handle questions about values, ownership, and tax accounts. They also process exemption applications and farm or forest use requests. The office follows ORS Chapter 308 for all assessment work. Oregon law requires the Assessor to set real market value and maximum assessed value for every parcel. In Deschutes County, the fast pace of growth makes this a big job. New homes, subdivisions, and commercial projects change the landscape every year.

Visit the Deschutes County Assessor page for office details and links to online tools.

The Assessor's page links to DIAL, tax tools, and educational content about Deschutes County property values.

DIAL Property Search in Deschutes County

The DIAL system is the main way to search Deschutes County property records online. DIAL stands for Deschutes Interactive Access Library. It is free to use and open to everyone.

DIAL offers several ways to find a Deschutes County parcel. You can search by owner name, account number, map and tax lot, property address, or subdivision name. There is also an interactive map that lets you click on a parcel to see its data. The system returns results fast. Once you find a property, you can view its account details, tax amounts, assessed and real market values, and sales history. Aerial photos of Deschutes County parcels are also part of the DIAL tool, with new images captured in summer 2024.

For best results on DIAL, keep your search terms short. Two or three words work better than a full address. Use partial names when you are not sure of the spelling. The system has fast filters on the results page that let you narrow down a long list. DIAL is the most complete free tool for Deschutes County property records.

Note: Clear your browser cache after updates to see the latest aerial photos on the Deschutes County DIAL system.

Deschutes County Property Tax Tools

Beyond basic search, Deschutes County offers several online tools tied to property records. These help owners and buyers understand how taxes work in the county.

The Property Change Tax Estimator gives you a rough idea of how taxes will change after new construction, a remodel, or a subdivision in Deschutes County. It is not exact, but it helps you plan. The Tax and Millage Rate Tool lets you search rates by account and view both current and past years. This is useful when you want to compare how rates have changed over time in different parts of Deschutes County. The District Tax Tool breaks down your bill by taxing district and tracks shifts over five years.

There is also an RMV/MAV Graphing Tool that charts the gap between real market value and maximum assessed value for any Deschutes County parcel. Oregon's Measure 50 system caps assessed value growth, so real market value often runs well ahead. The graph shows this gap over five years. Understanding this gap matters if you are buying or selling in Deschutes County, because the new owner's tax bill may jump when the assessed value resets after a sale.

• Property Change Tax Estimator
• Tax and Millage Rate Tool
• District Tax Breakdown Tool
• RMV vs. MAV Graphing Tool
• Interactive Map with aerial photos

Property Values in Deschutes County

Deschutes County has seen steady growth in property values over the past decade. Bend, Redmond, Sisters, and La Pine have all grown fast. New homes go up every year. This pushes real market values higher across the county.

The Assessor sets two main values for each Deschutes County parcel. The real market value reflects what the property would sell for as of January 1 each year. The maximum assessed value is capped under Measure 50 and can only grow by three percent per year unless there is a change to the property. Your taxes are based on the lower of these two values. In much of Deschutes County, the assessed value is well below the real market value, which keeps taxes lower than they might be in a state without this cap.

The Deschutes County Assessor also tracks sales data. When a property sells, the sale price and date go into the system. This data helps the Assessor set values for comparable properties nearby. You can view sales history for any Deschutes County parcel through the DIAL system at no cost.

Deschutes County Tax Rates

Tax rates in Deschutes County vary by location. A home in Bend pays a different rate than one in La Pine or Sisters. Each area has its own set of taxing districts with permanent rate limits set under ORS Chapter 310.

Your Deschutes County tax bill adds up the rates from all districts that serve your parcel. These include the county, city (if inside city limits), school district, fire district, park district, and any special service districts. Local option levies and bonds add to the base rate. The Deschutes County Assessor's website has a tool that shows the full rate breakdown for any account number. Use it to see where each dollar of your tax payment goes.

If taxes go unpaid, the Deschutes County Tax Collector follows the process in ORS Chapter 311. Interest starts on the day after the due date. After three years, the county can start foreclosure under ORS Chapter 312. Owners who fall behind should contact the Tax Office in Deschutes County right away to discuss options.

Note: Deschutes County also posts educational videos that explain how Oregon's Measure 50 affects property tax values.

Exemptions for Deschutes County Property

Some properties in Deschutes County qualify for a tax exemption or special rate. Oregon law under ORS Chapter 307 lists the types of property that can be partially or fully exempt. These include government land, churches, schools, and certain nonprofit sites.

Homeowners with a qualifying disability who served in the military can apply for a veteran's exemption on part of their home value in Deschutes County. Senior citizens and people with disabilities who meet income limits can defer their property taxes until they sell the home. The Deschutes County Assessor handles all exemption and deferral applications. Deadlines are strict, so check with the office early in the year.

Cities in Deschutes County

Deschutes County includes several cities. Bend is the largest and serves as the county seat. All property records for these cities are kept by the Deschutes County Assessor in Bend.

Other cities in Deschutes County include Redmond, Sisters, and La Pine. All property records for these areas are on the DIAL system.

Nearby Counties

Deschutes County borders Crook County, Jefferson County, Lane County, Klamath County, and Lake County. Central Oregon straddles several county lines, so check the address before you search. Each county maintains its own property records. The Deschutes County Assessor can only help with parcels inside Deschutes County borders.