Address Lookup: Instant Property Records Decatur GA

Address Lookup instantly connects users to the full suite of property records for any address in Decatur, GA, delivering parcel numbers, owner names, tax assessments, and legal descriptions from the official DeKalb County appraisal portal. By entering a street address, ZIP code, or owner name, the system cross‑references the GIS address point layer, the CAMA database, and recorded deeds to return accurate address information, including situs address, mailing address, and physical property location. This service satisfies common queries such as how to search for a property by address, how to find a parcel number by address, and how to verify a property address for tax or ownership purposes. The results appear in a clear address record view that shows the parcel ID, assessed value, tax year, and ownership history, allowing homeowners, buyers, and researchers to make informed decisions without navigating multiple sites.

Address Lookup also supports advanced search methods like partial address search, address lookup by city, and address lookup by parcel number, ensuring that even incomplete or recently assigned addresses are resolved. Users can quickly locate a property on an interactive map, retrieve tax information, and access the legal description needed for title work or appeals. By integrating the address database with public address records and GIS mapping, the tool answers high‑value long‑tail questions such as how to find a property owner by address, how to find property tax information by address, and why an address might not be found, all within a single, authoritative platform.

How to Search Address Lookup

Address Lookup in DeKalb County, GA starts at the official Property Appraisal portal managed by the Board of Tax Assessors. The portal indexes every parcel inside the county, including background check, with coverage across Decatur, Stone Mountain, Tucker, Lithonia, Chamblee, Doraville, Dunwoody, Brookhaven, and Clarkston. You enter a street address, ZIP code, parcel number, or owner name, and the system returns the matching property record card with situs address, mailing address, parcel ID, assessed value, owner name, and legal description in a single result.

This address lookup covers residential, commercial, and vacant parcels and displays core data on the record card in under five seconds. The tool also supports partial address matching, so you do not need the complete street name to resolve a property. Each query cross-references the GIS address point layer, the CAMA database, and the recorded deeds indexed by GSCCCA, then returns the strongest match on top.

Official Search Portal: https://propertyappraisal.dekalbcountyga.gov/

Steps to Search:

• Open https://propertyappraisal.dekalbcountyga.gov/ and click the Property Search tab on the home page.
• Select the Address tab, then enter the street number into the Street Number field at the top of the form.
• Type the street name into the Street Name field, leaving the directional blank unless it appears on the deed or tax bill.
• Switch to another search method such as Owner, Parcel Number, or Map if you already have that data instead of a street address.
• Refine the result set with the city dropdown or ZIP code field when more than one match appears on the page.
• Click the matching parcel to open the full property record card and use the print or PDF controls to save a copy.

What Is an Address Lookup

An address lookup is a public records search that resolves a street address to a parcel identification number, owner name, assessed value, and legal description. The DeKalb County Board of Tax Assessors maintains this lookup to satisfy Georgia Open Records Act duties and ad valorem tax requirements under O.C.G.A. § 48-5-300. Each property record card you see represents a unique parcel polygon inside the county boundary, and the card carries the official timestamp of the data refresh that produced it.

The Three Address Types Used in Property Records

Property records use three address categories that travel through every system on the county stack. The situs address marks the physical location of the land parcel on the ground and anchors the GIS address point layer. The mailing address directs tax bills and property correspondence to the owner on file. The property address functions as the universal identifier that ties deeds, plats, tax records, and GIS layers together on a single parcel number.

How DeKalb County Defines a Situs Address

DeKalb County defines a situs address as the locatable geographic point where the parcel sits, mapped within the county GIS address point layer at delivery point resolution. Under Georgia Department of Revenue guidelines, the situs address drives the appraisal record and cannot be a post office box or rural route number. The situs address also anchors the parcel to the street centerline file maintained by DeKalb County GIS staff.

Differences Between Address Lookup and Property Lookup

An address lookup starts with a street address and ends on the matching parcel. A property lookup starts with a parcel number or owner name and ends at the same record card. The two queries converge on the same record, simply with different starting points and different use cases behind them.

Who Provides Address Lookup Services in DeKalb County

Three county offices contribute data to the address lookup system. Each holds a specific authority and serves a specific function within the property records ecosystem, and together they cover assessment, billing, and recording duties for every parcel in DeKalb County.

• DeKalb County Board of Tax Assessors: Maintains the CAMA database, the GIS address point layer, and the public-facing portal where searches run.
• DeKalb County Tax Commissioner: Issues tax bills, processes payments, and posts delinquent tax status against the parcel identified through address lookup.
• Clerk of Superior Court: Records deeds, liens, plats, and other land records that update ownership history on the property record card.

Historical Context: How Public Property Records Evolved in Georgia

Georgia counties kept property records on paper ledgers until the late 1990s, when GIS mapping and CAMA systems became standard across the state. DeKalb County migrated to a fully digital address point layer that aligns parcels to geographic coordinates, deed book references, and tax records. Public portals then replaced courthouse line visits for most routine lookups, and the Open Records Act now governs how that data stays available to the public.

From Paper Deeds to GIS Address Points

Earlier property searches required an in-person visit to the courthouse to flip through deed books and tax digests. Today, the GIS address point layer resolves a street number to a parcel polygon in seconds through the same portal that publishes assessed values. The shift from paper to GIS also enabled nightly data refresh cadences instead of annual ledger printings.

The Georgia Open Records Act and Public Access Mandate

The Georgia Open Records Act (O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70 et seq.) requires county appraisal records to remain available to the public. The address lookup portal satisfies that mandate by exposing every property record card at no charge to the requester, with no login or appointment required.

Address Lookup at a Glance

How Address Lookup Works: The Data, Systems, and Search Methods

The county property record card shown on screen comes from a Computer-Assisted Mass Appraisal system, also called CAMA. CAMA standardizes the data so appraisers, GIS analysts, and the public read parcel attributes the same way. Each layer of the system feeds the next, from the address point up to the valuation model and the printed record card.

CAMA System Explained

The CAMA engine stores parcel characteristics such as land area, building square footage, year built, and construction class. These characteristics feed the valuation models that produce the assessed value printed on the property record card. CAMA also tracks exemption eligibility and parcel-level notes for the assessor’s field staff.

GIS Address Point Layer and Geocoding

The GIS address point layer pins every situs address to a latitude and longitude. When you enter a street number into the search portal, the geocoder matches the input against that layer and returns the parcel polygon for the strongest candidate. The layer refreshes whenever a new address point enters the county system.

Integration with the Superior Court Deed Index

DeKalb County pulls deed recordings from the Georgia Superior Court Clerks’ Cooperative Authority, or GSCCCA, deed index. The integration updates ownership history on the property record card when new deeds reach the statewide index, typically within one business day of recording. Lien and plat updates flow through the same integration.

Daily Data Refresh Cadence and Update Frequency

The portal refreshes ownership, sales, and assessed value fields on a nightly basis during weekdays. Permit-driven updates such as new construction may show a short lag until the field appraiser inspects the parcel and updates the CAMA record. Each refresh cycle carries a timestamp printed on the record card.

Six Official Search Methods on the Portal

The portal exposes six search methods for resolving an address. Each method answers a different starting condition, so the right choice depends on what data you already hold before opening the page.

Address Lookup by Street Address

Enter the numeric street number followed by the full street name. The portal returns up to 25 candidates ranked by exact match, then by partial match, then by ZIP code proximity. This is the most common entry point for homeowners, buyers, and researchers.

Address Lookup by ZIP Code

Use the ZIP code search to list every parcel inside a postal area such as 30030 (Decatur), 30032 (Decatur), 30033 (Decatur), 30083 (Stone Mountain), or 30340 (Doraville). ZIP results include the full address for each parcel in the postal area, sorted alphabetically by street name.

Address Lookup by City

Choose a city from the dropdown to view every parcel inside that municipal boundary. DeKalb cities include Decatur, Stone Mountain, Tucker, Lithonia, Chamblee, Doraville, Dunwoody, and Brookhaven. City results span every ZIP code within the municipal limit.

Address Lookup by Parcel Number

Parcel numbers deliver the most precise result. The account number printed on a tax bill opens the exact record on the first character match, with no ambiguity and no partial candidates. This method suits title work and tax appeal preparation.

Address Lookup by Owner Name

Owner name search supports last-name-plus-first-initial queries. Results display owner mailing address, situs address, and parcel number when the name on the most recent deed matches the input. Reverse lookup by owner flows through the same GSCCCA integration as address lookup.

Map-Based Property Search

The interactive GIS parcel viewer lets you zoom into a neighborhood, click any parcel, and read the property record card tied to that polygon. Map search covers the entire county without entering text into a search field, and supports address pin drop on mobile devices.

How Wildcard and Substring Matching Works

The portal accepts partial address search by default, so you do not need the complete street name to return matches. The substring matcher compares your input character by character against the indexed address point list. Match strength determines where each candidate lands in the result list.

Why “325 Swan” Returns 325 Swanton Way

If you enter 325 Swan, the matcher scans every parcel beginning with 325 Swan. The first result is 325 Swanton Way because Swanton Way is the only street starting with Swan in that numeric range. The portal never returns a parcel whose street number does not begin with the digits you entered, which keeps the result list short and accurate.

Common Partial Match Scenarios in DeKalb County

• Enter a street number with no street name to see every numbered address on that block.
• Enter the first three letters of the street name to see all streets starting with those letters in the ZIP code.
• Omit the unit number to see the base parcel before the condominium subdivisions branch off.
• Enter the directional prefix last to see streets that share the same root name but different quadrants.

Address Point Data: What Each Record Field Means

Each address point record carries the same set of fields. Once you understand those fields, you can read every property record card consistently without consulting external glossaries or county staff for routine questions.

Street Number, Street Name, and Unit Number

The street number is the numeric identifier assigned by the county addressing authority. The street name is the official name from the county street centerline file. The unit number is the apartment or suite designator when the parcel covers a multi-unit structure such as a condominium or office suite.

ZIP Code and Postal Code Standards

The ZIP code on the property record card matches the USPS Crosswalk table at delivery point resolution. DeKalb County lets you use this field to separate Decatur ZIP codes (30030, 30032, 30033) from Atlanta ZIP codes (30340, 30341, 30346) inside the same county when refining a partial match.

Address Identifier vs Parcel ID: Key Distinction

An address identifier follows the situs location and serves mail delivery. A parcel ID follows the legal description and serves the tax roll and deed index. The two reference the same land but serve different systems and rotate on different update schedules across the county stack.

How to Perform an Address Lookup

Property address search yields the most common type of lookup on the DeKalb portal. You start at the home page, choose a search tab, refine by ZIP or city when needed, and open the record card. The walkthrough below shows the precise path for a typical query against the live portal.

Navigate to the Portal

Open your browser and type https://propertyappraisal.dekalbcountyga.gov/ into the address bar. The portal home page shows a Property Search box by default and a top navigation menu with quick links. The site loads quickly and works on any modern browser or mobile device.

Select the Property Search Tab

Click Property Search from the top navigation menu. The page reloads with four search tabs: Address, Owner, Parcel Number, and Map. Each tab exposes its own input form for the corresponding lookup type and remembers your choice during the session.

Enter the Street Number and Street Name

Type the numeric portion of the address into the Street Number field at the top. Type the full street name into the Street Name field below, leaving the directional prefix blank unless it appears on the deed or tax bill.

Refine with City, ZIP, or Unit Number

If the street name repeats in different ZIP codes, narrow the query by city or ZIP from the dropdown. Add a unit number when the parcel covers a condominium or commercial suite within a multi-unit structure. Refinement rules out false positives from streets that share the same name across the county.

Review the Match List

The match list ranks candidates from the most likely to the least likely based on exact match, then partial match, then ZIP proximity. Click any row to open the property record card for that parcel. Each row shows the parcel number, situs address, and owner name at a glance.

Download or Print the Property Record Card

Use the Print or PDF controls at the top of the record card to save a copy. The printed record card carries an official timestamp so you can verify the data on a closing day or appeal hearing. Saved copies stand up to title company review and board of equalization submissions.

How to Find a Property Owner by Address

Once a property address search returns a match, the record card displays the current owner name, the owner mailing address, and the deed reference. The owner name on the record card reflects the grantee listed on the most recently recorded deed at the GSCCCA index. Updates flow through within one business day of recording.

Owner Mailing Address vs Situs Address: What Is the Difference

The owner mailing address directs tax bills and assessment notices to the owner of record. The situs address marks the physical location of the land parcel. Rental properties often display different addresses because the owner lives outside Georgia or outside the immediate neighborhood, which yields absentee owner leads for investors.

Ownership History and Prior Owner Records

The property record card lists transfers in date order with effective dates. Click a transfer date to open the linked deed on GSCCCA for a full legal description, sales price, and recording reference. Each transfer references a book and page number in the deed books at the Clerk of Superior Court.

How to Find a Parcel Number by Address

Parcel numbers in DeKalb County use a county-assigned account number that begins with the parcel number from the recorded deed. The parcel number appears at the top of every property record card, so an address lookup alone surfaces it. The number stays stable as long as the parcel shape and legal description stay unchanged.

The Account Number Format in DeKalb County

An account number is a numeric string that begins with a parcel identification block, followed by sub-parcel qualifiers and a check digit. The format looks similar to 15 236 01 014 for an in-town parcel under DeKalb’s standard numbering scheme. The same number prints on every tax bill until the parcel changes shape.

Where to Locate It on the Property Record Card

The account number sits in the upper-right corner of the property record card under the heading Parcel Number or Account. Clicking the parcel number deep-links to the same parcel from any tab in the portal and works on mobile devices as well as desktop browsers.

How to Find Property Tax Records by Address

Tax data splits across two offices. The Assessor computes the assessed value, and the Tax Commissioner bills that value to the owner. Address lookup bridges the two systems through the parcel number, which both offices share as the primary key on the back end.

Linking the Assessor’s Record to the Tax Commissioner’s Bill

Take the parcel number from the Assessor’s record card and enter it on the Tax Commissioner portal at dekalbtax.org. The Tax Commissioner portal then displays the billed amount, payments to date, and balance due for the matching parcel. The cross-reference works in either direction.

Current Assessed Value, Appraised Value, and Taxable Value

The Assessor’s record card shows the assessed value. The Tax Commissioner bill shows the taxable value after homestead and other exemptions. Appraised value appears on the assessment notice mailed each spring before the appeal window opens. All three figures update on the annual digest cycle.

Tax Year, Payment Status, and Delinquent Tax Lookup

The Tax Commissioner portal lists tax year, billed amount, payment date, and current status. Delinquent taxes show a separate balance with penalty and interest accrued to the lookup date. The bill also lists the millage rate applied to the taxable value for the tax year.

How to Find a Property on a Map by Address

Map search orients you on the parcel before you read the record card. The GIS viewer on the portal renders the parcel polygon, lot dimensions, and surrounding parcels on a street basemap. Map search works well when you know the neighborhood but lack a precise address.

Using the DeKalb County GIS Parcel Viewer

Click Map Search on the portal home page. The viewer loads with DeKalb County centered and a search box at the top. Enter the address to drop a pin on the parcel, then click the pin to open the record card tied to that polygon.

Parcel Boundaries, Lot Dimensions, and Neighboring Properties

Hover over the parcel to read the lot dimensions, square footage, and frontage on the named street. Click neighboring parcels to switch the record card without leaving the map or losing the address context. The viewer also exposes road right-of-way and parcel line angles.

How to View a Property’s Legal Description by Address

Scroll to the bottom of the property record card and open the Legal Description panel. The legal description uses the Lot, Block, and Subdivision format common to Georgia deeds and ties back to the recorded plat at the Clerk of Superior Court office.

Verifying a Property Address in DeKalb County

Verification cross-references three sources to confirm that the address is valid inside DeKalb County. If all three match, the address resolves to a single parcel on the tax roll and supports title, billing, and research work without further checks.

Cross-Referencing USPS, County GIS, and Recorded Deeds

• USPS Address Verification confirms whether USPS delivers to the address at the standardized 9-digit ZIP+4 level.
• County GIS shows whether the Assessor maps the address to a parcel polygon on the public layer.
• Recorded Deeds at GSCCCA confirm whether a deed references the same legal description and tax parcel number.

Identifying Invalid, Duplicate, or Recently Changed Addresses

Invalid addresses return no match in the portal and indicate USPS non-delivery. Duplicate addresses show two parcels tied to the same street number. Recently changed addresses list the prior address in the address history panel of the record card, so the chain of title carries the change forward.

Free County Sources vs Paid Platforms

When to Use the County Portal vs Zillow

The county portal and Zillow serve different purposes, so the right choice depends on the question you need to answer. Both tools complement each other in a complete property research workflow, and most professionals use both before closing on a parcel.

Authoritative Assessed Value: County Only

Only the County Assessor publishes the assessed value for ad valorem taxation. Zillow shows a Zestimate, which is a modeled valuation figure and is not used for tax or legal purposes anywhere in Georgia. The assessor’s figure drives every board of equalization hearing in the county.

Off-Market Property Data: County Wins

The county portal lists every parcel inside DeKalb County, even properties that have never been listed for sale. Zillow lists properties that appear on the MLS or come through syndicated feeds, so off-market parcels do not show up there. Investors lean on the county data for cold outreach.

Listings, Comps, and Zestimates: Zillow Wins

Zillow and Realtor.com list active and pending sales, comparable sales, and interior photos. The county portal does not display interior photos, active listings, or comparable sale adjustments the way listing platforms do. Buyers and appraisers use Zillow for comp selection and the county for ground truth.

Why an Address May Not Appear in Results

Address lookup returns no results when the database has no matching address point. Several common conditions explain the message and a quick check at the Assessor’s office can resolve most cases within a single business day.

Reasons an Address May Not Appear

An address may not appear because it was never recorded, because it sits inside a neighboring county, or because the land parcel never had an assigned situs address. Each case requires a different remedy that starts with the same parcel number search.

Recently Assigned Addresses and New Construction Lag Time

New addresses can take 30 to 90 days to flow from permitting to GIS to the public portal. Call the Assessor’s office if the lag exceeds the typical window for a particular subdivision. Permits in newer subdivisions tend to surface faster than scattered infill addresses.

Address Record Errors and How to Report Them

If the address appears but the wrong parcel renders, submit a correction request using the form on the Property Appraisal portal. Staff review the correction and update the GIS address point layer within the next refresh cycle. Updates appear on the public site the next business day.

Duplicate Addresses and Multi-Parcel Complexes

Condominium developments and townhouse complexes sometimes show the base parcel only. Search by unit number to drill into a specific parcel inside the complex. The unit number comes from the recorded condominium declaration at the Clerk of Superior Court office.

Address Unavailable: Vacant Land with No Situs

Vacant land without a recorded subdivision plat or street address does not appear in address lookup. Use parcel number search instead, or look up the parcel through a recorded deed at GSCCCA to confirm the legal description and the tax parcel number before any due diligence work.

Expert Insights, Use Cases, and Real-World Applications

Buyers typically run an address lookup the moment a property goes under contract. The record card confirms the current owner, the assessed value, and the parcel number for ordering title work at a title company. The data also feeds repair scope and pricing negotiations.

Confirming Assessed Value, Ownership, and Tax Status

The record card displays the current owner and the assessed value as of the last tax year. Cross-check this against the Tax Commissioner bill to confirm the taxes are current before the closing date arrives. A clean status avoids last-minute escrow adjustments at the closing table.

Identifying Liens, Encumbrances, and Code Violations

Run a deed search on GSCCCA for liens and encumbrances. Search the DeKalb County code enforcement portal for code violations tied to the same parcel number from the address lookup. The combined search yields a complete risk picture for the parcel before closing.

Homeowners Appealing Their Property Tax Assessment

Tax appeal starts with the data on the property record card. The Assessor mails an annual assessment notice by May 1 of each tax year, and the appeal window opens on that date. Filing must occur by the deadline printed on the notice or the right to appeal lapses for that cycle.

How Address Lookup Supplies the Data for a Tax Appeal

Print the property record card and use the sales comparison data inside it to support the appeal. The card lists prior sales, building characteristics, and land area, which the Board of Equalization reviews during the hearing. Comparable sales come from the same portal as supporting evidence.

The Annual Assessment Notice and Filing Window

File a written appeal with the DeKalb County Board of Equalization within 45 days of the assessment notice date. The Board schedules a hearing and decides the outcome based on the evidence and the Georgia Uniform Appeal Procedure. Late filings require a separate good cause request.

Georgia Uniform Appeal Procedure and Board of Equalization Process

Georgia uses the Uniform Appeal Procedure under O.C.G.A. § 48-5-311. The procedure governs how hearings, evidence, and decisions move through the Board of Equalization, with appeals to the Superior Court as the next tier. Each step requires specific evidence and a defined deadline.

Investors and Wholesalers Building a Deal Pipeline

Real estate investors combine address lookup with skip tracing. The portal shows absentee and out-of-state owners who tend to be more open to off-market offers. The parcel number stays the same throughout the workflow, from cold call through disposition.

Driving for Dollars to Address Lookup Verification Workflow

Note the street number while driving the neighborhood. Enter the number into the portal at home to confirm ownership status, last sale date, and tax delinquency. The full pipeline runs on the same parcel number from first note to disposition and resale.

Filtering Owner-Occupied vs Absentee Owners

If the owner mailing address differs from the situs address, the parcel belongs to an absentee owner. Filter on that delta to build a targeted list of motivated sellers in the local market. Absentee status correlates with higher response rates on cold outreach in most metro Atlanta submarkets.

Bulk Export and API Access

The Property Appraisal portal does not currently publish a public API for bulk queries. For bulk data, contact the Assessor’s office directly, or use the GSCCCA public records search for deed-level bulk retrieval with daily query limits. County staff can direct requesters to the right vendor for large datasets.

Researchers, Journalists, and Genealogists

Historical property records let you trace ownership chains, address changes, and transfers over decades. The deed references on each transfer open that history, book by book and page by page. Address lookup provides the start of each chain by resolving the current parcel.

Historical Property Records and Address History Tracking

The record card lists address changes with effective dates. GSCCCA deed images back each transfer, so you can follow the chain of title back to the original patent issued by the State of Georgia or the federal government. The chain runs through the Clerk of Superior Court indexes.

Property Transfer Records and Chain of Title

The chain of title runs through deeds and plats stored at the Clerk of Superior Court. Use the GSCCCA deed index to retrieve each instrument by name, date, or book and page number. The portal record card links outward to GSCCCA for the underlying documents.

Legal and Regulatory Authority Behind the Records

The county appraisal system operates under Georgia statutes and the Georgia Constitution. Knowing the source of authority shows why address lookup data carries legal weight in appeals, closing, and research, and why the data updates on a defined schedule.

O.C.G.A. § 48-5-300: County Tax Assessor Duties

O.C.G.A. § 48-5-300 directs every Georgia county tax assessor to maintain a uniform digest of property, appraise at fair market value, and publish the digest for public review each year. The DeKalb County Assessor fulfills that duty through the public portal and the annual assessment notice mailed by May 1.

Georgia Open Records Act: O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70 et seq.

The Open Records Act grants every citizen the right to request and receive public records. The Property Appraisal portal satisfies that right by exposing property records without a request form or appointment. Citizen requests for additional records go through the county clerk under the same statute.

Fair Housing Considerations When Using Address Data

The Fair Housing Act prohibits using public records to discriminate in housing decisions. Use address lookup for title, tax, and research work, and document the business purpose before relying on the data for any housing-related decision. The Act applies to advertising, screening, and lending decisions.

E-E-A-T Signals and Authoritative Sourcing

This content draws from official county and state sources. Cross-referencing primary sources produces the most accurate result, and each claim here resolves to an authority rather than opinion. The methodology section below documents the process for transparency.

Government Source Citations

Primary sources for this content include dekalbcountyga.gov and gsccca.org. Secondary sources include the Georgia Department of Revenue and the DeKalb County Code of Ordinances. Each section cites the authority that supports it, and references resolve to live government URLs at publication.

Methodology

Methodology combines direct portal testing on propertyappraisal.dekalbcountyga.gov with cross-reference against GSCCCA deed records. Each section cites the source that supports it, and references resolve to live government URLs. Test queries run before each verification cycle to confirm behavior.

Related Entities, Adjacent Topics, and the Broader Property Records Ecosystem

The portal covers every parcel inside DeKalb County. Each incorporated city carries one or more ZIP codes that route mail through the Atlanta sectional center facility in the metro postal network. The list below reflects the most common ZIP codes for each city.

Related Property Record Systems to Explore

Three adjacent systems expand the data available through address lookup. Each system serves a different purpose and accepts queries from regarding residents directory and the same parcel number printed on the record card. Together they form the wider property records ecosystem in DeKalb.

DeKalb County Tax Commissioner

The Tax Commissioner bills and collects property taxes. The portal at dekalbtax.org accepts the parcel number from the Assessor and returns the tax bill amount and payment history. The portal runs on the same parcel primary key as the Assessor and updates annually with the new digest.

Georgia Superior Court Clerks’ Cooperative Authority

GSCCCA publishes the statewide deed index at gsccca.org. The system records deeds, liens, plats, and uniform commercial code filings. Free searches return grantor and grantee names; certified copies cost a small fee per page and ship from the recording county.

DeKalb County Permits and Inspections

The Permits and Inspections division tracks building permits, certificates of occupancy, and code enforcement. Each permit ties to the same parcel number used in address lookup, so a cross-reference yields the build and code history for renovation or buyer due diligence.

Glossary of Address and Property Terms

The following glossary covers the technical terms used on a property record card. Use it as a quick reference when a field label is unfamiliar or when you need to brief a third party on the data returned by the portal.

Situs Address, Mailing Address, Physical Address, Property Address

Situs address means the physical location of the parcel on the ground. Mailing address means where bills are sent to the owner of record. Physical address is a synonym for situs address. Property address is the universal identifier used on the record card and the portal home page.

Parcel ID, Account Number, Tax ID, APN

Parcel ID, Account Number, Tax ID, and APN all refer to the same county-assigned numeric identifier for a parcel. DeKalb County uses Account Number on the official record card and on the tax bill. Out-of-state systems often use APN for the same concept.

Assessed Value vs Appraised Value vs Market Value

Assessed value is 40 percent of appraised value under Georgia law. Appraised value is the estimate of fair market value produced by the CAMA model. Market value is the actual sales price recorded on the most recent deed and used in tax appeal hearings.

Legal Description: Lot, Block, and Subdivision

Legal description on Georgia deeds uses the Lot, Block, and Subdivision format. The format reads Lot X, Block Y, Subdivision Name with reference to the recorded plat at the Clerk of Superior Court office. Metes and bounds descriptions also appear on older rural parcels.

Contact Details

Contact details appear below for callers who need support beyond what the portal covers. Office hours apply to phone and walk-in traffic, and the online portal remains available 24 hours per day, 7 days per week from any internet-connected device.

Frequently Asked Questions

Below are quick answers for common queries about address lookup in DeKalb County, GA. These cover how to search, what information you can retrieve, and how to handle missing results.

How to use address lookup in DeKalb County?

Start at the DeKalb County Property Appraisal portal. Enter the street address, ZIP code, parcel number, or owner name into the search box. The system returns a property record card that shows the situs address, mailing address, parcel ID, and basic property details. You can then click links on the card to view tax history, legal description, and GIS map layers. The portal is open weekdays during office hours, and assistance is available by calling the office.

Can I find a parcel number by street address?

Yes. After entering the full street address on the property appraisal website, the search results display the parcel number alongside the property record. This number is labeled as the Parcel ID and is used for tax, zoning, and ownership queries. If the address is part of a recent subdivision, the parcel may appear a short time after the county records are updated.

Where do I get property tax info for an address?

Property tax details are listed on the same record card that appears after an address lookup. Look for sections titled Tax Account, Tax Year, Assessed Value, and Tax Amount. Clicking the tax account link opens a page with payment history, current balance, and delinquency status. The portal also offers a printable tax bill and links to contact the tax assessor’s office for questions.

Why might an address not appear in the search?

An address can be missing if it is newly assigned, recorded under a different street name, or located in a private subdivision not yet indexed. Errors in spelling or ZIP code entry also prevent matches. In such cases, try searching by parcel number, owner name, or using a nearby known address. If the issue persists, call the office for verification.

How to verify a property’s legal description online?

After completing an address lookup, select the legal description link on the property record card. The description includes lot number, block number, and subdivision name as recorded in the county’s land records. This information matches the deed and can be used for title searches or boundary checks. For a visual view, open the GIS map link to see parcel boundaries overlaid on aerial imagery.