Colorado Cities

Understanding where to find deed records in Colorado requires knowing how the state organizes its property records system. Unlike some states where cities maintain certain land records, Colorado delegates all deed recording responsibilities to the county level. Each of Colorado's 64 counties operates a Clerk and Recorder office that serves as the official repository for all real estate documents, including deeds, mortgages, liens, and property transfers. This centralized approach ensures consistency across the state and creates a single point of reference for property ownership history.

When you need to research deed records for a property located in any Colorado city, you must contact the Clerk and Recorder office for the county in which that city is situated. Some cities span multiple counties, which means different properties within the same city may have their records stored in different county offices. The following alphabetical list includes all 28 Colorado cities with populations of 25,000 or more, along with their corresponding counties, to help you locate the correct office for your deed records search.

Understanding City vs County Records

Many property owners and researchers initially assume that city governments maintain deed records for properties within their boundaries. This is a common misconception. In Colorado, cities handle zoning, building permits, and local tax assessments, but they do not record or store deed documents. The county Clerk and Recorder maintains exclusive jurisdiction over these official records. When you purchase a property, pay off a mortgage, or transfer ownership, the documents must be filed with the county, not the city.

This distinction becomes particularly important when researching historical property records. County offices maintain records dating back to the formation of each county, often spanning more than a century of documentation. These archives contain warranty deeds, quitclaim deeds, trust deeds, releases, and numerous other document types that establish the chain of title for every parcel of land within the county's boundaries. City offices cannot provide these documents because they never receive or process them.

The county recording system protects property rights by creating a public record that anyone can search. This transparency helps prevent fraud, establishes clear ownership, and provides lenders with the security they need to issue mortgages. Whether you are buying a home, selling property, or conducting genealogical research, the county Clerk and Recorder serves as your primary resource for official deed documentation.

Multi-County Cities

Several Colorado cities extend across multiple county lines, which can complicate deed record searches. Aurora, for example, spans Adams, Arapahoe, and Douglas Counties. Littleton overlaps Arapahoe, Douglas, and Jefferson Counties. Properties in these cities may have their records divided among multiple county offices depending on their specific location within the city limits.

When searching for deed records in a multi-county city, you must first determine which county contains the specific property address. Online property search tools, county GIS systems, and the city's planning department can help identify the correct county. Once you know the county, you can direct your records request to the appropriate Clerk and Recorder office. Filing a request with the wrong county will result in no records being found, even though the records exist in the correct county's archives.

Consolidated City-Counties

Colorado has two consolidated city-counties: Denver and Broomfield. In these jurisdictions, the city and county governments merged into a single entity. Denver operates as both a city and a county, with the Denver Clerk and Recorder handling all deed records for properties within its boundaries. Broomfield, which became a consolidated city-county in 2001, similarly maintains its own Clerk and Recorder office.

These consolidated governments simplify the records search process because residents deal with only one government entity instead of separate city and county offices. However, the fundamental rule remains the same: deed records are maintained at the county level, which in these cases happens to be the same as the city government. The procedures for recording documents, searching records, and obtaining copies follow the same standards as other Colorado counties.