How To Search for Baton Rouge Property Records

Baton Rouge's unique blend of Southern charm, economic stability, and affordable real estate presents an ideal opportunity for buyers. However, you should always do your due diligence before investing i n property anywhere. Property records are a treasure trove of information, such as land ownership, property boundaries, zoning restrictions, tax assessments, building permits, legal filings, liens, and more. These documents are public records in Baton Rouge, meaning that they are generally available to anyone who wishes to view and copy them. Knowing where to look is key to finding the right information. Below, we have provided a list of available resources that you can use to find different types of Baton Rouge property records.

East Baton Rouge Parish Assessor's Office

The East Baton Parish Assessor is responsible for determining the value of all real property in Baton Rouge for the purpose of calculating property taxes. The assessor's office is a great resource for property records, and you can use its Assessment Search tool to get details like property locations, ownership details, assessed values, and tax information online. Searches can be done by name, address, assessment number, and property characteristics. The tool also has a map feature that you can use to view aerial images of the property. If you prefer in-person services, you can visit the assessor's main office at Room 126, 222 St. Louis Street, Baton Rouge, LA 70802. The Assessor also operates branch offices at Room 106, 10500 Coursey Blvd., Baton Rouge, LA 70816, and Suite 109, 14790 Wax Rd., Baton Rouge, LA 70818; however, the services offered at these locations may be somewhat limited. You can call the Assessor's main office at (225) 389-3920 for more information.

East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff's Office

The East Baton Parish Sheriff serves as the official tax collector for Baton Rouge, making the sheriff's office a key resource for records like liens, delinquencies, and other property tax-related information. You can use the Sheriff's website to search for this information and also to make tax payments. You can also visit the sheriff's tax office at Room 238, 222 St. Louis Street, Baton Rouge, LA 70802, or call (225) 389-4810 for assistance.

East Baton Rouge Clerk of Court

The East Baton Rouge Clerk of Court plays a central role in managing and preserving official property ownership-related documents for the parish. These include deeds, liens, mortgages, and conveyance records. The Clerk of Court's office offers a records search portal that can be used to find and get copies of these records online, although a user account and subscription may be required to access this service. The Clerk of Court also operates four office locations that you can visit for in-person services:

• Downtown Main Office: 222 St. Louis Street, Baton Rouge, LA 70802.
• 19th JDC Courthouse: 300 North Boulevard, Baton Rouge, LA 70801.
• Downtown Archives Building: 444 St. Louis Street, Baton Rouge, LA 70802.
• Airline Highway Branch Office: Suite 100, 9050 Airline Highway, Baton Rouge, LA 70815.

You should note that the scope of services available at these offices may vary. You can call (225) 389-3979 or (225) 389-3985 for guidance.

The Nineteenth Judicial District Court

You can find property records involving legal actions, such as foreclosures, title disputes, partition suits, and civil judgments that result in liens or encumbrances, through the Nineteenth Judicial District Court. You can use the eClerks LA platform to search for these records online (a user account and subscription fee may be required to fully access this platform). You also have the option of visiting the East Baton Rouge Clerk of Court's Office at 222 St. Louis Street, Baton Rouge, LA 70802, to request records in person. Note that fees may apply.

City Resources

The City of Baton Rouge provides a property lookup tool on its website that you can use to get information on properties across the city (as well as the rest of East Baton Rouge Parish). You can perform searches on this tool by address, name, subdivision, NAICS code, and lot identification number.

Louisiana Tax Commission

The Louisiana Tax Commission oversees property tax assessments across all parishes and reviews the East Baton Rouge Parish Assessor's tax rolls to ensure they reflect fair market value and comply with state law. You can use the commission's website to search for property tax lists and generate detailed tax reports on properties in Baton Rouge. You can search by tax year, name, address, assessment number, subdivision, and description.

Baton Rouge property taxes are a major funding source for local government services, including fire and police departments, K-12 education, and the construction and maintenance of public infrastructure like water systems and roads. The East Baton Rouge Parish Assessor determines the value of all taxable property in the city, with oversight from the Louisiana Tax Commission, while the East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff's Office is responsible for collecting payments from property owners. Property values are formally reassessed every four years in what is known as a "quadrennial reassessment". However, the Assessor's office may make annual adjustments to values based on market trends, new construction, or property changes to ensure fairness between the primary four-year cycles.

Tax notices are usually mailed out by the last week of November, and payments are due in full by December 31st. Late payments incur a 1% interest per month, and delinquent properties are listed for a tax sale, where they are publicly auctioned to recover the unpaid taxes. Note that property sold at a tax sale may be redeemed within three years (you will need to pay all accrued fees plus a 5% penalty to do this). You can pay your Baton Rouge property taxes in person at Room 238, 222 St. Louis Street, Baton Rouge, LA 70802. The sheriff's office also processes online payments through its website.

Assessments

The East Baton Rouge Parish Assessor is responsible for assessing the value of property within the parish for tax purposes. Your property's assessed value is determined by analyzing sales data from similar properties in the area to establish a fair market value. An assessment ratio (percentage) is then applied to that value: 10% for residential property and 15% for commercial property. For example, if a home has an estimated market value of $150,000, its assessed value would be $15,000. Assessed values are usually adjusted every year, with a formal, complete reassessment conducted at least once every four years.

The Assessor's office publishes its annual tax roll for 15 days between August 15th and September 15th every year. During this period, you can contact the office directly to review your assessment and provide the necessary evidence that your property's assessed value is incorrect. If you are not satisfied with the Assessor's response, you can make a formal appeal to the East Baton Rouge Metro Council.

Appraisals

Appraisals in Baton Rouge work similarly to assessments. They are both used to determine the fair value of property by comparing similar properties with others in the local area that have sold recently. In cases involving unusual structures or newly built property, the county might bring in a professional appraiser to determine the value. Estate planners, courts, and lenders also use appraisals to determine the value of real property.

Tax Rates

The median effective property tax rate in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, is 0.91%, slightly lower than the national median of 1.02%, but on par with the Louisiana state median (which is also 0.91%). The average property tax bill in Baton Rouge is approximately $1,337, which is significantly less than the national median property tax bill of $2,400.

Here's a look at how Baton Rouge's property tax rates compare to other parishes in Louisiana:

• Ascension Parish 0.71%
• Bossier Parish 0.89%
• Caddo Parish 1.59%
• Calcasieu Parish 0.79%
• Jefferson Parish 0.83%
• Lafayette Parish 0.73%
• Orleans Parish 1.21%
• Ouachita Parish 0.80%
• St. Tammany Parish 0.98%
• Terrebonne Parish 0.49%
• West Baton Rouge Parish 0.67%

Exemptions

While Baton Rouge benefits from some of Louisiana's lower property tax rates, certain homeowners may still struggle with payments. Thankfully, the East Baton Rouge Parish Assessor's Office offers exemptions that can provide significant relief to qualifying homeowners. These exemptions include:

• Homestead Exemptions: This is available to anyone who owns and occupies a home in Baton Rouge as their primary residence and reduces their property's assessed value by up to $7,500 (equivalent to about $75,000 of market value).
• Extended Homestead Exemption for Qualifying Veterans: This is available to veterans with a disability connected to their military service and provides additional exemptions on top of the $7,500 from the homestead exemption.
• Special Assessment Levels: This is available to homeowners aged 65 and older with a total combined adjusted gross income of not more than $100,000, and "freezes" their property's assessed value at a specified amount.

You can get more information and also apply for these exemptions by contacting the East Baton Rouge Parish Assessor's Office.

New construction and home improvement projects in Baton Rouge require a permit. However, exemptions are usually made for minor, non-structural, or cosmetic projects that don't impact safety systems or require engineering oversight, like painting and replacing faulty faucets and fixtures. The Baton Rouge Permits and Inspections Division handles the city's permitting process, and you can apply for necessary permits, submit plans, search issued permits, schedule inspections, and track your applications through its website. You can also contact the permits and inspections division at 300 N Tenth Street, Baton Rouge, LA 70802 to apply for permits in person or make other inquiries.

The types of permits available in Baton Rouge include:

• Building Permits: These are required for new construction and additions or structural modifications to existing buildings. There are three main types of building permits:

  • Residential Permits: Required for residential projects.
  • Commercial Permits: Required for commercial projects.
  • Occupancy Permits: Required as confirmation that the property meets all applicable building codes, safety standards, and zoning regulations, and is safe for use by residents or businesses.

• Trade Permits: These are required for work on specific systems within a property. There are also three main types of trade permits:

  • Electrical Permits: Required for work on electrical systems.
  • Plumbing Permits: Required for work on plumbing systems.
  • Mechanical Permits: Required for work on HVAC systems.

When applying for any of these permits, you must submit the proper documentation (building plans, blueprints, contractor licenses, materials lists, etc.). You must also pay the appropriate fee.

Building inspections are part of the permit process, and they ensure that the work complies with local building and safety codes. You can schedule an inspection through the online portal or in person at the office during regular business hours.

Baton Rouge is Louisiana's capital city and home to the Louisiana State University (and its world-famous LSU Tigers). The city is known for its rich history, with more than six flags having flown over Baton Rouge since its founding. It boasts vibrant arts and culture, a distinctive culinary scene, and thrives on both college-town spirit and state-capital influence. This blend fuels a steady demand in the housing market.

Baton Rouge, Louisiana, has a population of 220,907 residents and 107,262 housing units, with 86,970 of these occupied (indicating an occupancy rate of roughly 81%). There is a diverse range of housing options, including single-family homes, townhouses, and condos, and common housing styles in the city include Creole Cottage, Acadian, Plantation, and traditional Ranch styles. The average price of a house in Baton Rouge, LA, is $229,310, reflecting a 0.9% decrease compared to previous years. Note that actual home prices can vary significantly depending on the neighborhood. Here are examples of some house prices in different Baton Rouge neighborhoods:

• Broadmoor $234,722
• Cortana $225,619
• Drusilla $241,918
• Goodwood $309,933
• Smiley Heights $96,235
• Tara $359,461
• Westminster $231,254

The Baton Rouge, Louisiana, real estate market offers investors a strategic mix of stable demand driven by state government and university employment, affordable entry prices (compared to national averages), and consistent rental interest from a large student population. Homes typically go under contract within 27 days of listing, with about 14.2% selling above the listing pr ice, indicating a steadily competitive market.