Valdez Deed Records
Deed records for the City of Valdez are filed through the Alaska DNR Valdez Recording District, administered by the Anchorage Recorder's Office. Valdez is located within the Chugach Census Area in Southcentral Alaska. Valdez deed records include warranty deeds, quitclaim deeds, mortgages, liens, and easements. Search the Valdez Recording District index for free at dnr.alaska.gov/ssd/recoff. The Chugach Census Area has no local assessor, so the DNR system is the main source for all property deed research for Valdez area properties.
Valdez Overview
Valdez Deed Recording Office
All deed records for Valdez are processed by the Alaska DNR through the Valdez Recording District. The Anchorage DNR Office at 550 West 7th Ave., Suite 108, phone (907) 269-8876, handles all submissions and copy requests for this district. Deeds, mortgages, liens, easements, and other real property instruments are indexed in the statewide grantor-grantee system.
The Chugach Census Area was created in 2019 from the split of the former Valdez-Cordova Census Area. The Valdez Recording District serves the Valdez area, while the Cordova Recording District serves Cordova and other communities. Both are administered by the Anchorage DNR Office.
| Recording District | Valdez Recording District |
|---|---|
| Recording Office | Alaska DNR - Anchorage Recorder's Office |
| Address | 550 West 7th Ave., Suite 108 Anchorage, AK 99501 |
| Phone | (907) 269-8876 |
| Website | dnr.alaska.gov/ssd/recoff |
The Alaska DNR Anchorage Recorder's Office administers the Valdez Recording District. All Valdez deed records are indexed in the statewide system under this district.
How to Search Valdez Deed Records
The Alaska DNR free online grantor-grantee index is the main tool for Valdez deed searches. Visit dnr.alaska.gov/ssd/recoff and select the Valdez Recording District. Search by grantor or grantee name. The database covers 1970 to present.
For copies of recorded documents, contact the Anchorage DNR at (907) 269-8876. Mail requests can be sent to the Anchorage office. The Alaska Mapper GIS at mapper.dnr.alaska.gov provides parcel boundary information for Valdez properties. For older records predating the online index, call the Anchorage DNR office directly.
Note: Historical deed research for Valdez may span both the current Chugach Census Area records and older Valdez-Cordova Census Area records -- both are accessible through the same Valdez Recording District designation in the DNR system.
Recording Fees
Recording fees for the Valdez Recording District are set by Alaska law under AS 40.17.030. The standard fee is $20 for the first page and $5 for each additional page. Non-standard documents add $50. Copies are $1.25 for the first page and $0.25 per additional page. Certified copies add $5. E-recording through Simplifile, CSC, and ePN is available for attorneys and title professionals.
Document Requirements
Documents submitted to the Valdez Recording District must meet Alaska's standard formatting requirements. Paper must be white, 8.5 x 11 inches. The first page needs a 3-inch top margin for the recording stamp. Font must be 10 points or larger. Deeds must include full grantor and grantee names, the full legal description, the consideration amount, and a notarized grantor signature. A return mailing address for the recorded original must be on the first page. Full requirements at dnr.alaska.gov/ssd/recoff/PreparingDocs.
Chain of Title Research in Valdez
Valdez has a distinctive property history shaped by two major events. Old Valdez, located at the head of Port Valdez, was destroyed in the 1964 Good Friday earthquake and the resulting tsunami. The city was rebuilt at its current location about four miles away. Properties in present-day Valdez date largely from the post-1964 reconstruction period and the 1970s development tied to the Trans-Alaska Pipeline terminal at nearby Port Valdez.
To trace ownership for a Valdez property, search the DNR Valdez Recording District grantor-grantee index at dnr.alaska.gov/ssd/recoff. The online index covers 1970 to present. Because the current city was platted and developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, most private residential property in Valdez has a reasonably complete chain of title in the online index. For very early post-1964 transfers or records predating the online index, contact the Anchorage DNR at (907) 269-8876.
The City of Valdez maintains a local Assessor's Office for property within the city limits. The City Clerk at Valdez City Hall, 212 Chenega Avenue, Valdez, AK 99686, can help with municipal records and public records requests for city government documents. For deed instruments, the DNR is the correct source. The Alaska Mapper GIS at mapper.dnr.alaska.gov shows current parcel boundaries for Valdez properties. Some parcels near the waterfront or pipeline terminal area may involve state or federal lease interests -- the Mapper helps identify those boundary conditions before you search the deed index. The DNR Alaska Property Fraud Alert program at dnr.alaska.gov/ssd/recoff can notify you when documents are recorded under your name, a free service available to all Alaska property owners. Copies of recorded documents cost $1.25 for the first page and $0.25 per additional page. Certified copies add $5. Contact the Anchorage DNR at (907) 269-8876 to order copies by phone or mail.
Chugach Census Area Deed Records
Valdez is in the Chugach Census Area. All deed recordings for Valdez go through the Valdez Recording District. For more details about the census area recording system, visit the Chugach Census Area deed records page.