Kittitas County, Washington • 2026 Property Guide
Search Kittitas County Parcels, Assessed Values, TaxSifter Records and GIS Maps
Kittitas County Assessor Mike Hougardy values taxable real and personal property throughout Ellensburg, Cle Elum, Roslyn, Kittitas, South Cle Elum and rural Kittitas County. For a complete parcel check, use TaxSifter for the property/tax profile and COMPAS for map-based assessment, district, zoning, land-use and critical-area information.
The Washington tax calendar can be confusing: the 2026 tax bill is based on 2025 assessed values. The 2026 Assessor Notices of Value belong to the next valuation cycle rather than the tax statement already mailed in February 2026. Treasurer Amy Cziske collects the bill, the Board of Equalization hears valuation appeals, and Auditor Bryan Elliott maintains recorded deeds and other land documents.
TaxSifter search by address, parcel or range-township-section
COMPAS search by address, Parcel ID, map number or owner
2026 value notice and solar-assessment correction explained
October tax, exemptions, BOE, foreclosure and deed workflow
County Assessor
Mike Hougardy
Assessor
509-962-7501
2026 tax roll
Certified Jan. 15
Next tax half
Oct. 31, 2026
Reviewed
August 12, 2026
Three Current Kittitas Property Deadlines or Issues to Check Now
September 1 — Tax Deferral
Eligible property-tax deferral applications are due September 1. The program requires payment of the first half while qualifying second-half tax can be deferred subject to program rules.
October 1 — Senior/Disabled Program
Kittitas County says participants in its senior/disabled exemption program apply or renew annually by October 1.
October 31 — Second Tax Half
Owners who timely paid the first half of 2026 taxes owe the remaining half by the statutory October 31 due date.
2026 tax vs 2026 assessment:
the County Assessor specifically labels the current levy report “2025 Assessed Valuations Levies and Taxes to be Collected 2026.” A 2026 Notice of Value generally affects a later tax year, not the tax statement already mailed in February 2026.
Kittitas Issued Corrected 2026 Notices for Residential Solar Panels
The original 2026 Notices of Value included an assessment for residential solar panels for the first time. After receiving additional local market and installation-cost information, the Assessor refined the valuation model and announced on June 29, 2026 that corrected notices would be sent to affected property owners.
The Assessor said the revised model better reflects local installation costs, depreciation and advances in solar technology.
If you received a corrected notice:
use the mailing date printed on that corrected notice to calculate your appeal period. Do not use the date from an earlier superseded notice.
Which Kittitas County Office Handles Your Property Question?
Assessor — Mike Hougardy
Fair market value, parcel record, property characteristics, business personal property, exemption programs, current use and assessed-value questions.
Treasurer — Amy Cziske
Tax bill, TaxSifter payment history, current amount due, payment fees, delinquency, foreclosure and tax-title property.
Board of Equalization
Formal appeal of an Assessor Notice of Value. Petition deadline is July 1 or 30 days from the notice mailing date, whichever is later.
Auditor — Bryan Elliott
Recorded deeds, legal documents, REET records, recording, licensing and searchable official records.
Do not file a value appeal with the Treasurer.
Paying property tax and challenging assessed value are separate processes.
Choose Your Kittitas Property Task
Find a property profile
Use TaxSifter with an address, parcel number or range-township-section.
Search the map
Use COMPAS by address, Parcel ID, Map Number or owner name.
Review assessed value
Confirm market value, property characteristics and valuation-year information.
Check tax balance
Use Treasurer TaxSifter/payment tools for tax and payment history.
Research exemptions
Check senior/disabled, deferral, current-use agriculture and other qualifying programs.
Verify recorded ownership
Use Auditor Official Records rather than treating an Assessor owner field as a title search.
Kittitas County Property Search Navigation
How to Search Kittitas County Property Records With TaxSifter
Open Kittitas County TaxSifter.
Use TaxSifter Property Search.
Use a known identifier.
Kittitas County says a property profile can be located using an address, parcel number or Range-Township-Section.
Confirm the parcel before relying on tax data.
Compare the property location and parcel identifier.
Review the tax profile.
TaxSifter provides tax information and payment history and is also used by the Treasurer to show current mailing-address information.
Move to COMPAS when you need a visual parcel map.
TaxSifter and COMPAS complement each other rather than serving exactly the same purpose.
The Treasurer specifically directed taxpayers to TaxSifter after certifying the 2026 tax roll so owners could verify mailing address, tax information and payment history.
Search by Address, Parcel ID, Map Number or Owner Name
Address
Full or partial property-address search.
Parcel ID
Best direct parcel-map lookup.
Map Number
Useful when working from County map references.
Owner Name
COMPAS help identifies owner name as another parcel-search route.
Open COMPAS.
Go to Kittitas County COMPAS.
Enter the property identifier or click the map.
The system can identify parcels directly from the map.
Open the selected parcel’s Results window.
Review property information and taxing-district data.
Turn on useful layers.
COMPAS supports zoning and land-use layers, parcel lines with imagery and additional geographic context.
Review critical-area information when planning development.
County GIS describes COMPAS as including information useful for permit review such as wetlands, flood zones and snow loads.
Map data is a research tool—not a boundary survey.
Use recorded plats/surveys and a licensed surveyor for exact lot-line, access or encroachment questions.
Kittitas County Property Record Decoder
Parcel ID
Core identifier to reuse across TaxSifter, COMPAS and recorded-document research.
Owner
Assessment/tax ownership record. Verify legal ownership with the Auditor’s recorded deed.
Assessed Value
Assessor valuation of taxable real property at 100% of true and fair market value under Washington assessment law.
Assessment Year
Essential because Washington taxes collected this year generally reflect the prior assessment year.
Tax Amount
Treasurer-certified amount generated from prior-year assessed values and applicable levy rates.
Taxing Districts
School, fire, city, water, hospital and other district boundaries affect the parcel’s levy.
Land Use / Zoning
COMPAS can display geographic layers, but zoning/permit questions belong with the planning authority.
Critical Areas
GIS information can include flood, wetland, snow-load and other development-review context.
REET Record
Real Estate Excise Tax affidavit information can be searched separately through REETSifter.
Legal Description
Obtain recorded legal descriptions from the Auditor rather than relying on a verbal description over the phone.
Exemption
Senior/disabled or current-use treatment can materially affect taxable property.
Payment History
TaxSifter provides the Treasurer’s online tax/payment-history reference.
Understand the One-Year Lag Between Kittitas Assessments and Tax Bills
1. January 1 Value
Property is assessed for the valuation year.
2. Notice of Value
Owner receives a valuation notice and can review/appeal it.
3. Levy Process
Taxing-district budgets and levy calculations are applied.
4. Roll Certified
Treasurer certifies the tax roll for collection.
5. Tax Collected
Statements are mailed and April/October installments become due.
The 2026 Kittitas County tax roll was certified January 15, 2026, and statements were expected to be mailed in mid-February.
This is why a 2026 property-value appeal usually does not change the tax statement that was already calculated from the 2025 assessment roll.
Why Two Kittitas Properties With the Same Value Can Pay Different Taxes
Assessed value
Assessor determines the property’s true and fair market value.
Tax-code area
Each parcel sits inside a specific combination of taxing districts.
Levy rates
County, city, school, fire, hospital, water and voter-approved levies vary by location.
Washington’s constitutional 1% limit generally restricts aggregate regular property-tax levies to $10 per $1,000 of true and fair value, but important statutory exceptions and voter-approved excess levies exist. It is not a promise that every final bill will equal exactly 1% of market value.
Do not publish one “Kittitas County tax rate” for every parcel.
Ellensburg, Cle Elum, Roslyn, rural fire districts and other tax-code areas can carry different consolidated rates.
How to Appeal a Kittitas County Property Assessment
Contact the Assessor first.
Kittitas County encourages property owners to review the valuation with Assessor staff before proceeding to formal appeal.
Read the mailing date printed on the Notice of Value.
This date can determine whether your filing period is still open.
Calculate the formal deadline.
File by July 1 of the assessment year or within 30 calendar days after the Notice of Value was mailed, whichever date is later.
Submit the completed BOE appeal packet.
Kittitas accepts an appeal by email, mail or delivery to 411 N Ruby Street, Suite 2, Ellensburg.
Provide clear and convincing evidence.
Washington presumes the Assessor’s value is correct; the taxpayer has the burden of showing otherwise.
- Recent arms-length purchase evidence
- Professional appraisal
- Comparable sales
- Incorrect building square footage
- Incorrect land characteristics
- Condition or damage documentation
- Photos and repair estimates
- Evidence supporting a different market value
August 12, 2026 status:
the ordinary July 1 filing date has passed. A later appeal is possible only when the 30-day period from a later-mailed value notice remains open or another legally available filing rule applies.
For the corrected residential-solar notices issued after June 29, use the date printed on the corrected notice itself.
Keep paying taxes on time while appealing.
The County warns that an assessment appeal does not suspend tax-payment deadlines; any later valuation correction can be credited as appropriate.
Open Kittitas County Board of Equalization
Download the appeal packet, review filing rules and check current hearing information.
Kittitas Senior, Disabled and Disabled-Veteran Property Tax Exemption
Age
Applicant generally must be age 61 or older by December 31 of the qualifying prior year.
Disability
A qualifying disabled owner can qualify without meeting the senior age requirement.
Veteran
Kittitas lists veterans with an 80% service-connected disability among qualifying applicants under the current program information.
Income
Current County guidance lists maximum combined household disposable income of $43,000.
$37,001–$43,000
Exemption from excess voter-approved levies and State School Part 2 under the County’s current published schedule.
$31,001–$37,000
Additional exemption level applies to a portion of assessed value under current program rules.
$31,000 or less
The County lists the highest current exemption tier for qualifying applicants.
The program also freezes the qualifying residence’s value for program purposes beginning with the eligible year, subject to Washington law and continued eligibility.
Current annual deadline:
Kittitas County says participants must apply or renew by October 1. First-time applicants who qualified in earlier years may ask about backdated benefits.
Applications can be submitted through the Assessor. The County lists 509-962-7635 for the Senior Exemption Program Specialist.
Review Senior / Disabled Exemption
Check income documentation, ownership, occupancy and annual application requirements.
Property Tax Deferral Can Postpone a Qualifying Second-Half Payment
Kittitas County distinguishes a deferral from an exemption. A deferral postpones tax rather than permanently eliminating it; deferred tax and interest become a lien in favor of Washington State until repaid.
First half
The County’s deferral explanation says the taxpayer must pay the first half of the property tax.
Second half
A qualifying portion can be deferred depending on equity and program requirements.
Application
Kittitas lists September 1 as the deferral application deadline.
Because the current date is August 12, 2026, this is still an actionable 2026 deadline. Applicants should not wait until the October tax due date to start the deferral process.
Review Deferrals & Assistance
Check equity, income and program-document requirements before September 1.
Kittitas Current-Use and Special Land Classification Programs
Farm & Agriculture
Washington’s Current Use program can value qualifying agricultural land according to statutory current-use rules rather than ordinary highest-and-best-use market value.
Open Space
Kittitas operates a Current Use Open Space Land Program/Public Benefit Rating System for qualifying property.
Designated Forest Land
Assessor forms include continuation procedures for qualifying designated forest land.
Buyer warning:
current-use classification can create substantial additional-tax consequences when qualifying land is removed, converted or otherwise loses eligibility. Review the classification before purchasing rural acreage.
The County requires processing fees for farm/agricultural current-use and designated-forest-land applications. Verify the current 2026 fee directly before filing.
How to Search and Pay Kittitas County Property Taxes
Find the parcel in TaxSifter.
Confirm the tax account and current mailing information.
Open the Treasurer payment portal.
Start from Kittitas County Treasurer Payments.
Know whether you can split the bill.
If annual tax exceeds $50, at least one-half may be paid by April 30 and the remainder by October 31.
If annual tax is under $50, pay the entire bill by April 30.
The half-payment option does not apply.
Review the convenience fee before submitting.
Online card/debit/eCheck payments use a third-party processor.
Keep the confirmation.
Retain your receipt or payment record in case the account needs reconciliation.
Credit card
Current Treasurer page lists a 2.5% convenience fee.
Debit card
Current Treasurer page lists a 0.95% convenience fee.
eCheck
Current Treasurer page lists a $2 convenience fee.
Payment-processor fees can change. Review the amount shown at checkout before authorizing a transaction.
Returned/NSF checks are currently subject to a $35 charge under the County’s published payment policy.
Kittitas County Property Tax Due Dates
JAN 15
2026 roll certified
Treasurer certified the 2026 tax roll January 15.
APR 30
First half
At least half of tax over $50 had to be paid or postmarked by April 30.
OCT 31
Second half
Remaining tax is due October 31 when first half was timely paid.
2027
Next collection cycle
The 2026 assessment values move forward into a later tax collection year.
October 31, 2026 falls on a Saturday.
Because office availability, postmark rules and electronic-payment timing can matter, do not wait until the weekend to make an in-person or mail payment. Confirm the Treasurer’s current instructions before the deadline.
What to Do if Kittitas Real Estate Taxes Are Seriously Delinquent
Kittitas County Treasurer currently maintains a 2026 Real Estate Tax Foreclosure page with a current July 2026 list, foreclosure information, penalty/interest waiver resources and prior auction results.
Do not rely on an old tax statement
Request the current Treasurer payoff because interest and foreclosure costs can change the amount required.
Check current foreclosure status
The fact that a property owes tax does not automatically mean it is already at auction.
Foreclosed tax-title property is different
Kittitas separately publishes properties already acquired through the foreclosure process.
For County-owned tax-title property, the Treasurer’s current process starts with an Application for Resale and a $75 deposit for advertising costs. That is a different process from paying delinquent tax on a privately owned parcel.
“Please confirm the current payoff and foreclosure status for Kittitas parcel __________, including tax, interest, penalties, costs, pending foreclosure action and the final date/method by which payment can stop further proceedings.”
Check Current Kittitas Foreclosure Information
Use the live Treasurer page rather than an older auction list.
Business Personal Property Has a Faster Collection Risk Than Real Estate
The Assessor also values taxable business personal property such as machinery, equipment and furnishings. The Treasurer announced in 2026 that Kittitas County would actively enforce Washington distraint laws against delinquent business personal-property accounts.
Annual assessment
Business personal property is valued using reported cost, acquisition year, asset type and State valuation tables.
April delinquency
If the first half is not timely paid, personal-property tax becomes delinquent and the entire current-year amount can be required.
Distraint
Washington law can allow seizure/sale procedures against taxable business personal property after delinquency.
The Treasurer’s current personal-property page says additional distraint preparation/notice fees can be added beginning August 1 when business personal-property taxes remain unpaid.
Search Kittitas County Deeds, Legal Documents and REET Records
Recorded legal ownership is maintained by the Kittitas County Auditor’s Recording Division. Records become public upon filing and receive a unique recording/filing number.
Start with the parcel in TaxSifter or COMPAS.
Save Parcel ID, owner and available legal-description clues.
Open the Auditor Recording page.
Use Kittitas County Recording.
Choose Official Records Search.
Search recorded public documents and order copies where available.
For property-transfer affidavits, use REETSifter.
REETSifter can search by Statement/Affidavit Number, Parcel Number, Grantor, Grantee or Street Address.
Use the recorded deed for legal ownership.
The Assessor/TaxSifter owner name is not a substitute for professional title research.
If you ask Auditor staff to conduct a records search, the current Recording page lists an $8 per hour/per name search fee with a one-hour minimum.
The Auditor will not provide lengthy legal descriptions over the phone. Obtain the recorded document or legal description in writing/through the official records process.
Recorded deeds should include the County Assessor tax parcel number on the first page or compliant cover sheet along with required grantor/grantee and legal-description information.
Kittitas County Buyer’s Property-Record Checklist
| Check | Why it matters | Official route |
|---|---|---|
| Parcel ID | Connects tax, assessment, GIS and recording research. | TaxSifter / COMPAS |
| 2026 Notice of Value | Shows current assessment-year value that generally feeds a later tax cycle. | Assessor |
| Solar correction | Affected residential solar parcels received corrected 2026 value notices. | Assessor |
| Current tax balance | Confirms April/October payment status. | Treasurer TaxSifter |
| Taxing districts | School, fire, city and special districts affect the total levy. | COMPAS |
| Current-use status | Removal from agriculture/open-space/forest classification can create additional tax exposure. | Assessor |
| Foreclosure status | Old unpaid taxes can become much more serious than a normal late installment. | Treasurer |
| Recorded deed | Confirms the legal transfer instrument. | Auditor Recording |
| REET affidavit | Can provide property-transfer information tied to parcel, grantor and grantee. | REETSifter |
| Zoning / land use | Assessment classification does not establish development rights. | COMPAS / CDS |
| Flood / wetlands / snow load | Important for building and site due diligence across varied Kittitas terrain. | COMPAS / CDS |
| Survey / legal boundary | GIS parcel lines are not legal boundary proof. | Auditor / surveyor |
“I am researching Kittitas County parcel __________ before closing. Please confirm the current assessed value, 2026 Notice of Value status, current and delinquent tax balance, exemption/current-use status, taxing districts, ownership record and whether a recent deed or parcel update is still processing.”
Kittitas County Property Search Problems and Fast Fixes
| Problem | Fast fix | Best source |
|---|---|---|
| Need a basic property/tax profile | Use TaxSifter by address, parcel or range-township-section. | TaxSifter |
| Need owner-name map search | Use COMPAS, which supports owner name as well as address and Parcel ID. | COMPAS |
| Need actual amount due | Use Treasurer tax/payment records, not only the Assessor value. | Treasurer |
| 2026 value changed because of solar | Check whether you received the June 2026 corrected Notice of Value. | Assessor |
| Need to appeal | Calculate July 1 versus 30 days from the actual notice mailing date, using whichever date is later. | BOE |
| Age 61+ and low income | Review the current senior/disabled exemption and October 1 annual deadline. | Assessor |
| Cannot afford second half | Check deferral eligibility before the September 1 application deadline. | Assessor |
| Need zoning/flood/wetland context | Use COMPAS and then confirm development rules with Community Development Services. | GIS / CDS |
| Need legal owner/deed | Search Auditor Official Records rather than using the Assessor owner field as title proof. | Auditor |
| Old property taxes unpaid | Check the current 2026 foreclosure list and request a payoff from Treasurer. | Treasurer |
Kittitas County Property Offices and Contacts
Assessor — Mike Hougardy
205 W 5th Avenue, Suite 101
Ellensburg, WA 98926
509-962-7501
assessoradmin@co.kittitas.wa.us
Mon–Thu 9:00–4:00
Fri 9:00–3:00
Ellensburg, WA 98926
509-962-7501
assessoradmin@co.kittitas.wa.us
Mon–Thu 9:00–4:00
Fri 9:00–3:00
Treasurer — Amy Cziske
205 W 5th Avenue, Suite 102
Ellensburg, WA 98926
509-962-7535
treasurer@co.kittitas.wa.us
Mon–Thu 9:00–4:00
Fri 9:00–3:00
Ellensburg, WA 98926
509-962-7535
treasurer@co.kittitas.wa.us
Mon–Thu 9:00–4:00
Fri 9:00–3:00
Auditor — Bryan Elliott
205 W 5th Avenue, Suite 105
Ellensburg, WA 98926
Recording: 509-962-7504
recording@co.kittitas.wa.us
Mon–Thu 8:30–5:00
Fri 8:30–3:00
Ellensburg, WA 98926
Recording: 509-962-7504
recording@co.kittitas.wa.us
Mon–Thu 8:30–5:00
Fri 8:30–3:00
Board of Equalization
411 N Ruby Street, Suite 2
Ellensburg, WA 98926
Formal assessment appeal filing
Email/mail/drop-off accepted under current rules
Ellensburg, WA 98926
Formal assessment appeal filing
Email/mail/drop-off accepted under current rules
Kittitas County Property Action Center
Kittitas County Assessor Property Search FAQs
1. How do I search Kittitas County property records?
Use Kittitas County TaxSifter for the property/tax profile or COMPAS for a map-based property search. TaxSifter can locate a property using address, parcel number or Range-Township-Section. COMPAS supports address, Parcel ID, Map Number and owner-name searches.
2. Who is the Kittitas County Assessor in 2026?
Mike Hougardy is the current Kittitas County Assessor. The office is at 205 W 5th Avenue, Suite 101, Ellensburg, Washington 98926, and the main Assessor phone number is 509-962-7501.
3. Are 2026 Kittitas property taxes based on the 2026 assessed value?
No. The County’s current levy report is titled “2025 Assessed Valuations Levies and Taxes to be Collected 2026.” The 2026 tax statement therefore reflects the prior assessment cycle. A 2026 Notice of Value generally affects a later tax collection year.
4. Why did Kittitas County send corrected 2026 solar assessment notices?
The original 2026 Notices of Value included residential solar-panel assessments for the first time. After receiving additional local market information, the Assessor refined its model for installation costs, depreciation and solar technology and announced corrected notices on June 29, 2026.
5. What is the Kittitas County property assessment appeal deadline?
A Board of Equalization petition must generally be filed by July 1 of the assessment year or within 30 calendar days after the Assessor mailed the Notice of Value, whichever date is later. Owners receiving a later corrected notice should use the mailing date printed on that corrected notice.
6. What is the Kittitas County senior property-tax exemption income limit?
Current County guidance lists a maximum combined disposable household income of $43,000 for the senior/disabled exemption program. Applicants must also meet age, disability or qualifying veteran criteria and primary-residence/ownership requirements. The County says participants apply or renew annually by October 1.
7. When are Kittitas County 2026 property taxes due?
If annual tax is more than $50, at least half was due April 30, 2026 and the remaining half is due October 31, 2026 when the first half was timely paid. Tax under $50 had to be paid in full by April 30.
8. What are the online Kittitas County property-tax payment fees?
The Treasurer’s current payment page lists a 2.5% credit-card convenience fee, 0.95% debit-card fee and $2 eCheck fee. Payment-processor pricing can change, so confirm the fee shown at checkout before submitting payment.
9. Where do I search Kittitas County deeds and recorded property documents?
Use the Kittitas County Auditor Recording Division and its Official Records Search. The Auditor maintains recorded legal ownership documents. REETSifter can separately search Real Estate Excise Tax affidavits by affidavit number, parcel number, grantor, grantee or street address.
10. Does Kittitas County have a 2026 property-tax foreclosure list?
Yes. The Kittitas County Treasurer currently maintains a Real Estate Tax Foreclosure page with a July 2026 current list, foreclosure information and prior auction results. Owners with delinquent tax should obtain a live payoff and confirm foreclosure status directly with the Treasurer.
Official Kittitas County Sources and Verification
Kittitas County Assessor
Mike Hougardy, assessment responsibilities, contact information and current levy resources.
TaxSifter
Official property-tax profile and payment-history search.
COMPAS
Address, Parcel ID, Map Number and owner search with property/GIS information.
Board of Equalization
Appeal deadline, petition process, evidence rules and hearing procedure.
Senior / Disabled Exemption
Current income threshold, eligibility and application details.
Treasurer Payments
April/October due dates, payment fees and payment methods.
2026 Foreclosure
Current foreclosure list and tax-foreclosure information.
Auditor Recording
Deeds, Official Records, legal descriptions and recorded-document services.
REETSifter
Property-transfer affidavit lookup by parcel, grantor, grantee or address.
Verified for this August 12, 2026 update:
Assessor Mike Hougardy; Treasurer Amy Cziske; Auditor Bryan Elliott; Assessor/Treasurer/Auditor office contacts; TaxSifter and COMPAS search routes; COMPAS owner/address/Parcel ID/Map Number searching; 2025 assessed values used for taxes collected in 2026; January 15, 2026 tax-roll certification; April 30 and October 31 property-tax installments; current online payment fees; July 1-or-30-day BOE appeal rule; June 29 residential-solar Notice of Value corrections; current $43,000 senior/disabled exemption income maximum; October 1 annual exemption deadline; September 1 deferral deadline; July 2026 foreclosure list; current-use program resources; REETSifter; and Auditor Official Records procedures.
CountyPropertyAppraiser.org is an independent informational website. It is not affiliated with Kittitas County, the Kittitas County Assessor, Treasurer, Auditor, Board of Equalization, Community Development Services, Washington Department of Revenue, TaxSifter, COMPAS, Point & Pay or any mapping/payment provider.
Property values, notices, levy rates, exemptions, income thresholds, appeal dates, payment fees, foreclosure lists, current-use classifications and online systems can change. Verify parcel-specific and deadline-sensitive information directly with the responsible government office before paying taxes, appealing value, applying for relief, buying property or recording a document.
Last reviewed: August 12, 2026.
Slug: kittitas-county-assessor-property-search