Norwalk Land Records Search
The Norwalk Town Clerk records all deed documents for property in the city. The office is at 125 East Avenue. Recording hours run Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM, with documents accepted until 4:15 PM. All land transactions involving Norwalk property must be recorded here. This includes deeds, mortgages, liens, judgments, maps, and surveys. Connecticut has no county recording system, so each town maintains its own records. Norwalk offers online access through two different portals. You can also sign up for a free property alert service that sends email notifications when documents are recorded in your name. This helps protect against fraud and keeps you informed about activity on your property.
Norwalk Quick Facts
Fairfield County Recording System
Norwalk keeps land records at the town level. Fairfield County has 23 towns, each with independent systems. There is no county recorder or central office. If property sits in Norwalk, you file with the Norwalk Town Clerk. Property in Stamford goes to the Stamford clerk. Property in Bridgeport goes to the Bridgeport clerk.
This decentralized structure has been in place since colonial times. Towns were the original units of government in Connecticut. The state never established county recorders. Today, each town maintains its own vault, indexes, and online access. You must know which town contains your property to find the correct records.
Online Land Records Access
Norwalk provides online access through two portals. The primary system is at nwlk.norwalkct.org. A secondary portal is available at New Vision Systems. Both systems let you search by name, date, or document type. You can view indexes and scanned images of recorded documents.
The portals are available 24/7. You can search from home or any computer with internet access. The systems include recent recordings and older documents that have been digitized. If you need a document not yet online, contact the town clerk office at (203) 854-7747.
Norwalk also participates in the broader Connecticut Town Clerks Portal, which covers over 70 towns statewide. This portal offers additional search options and may have different subscription rates.
Free Property Alert Service
Norwalk offers a free property alert service. Sign up to receive email notifications when documents are recorded containing your name. This helps detect fraudulent deeds or liens filed without your knowledge. The service monitors new recordings and sends alerts within 24 hours. Visit nwlk.norwalkct.org/PropertyAlert to register.
Property fraud occurs when someone forges your signature on a deed or mortgage. Recording a fake document creates a cloud on your title. The alert system gives you early warning so you can contact authorities and resolve the issue quickly. This service is free and recommended for all property owners.
Recording Fees in Norwalk
Recording a deed in Norwalk costs $70 for the first page. Each additional page adds five dollars. Conveyances over $2,000 have an extra two dollar fee. Copies cost one dollar per page. Certifying documents costs one dollar per page or two dollars to certify a copy.
Map filings cost $20 each. Subdivision maps with three or more parcels cost $30. Certifying maps costs two dollars plus the cost of the map. Foreclosed property registrations cost $70.
These fees support the clerk's operations, indexing, and document preservation. They took effect under state law and apply uniformly across Connecticut towns with minor local variations.
Document Requirements
To record a deed in Norwalk, the document must meet state standards. It must be in writing and signed by the grantor. A notary public must acknowledge the signature. Two witnesses must attest, with the notary counting as one. All signatures need typed or printed names beneath them.
The deed must include the grantee's current mailing address. Use black ink and at least ten point font. Paper must be white, either letter or legal size. These requirements appear in Connecticut General Statutes Title 47.
Any deed transferring property for more than $2,000 requires Form OP-236, the Real Estate Conveyance Tax Return. This form must accompany the deed. Without it, the clerk cannot record the transfer.
Office Hours and In-Person Recording
The Norwalk Town Clerk office is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM. Recording is accepted until 4:15 PM. Arrive before 4:15 PM if you need to file a document that day. Documents received after 4:15 PM will be held until the next business day.
Bring your original document and any required forms. Staff will review the document for completeness and proper notarization. If approved, the clerk stamps it with the recording date and time. The document receives a book and page number. You get a receipt showing when and where your document was recorded.
Electronic Recording
Norwalk accepts electronic recording through approved vendors. These include Simplifile, Corporation Service Company, eRecording Partners Network, and Indecomm Global Services. Attorneys and title companies can submit documents from their offices.
The e-recording system validates documents before submission. If something is missing, you get immediate feedback. Once approved, the clerk processes the document during business hours. You receive electronic confirmation with the book and page number. This speeds up closings and loan transactions.
Types of Land Records
The Norwalk Town Clerk records all land transactions:
- Deeds (warranty, quitclaim, executor's, administrator's)
- Mortgages and assignments
- Releases and discharges of mortgages
- Liens (mechanic's, tax, judgment)
- Judgments affecting property
- Maps and surveys
- Easements and rights of way
- Foreclosure documents and lis pendens
All documents are indexed by grantor and grantee name. You can search by the person giving or receiving an interest. The index shows the recording date, document type, and book and page number. From there you can view the full text and images.
Conveyance Tax in Norwalk
Connecticut charges a state conveyance tax on property sales. For residential property up to $800,000, the rate is 0.75 percent. Amounts over $800,000 pay 1.25 percent on the excess. Non-residential property pays 1.25 percent on the full amount. Norwalk may also charge a local conveyance tax. Contact the town clerk at (203) 854-7747 for the current local rate.
The Department of Revenue Services collects these taxes through the town clerk. Form OP-236 calculates what you owe. Submit the form with payment when recording the deed. The clerk forwards your payment to DRS within ten days.
Title Searches and the Marketable Record Title Act
Connecticut requires a 40-year chain of title under the Marketable Record Title Act. The law appears in CGS Sec. 47-33b through 47-33l. Title searchers look back four decades to establish the root of title. Any defects or claims older than 40 years are extinguished. This simplifies proving clear ownership.
Title companies and attorneys perform these searches before property sales. They review all deeds, mortgages, liens, and judgments in the chain. The goal is to find issues that could affect ownership. Lenders require clean title before approving mortgages. Title insurance protects buyers if problems emerge later.
Note: Recording your deed gives public notice and protects your interest against later buyers or creditors.
Additional Town Clerk Services
The Norwalk Town Clerk also handles:
- Vital records (birth, death, marriage certificates)
- Dog licenses
- Trade name registrations
- Notary public commissions
- Military discharge records
For property tax information, contact the Norwalk Tax Assessor. For building permits and zoning, check with the city's Planning and Zoning Department. For court cases involving property, search at the Connecticut Judicial Branch.
Nearby Fairfield County Cities
Other Fairfield County cities with land records offices:
Each city operates independently. You cannot search Stamford deeds at the Norwalk clerk's office. Always go to the city where the property is located.