Lee County, Alabama

Tax Lien187,847 residents

County research last verified 2026-07. Office holders, platforms, and deposit rules change — re-confirm anything time-sensitive.

Sale typestate default

Tax Lien

Redemption periodstate default

3 years from sale (certificate holder); owner may redeem administratively for up to 3 years after that in some cases

Investor returnstate default

12% per annum statutory interest

Governing statutestate default

Alabama Code Title 40, Ch. 10

Notes

Alabama Sale of Land county (in-person tax sale, not GovEase lien auction). Official Lee County Revenue Commissioner page: Tax Sale held first Wednesday in May each year at the Lee County Courthouse on South 9th Street in Opelika. Accounts delinquent Jan 1; no personal checks on real property after Jan 31. Business personal property must be paid before real-property payments accepted. Certificate of purchase / redeemable interest under Ala. Code Title 40 Chapter 10 with multi-year redemption — confirm current election letter if county ever switches to lien method.

Auction logistics

Format

In-person

Frequency

Annually, first Wednesday in May at Lee County Courthouse, Opelika

Platform

Lee County Courthouse — Annual Tax Sale (Revenue Commissioner) ↗

Deposit rules

Attend in person at the Opelika courthouse; bring certified funds per Revenue Commissioner instructions for the published sale year. Confirm registration, bidder number, and same-day payment rules directly with the office before sale day. Research parcels via county online property search.

Title risk

Liens that survive the sale

Tax sale certificate/deed process under Alabama land-sale rules with ~3-year redemption (12% interest path typical for land sales). Federal tax liens and municipal assessments can survive. Full title and parcel DD required.

Quiet title

Commonly needed after redemption period for marketable/insurable Alabama tax title.

Offices and records

Tax collector

Lee County Revenue Commissioner — Tax Sale Information ↗

Clerk of court

Lee County Probate Court (recording) ↗

Property appraiser

Lee County Revenue — Online Property Search & Pay ↗

GIS / parcel map

Lee County property search / map resources ↗

Areas trending up

Directional read from dated market analysis — not a guarantee, and not a substitute for your own comps.

Auburn / University corridor

Student and research employment demand with strong rental absorption

Opelika / downtown–Tiger Town edge

County-seat amenities and relative value versus core Auburn campus housing

Smiths Station / east Lee fringe

Columbus, GA metro spillover and entry-level SF demand