Delaware County, Ohio

Hybrid237,966 residents

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

Sale typestate default

Hybrid

Redemption periodstate default

1 year from lien certificate sale (varies); forfeiture-to-deed track has no redemption once complete

Investor returnstate default

Lien: up to 18% per annum, county-set

Governing statutestate default

Ohio Revised Code Ch. 5721

Notes

Ohio dual channel: (1) Delaware County Treasurer tax lien certificate sales (policy and sale result PDFs posted on treasurer.co.delaware.oh.us/sales — e.g. lists dated 08-28-2025, 01-16-2025); (2) Sheriff sales — real estate tax sales in-person Wednesdays 10:00 a.m. in Hayes Services Building lobby (145 N. Union St.) and foreclosure sales online via RealAuction (delaware.sheriffsaleauction.ohio.gov) Wednesdays 10:00 a.m. Tax lien path is certificate investment; Sheriff tax/foreclosure path can convey property subject to statute and appraisal rules (foreclosure minimum often 2/3 appraised value unless otherwise ordered).

Auction logistics

Format

Mixed (Treasurer tax lien sales + Sheriff in-person tax / online foreclosure)

Frequency

Treasurer lien sales periodic as inventory posted; Sheriff tax/foreclosure sales typically Wednesdays as scheduled

Platform

Delaware County Treasurer Tax Lien Sales / Sheriff RealAuction ↗

Deposit rules

Tax lien certificate sales: follow Treasurer Tax Lien Certificate Sale Policy PDF and sale notice for deposit/payment. Sheriff foreclosure (RealAuction): register on delaware.sheriffsaleauction.ohio.gov; deposit and settlement per RealAuction/Sheriff rules. Sheriff tax sales: attend Hayes Building lobby sale; certified funds per posted terms. Contact Sheriff Sales Coordinator (740) 833-2868 or sheriffsales@co.delaware.oh.us; Treasurer (740) 833-2480.

Title risk

Liens that survive the sale

Tax lien certificates do not wipe mortgages. Sheriff tax/foreclosure deeds are subject to statutory priority rules; federal liens and some interests can survive. Only real estate taxes due are typically paid from sale proceeds on Sheriff sales — verify HOA, assessments, and occupancy.

Quiet title

After tax lien foreclosure or Sheriff deed, quiet title is commonly needed for marketable insured title before conventional resale financing.

Deal maths for Ohio

Assessment ratio: 0.35× of market value
Typical quiet title: $1,800–$5,000 · 5 mo
Recording and transfer: $150

R.C. 5715.01: taxable value is the percentage of true value the tax commissioner sets by rule, capped at 35%. The rule has been at the 35% ceiling for decades and applies uniformly statewide, with no classification by property type and no county overrides.

Offices and records

Tax collector

Delaware County Treasurer — Tax Lien Sales ↗

740-833-2480

Clerk of court

Delaware County Clerk of Courts ↗

Property appraiser

Delaware County Auditor — parcel / GIS ↗

GIS / parcel map

Delaware County Auditor GIS / parcel map ↗

Areas trending up

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

Powell / Liberty Township corridor

Columbus north-suburban school demand and premium SF liquidity

Lewis Center / Polaris edge

Retail and job access along US-23 with strong multifamily/SF absorption

Delaware city / downtown–Ohio Wesleyan edge

County-seat services and relative entry pricing versus southern Delaware County