Licking County, Ohio — Tax Sale & Surplus Procedure

Local operations layer. The legal framework (redemption periods, surplus rights, statutes, case law) lives on the parent page → ohio. This page covers how Licking County actually runs it. Legal information, not legal advice. Last verified: 2026-06-02.

C0. Identity

• County seat: Newark, OH
• Population: 178,519 (2020 Census)
• Recording unit: county
• FIPS: 39089
• Parent legal framework: ohio
• County Administration: Donald D. Hill County Administration Building, 20 S. 2nd Street, Newark, OH 43055; (740) 670-5000
• Governance structure: Standard Ohio three-commissioner structure with elected Treasurer, Auditor, Recorder, Sheriff, Clerk of Courts, and Prosecuting Attorney. The Prosecutor’s Civil Division serves as legal counsel for county offices and handles tax foreclosure filings in Common Pleas Court.

C1. Local Tax Sale

Judicial / Mortgage Foreclosure Sheriff Sales (online platform)

• Conducts own sale? Yes — the Licking County Sheriff conducts judicial foreclosure (mortgage and tax) sales under court order of the Common Pleas Court.
• Platform: RealAuction — state-hosted Licking County subdomain: https://licking.sheriffsaleauction.ohio.gov. All foreclosure sales are conducted online via the RealAuction platform, managed through the Ohio Department of Administrative Services. Source: https://apps.lickingcounty.gov/sheriff/foreclosures/ (retrieved 2026-06-02)
• Sale calendar: Auctions are conducted on scheduled Thursdays at 10:30 a.m. Eastern Time. Properties are posted and open for proxy bidding at least seven days before the scheduled sale. One property sells at a time in sequence within each auction session. Source: https://apps.lickingcounty.gov/sheriff/foreclosures/ (retrieved 2026-06-02)
• Sale advertisement: In the Newark Advocate, once a week for three consecutive weeks before the sale. Source: https://apps.lickingcounty.gov/sheriff/foreclosures/ (retrieved 2026-06-02)
• Minimum bid — foreclosure/mortgage sales: Two-thirds (2/3) of the appraised value, unless a court order specifies otherwise. This follows R.C. 2329.20; see ohio §4. Source: https://apps.lickingcounty.gov/sheriff/foreclosures/ (retrieved 2026-06-02)
• Minimum bid — tax sales: Sheriff’s sales page states tax sales start at the judgment amount plus court costs, taxes, and penalties. Source: https://apps.lickingcounty.gov/sheriff/foreclosures/ (retrieved 2026-06-02)
• Registration: All prospective bidders must register with RealAuction at https://licking.sheriffsaleauction.ohio.gov. Bidders must also complete a Purchaser Information Form (downloadable from the Sheriff’s civil page at https://lickingcounty.gov/depts/sheriff/civil.htm). Source: https://apps.lickingcounty.gov/sheriff/foreclosures/ (retrieved 2026-06-02); https://lickingcounty.gov/depts/sheriff/civil.htm (retrieved 2026-06-02)
• Deposit requirements (based on appraised value):
  • Appraised at $10,000 or less →$2,000 deposit
  • Appraised at $10,000.01–$200,000 → $5,000 deposit
  • Appraised at over $200,000 →$10,000 deposit Source: https://apps.lickingcounty.gov/sheriff/foreclosures/ (retrieved 2026-06-02)
• Deposit timing:
  • Wire transfers: due by 5:00 p.m., two business days before the auction
  • ACH debits: initiated by 4:00 p.m., five business days before the auction Source: https://apps.lickingcounty.gov/sheriff/foreclosures/ (retrieved 2026-06-02)
• Balance / payment deadline: Remaining purchase price is due within 30 days after confirmation of sale, by certified bank check or title company check made payable to the Licking County Sheriff’s Office. Source: https://apps.lickingcounty.gov/sheriff/foreclosures/ (retrieved 2026-06-02)
• Title warranty: The Sheriff’s Office does not guarantee a clear title. Buyers are advised to conduct a title search. These are “Buyer Beware” transactions; the purchaser cannot access the property until the possession process is complete and the Sheriff’s Deed is recorded. Source: https://apps.lickingcounty.gov/sheriff/foreclosures/ (retrieved 2026-06-02)
• RealAuction training: Webinar training available; contact RealAuction Customer Service at 1-877-361-7325. Source: https://apps.lickingcounty.gov/sheriff/foreclosures/ (retrieved 2026-06-02)
• Required forms: (downloadable from https://lickingcounty.gov/depts/sheriff/civil.htm)
  • House Bill 138 Letter
  • Purchaser Information Form
  • Property Description Approval Source: https://lickingcounty.gov/depts/sheriff/civil.htm (retrieved 2026-06-02)
• Sheriff Sales contact: (740) 670-5544 (dedicated sales information line) Source: https://lickingcounty.gov/depts/sheriff/default.htm (retrieved 2026-06-02); https://lickingcounty.gov/depts/sheriff/civil.htm (retrieved 2026-06-02)

Tax Lien Certificate Sales (Treasurer)

• Program status: [needs_verification] Whether Licking County operates a separate periodic tax lien certificate sale program under R.C. 5721.30 et seq. was not confirmed from official pages as of 2026-06-02. Ohio law authorizes but does not require counties to conduct certificate sales; many counties (including Licking) proceed directly to judicial foreclosure. Contact Treasurer Roy Van Atta at (740) 670-5010 to confirm. Source: https://lickingcounty.gov/depts/treasurer/default.htm (retrieved 2026-06-02)

Forfeited Land Sales (Auditor)

• Platform / format: [needs_verification] The Licking County Auditor acts as selling agent under R.C. Ch. 5723 for properties forfeited to the State of Ohio. No dedicated forfeited-land-sale page or upcoming sale schedule was identified on the Auditor’s website as of 2026-06-02. Contact Auditor Michael L. Smith at (740) 670-5040 to confirm whether and when forfeited land sales are scheduled. Source: https://lickingcounty.gov/depts/auditor/default.htm (retrieved 2026-06-02)

Delinquent List

• Location: [needs_verification] The Licking County Auditor’s office maintains delinquent-land records; no dedicated public delinquent list URL was identified as of 2026-06-02. The OnTrac property search system (https://ontrac.lickingcounty.gov / https://www.lickingcountyohio.us) links from the Treasurer’s and Auditor’s pages as the primary portal for tax information, but the portal returned an access error during retrieval. Contact Auditor at (740) 670-5040. Source: https://lickingcounty.gov/depts/treasurer/default.htm (retrieved 2026-06-02); https://lickingcounty.gov/depts/auditor/default.htm (retrieved 2026-06-02)

C2. Local Redemption → framework: right-of-redemption

• Where to redeem (pre-sale): Pay all delinquent taxes, penalties, interest, and costs to the Licking County Treasurer, 20 South Second Street, Newark, OH 43055. Phone: (740) 670-5010. Office hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Source: https://lickingcounty.gov/depts/treasurer/default.htm (retrieved 2026-06-02)
• Post-sale redemption window (foreclosure): Per Ohio law (R.C. 5721.25), equity of redemption is extinguished at the court’s entry of confirmation of sale; there is no statutory post-confirmation redemption window. Property owners may redeem at any time before the judge signs the Confirmation. See ohio §2 for full statutory detail.
• Local fees: [needs_verification] No local-specific fee schedule beyond state-mandated amounts was identified. Contact Treasurer at (740) 670-5010.
• Online payment: The OnTrac portal (https://ontrac.lickingcounty.gov) is referenced as the county’s tax information and payment gateway; specific payment modalities were not confirmed from a retrievable page as of 2026-06-02. Source: https://lickingcounty.gov/depts/treasurer/default.htm (retrieved 2026-06-02)
• Deviations from state default: None identified. Standard Ohio redemption framework (R.C. 5721.25) applies; see ohio.

C3. Local Surplus / Excess Proceeds → framework: surplus-funds

Judicial Foreclosure Surplus (Common Pleas Court / Clerk of Courts)

• Claim filing venue: Licking County Clerk of Common Pleas Courts (Civil/Criminal Division), 1 Courthouse Square, Newark, OH 43055. Phone: (740) 670-5791. Clerk Olivia Parkinson’s office handles civil case filings; the Clerk notifies former owners of any residue per R.C. 5721.20; the County Treasurer (20 South Second Street, Newark) holds the surplus funds. Source: https://lickingcounty.gov/depts/clerk/default.htm (retrieved 2026-06-02); See ohio §3 for statutory framework (R.C. 5721.20).
• Claim form: [needs_verification] No Licking County-specific surplus claim form was identified on the Clerk of Courts or Treasurer website as of 2026-06-02. Contact the Clerk of Courts Civil/Criminal Division at (740) 670-5791 for current claim procedures and any required forms.
• Local deadline notes: Under R.C. 5721.20, former owners have three years from the date the Treasurer receives residue funds to demand payment. After three years, unclaimed residue is forfeited to the delinquent tax and assessment collection fund (R.C. 321.261) or, if applicable, a land bank fund (R.C. 321.263). See ohio §3 for full statutory detail.
• Unclaimed funds list: [needs_verification] Whether Licking County publishes a public list of unclaimed foreclosure surplus funds was not confirmed from official pages as of 2026-06-02. The Ohio Department of Commerce Division of Unclaimed Funds (https://www.com.ohio.gov/unfd/) lists state-escheated unclaimed funds. Contact Treasurer at (740) 670-5010 or Auditor at (740) 670-5040 for county-held unclaimed funds.
• Court case search: The Clerk of Courts migrated to a new case management system in June 2025. A “Common Pleas Case Records Search” is available through the navigation on the Clerk’s website at https://lickingcounty.gov/depts/clerk/default.htm. Source: https://lickingcounty.gov/depts/clerk/default.htm (retrieved 2026-06-02)
• Contact: Olivia Parkinson, Clerk of Common Pleas Courts; 1 Courthouse Square, Newark, OH 43055; (740) 670-5791.

▸ For Investors / Operators — All Licking County judicial and mortgage foreclosure Sheriff’s Sales are conducted exclusively online via RealAuction at licking.sheriffsaleauction.ohio.gov, with auctions running on scheduled Thursdays at 10:30 a.m. ET and properties open for proxy bidding at least seven days prior. Deposits are tiered by appraised value ($2,000 /$5,000 / $10,000); wire transfers are due by 5:00 p.m. two business days before auction and ACH debits by 4:00 p.m. five business days before. The balance is due within 30 days of confirmation by certified bank check. Tax sales follow a separate verbal in-person format at the courthouse. The Licking County Land Bank (R.C. 323.78 path) can receive qualifying tax-delinquent properties without a public sale; buyers of land-bank properties receive clear title free of prior debts.

▸ For Former Owners — Surplus from a Licking County judicial foreclosure sale is held by the County Treasurer; the Clerk of Common Pleas Courts (Olivia Parkinson, 1 Courthouse Square, Newark, OH 43055; (740) 670-5791) handles notification under R.C. 5721.20. Former owners have three years from the date the Treasurer receives residue funds to demand payment; after three years the residue is forfeited to the delinquent tax and assessment collection fund. For surplus from a forfeited-land sale (R.C. 5723.11), the deadline is one year from the day of sale; contact the Licking County Auditor (20 S. Second Street, Newark; (740) 670-5040).

Forfeited Land Sale Surplus (R.C. 5723.11)

• Claim filing venue: Licking County Auditor, 20 South Second Street, Newark, OH 43055. Phone: (740) 670-5040. Under R.C. 5723.11, the auditor charges the treasurer with the excess in the name of the supposed owner. The treasurer may interplead in Common Pleas to determine the proper owner.
• Statutory deadline: Former owner must demand excess within one year from the day of the forfeited-land sale (R.C. 5723.11). See ohio §3 for note on the one-year vs. six-year ambiguity in older codifications.

Land Bank Path (R.C. 323.78)

• Land bank operator: Licking County Land Reutilization Corporation (Licking County Land Bank), 20 S. 2nd Street, Newark, OH 43055; (740) 527-0054; Info@lickingcountylandbank.org. Source: https://www.lickingcountylandbank.org/ (retrieved 2026-06-02)
• Role: The Land Bank acquires vacant, abandoned, and tax-delinquent properties through tax foreclosure proceedings to revitalize them. Under R.C. 323.78, qualifying properties may be transferred directly to the land bank without appraisal and without a sale. If the land bank later resells for more than tax debt plus administrative costs, the excess must be delivered to the County Treasurer within 45 days (R.C. 323.78). Source: https://www.lickingcountylandbank.org/ (retrieved 2026-06-02); R.C. 323.78 — https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/section-323.78
• Buyer note: Properties purchased from the Land Bank are conveyed with clear title, free from prior owners’ accumulated debts and liens. Source: https://www.lickingcountylandbank.org/ (retrieved 2026-06-02)

C4. Offices & Contacts

Additional Clerk of Courts contact:

• Domestic Division: 75 E. Main St., Newark, OH 43055; (740) 670-5392

Sources:

• https://lickingcounty.gov/depts/treasurer/default.htm (retrieved 2026-06-02)
• https://lickingcounty.gov/depts/auditor/default.htm (retrieved 2026-06-02)
• https://lickingcounty.gov/depts/clerk/default.htm (retrieved 2026-06-02)
• https://lickingcounty.gov/depts/recorder/default.htm (retrieved 2026-06-02)
• https://lickingcounty.gov/depts/sheriff/default.htm (retrieved 2026-06-02)
• https://lickingcounty.gov/depts/sheriff/civil.htm (retrieved 2026-06-02)
• https://lickingcounty.gov/depts/prosecutors/default.htm (retrieved 2026-06-02)
• https://www.lickingcountylandbank.org/ (retrieved 2026-06-02)

C5. Local Procedure Notes

• Online-only foreclosure sales: All Licking County judicial/mortgage foreclosure sheriff sales are conducted exclusively online through the RealAuction platform at https://licking.sheriffsaleauction.ohio.gov. Auctions run on scheduled Thursdays at 10:30 a.m. ET, with properties open for proxy bidding at least seven days prior. This contrasts with some Ohio counties that retain in-person tax sales. Source: https://apps.lickingcounty.gov/sheriff/foreclosures/ (retrieved 2026-06-02)

• No guaranteed title: The Sheriff’s Office does not guarantee clear title; buyers must independently research encumbrances at the Recorder’s Office and Clerk of Courts. These are “Buyer Beware” transactions. Source: https://apps.lickingcounty.gov/sheriff/foreclosures/ (retrieved 2026-06-02)

• No property access pre-sale: The Sheriff’s Office has no access to interior of properties for sale. Buyers cannot access properties until the post-sale possession process is complete after deed recording. Source: https://apps.lickingcounty.gov/sheriff/foreclosures/ (retrieved 2026-06-02)

• Defendant retains ownership until deed recorded: The defendant retains legal ownership until the Sheriff’s Deed is recorded. Source: https://apps.lickingcounty.gov/sheriff/foreclosures/ (retrieved 2026-06-02)

• House Bill 138 compliance: The Sheriff’s civil page lists an HB 138 Letter as a required form, reflecting Ohio’s statutory requirements for notice in mortgage foreclosure actions. Source: https://lickingcounty.gov/depts/sheriff/civil.htm (retrieved 2026-06-02)

• Delinquent tax publication: Under R.C. 5721.03, counties must publish the delinquent land list annually in a newspaper of general circulation. The Newark Advocate is also used for individual sheriff sale notices (three consecutive weeks). [needs_verification] The specific newspaper used for the annual R.C. 5721.03 delinquent publication in Licking County was not confirmed from an official source as of 2026-06-02.

• Land bank active: The Licking County Land Reutilization Corporation is an active organization (confirmed website, phone, and address). This means the R.C. 323.78 direct-transfer-to-land-bank path (without appraisal and without a sale) is likely available in Licking County; former owners should be aware that the Tyler v. Hennepin County surplus-equity framework applies if the land bank later resells. See ohio §3 and land-bank-direct-transfer. Source: https://www.lickingcountylandbank.org/ (retrieved 2026-06-02)

• Prosecutor’s Civil Division: Jenny Wells’s Civil Division serves as legal counsel for county offices and handles tax foreclosure filings in Common Pleas Court (R.C. 5721.18). Phone: (740) 670-5255. Source: https://lickingcounty.gov/depts/prosecutors/default.htm (retrieved 2026-06-02)

• eRecording: Licking County Recorder Bryan Long’s office accepts eRecording through four authorized vendors: CSC eRecording Solutions (866-652-0111), ePN eRecording Partners Network (888-325-3365), Indecomm Global Services (877-272-5250), and Simplifile (800-460-5657). As of January 1, 2025, a $5.00 Preservation Surcharge applies per document. Source: https://lickingcounty.gov/depts/recorder/erecording.htm (retrieved 2026-06-02); https://lickingcounty.gov/depts/recorder/fees.htm (retrieved 2026-06-02)

C6. Records Access

Note: The OnTrac portal (https://ontrac.lickingcounty.gov) returned HTTP 403 during retrieval on 2026-06-02; the URL is confirmed from official county pages as the primary parcel and tax information portal. A direct online deed search portal URL for the Recorder’s office was not identified from a retrievable page; contact Recorder at (740) 670-5300 or [email protected].

Sources:

• https://lickingcounty.gov/depts/treasurer/default.htm (retrieved 2026-06-02)
• https://lickingcounty.gov/depts/auditor/default.htm (retrieved 2026-06-02)
• https://lickingcounty.gov/depts/recorder/news.htm (retrieved 2026-06-02)
• https://apps.lickingcounty.gov/sheriff/foreclosures/ (retrieved 2026-06-02)
• https://lickingcounty.gov/depts/clerk/default.htm (retrieved 2026-06-02)

C7. Meta

sources:

• {type: official_county, url: “https://lickingcounty.gov/depts/treasurer/default.htm”, retrieved: 2026-06-02}
• {type: official_county, url: “https://lickingcounty.gov/depts/auditor/default.htm”, retrieved: 2026-06-02}
• {type: official_county, url: “https://lickingcounty.gov/depts/clerk/default.htm”, retrieved: 2026-06-02}
• {type: official_county, url: “https://lickingcounty.gov/depts/recorder/default.htm”, retrieved: 2026-06-02}
• {type: official_county, url: “https://lickingcounty.gov/depts/recorder/erecording.htm”, retrieved: 2026-06-02}
• {type: official_county, url: “https://lickingcounty.gov/depts/recorder/fees.htm”, retrieved: 2026-06-02}
• {type: official_county, url: “https://lickingcounty.gov/depts/recorder/news.htm”, retrieved: 2026-06-02}
• {type: official_county, url: “https://lickingcounty.gov/depts/sheriff/default.htm”, retrieved: 2026-06-02}
• {type: official_county, url: “https://lickingcounty.gov/depts/sheriff/civil.htm”, retrieved: 2026-06-02}
• {type: official_county, url: “https://apps.lickingcounty.gov/sheriff/foreclosures/”, retrieved: 2026-06-02}
• {type: official_county, url: “https://lickingcounty.gov/depts/prosecutors/default.htm”, retrieved: 2026-06-02}
• {type: official_county, url: “https://lickingcounty.gov/depts/default.htm”, retrieved: 2026-06-02}
• {type: official_county, url: “https://www.lickingcountylandbank.org/”, retrieved: 2026-06-02}
• {type: official_county, url: “https://lickingcounty.gov/sitemap.xml”, retrieved: 2026-06-02, note: “sitemap provided department URL structure”}
• {type: statute, url: “https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/section-323.78”, retrieved: 2026-06-01, note: “land bank direct transfer; retrieved for ohio.md”}
• {type: portal_confirmed, url: “https://ontrac.lickingcounty.gov”, retrieved: 2026-06-02, note: “confirmed URL from official pages; HTTP 403 during direct retrieval”}

needs_verification:

• OnTrac parcel/tax portal (https://ontrac.lickingcounty.gov) returned HTTP 403 during retrieval on 2026-06-02; confirm access method and whether a separate public-facing URL exists.
• Whether Licking County conducts a separate periodic tax lien certificate sale program under R.C. 5721.30 et seq. (as distinct from judicial foreclosure sheriff sales) — not confirmed from official pages; contact Treasurer at (740) 670-5010.
• Forfeited land sale schedule and procedures: the Auditor’s page does not list a dedicated forfeited-land sale page; confirm with Auditor at (740) 670-5040 whether R.C. Ch. 5723 forfeited land sales are conducted and on what schedule.
• Delinquent property list publication: the specific newspaper used for the annual R.C. 5721.03 delinquent publication was not confirmed from official pages as of 2026-06-02.
• Surplus claim form: no Licking County-specific surplus/residue claim form identified on the Clerk of Courts or Treasurer website; contact Clerk of Courts at (740) 670-5791 for current procedures.
• Unclaimed surplus/foreclosure-residue list: whether Licking County publishes a public list of R.C. 5721.20 residue funds was not confirmed; contact Treasurer at (740) 670-5010.
• Online deed search portal for Recorder: the Recorder’s news page references an online portal for documents recorded since 1997, but no direct URL was provided; contact Recorder at (740) 670-5300 or [email protected] for the URL.
• Tax payment modalities for Treasurer (credit/debit, eCheck, ACH details): not confirmed from a retrievable page as of 2026-06-02; contact Treasurer at (740) 670-5010.
• Local court rules specific to foreclosure surplus distribution: the Clerk of Courts local rules page returned “not active” as of 2026-06-02.
• Third-party surplus-recovery-agent rules: no Licking County-specific ordinance found; governed by state law as described in ohio needs_verification.

cross_links: ohio, right-of-redemption, surplus-funds, third-party-recovery-rules, tyler-v-hennepin-county, land-bank-direct-transfer, sheriff-sale, treasurer-sale, due-process-notice, heirs-property, bankruptcy-automatic-stay, federal-tax-lien-redemption

changelog:

• 2026-06-02 — Initial population. All local facts sourced from official Licking County government pages. Verified: RealAuction platform URL and subdomain, Thursday 10:30 a.m. ET sale schedule, tiered deposit requirements ($2K/$5K/$10K), 30-day balance-due-from-confirmation, Newark Advocate 3-week advertisement requirement, all officeholder names (Van Atta/Treasurer, Smith/Auditor, Parkinson/Clerk, Long/Recorder, Thorp/Sheriff, Wells/Prosecutor), office addresses and phone numbers, Licking County Land Bank existence and contact, eRecording vendors and$5 preservation surcharge, Purchaser Information Form and HB 138 Letter requirements. OnTrac portal URL confirmed but direct fetch returned 403; Recorder online deed search URL not retrievable.

▸ For Investors / Operators — All Licking County judicial and mortgage foreclosure Sheriff’s Sales are conducted exclusively online via RealAuction at licking.sheriffsaleauction.ohio.gov, with auctions running on scheduled Thursdays at 10:30 a.m. ET and properties open for proxy bidding at least seven days prior. Deposits are tiered by appraised value ($2,000 /$5,000 / $10,000); wire transfers are due by 5:00 p.m. two business days before auction and ACH debits by 4:00 p.m. five business days before. The balance is due within 30 days of confirmation by certified bank check. Tax sales follow a separate verbal in-person format at the courthouse. The Licking County Land Bank (R.C. 323.78 path) can receive qualifying tax-delinquent properties without a public sale; buyers of land-bank properties receive clear title free of prior debts.

▸ For Former Owners — Surplus from a Licking County judicial foreclosure sale is held by the County Treasurer; the Clerk of Common Pleas Courts (Olivia Parkinson, 1 Courthouse Square, Newark, OH 43055; (740) 670-5791) handles notification under R.C. 5721.20. Former owners have three years from the date the Treasurer receives residue funds to demand payment; after three years the residue is forfeited to the delinquent tax and assessment collection fund. For surplus from a forfeited-land sale (R.C. 5723.11), the deadline is one year from the day of sale; contact the Licking County Auditor (20 S. Second Street, Newark; (740) 670-5040).

Legal information only — not legal advice. This page describes legal procedures as they exist based on publicly available official sources retrieved on the date noted. Laws, procedures, deadlines, and office information change; verify everything against current primary sources before acting. If you are a property owner, investor, or claimant, consult a licensed Ohio attorney. Nothing on this page creates an attorney-client relationship.