Mahoning 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 Mahoning County actually runs it. Legal information, not legal advice. Last verified: 2026-06-02.

C0. Identity

• County seat: Youngstown, OH
• Population: approx. 228,614 (2020 Census)
• Recording unit: county
• FIPS: 39099
• Parent legal framework: ohio
• County seat note: Youngstown is the largest city in Ohio’s Mahoning Valley and serves as both the county seat and the hub for all county government offices, most of which are co-located at or near 120 Market Street, Youngstown, OH 44503.

C1. Local Tax Sale

Judicial / Mortgage Foreclosure Sheriff Sales (online platform)

• Conducts own sale? Yes — the Mahoning County Sheriff conducts judicial foreclosure (tax and mortgage) sales under court order.
• Platform: RealAuction — county-specific subdomain: https://mahoning.sheriffsaleauction.ohio.gov/ All real estate foreclosure sales moved to this online platform on September 13, 2022, under a contract with the Ohio Department of Administrative Services. No in-person bidding is available. Source: https://www.mahoningcountyoh.gov/992/Sheriff-Sales (retrieved 2026-06-02)
• Sale calendar: Sales are scheduled on a bi-weekly Tuesday schedule throughout the year. Confirmed 2026 dates include June 9 and June 23. Some scheduled dates show “No Properties Listed.” The full calendar is published on the Sheriff’s Sales page. Source: https://www.mahoningcountyoh.gov/992/Sheriff-Sales (retrieved 2026-06-02)
• Registration: Prospective bidders must register on the RealAuction platform at https://mahoning.sheriffsaleauction.ohio.gov/ prior to bidding. The Sheriff’s Sales page provides four instructional documents:
  1. Notice Online Sheriff Sales Information
  2. 3rd Party Bidder and Plaintiff Instructions
  3. Winning Bid Instructions
  4. RealAuction Ohio Plaintiff and Judgement Creditor Instructions Source: https://www.mahoningcountyoh.gov/992/Sheriff-Sales (retrieved 2026-06-02)
• Deposit requirements: [needs_verification — specific deposit tiers for Mahoning County are contained in the instructional documents linked from the Sheriff Sales page but were not extractable from the official page text as of 2026-06-02; under Ohio law generally, R.C. 2329.211 governs residential deposits]
• Bidder requirements: [needs_verification — full bidder eligibility rules (including affidavit of non-delinquency and other requirements) are detailed in the Sheriff’s instructional documents; contact Court Services at 330-480-5010]
• Minimum bid: Two-thirds of appraised value for first sale (R.C. 2329.20); tax foreclosure cases use taxes-owed-plus-costs minimum per R.C. 5721.19. See ohio.
• Delinquent list location: [needs_verification — Mahoning County Auditor publishes a delinquent tax list under R.C. 5721.03; specific publication venue (newspaper and/or county website) and URL not confirmed from an official auditor page as of 2026-06-02; contact Auditor’s office at 330-740-2010]

Tax Lien Certificate Sales

• Structure: [needs_verification — whether Mahoning County conducts public tax lien certificate auctions (R.C. 5721.30–5721.43) or sells certificates via negotiated/bulk sale has not been confirmed from an official county page as of 2026-06-02; contact the Treasurer’s office at 330-740-2460]

Forfeited Land Sales (auditor — R.C. Ch. 5723)

• Platform: [needs_verification — the Mahoning County Auditor conducts forfeited land sales under R.C. Ch. 5723; sale format (in-person vs. online) and typical dates have not been confirmed from the official auditor page as of 2026-06-02; contact Auditor’s office at 330-740-2010]

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

• Where to redeem (pre-sale): Pay all delinquent taxes, penalties, interest, and costs to the Mahoning County Treasurer, 120 Market Street, 1st Floor, Youngstown, OH 44503. Phone: 330-740-2460. Online payment portal: https://payments.municipay.com/oh_mahoning/search Source: https://www.mahoningcountyoh.gov/218/Treasurer (retrieved 2026-06-02); https://www.mahoningcountyoh.gov/219/Making-A-Payment (retrieved 2026-06-02)
• Online payment methods: Visa, Mastercard, Discover, Electronic Check, Apple Pay, Google Pay, PayPal, Venmo. Credit card fee: 2.50% (min $2.50); ACH/e-check fee:$1.50 flat. Source: https://www.mahoningcountyoh.gov/219/Making-A-Payment (retrieved 2026-06-02)
• Post-sale redemption window: Under R.C. 5721.25 and 2329.33, the equity of redemption survives until confirmation of sale by the court; there is no statutory post-confirmation period. See ohio §2.
• Local fees: 10% penalty assessed to unpaid taxes after the due date. Source: https://www.mahoningcountyoh.gov/218/Treasurer (retrieved 2026-06-02)
• Contact: Daniel R. Yemma, County Treasurer; 120 Market Street, 1st Floor, Youngstown, OH 44503; 330-740-2460; fax 330-740-2142. Source: https://www.mahoningcountyoh.gov/774/Treasurer (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 and Treasurer)

• Statutory framework: Under R.C. 5721.20, residue after a foreclosure sale is held by the County Treasurer; the Clerk of Courts notifies the former owner; the owner has three years to claim. See ohio §3.

• Claim filing venue — Auditor’s Unclaimed Funds program:

  • Office: Mahoning County Auditor — Fiscal Services Division, ATTN: Unclaimed Funds
  • Address: 120 Market Street, Youngstown, Ohio 44503
  • Phone: 330-740-2010, ext. 7585
  • Claim form (PDF): https://www.mahoningcountyoh.gov/DocumentCenter/View/50
  • Claim form (Word/DOC): https://www.mahoningcountyoh.gov/DocumentCenter/View/51
  • Statutory authority on form: Ohio Revised Code Chapter 9.39
  • The form requires: amount of unclaimed funds, pay-in number/court case number, owner identifying information (including driver’s license or state ID number and Social Security/Tax ID), claimant identifying information if not the owner, and a notarized signature. Professional finders must provide an original Power of Attorney.
  • Faxing is not accepted; submit in person or by mail.
  • Claims are typically processed within 10 days of authorization by the originating agency. Source: https://www.mahoningcountyoh.gov/762/Unclaimed-Funds (retrieved 2026-06-02); form text extracted 2026-06-02 from https://www.mahoningcountyoh.gov/DocumentCenter/View/51

• Claim filing venue — Clerk of Courts:

  • Office: Michael P. Ciccone, Mahoning County Clerk of Courts
  • Address: 120 Market Street, Youngstown, OH 44503
  • Phone: 330-740-2104 Source: https://www.mahoningcountyoh.gov/182/Clerk-of-Courts (retrieved 2026-06-02)

• Unclaimed funds list published: Yes.

  • Auditor’s list (updated 09-17-2025): https://www.mahoningcountyoh.gov/DocumentCenter/View/49800/
  • Clerk of Courts list (revised 04/30/2026): https://www.mahoningcountyoh.gov/DocumentCenter/View/50389/
  • Probate Court notice (per R.C. §2335.34): https://www.mahoningcountyoh.gov/DocumentCenter/View/49449/
  • Unclaimed funds landing page: https://www.mahoningcountyoh.gov/762/Unclaimed-Funds Source: https://www.mahoningcountyoh.gov/762/Unclaimed-Funds (retrieved 2026-06-02)

• Local deadline notes: R.C. 5721.20 — three years from receipt of funds by the Treasurer; thereafter forfeited to the delinquent tax and assessment collection fund (R.C. 321.261) or, if applicable, the land bank fund (R.C. 321.263). Probate Court funds require an application to the Probate Court before the Treasurer releases them. Source: https://www.mahoningcountyoh.gov/762/Unclaimed-Funds (retrieved 2026-06-02)

• State-level database: Ohio’s unclaimed funds database is maintained at www.com.ohio.gov/unfd/ Source: https://www.mahoningcountyoh.gov/762/Unclaimed-Funds (retrieved 2026-06-02)

• Contact (Probate Court unclaimed funds): 330-740-2310

▸ For Investors / Operators — Mahoning County judicial foreclosure (tax and mortgage) sales moved online exclusively to RealAuction at https://mahoning.sheriffsaleauction.ohio.gov/ on September 13, 2022; no in-person bidding is available. Sales are scheduled on a bi-weekly Tuesday cadence; bidders must register on the platform and review all four instructional documents on the Sheriff’s Sales page before bidding. Minimum bid for tax foreclosure cases is taxes-owed-plus-costs per R.C. 5721.19; equity of redemption survives until court confirmation of sale. Contact the Sheriff’s Court Services Civil Division at 330-480-5010 for deposit tier details.

▸ For Former Owners — Excess funds from Mahoning County foreclosure sales are held by the Auditor (fiscal services) and the Clerk of Courts; both publish unclaimed-funds lists (Auditor list updated 09-17-2025; Clerk list revised 04/30/2026) at the county unclaimed-funds landing page (mahoningcountyoh.gov/762/Unclaimed-Funds). To file a claim, submit the notarized ORC Ch. 9.39 form to the Mahoning County Auditor — Fiscal Services Division, ATTN: Unclaimed Funds, 120 Market Street, Youngstown, OH 44503; 330-740-2010 ext. 7585. Under R.C. 5721.20, you have three years from the date the Treasurer receives the funds before they are forfeited.

C4. Offices & Contacts

Note: Auditor’s officeholder name (Ralph T. Meacham) is sourced from the official unclaimed funds claim form (ORC Ch. 9.39 form, retrieved 2026-06-02). [needs_verification — confirm current officeholder at the auditor’s website; elected positions change on 4-year cycles and the form may not be current]

Sources: https://www.mahoningcountyoh.gov/774/Treasurer (retrieved 2026-06-02); https://www.mahoningcountyoh.gov/182/Clerk-of-Courts (retrieved 2026-06-02); https://recorder.mahoningcountyoh.gov (retrieved 2026-06-02); https://www.mahoningcountyoh.gov/762/Unclaimed-Funds (retrieved 2026-06-02); https://www.mahoningcountyoh.gov/966/Sheriff (retrieved 2026-06-02)

C5. Local Procedure Notes

• RealAuction platform launch (2022): Mahoning County migrated all judicial foreclosure sales to the state-contracted RealAuction platform on September 13, 2022. The platform operates under a contract with the Ohio Department of Administrative Services, consistent with Ohio’s statewide initiative. Bidders unfamiliar with the system should review the four instructional documents linked from the Sheriff’s Sales page before attempting to register or bid. Source: https://www.mahoningcountyoh.gov/992/Sheriff-Sales (retrieved 2026-06-02)

• Bi-weekly Tuesday sale schedule: Mahoning County sheriff sales appear to be scheduled on a bi-weekly Tuesday cadence (confirmed: June 9 and June 23, 2026); some scheduled dates have no properties listed. Source: https://www.mahoningcountyoh.gov/992/Sheriff-Sales (retrieved 2026-06-02)

• Satellite Clerk of Courts locations: The Clerk of Courts maintains satellite offices in Boardman, Sebring, Austintown, and Canfield for local access to court records. Source: https://www.mahoningcountyoh.gov/182/Clerk-of-Courts (retrieved 2026-06-02)

• Unclaimed funds form requires notarization: The Auditor’s ORC Ch. 9.39 claim form must be signed in the presence of a notary public. Professional finders (surplus recovery agents) must also provide an original Power of Attorney. Source: Form text retrieved 2026-06-02 from https://www.mahoningcountyoh.gov/DocumentCenter/View/51

• Recorder deed search (Fidlar): The Recorder uses Fidlar Technology’s AvaWeb platform for public deed searches; 13 public computers are available at the office; staff do not conduct searches. eRecording accepted via ePN, Simplifile, and CSC eRecording Solutions. Source: https://recorder.mahoningcountyoh.gov (retrieved 2026-06-02)

• Tax delinquency penalty: A 10% penalty attaches to any unpaid tax after the due date; taxpayers are responsible for obtaining their own tax bills. Source: https://www.mahoningcountyoh.gov/218/Treasurer (retrieved 2026-06-02)

• Land bank: [needs_verification — Mahoning County has historically operated a land reutilization corporation (land bank) under R.C. 1724/323.65+; confirm current land bank contact, whether it remains active, and how surplus is handled on any direct transfers per R.C. 323.78]

C6. Records Access

Sources: https://www.mahoningcountyoh.gov/161/GIS (retrieved 2026-06-02); https://recorder.mahoningcountyoh.gov (retrieved 2026-06-02); https://www.mahoningcountyoh.gov/219/Making-A-Payment (retrieved 2026-06-02)

C7. Meta

sources:

• {type: official_county, url: “https://www.mahoningcountyoh.gov/218/Treasurer”, retrieved: 2026-06-02}
• {type: official_county, url: “https://www.mahoningcountyoh.gov/774/Treasurer”, retrieved: 2026-06-02}
• {type: official_county, url: “https://www.mahoningcountyoh.gov/219/Making-A-Payment”, retrieved: 2026-06-02}
• {type: official_county, url: “https://www.mahoningcountyoh.gov/992/Sheriff-Sales”, retrieved: 2026-06-02}
• {type: official_county, url: “https://www.mahoningcountyoh.gov/966/Sheriff”, retrieved: 2026-06-02}
• {type: official_county, url: “https://sheriff.mahoningcountyoh.gov”, retrieved: 2026-06-02}
• {type: official_county, url: “https://www.mahoningcountyoh.gov/182/Clerk-of-Courts”, retrieved: 2026-06-02}
• {type: official_county, url: “https://www.mahoningcountyoh.gov/755/Clerk-of-Courts”, retrieved: 2026-06-02}
• {type: official_county, url: “https://recorder.mahoningcountyoh.gov”, retrieved: 2026-06-02}
• {type: official_county, url: “https://www.mahoningcountyoh.gov/215/Recorder”, retrieved: 2026-06-02}
• {type: official_county, url: “https://www.mahoningcountyoh.gov/739/Recorder”, retrieved: 2026-06-02}
• {type: official_county, url: “https://www.mahoningcountyoh.gov/762/Unclaimed-Funds”, retrieved: 2026-06-02}
• {type: official_county, url: “https://www.mahoningcountyoh.gov/161/GIS”, retrieved: 2026-06-02}
• {type: official_county, url: “https://www.mahoningcountyoh.gov/sitemap.aspx”, retrieved: 2026-06-02}
• {type: form_doc, url: “https://www.mahoningcountyoh.gov/DocumentCenter/View/50”, retrieved: 2026-06-02}
• {type: form_doc, url: “https://www.mahoningcountyoh.gov/DocumentCenter/View/51”, retrieved: 2026-06-02}
• {type: unclaimed_list, url: “https://www.mahoningcountyoh.gov/DocumentCenter/View/49800/”, retrieved: 2026-06-02}
• {type: unclaimed_list, url: “https://www.mahoningcountyoh.gov/DocumentCenter/View/50389/”, retrieved: 2026-06-02}

needs_verification:

• Deposit tiers for RealAuction bidders at Mahoning County sheriff sales: exact amounts not confirmed from official page text; check the “3rd Party Bidder and Plaintiff Instructions” PDF linked from https://www.mahoningcountyoh.gov/992/Sheriff-Sales.
• Bidder eligibility rules (affidavit of non-delinquency or equivalent): not confirmed from official page text; check the instructional documents on the Sheriff Sales page.
• Whether Mahoning County conducts tax lien certificate auctions (R.C. 5721.30+) or only bulk/negotiated certificate sales, and if so, any sale calendar, rate range, and registration process — no official treasurer or auditor page confirmed this as of 2026-06-02.
• Forfeited land sales (R.C. Ch. 5723) conducted by the County Auditor: sale format, typical dates, and official listing page — not confirmed from an official auditor page as of 2026-06-02.
• Delinquent tax list publication (R.C. 5721.03): newspaper or website URL where Mahoning County publishes the list — not confirmed from the auditor’s official page as of 2026-06-02.
• Current County Auditor officeholder: the unclaimed funds claim form names Ralph T. Meacham; confirm this is current (elected 4-year terms) via the auditor’s official website (https://auditor.mahoningcountyoh.gov/, which returned 403 Forbidden as of 2026-06-02).
• Sheriff officeholder name: the official pages retrieved as of 2026-06-02 do not prominently display the current Sheriff’s name; confirm.
• Mahoning County Land Reutilization Corporation (land bank): confirm whether active, its contact information, and how surplus from any direct R.C. 323.78 transfers is handled.
• Tax certificate sale information (R.C. 5721.30+): confirm whether Mahoning County holds public certificate auctions or bulk sales, and the identity of any current certificate holder if applicable.
• Third-party surplus-recovery-agent rules (fee cap %, licensing, assignability of R.C. 5721.20 residue claim, cooling-off): no Mahoning County-specific local rule 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, harrison-v-montgomery-county, us-bank-trust-v-cuyahoga-county, land-bank-direct-transfer, sheriff-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 Mahoning County government pages (treasurer, sheriff, clerk of courts, recorder, GIS, unclaimed funds, making-a-payment). Verified: RealAuction platform URL and 2022 launch date; bi-weekly Tuesday sale schedule; Treasurer contact (Yemma); Clerk contact (Ciccone); Recorder contact (Scarsella); Auditor unclaimed funds form (ORC Ch. 9.39); unclaimed funds lists (Auditor 09-17-2025; Clerk 04/30/2026); Municipay tax payment portal; GIS portal; Fidlar deed search. Tax certificate sale structure, forfeited land sale details, deposit tiers, and delinquent list URL flagged as needs_verification.

▸ For Investors / Operators — Mahoning County judicial foreclosure (tax and mortgage) sales moved online exclusively to RealAuction at https://mahoning.sheriffsaleauction.ohio.gov/ on September 13, 2022; no in-person bidding is available. Sales are scheduled on a bi-weekly Tuesday cadence; bidders must register on the platform and review all four instructional documents on the Sheriff’s Sales page before bidding. Minimum bid for tax foreclosure cases is taxes-owed-plus-costs per R.C. 5721.19; equity of redemption survives until court confirmation of sale. Contact the Sheriff’s Court Services Civil Division at 330-480-5010 for deposit tier details.

▸ For Former Owners — Excess funds from Mahoning County foreclosure sales are held by the Auditor (fiscal services) and the Clerk of Courts; both publish unclaimed-funds lists (Auditor list updated 09-17-2025; Clerk list revised 04/30/2026) at the county unclaimed-funds landing page (mahoningcountyoh.gov/762/Unclaimed-Funds). To file a claim, submit the notarized ORC Ch. 9.39 form to the Mahoning County Auditor — Fiscal Services Division, ATTN: Unclaimed Funds, 120 Market Street, Youngstown, OH 44503; 330-740-2010 ext. 7585. Under R.C. 5721.20, you have three years from the date the Treasurer receives the funds before they are forfeited.

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.