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

C0. Identity

• County seat: Medina, OH
• Population: approx. 182,444 (2020 Census)
• Recording unit: county
• FIPS: 39103
• Parent legal framework: ohio
• Government structure: Traditional Ohio three-commissioner structure with elected Treasurer, Auditor, Recorder, Clerk of Courts, Sheriff, and Prosecutor.

C1. Local Tax Sale

Judicial / Mortgage Foreclosure Sheriff Sales (online platform)

• Conducts own sale? Yes — the Medina County Sheriff conducts judicial foreclosure (tax and mortgage) sales under court order.
• Platform: RealAuction — county-specific subdomain: https://medina.sheriffsaleauction.ohio.gov/ (all sales are online-only through realauction.com; no in-person bidding option for scheduled sales). Source: https://medinasheriff.org/divisions/civil/ (retrieved 2026-06-02)
• Sale calendar: Sales are held on scheduled Thursdays at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time. Properties are advertised for three consecutive weeks beginning five weeks prior to the sale in the Medina County Gazette. Bidding opens online at least seven days immediately prior to the sale date (proxy bidding period). Source: https://medinasheriff.org/divisions/civil/ (retrieved 2026-06-02)
• Registration: Bidders must register at https://www.realauction.com. All participants must complete a Purchaser Information Form. Plaintiff / Judgment Creditors must separately obtain username and password credentials per R.C. 2329.211. Source: https://medinasheriff.org/divisions/civil/ (retrieved 2026-06-02)
• Deposit requirements (set by R.C. 2329.211):
  • Appraised value requiring a $2,000,$5,000, or $10,000 deposit depending on the property — tiers governed by state law
  • Accepted methods: bank wire transfer (must arrive by 5 p.m., two business days before sale) or ACH (initiated by 4 p.m., five business days before sale)
  • Cash deposits are not accepted Source: https://medinasheriff.org/divisions/civil/ (retrieved 2026-06-02)
• Minimum bid: Opening bids start at two-thirds of appraised value (exterior appraisal). Properties that do not sell at the first sale return with no minimum bid requirement. Source: https://medinasheriff.org/divisions/civil/ (retrieved 2026-06-02)
• Property advertising: Medina County Gazette (newspaper of general circulation), three consecutive weeks before sale. Source: https://medinasheriff.org/divisions/civil/ (retrieved 2026-06-02)
• RealAuction customer support: (877) 361-7325 or (954) 734-7401; customerservice@realauction.com; 90-minute webinar trainings available. Source: https://medinasheriff.org/divisions/civil/ (retrieved 2026-06-02)

Tax Lien Certificate Sales

• [needs_verification] Whether Medina County actively conducts retail public tax-lien-certificate auctions (R.C. 5721.30+) or sells certificates via bulk/negotiated sale could not be confirmed from the county Treasurer’s public website (site required JavaScript to load and did not render in static fetch). The Ohio framework permits both; contact the Treasurer’s Office at 330-725-9748 to confirm.

Delinquent List

• [needs_verification] Medina County Treasurer delinquent property list publication — specific URL and publication schedule not retrieved (Treasurer site at https://www.medinacountytax.com was JavaScript-only and did not render). Under R.C. 5721.03, a delinquent list must be published annually.

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

• Where to redeem: Pay all delinquent taxes, penalties, interest, and costs to the Medina County Treasurer’s Office, 144 N. Broadway St., Room 107, Medina, OH 44256. Phone: (330) 725-9748. Source: 2026 Directory of Public Officials — https://www.medinaco.org/wp-content/uploads/2026-Public-Officials-Directory_0526.pdf (retrieved 2026-06-02)
• Online payment portal: https://www.medinacountytax.com (note: site is JavaScript-heavy; direct URL for payment confirmed from medinaco.org directory).
• Post-sale redemption window: Per Ohio statute (R.C. 5721.25 / 2329.33), equity of redemption survives until confirmation of sale. There is no statutory post-confirmation redemption window. See ohio §2.
• Local fees: [needs_verification] — county-specific penalty/interest rates not retrieved from official source (Treasurer site non-rendering). Ohio statutory framework: 18% max interest on certificates; see ohio §1.
• Deviations from state default: None identified. Standard Ohio redemption framework (R.C. 5721.25) applies; see ohio.
• Contact:
  • Office: Medina County Treasurer — John Burke, Treasurer
  • Phone: (330) 725-9748
  • Email: treasurerburke@medinacounty.gov
  • Address: 144 N. Broadway St., Room 107, Medina, OH 44256

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

Judicial Foreclosure Surplus (Common Pleas Court)

• Claim filing venue: Medina County Clerk of Courts — Legal / Civil Division, Common Pleas Court

  • Address: 225 E. Washington St., Medina, OH 44256
  • Phone: (330) 725-9722
  • Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
  • Source: https://medinacountyclerk.org/contact/ (retrieved 2026-06-02); 2026 Directory of Public Officials (retrieved 2026-06-02)

• Excess Funds list published: Yes. The Clerk of Courts publishes an “Excess Fund List” covering both tax foreclosures and mortgage foreclosures. The list (updated 4-22-2026) is available as a PDF on the Clerk’s forms page:

  • Excess Fund List PDF (updated 4-22-2026): https://medinacountyclerk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Excess_Funds_List_4-22-2026.pdf
  • Clerk forms page: https://medinacountyclerk.org/forms/ Source: https://medinacountyclerk.org/forms/ (retrieved 2026-06-02); excess funds PDF text extracted and confirmed to list cases titled “Excess Funds on Tax Foreclosures and Foreclosures” with case numbers, deposit dates, amounts, and defendant names (retrieved 2026-06-02).

• Claim form / process: [needs_verification] — No specific surplus claim form was found on the Clerk’s forms page (forms page lists general civil forms but no labeled “excess funds claim” form). For the motion/petition procedure, contact the Legal Division at (330) 725-9722. Ohio practice generally requires the former owner to file a motion to distribute with the court; see ohio §3 and cuyahoga-oh for a worked example.

• Local deadline notes: Under R.C. 5721.20, former owners have three years from the date the treasurer receives residue funds to demand payment; unclaimed residue after three years forfeits to the delinquent tax and assessment collection fund (or land bank fund where applicable). See ohio §3 for statutory authority.

• Unclaimed list published: Yes — Excess Fund List PDF confirmed above.

• Contact:

  • David B. Wadsworth, Clerk of Courts
  • Legal Division: (330) 725-9722
  • Address: 225 E. Washington St., Medina, OH 44256
  • Case search portal: https://portal-ohmedina.tylertech.cloud/Portal/

▸ For Investors / Operators — Medina County sheriff sales are entirely online through RealAuction at medina.sheriffsaleauction.ohio.gov, held on scheduled Thursdays at 9:00 a.m. Eastern. Deposits are tiered at $2,000,$5,000, or $10,000 (bank wire by 5 p.m. two business days prior, or ACH by 4 p.m. five business days prior; cash not accepted). Opening bids start at two-thirds of appraised value; properties that fail to sell return with no minimum bid. Proxy bidding opens at least seven days before the sale. Check the Clerk of Courts Excess Fund List (updated 4-22-2026 PDF) to identify cases with confirmed surplus before bidding on properties in that pool, and verify surviving liens via ohio §7b.

▸ For Former Owners — Medina County publishes an Excess Fund List at medinacountyclerk.org/forms/ (PDF updated 4-22-2026) listing cases with funds on deposit. Claim those funds by filing a motion to distribute with the Medina County Clerk of Courts — Legal Division (225 E. Washington St., Medina, OH 44256; (330) 725-9722). Under R.C. 5721.20, former owners have three years from the date the Treasurer receives the residue to demand payment; unclaimed funds after three years are forfeited to the delinquent-tax collection fund. Call the Legal Division to confirm the current motion procedure before filing.

Forfeited Land Sale Surplus (R.C. 5723.11)

• [needs_verification] Whether Medina County has conducted recent R.C. Ch. 5723 forfeited land sales and how surplus/excess is handled through the auditor — not confirmed from official source. Contact the Auditor’s Office at (330) 725-9754.

C4. Offices & Contacts

Key emails (verified from official sources):

• Treasurer: treasurerburke@medinacounty.gov
• Auditor: auditorcapretta@medinacounty.gov
• Recorder: lhoffmann@medinaco.org
• Sheriff: tgrice@medinacounty.gov

Sources:

• 2026 Directory of Public Officials: https://www.medinaco.org/wp-content/uploads/2026-Public-Officials-Directory_0526.pdf (retrieved 2026-06-02)
• Recorder contact page: https://recorder.co.medina.oh.us/contact-us/ (retrieved 2026-06-02)
• Sheriff contact page: https://medinasheriff.org/contact/ (retrieved 2026-06-02)
• Clerk contact page: https://medinacountyclerk.org/contact/ (retrieved 2026-06-02)

C5. Local Procedure Notes

• All judicial foreclosure sales conducted online via RealAuction: Medina County uses the state-designated https://medina.sheriffsaleauction.ohio.gov/ platform; there is no in-person bidding for scheduled sheriff’s sales. Source: https://medinasheriff.org/divisions/civil/ (retrieved 2026-06-02)

• Sale day is Thursday at 9:00 a.m.: Unlike some Ohio counties (e.g., Cuyahoga uses Mondays), Medina schedules its sales on Thursdays. Source: https://medinasheriff.org/divisions/civil/ (retrieved 2026-06-02)

• Seven-day proxy bidding window: Bidding opens at least seven days before the sale date, allowing proxy bids in advance of the scheduled sale time. Source: https://medinasheriff.org/divisions/civil/ (retrieved 2026-06-02)

• No minimum bid on second attempt: Properties that do not attract a winning bid at or above two-thirds of appraised value are re-offered without a minimum bid requirement. Source: https://medinasheriff.org/divisions/civil/ (retrieved 2026-06-02)

• Medina County Gazette is the official notice newspaper: Foreclosure sale notices are published for three consecutive weeks in the Medina County Gazette beginning five weeks before the sale. Source: https://medinasheriff.org/divisions/civil/ (retrieved 2026-06-02)

• Civil Division forms available: Property Description Approval Form, Conveyance Fee Statement of Value & Receipt Form (DTE 100), and Sheriff’s Deed are available from the Civil Division; attorney foreclosure procedure documentation is also available. Source: https://medinasheriff.org/divisions/civil/ (retrieved 2026-06-02)

• [needs_verification] Whether Medina County uses a land reutilization corporation (land bank) under R.C. 1724 and whether R.C. 323.65–323.79 expedited board-of-revision foreclosures are used in Medina — not confirmed from official sources.

C6. Records Access

Sources: https://medinaco.org/ (retrieved 2026-06-02); https://medinasheriff.org/ (retrieved 2026-06-02); https://medinacountyclerk.org/forms/ (retrieved 2026-06-02); https://recorder.co.medina.oh.us/ (retrieved 2026-06-02)

C7. Meta

sources:

• {type: official_county, url: “https://medinasheriff.org/divisions/civil/”, retrieved: 2026-06-02}
• {type: official_county, url: “https://medinasheriff.org/contact/”, retrieved: 2026-06-02}
• {type: official_county, url: “https://medinasheriff.org/”, retrieved: 2026-06-02}
• {type: official_county, url: “https://medinacountyclerk.org/”, retrieved: 2026-06-02}
• {type: official_county, url: “https://medinacountyclerk.org/contact/”, retrieved: 2026-06-02}
• {type: official_county, url: “https://medinacountyclerk.org/forms/”, retrieved: 2026-06-02}
• {type: official_county, url: “https://medinacountyclerk.org/civil/”, retrieved: 2026-06-02}
• {type: official_county, url: “https://recorder.co.medina.oh.us/”, retrieved: 2026-06-02}
• {type: official_county, url: “https://recorder.co.medina.oh.us/contact-us/”, retrieved: 2026-06-02}
• {type: official_county, url: “https://www.medinaco.org/”, retrieved: 2026-06-02}
• {type: official_county_pdf, url: “https://www.medinaco.org/wp-content/uploads/2026-Public-Officials-Directory_0526.pdf”, retrieved: 2026-06-02}
• {type: excess_funds_pdf, url: “https://medinacountyclerk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Excess_Funds_List_4-22-2026.pdf”, retrieved: 2026-06-02}
• {type: portal, url: “https://portal-ohmedina.tylertech.cloud/Portal/”, retrieved: 2026-06-02}

needs_verification:

• Medina County Treasurer delinquent property list — publication URL, schedule, and location (Treasurer site is JavaScript-only and did not render; call (330) 725-9748 or visit https://www.medinacountytax.com).
• Whether Medina County actively runs public retail tax-lien-certificate auctions (R.C. 5721.30+) or sells certificates via bulk/negotiated sale — not confirmed from official source.
• Specific local redemption fees and interest rates set by the Treasurer (county may impose within the R.C. statutory band; not retrieved from official source).
• Surplus claim form / motion to distribute procedure at Medina County Clerk of Courts — no specific form found on the forms page; confirm by calling the Legal Division at (330) 725-9722.
• Prosecutor’s office address and phone number (weebly.com site did not expose them in the fetched content).
• Whether Medina County has an active land reutilization corporation (land bank) under R.C. 1724 and whether the R.C. 323.65–323.79 board-of-revision expedited path is used.
• Auditor parcel search portal — primary domain http://www.medinacountyauditor.org has an expired SSL certificate; alternate URL https://auditor.medinacounty.gov returned 403 Forbidden. Verify current working parcel search URL with Auditor’s Office at (330) 725-9754.
• Next known/scheduled Medina County sheriff sale date (check https://medina.sheriffsaleauction.ohio.gov/ directly for live listings).
• Third-party surplus-recovery-agent rules (fee cap, licensing, assignability of the R.C. 5721.20 residue claim) — no Medina-specific local ordinance found; governed by state law per ohio §3 needs_verification.

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

changelog:

• 2026-06-02 — Initial population. Local facts sourced from official Medina County government pages (sheriff civil division, clerk of courts, recorder, county directory). Confirmed: RealAuction platform at medina.sheriffsaleauction.ohio.gov, Thursday 9:00 a.m. sale schedule, three-tier deposit structure ($2K/$5K/$10K), seven-day proxy bidding window, Medina County Gazette publication requirement, Clerk of Courts Excess Fund List (updated 4-22-2026) with confirmed case entries, all office contacts and officeholder names from 2026 Public Officials Directory.

▸ For Investors / Operators — Medina County sheriff sales are entirely online through RealAuction at medina.sheriffsaleauction.ohio.gov, held on scheduled Thursdays at 9:00 a.m. Eastern. Deposits are tiered at $2,000,$5,000, or $10,000 (bank wire by 5 p.m. two business days prior, or ACH by 4 p.m. five business days prior; cash not accepted). Opening bids start at two-thirds of appraised value; properties that fail to sell return with no minimum bid. Proxy bidding opens at least seven days before the sale. Check the Clerk of Courts Excess Fund List (updated 4-22-2026 PDF) to identify cases with confirmed surplus before bidding on properties in that pool, and verify surviving liens via ohio §7b.

▸ For Former Owners — Medina County publishes an Excess Fund List at medinacountyclerk.org/forms/ (PDF updated 4-22-2026) listing cases with funds on deposit. Claim those funds by filing a motion to distribute with the Medina County Clerk of Courts — Legal Division (225 E. Washington St., Medina, OH 44256; (330) 725-9722). Under R.C. 5721.20, former owners have three years from the date the Treasurer receives the residue to demand payment; unclaimed funds after three years are forfeited to the delinquent-tax collection fund. Call the Legal Division to confirm the current motion procedure before filing.

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.