The Stark County Auditor is one of the most frequently-used county offices, handling property assessments, tax administration, real estate records, Homestead Exemption applications, and dog licensing for every Stark County resident. Whether you are buying or selling a home, estimating your property taxes, applying for a senior tax reduction, licensing a new pet, or just looking up who owns a specific parcel, the Auditor's office is the place. This guide covers location, services, online tools, eligibility for programs, and common questions.
Angela Kinsey currently serves as the Stark County Auditor, an elected four-year position. The office is responsible for county financial reporting, accurate property records, fair property assessments, and several programs that benefit county residents directly — including property tax relief programs saving eligible seniors an average of $400 per year.
Location & Contact
Stark County Auditor's Office
110 Central Plaza South, Suite 220
Canton, OH 44702
Phone: (330) 451-7357
Fax: (330) 451-7630
Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM
Website: starkcountyohio.gov/auditor
The Auditor's office is on the second floor of the Stark County Office Building at Market Avenue and Tuscarawas Street in downtown Canton — the same building as the Probate Court (5th floor) and Stark County Family Court (6th floor). Visitors typically check in at the reception desk on Suite 220. Many routine services can be handled online without visiting in person.
Online Property Search
The Stark County Auditor's Property Search tool lets anyone look up detailed information about any parcel in the county without visiting the office. You can search by:
Owner name: Enter the current owner's name (exact spelling helps). Results show all parcels owned by that person or entity.
Property address: Enter street number and street name. The tool locates the parcel and displays full ownership, tax, and assessment information.
Parcel number (PPN): If you already have the Permanent Parcel Number, this is the fastest way to pull up a specific property.
Information available for each parcel: Current and historical ownership, assessed value, tax history, property characteristics (bedrooms, bathrooms, square footage, year built, lot size), sale history with dates and prices, photos (via pictometry or aerial imagery), legal description, and tax district information.
This tool is free and public. Real estate agents, title companies, and anyone considering buying property use it routinely to research parcels. The Advanced Parcel Viewer on GIS portal offers mapping capabilities including aerial imagery, zoning, school district overlays, and more.
Property Tax Estimator
The Tax Estimator Tool helps you project real estate taxes on a property you already own or are considering buying. You can estimate by:
Selecting a specific city, village, or township, selecting a school district (which affects millage rates), or entering a property's permanent parcel number for actual values. The tool calculates estimated annual taxes based on current millage rates. Useful scenarios: deciding between two homes in different school districts, budgeting for property taxes when buying, or estimating impact of a major home renovation on future taxes.
Homestead Exemption — Senior & Disabled
The Homestead Exemption is one of Ohio's most valuable property tax relief programs. Eligible homeowners can reduce the market value of their home used for tax calculations by up to $29,000 — saving an average of $400 per year on property taxes.
Eligibility:
- Must be age 65 or older (or permanently and totally disabled) on January 1 of the application year
- Must own and occupy the home as primary residence
- Ohio adjusted income must not exceed $41,000 (2026 threshold — verify current limit with Auditor's office)
Enhanced Homestead for Disabled Veterans: Veterans who are 100% service-connected disabled (as determined by the VA) qualify for an additional reduction beyond the standard Homestead. This enhanced benefit is not income-capped.
How to apply: Call or visit the Auditor's office to request an application, complete it with required documentation (birth certificate or driver's license, income verification, VA disability letter if applicable), and submit by the annual deadline. Once approved, the exemption continues automatically as long as you still qualify — no need to reapply each year unless circumstances change.
Dog Licensing
The Auditor's office handles dog licensing for all Stark County residents — required for every dog three months or older. Licenses help reunite lost pets with owners and support the dog pound and animal control services.
Annual fees (approximate, subject to change): Standard annual license around $14-$18. Spayed or neutered dogs may qualify for reduced fees with veterinary documentation. Three-year licenses and permanent licenses are also available. Late fees apply after January 31 (doubling or tripling standard rates).
How to license: Purchase online through the Auditor's website, mail-in with documentation, or in-person at Suite 220. For multi-pet households, licensing multiple dogs at once is often faster online. Keep your license tag attached to your dog's collar — it is legally required and helps if your dog gets lost.
Stark County Humane Society purchases licenses from the Auditor's office at a small agency fee ($0.75 per application processed through the shelter) when adopting out dogs — helping new owners start with proper licensing from day one.
Property Assessment & Reappraisal
Ohio law requires the Auditor to appraise all properties in Stark County to determine fair, accurate market values for tax purposes. This mass appraisal uses multiple data sources:
Field verification (staff physically visit a sample of properties), aerial photography and pictometry (for visual assessment without site visits), sale/value information from recent transactions, MLS (Multiple Listing Service) data, local auction results, and building permit records. The goal is ensuring that similar properties have similar assessed values — so that tax burdens are distributed fairly.
If you believe your property is over-assessed, you can file an appeal with the Board of Revision. Appeals must typically be filed between January 1 and March 31. Successful appeals require evidence (recent appraisal, comparable sale data, photos showing deterioration) demonstrating the assessed value exceeds market value.