Stark County Tax Sales, Sheriff’s Sales and Forfeited Land
How property is sold for unpaid taxes and foreclosures in Stark County, where to find the listings, and what to check before you bid.
Stark County sells property in two kinds of public sale. Sheriff’s sales are foreclosure auctions, for unpaid mortgages or unpaid taxes, run by the Sheriff’s Office mostly online through RealAuction, with a deposit of $2,000, $5,000 or $10,000 depending on the appraised value. The Auditor’s forfeited land sale offers properties that went unsold at tax foreclosure and were forfeited to the state; it’s usually held once a year, most recently on December 18, 2025. Separately, the Treasurer publishes the list of delinquent taxpayers.
| Sale or list | Run by | Where to look |
|---|---|---|
| Sheriff’s foreclosure sales | Stark County Sheriff’s Office | Sheriff’s sale website and RealAuction |
| Forfeited land sale | Stark County Auditor | Auditor’s Sales page, with the forfeited properties list |
| Delinquent tax list and payment plans | Stark County Treasurer, (330) 451-7814 | Treasurer’s delinquent tax page |
Sources: Stark County Sheriff’s sales, Auditor’s Sales and Treasurer, delinquent tax and foreclosures, checked Sep 27, 2026.
Search Stark County sheriff’s sales
The Sheriff’s sale site lists upcoming foreclosure sales, delinquent tax sales and tax certificate sales, with case details for each property. Opens in a new tab.
Sheriff’s sales
When a court orders a property sold, usually in a mortgage or tax foreclosure, the Sheriff’s Office conducts the sale. According to the Sheriff’s sale site:
- Online auctions run on the “Official Public Sheriff’s Sale Website”, operated by RealAuction at stark.sheriffsaleauction.ohio.gov, every Monday at 10 a.m. Eastern.
- Properties are open for bidding at least seven days before the sale date.
- Bidders must register with RealAuction first. Deposits sent by wire are due by 5 p.m. two business days before the auction; ACH deposits by 4 p.m. five days before.
- The site also lists sales at 10 a.m. on the first Tuesday of the month at the Arts Hall Building, Stark County Fairgrounds, 305 Wertz Ave. NW, Canton. Check each listing for its sale type and place.
Deposits set by Ohio law
| Appraised value of the property | Deposit |
|---|---|
| $10,000 or less | $2,000 |
| More than $10,000, up to $200,000 | $5,000 |
| More than $200,000 | $10,000 |
Source: Ohio Revised Code 2329.211. The lender that brought the foreclosure doesn’t need to make a deposit if it bids.
- Appraised value tier
- $10,000 to $200,000
- Deposit before bidding
- $5,000
The Auditor’s forfeited land sale
When a property goes through tax foreclosure and doesn’t sell at the sheriff’s sales, it’s forfeited to the State of Ohio (Ohio Revised Code 5723.01). The county auditor must then offer those properties for sale at least once a year (Ohio Revised Code 5723.04).
Stark County’s most recent Auditor’s sale was on December 18, 2025, at 10 a.m. in Room 100, with a published forfeited properties list. The county posts each year’s date and list on its Auditor’s Sales page. We’ll add the 2026 sale once it’s announced.
Forfeited properties are often vacant lots, small strips of land or buildings in poor condition. Research each one before the sale.
Delinquent taxes, payment plans and foreclosure
The Treasurer publishes a delinquent taxpayer list as a downloadable spreadsheet; the latest is dated May 1, 2026. If you’re behind on your own taxes, the Treasurer offers delinquent contracts:
| Delinquent balance | Plan length |
|---|---|
| $1,000 to $1,999 | 12 months |
| $2,000 or more | 24 months |
At signing you pay 20% of the delinquent balance plus the current half-year tax. Monthly payments are due on the 20th, and current taxes must still be paid on time. Only the titled owner, or an authorized agent, can sign, and a past default disqualifies you. Call the Treasurer at (330) 451-7814.
If taxes stay delinquent for about a year and a half with no contract, the Treasurer can send the account to the Stark County Prosecuting Attorney to start tax foreclosure. The owner is served by certified mail and has 28 days to respond. The sale is advertised in the newspaper three weeks ahead, and the owner can still redeem the property by paying in full at any time before the court confirms the sale.
Source: Stark County Treasurer, delinquent tax and foreclosures, checked Sep 27, 2026.
Before you bid
- Look up the property in the county’s Real Estate Search for its value, taxes and sale history, and see it on the parcel viewer.
- Check the title. Search the Recorder’s records for mortgages, liens and easements, or hire a title company. Some liens may survive the sale. See our deed search guide.
- See it from the street. You usually can’t go inside before a sheriff’s sale, and properties are sold as they are.
- Plan for occupants. If someone lives there, removing them after the sale is the buyer’s job, through the courts.
- Line up the money. Have the deposit in place before the deadline, and know when the balance is due under the sale terms.
- After you win, the court confirms the sale and the Sheriff issues the deed, which then goes through the Auditor and the Recorder like any other transfer.
Common mistakes
- Missing the deposit deadline. ACH deposits are due five days before the auction.
- Bidding without a title search. A low price can hide liens and back taxes.
- Assuming you can inspect inside. Plan on buying sight unseen.
- Confusing the lists. The delinquent tax list isn’t a list of properties for sale.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I find Stark County sheriff sales?
On the Stark County Sheriff's sale website, which lists foreclosure, delinquent tax and tax certificate sales. Online auctions run through RealAuction, every Monday at 10 a.m. Eastern.
How much is the deposit at a Stark County sheriff sale?
Ohio law sets it by appraised value: $2,000 for $10,000 or less, $5,000 for more than $10,000 up to $200,000, and $10,000 above $200,000.
What is the Stark County Auditor's forfeited land sale?
A sale of properties that went through tax foreclosure, didn't sell and were forfeited to the State of Ohio. The Auditor offers them at least once a year; the most recent sale was December 18, 2025.
Where is the Stark County delinquent tax list?
The Stark County Treasurer publishes it as a downloadable spreadsheet on the Treasurer's delinquent tax page. The latest is dated May 1, 2026.
Can I get a payment plan for delinquent taxes?
Yes. The Treasurer offers 12-month contracts for balances of $1,000 to $1,999 and 24-month contracts for $2,000 or more, with 20% down plus the current half-year tax. Call (330) 451-7814.
Can I inspect a property before a sheriff sale?
Usually not inside. Properties are sold as they are, so research the title, taxes and condition from public records and the street before bidding.
Next steps
- Research a propertyReal Estate Search guide
- Check the titleRecorder search guide
- Avoid delinquencyDue dates and penalties
- Record your purchaseTransfers and conveyance fee
Sources
- Stark County Sheriff, foreclosure sales (online auctions, schedule, deposit deadlines, registration)
- Ohio Revised Code 2329.211 (deposit amounts)
- Stark County Auditor, Auditor’s Sales (forfeited land sale date and list)
- Ohio Revised Code 5723.01 and 5723.04 (forfeiture and annual sale)
- Stark County Treasurer, delinquent tax and foreclosures (list, contracts, foreclosure steps)
All sources checked Sep 27, 2026.
Stark Auditor Guide is an independent guide published by Abu Hurera LLC. It is not the Stark County Auditor’s office. Always confirm deadlines and amounts with the official office before you act.