Pike County, OH tax sales

County offices

County notes

• •Pike County tax foreclosure parcels are sold IN PERSON. The Sheriff's current property list marks every Treasurer-filed tax case "Tax Sale At Courthouse" while mortgage foreclosure cases on the same list are marked "On Line Auction" or "Online Sale", so the online platform used for mortgage foreclosures does not carry the tax sales.
• •The Sheriff's Office moved general foreclosure sales online effective September 1, 2022 under a contract administered by the Ohio Department of Administrative Services, but its page carves out an exception in the county's own words: "Tax sales, Tax Lien Certificate Sales and Probate Sales will continue to be sold on location until further notice at the Pike County Courthouse 100 East Second Street Waverly, Ohio 45690."
• •Sale dates are set case by case as the Court of Common Pleas orders each parcel to sale, so the posted property list is the schedule. Cases on the list current as of August 2026 were set for 8/14/2026, 8/21/2026 and 9/11/2026, each at 10:00 A.M.
• •Tax foreclosure cases are filed by Treasurer Donald E. Davis and prosecuted by Ed Rhoads, Special Prosecuting Attorney, (740) 947-7605. That is the office to call about a specific tax case on the list.
• •Sheriff's sale questions go to Natalie Hixon at (740) 947-2111 ext. 1235.
• •A separate forfeited land track exists. The Pike County Auditor publishes a Notice of Forfeited Land Sale for parcels forfeited to the state for nonpayment of taxes, held at the Pike County Courthouse, 100 East Second Street, Waverly, front entrance, adjourned from day to day until every listed parcel is disposed of. The posted notice carries no sale dates, so call the Auditor at (740) 947-4125 for the current schedule.
• •The Auditor's forfeited land notice warns that a purchaser takes subject to satisfying taxes, assessments, charges, penalties, interest and costs.
• •Pike County Auditor: Davida Brown, 230 Waverly Plaza, Suite 200, Waverly, OH 45690-1222, (740) 947-4125, Monday to Friday 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM.
• •No Pike County Treasurer website could be located. Property tax bills are paid through a third party portal linked from the Auditor site at paytaxes.us/oh_pike, which forwards to payments.municipay.com/oh_pike, with phone payments at 1-844-947-0440.
• •Deposit tiers of $2,000, $5,000 and $10,000 and the wire or ACH funding rules described on the Sheriff's page govern the online foreclosure auction. No equivalent published deposit rule was found for the in person courthouse tax sales, so confirm terms with the Sheriff's civil division before attending.

Ohio rules

Max interest rate

18% per year, bid down in 0.25% stepsOhio Revised Code 5721.30 - Tax certificate definitionsR.C. 5721.30Verified Aug 6, 2026

Minimum return

6% floor at redemptionOhio Revised Code 5721.30 - Tax certificate definitionsR.C. 5721.30Verified Aug 6, 2026

Redemption

Ohio has no post-sale redemption window. On the certificate track the owner or any other person entitled to redeem may pay the county treasurer at any time before the certificate holder pays to start foreclosure, and after that up until the entry of confirmation of sale, the expiration of the 28-day alternative redemption period, or the decree that conveys title to the certificate holder. On the direct foreclosure track, delinquent land may be redeemed before proceedings begin, and afterwards up to the entry of confirmation of sale or the end of the alternative redemption period. The alternative redemption period is 28 days after an adjudication of foreclosure is journalized, and when it expires the right and equity of redemption terminate without any further order. Once title vests, a decree conveying the parcel to a certificate holder is a permanent bar to redemption.Ohio Revised Code 5721.38 - Right to redeemR.C. 5721.38Verified Aug 6, 2026

Deed deposit

For residential property the deposit is fixed by statute: $2,000 if the appraised value is $10,000 or less, $5,000 if it is above $10,000 and up to $200,000, and $10,000 if it is above $200,000. A judgment creditor buying at its own sale posts no deposit. For commercial property the deposit follows whatever requirements the sale sets. Deposit timing is set by the court or the officer conducting the sale and printed in the sale advertisement, and an online sale may take the deposit by card or other financial transaction device.Ohio Revised Code 5721.19 - Finding; appraisal and saleR.C. 5721.19Verified Aug 6, 2026

Surplus proceeds

Sale proceeds pay costs first, then the certificate holder or the taxing districts, and any residue goes to the clerk of the court within 45 days after confirmation. The clerk notifies the former owner. Residue left unclaimed 90 days after that final notice is paid into the county treasury and held for the owner, who may demand it within three years. After three years it is forfeited to the county's delinquent tax and assessment collection fund, or to the county land reutilization corporation fund where one exists.Ohio Revised Code 5721.20 - Excess foreclosure proceedsR.C. 5721.20Verified Aug 6, 2026

Governing statute

R.C. Chapter 5721Ohio Revised Code 5721.30 - Tax certificate definitionsR.C. 5721.30Verified Aug 6, 2026

A tax deed does not convey marketable title. Most buyers file a quiet title action before they can resell or insure the property. See the due diligence guide.

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