Search Saint Paul Property Records

Saint Paul property records are maintained by Ramsey County, which handles deed recording, assessments, and property tax administration for all parcels in the city. The city also runs its own online tools and programs that let you search property data, check TISH report status, and find code compliance information. This page explains where to find Saint Paul property records and how to get what you need.

Ramsey County Handles Property Records

All recorded real estate documents for Saint Paul are filed with the Ramsey County Recorder. This includes deeds, mortgages, plats, liens, satisfactions of mortgage, and other instruments that affect real property. The Ramsey County Recorder is the official custodian of these public records. The base recording fee for real estate documents in Minnesota is $46 for the first page and $4 for each additional page. These rates are set by state law and apply across all counties.

Ramsey County also handles property assessment through the county Assessor's Office. The Assessor sets market values and property classifications for all parcels in Saint Paul and the rest of the county. Values are established as of January 2nd each year under Minnesota Statutes Chapter 272. Notices go out in early spring. If you disagree with your value, you can appeal at the local Board of Appeal and Equalization. For full details on county recording and assessment services, visit the Ramsey County property records page.

Two transfer taxes apply to most transactions. The deed tax is set under Minnesota Statutes Chapter 287 at 0.33% of net consideration. The mortgage registry tax is 0.23% of the principal secured. Both must be paid at the time of recording.

The PRISM system connects Ramsey County property data to the statewide record information system, making Saint Paul parcel records accessible online.

The Minnesota Department of Revenue provides state-level property tax resources that apply to Saint Paul homeowners and property owners throughout Ramsey County.

Saint Paul City Property Tools

The City of Saint Paul operates its own online property lookup through Saint Paul Online Services at online.stpaul.gov. You can use this portal to search by property address or Property ID number. The tool lets you check zoning district, read code compliance reports filed in the last 365 days, find out if a building has a certificate of occupancy, and review vacant building status. TISH reports are also available through this portal.

The Saint Paul Assessment Lookup is available at online.stpaul.gov/web/portal/public-search. This tool shows current assessed value, property classification, and links to Ramsey County data. It is free and open to the public. No account is needed. For additional property data and reports, the city's Property Information and Reports page at stpaul.gov/departments/safety-inspections/report-concern/property-information-and-reports is worth bookmarking. Open Information Saint Paul, the city's data portal, is another resource for bulk or detailed data.

Online Property Search Options

Saint Paul property owners and researchers have several free tools to choose from. The city's Online Services portal gives you local code and inspection data. The Ramsey County website provides assessed values, tax statements, and parcel details. For recorded documents, the Ramsey County Recorder maintains an index that you can search by party name, document type, or date range in person.

The Ramsey County property tax and value lookup lets you see current and prior year values, tax amounts, and ownership information for any parcel in the county. Saint Paul also links directly to this county data through its online portal. Together, these tools give you a reasonably complete picture of any Saint Paul property without needing to make an in-person visit. For deeper research on recorded instruments like deeds and mortgages, an in-person search at the Ramsey County Recorder remains the most thorough approach for older records.

Note: Some document records from earlier decades may not be digitized. Contact the Ramsey County Recorder for guidance on historical property research.

Property Records and Documents

Saint Paul property records cover the full range of real estate documents. Deeds are the most common, recording ownership transfers from one party to another. Mortgages and deeds of trust secure loans against real property. When a loan is paid off, a satisfaction of mortgage is recorded. Plats create new lots and subdivisions and establish boundary lines. Judgments, tax liens, and special assessments are also entered into the public record. All of these are accessible to the public once filed with Ramsey County.

Minnesota law governs how real estate documents are recorded. Abstract documents follow Minnesota Statutes Chapter 507. Torrens title documents fall under Minnesota Statutes Chapter 508. Both systems are used in Ramsey County. If you are not sure which system covers a given property, the Recorder's office can clarify. Certified copies of documents cost $10 plus a per-page fee. Non-certified copies are $2 per page.

Saint Paul Truth-in-Sale of Housing

Saint Paul requires a Truth-in-Sale of Housing (TISH) evaluation for all single-family homes, duplexes, condominiums, and townhomes before they are marketed for sale. The report is for disclosure only, meaning it informs buyers of the property's condition rather than requiring extensive repairs. In fact, there is only one required repair under the Saint Paul program: an operational hard-wired smoke detector or alarm in single-family dwellings. If none is present, the owner receives a letter from the Senior Electrical Inspector, and a licensed electrical contractor must pull a permit to install one.

The TISH report must be available within three calendar days of listing. It is valid for one year (365 consecutive days) from the date of issuance and covers only one sale by the owner listed on the report. Transfers to immediate family members such as parents, children, grandparents, grandchildren, and siblings do not require a TISH. Failure to comply with Chapter 189 of the Saint Paul city code is a misdemeanor. You can find more information at stpaul.gov/departments/safety-inspections/truth-sale-housing.

Property Tax Timeline for Saint Paul

Property taxes for Saint Paul parcels follow the Minnesota statewide timeline. Values are established as of January 2nd each year under Minnesota Statutes Chapter 273. Tax statements are mailed in March. The first half of taxes is due May 15. The second half is due October 15. Delinquent taxes accrue interest under Minnesota Statutes Chapter 279. After three years of nonpayment, the state may begin the forfeiture process.

Ramsey County Assessor establishes all market values. If you believe your value is wrong, you first appeal to the local Board of Appeal and Equalization in the spring. Additional appeals can be taken to the Minnesota Tax Court. For state-level property tax programs, including homestead credit refund and senior property tax deferral, visit revenue.state.mn.us/property-taxes.

Nearby Cities

These qualifying cities are close to Saint Paul. Property records for each are managed at the county level.