Hennepin County Property Records

Hennepin County property records are filed and maintained at the Government Center in downtown Minneapolis. The Recorder and Registrar of Titles keeps deeds, mortgages, plats, and other real estate documents for the largest county in Minnesota. You can search many records online or visit in person to get copies of specific documents. The Assessor tracks property values and classifications across more than 400,000 parcels. Whether you need a recorded deed, a tax statement, or a property value history, Hennepin County has tools and staff to help you find what you are looking for.

Hennepin County Recorder and Registrar of Titles

The Hennepin County Recorder and Registrar of Titles handles all official real estate recording in the county. This office processes deeds, mortgages, liens, satisfaction of mortgages, and other documents that affect real property. Hennepin County is unique in Minnesota because it operates both the abstract recording system and the Torrens title registration system. Both types of documents are accepted and processed here. The office sits inside the Hennepin County Government Center at 300 South 6th Street in Minneapolis.

E-Recording is available through approved vendors. This lets title companies, lenders, and attorneys submit documents electronically without coming to the office. Documents submitted in person are accepted until 4:15 PM. The office is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. For recording questions or to ask about a specific document, call 612-348-3567 or visit hennepin.us/residents/property/recordings.

The Recorder page on the county website explains the process, lists required document formats, and has the current fee schedule. You can also find UCC filing information there.

The Recorder's page at Hennepin County shows the full scope of real estate services available at the Government Center. Visit hennepin.us/residents/property/recordings for current hours and filing details.

The Recorder's Office processes thousands of documents each year, making it one of the busiest recording offices in the state.

Hennepin County Assessor

The Hennepin County Assessor values and classifies all real property in the county. With more than 400,000 parcels, this is the largest assessment operation in Minnesota. Staff appraisers review property sales, inspect properties on a cycle, and set estimated market values each January 2. Valuation notices go out in March. If you think your value is wrong, you can appeal at the local Board of Appeal and Equalization in the spring. The Assessor's Office is at 300 South 6th Street, Minneapolis, and can be reached at 612-348-3046 or assessor.ao@hennepin.us.

The office also handles homestead applications, relative homestead requests, and special property classification programs. You can look up your assessed value, classification, and parcel details online at hennepin.us/residents/property/property-information. The property information portal lets you search by address, parcel ID, or owner name. It shows current and prior year values, tax amounts, and sales history.

Under Minnesota Statutes Chapter 272, all real property must be assessed at its estimated market value unless a specific classification provides for a different standard. The Assessor follows this rule when reviewing every parcel in the county each year.

The Assessor's online portal for Hennepin County provides property value lookups, tax records, and parcel maps for any address in the county. See hennepin.us/residents/property/assessor for details on appeals and homestead programs.

The Assessor conducts physical inspections on a five-year cycle and performs market analysis every year to keep values current.

Online Property Records Search

Hennepin County offers several ways to search property records online at no cost. The main property information portal at hennepin.us/residents/property/property-information is a good starting point. You can look up ownership, assessed value, tax history, and parcel details for any address in the county. The system is free and open to the public. No login is needed.

The interactive property map at gis.hennepin.us/property/ lets you browse parcels visually. Search by address, PIN, or parcel number. Click a parcel to see ownership details, boundaries, lot size, and other information. The map includes layers for zoning, aerial photos, flood zones, and land use. Print or download map views for any area of the county. The tool works on mobile devices and is updated regularly. This is one of the most complete public mapping tools in the state.

For recorded documents, the Recorder's office maintains an index of documents on file. In-person searches at the Government Center let you look up deeds and other documents by party name, document type, or date range. Staff can assist with searches and make copies on request.

Note: Some older documents may not appear in online indexes. For historical records predating digitization, an in-person visit is the most reliable approach.

Property Records and Documents

Hennepin County property records cover a wide range of document types. Deeds transfer ownership from one party to another. Mortgages and deeds of trust secure loans against real property. Satisfactions of mortgage show when a loan has been paid off. Liens, judgments, and other claims on property are also recorded here. Plats create new subdivisions and establish lot boundaries. All of these go through the Recorder's office and become part of the permanent public record.

The county maintains both abstract and Torrens records. Abstract documents are traditional recorded instruments filed in the general recording system under Minnesota Statutes Chapter 507. Torrens documents are processed under the Torrens registration system governed by Minnesota Statutes Chapter 508. The Torrens system provides a state-guaranteed certificate of title, which is separate from the abstract system. Knowing which system covers a given parcel helps you request the right documents.

Certified copies of recorded documents cost $10 plus a per-page fee. Non-certified copies are $2 per page. Well disclosure certificates are filed when properties with private wells change hands, as required by state law. The recording fee for a well disclosure certificate in Hennepin County is $54.

Recording Fees and Transfer Taxes

The base recording fee for real estate documents in Hennepin County is $46 for the first page and $4 for each additional page. Plats cost $56 to record. Torrens documents follow the same $46 base fee. When a document covers more than one title, each title is charged the $46 fee separately. UCC filings range from $15 to $50 depending on the number of pages. These fees are set by state law and apply across all Minnesota counties.

Two transfer taxes apply to most real estate transactions. The deed tax, sometimes called the state deed tax, is set under Minnesota Statutes Chapter 287 at 0.33% of the net consideration, with a minimum of $1.65. This applies to deeds that transfer ownership for consideration. The mortgage registry tax applies to mortgages and is calculated at 0.23% of the principal amount secured by the mortgage. Both taxes must be paid at recording. The Recorder collects them and remits them to the state.

These taxes affect most standard purchases and refinances. Transfers that qualify for exemptions, like transfers between spouses or certain government conveyances, may be exempt from deed tax. The document must note the basis for any claimed exemption.

Note: Always confirm current fees with the Recorder's office before submitting documents, as fee schedules can be updated by the legislature.

Hennepin County Property Tax

Property taxes in Hennepin County are due in two installments each year. The first half is due May 15 and the second half is due October 15. Taxes become delinquent on January 1 of the year following the due date. Delinquent taxes accrue interest at 9 to 10% per year under Minnesota Statutes Chapter 279. If taxes go unpaid long enough, the property can enter the forfeiture process. After three years of delinquency, the state may forfeit the property.

Tax statements are mailed in March each year. The statement shows the property's assessed value, the tax amount owed, and the due dates. You can pay online, by mail, or in person at the Government Center. Bank escrow payments are also accepted. The county also runs programs for senior citizens and people with disabilities that can reduce the tax burden. For payment options and current balances, visit hennepin.us/residents/property/property-tax.

Property values are set each January 2 under Minnesota Statutes Chapter 273. Notices of that valuation go out in March. If you want to challenge your value, you first appeal at the local Board of Appeal and Equalization. That board meets in the spring. If you are not satisfied, you can appeal further to the Minnesota Tax Court. For state-level tax policy and programs, the Minnesota Department of Revenue site at revenue.state.mn.us/property-taxes has more information.

Cities in Hennepin County

Hennepin County covers Minneapolis and dozens of surrounding suburbs. All property records for these communities are filed at the county Recorder's office in Minneapolis.

Other communities in Hennepin County include Richfield, Golden Valley, Hopkins, St. Louis Park, Crystal, New Hope, Brooklyn Center, and many more. All property filings go through the Hennepin County Recorder at the Government Center.

Nearby Counties

These counties share borders with Hennepin County. Each has its own Recorder and Assessor. If a property sits near a county line, confirm the correct county before searching records.