Find Property Records in Pine County
Pine County property records are maintained at the County Recorder's office and the Property Services office in Pine City. You can search deeds, mortgages, liens, assessment data, and other land documents online using the Beacon system, or visit the courthouse at 315 Main Street S in person. The Recorder keeps all legal documents tied to real property in the county, and the Property Services office handles valuations for approximately 28,000 parcels. Both offices share the same address and can help with searches, certified copies, and assessment questions.
Pine County Overview
Pine County Recorder
The Pine County Recorder is the official keeper of all legal documents affecting real property in the county. The office records deeds, mortgages, satisfactions, liens, easements, federal and state tax liens, plats, certificates of survey, and other land-related documents. Every document must meet Minnesota state requirements before staff will accept it. That includes original signatures, notary acknowledgment, a full legal description, and the preparer's name on the first page.
Pine County offers e-recording for those who prefer to submit documents electronically. Paper documents can also be delivered in person or mailed. Either way, the cutoff for recording on any given day is 4:15 PM. The office is open until 4:30 PM, but documents that arrive in the last 15 minutes are held for the next business day. If you send a document by mail, confirm the fee before you send it and include a self-addressed return envelope.
| Office | Pine County Recorder |
|---|---|
| Address | 315 Main Street S Pine City, MN 55063 |
| Phone | 320-591-1666 |
| recorder@pinecountymn.gov | |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM Documents accepted until 4:15 PM |
| E-Recording | Available |
Torrens title records are maintained at the Pine County Recorder's office under Minnesota Statutes Chapter 508. Torrens properties carry a Certificate of Title rather than an abstract chain. Both systems are used in the county.
The Minnesota Department of Revenue runs a statewide property data system called PRISM that pulls records from all counties, including Pine. It is a useful reference for statewide property data comparisons.
PRISM aggregates parcel and assessment data from all 87 Minnesota counties, including Pine County, giving a statewide view of property records.
Pine County Property Services
The Property Services office handles assessments and tax collections for all parcels in Pine County. Estimated market values are set as of January 2 each year, using recent sales data and physical inspections. Valuation notices go out in March. If your assessed value seems too high, you can challenge it before the Board of Appeal and Equalization meets in April. There is no fee to appear before the local board.
About 28,000 parcels are tracked in Pine County. The mix includes residential homes, cabins and seasonal properties, farmland, and forested lots. The assessor classifies each parcel based on its current use. Different property types follow different rules under state law. All parcels are physically inspected at least once every five years. Changes like new construction, additions, or demolition are noted during inspections and can affect your classification and taxes. Homestead applications that reduce taxable value for owner-occupants are handled through the Property Services office as well.
| Office | Pine County Property Services |
|---|---|
| Address | 315 Main Street S Pine City, MN 55063 |
| Phone | 320-591-1640 |
| assessor@pinecountymn.gov | |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM |
If you disagree with your value after the local board meeting, you can appeal to the County Board of Equalization and then to the Minnesota Tax Court. The Tax Court deadline is generally 30 days after the local board issues its decision.
Search Pine County Property Records Online
Pine County uses the Beacon WebGIS system for online property searches. This free tool lets you search by parcel ID, address, or owner name. No account is needed. The map view displays parcel boundaries and allows you to zoom into specific properties across the county.
Each parcel record in Beacon shows the current owner, mailing address, legal description, estimated market value, land and building values broken out separately, recent sales history with dates and prices, and property details like acreage, year built, and square footage. Tax information is also part of the summary. The system runs 24 hours a day and works on mobile devices.
Beacon is a good starting point for ownership and value research. It does not give you certified copies of recorded documents. For certified copies, contact the Recorder directly at 320-591-1666. The data updates regularly but may lag a few days behind the most recent recording.
Pine County Property Records
The Recorder's office holds all documents that affect real property in Pine County. Deeds are the most common type. Under Minnesota Statutes Chapter 507, a deed must be recorded to give public notice of the ownership transfer. Without recording, the new owner's interest is not protected against claims by later buyers or creditors who had no knowledge of the transfer.
Mortgages are recorded when a lender takes a security interest in the property. Satisfactions are filed when a loan is paid off. Other documents include easements, declarations of covenants and restrictions, federal and state tax liens, mechanics liens, plats, and certificates of survey. Well disclosure certificates are required on nearly all residential property transfers in Minnesota. The certificate is either attached to the deed at recording or filed separately for $50. UCC filings are also accepted at the Recorder's office.
The screenshot below is from the Minnesota Department of Revenue's property tax portal, which covers how Minnesota counties collect and enforce property taxes, including in Pine County.
The Revenue Department's property tax page explains payment deadlines, delinquency rules, and the appeal and forfeiture process for property owners across the state.
Recording Fees and Transfer Taxes
Recording fees in Pine County follow the state standard. The base fee is $46 for the first page of any document, plus $4 for each additional page. Plats cost $56. Well disclosure certificates filed on their own are $50, but no extra charge applies when the certificate is attached to the deed at the time of recording.
Two state taxes apply to most real estate transfers. The State Deed Tax under Minnesota Statutes Chapter 287 is 0.33% of the net sale price, with a minimum of $1.65. The Mortgage Registry Tax is 0.23% of the loan principal. Both are paid at the time of recording. Certified copies of recorded documents cost $10 as a base fee plus per-page charges.
Property Tax in Pine County
Pine County property taxes follow the payment schedule in Minnesota Statutes Chapter 279. The first half of the annual bill is due May 15. The second half is due October 15. Amounts not paid by May 15 become delinquent on January 1 of the next year. Interest starts accruing from that point forward.
Values are set as of January 2 each year under Chapter 272 and Chapter 273. The county mails tax statements and valuation notices in March. The Board of Appeal and Equalization meets in April to hear local challenges. If taxes go unpaid for three years, the county can begin the forfeiture process and eventually sell the property at auction.
Communities in Pine County
Pine County has no cities that meet the population threshold for a dedicated page on this site. The county seat is Pine City. Other communities include Sandstone, Hinckley, Mora, and Sturgeon Lake. All property records for land in any of these communities are filed at the Pine County Recorder's office at 315 Main Street S in Pine City.
Nearby Counties
Pine County borders several counties in east-central Minnesota and shares a line with Wisconsin to the east. Property records for land in those counties are kept by their own recorders.