Washington County Property Records
Washington County property records are maintained at the county's Property Records and Taxpayer Services office in Stillwater, Minnesota. Part of the Twin Cities metro area, the county manages roughly 95,000 parcels. You can search deeds, mortgages, assessment data, and other land documents through Beacon and LandShark online, or visit the Stillwater offices for certified copies and in-person assistance.
Washington County Overview
Washington County Recorder
The Washington County Recorder maintains all official real estate records for the county. The office is at 14949 62nd Street N in Stillwater. Deeds, mortgages, mortgage satisfactions, liens, federal and state tax liens, easements, covenants, plats, and other documents that affect land ownership are recorded here. Documents must meet Minnesota state requirements before staff will accept them: original signatures, notarization, a complete legal description, and the preparer's name on the first page.
Washington County accepts electronic recording, making it easy for title companies, lenders, and attorneys to submit documents through approved e-recording vendors. Paper submissions by mail or in person are also accepted. Documents must arrive by 4:15 PM for same-day recording. The office closes at 4:30 PM. Torrens registration and UCC filings are handled here as well. Given the county's high volume of real estate transactions as part of the Twin Cities metro area, e-recording is the most efficient option for most professional filers.
| Office | Washington County Recorder |
|---|---|
| Address | 14949 62nd Street N Stillwater, MN 55082 |
| Phone | 651-438-4355 |
| recorder@co.washington.mn.us | |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM Documents accepted until 4:15 PM |
| E-Recording | Available |
Staff can search by name, parcel number, or document type. Certified copies cost $10 base plus per-page fees. Non-certified copies are less. The LandShark GIS system at washington-county-landshark.gisworkshop.com also provides mapping and parcel data for Washington County.
The screenshot below shows the Minnesota PRISM property records system, which includes Washington County data as part of its statewide coverage.
PRISM aggregates assessment and property data from all Minnesota counties, including Washington, and is managed by the Minnesota Department of Revenue.
Washington County Property Records and Taxpayer Services
The Washington County Property Records and Taxpayer Services office handles valuations, tax collections, and related services for the county's roughly 95,000 parcels. The office is at 14949 62nd Street N in Stillwater. Values are set as of January 2 each year using sales data and physical inspections. Valuation notices go out in March and the Board of Appeal and Equalization meets in April to hear challenges.
Washington County is part of the Twin Cities metro area, and its parcel inventory includes a wide range of suburban residential properties, commercial developments, and rural parcels in the eastern part of the county. All parcels are inspected physically on a five-year cycle. The assessor classifies each property based on current use, and the class affects the tax rate. Homestead applications, which lower taxable value for primary-residence owners, are also processed by this office. Tax statements and valuation notices are mailed together in March.
| Office | Washington County Property Records and Taxpayer Services |
|---|---|
| Address | 14949 62nd Street N Stillwater, MN 55082 |
| Phone | 651-438-4200 |
| assessor@co.washington.mn.us | |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM |
After the local board meeting, you can appeal to the County Board of Equalization and then to the Minnesota Tax Court. The deadline is generally 30 days after valuation notices are mailed. You may represent yourself or bring an attorney, appraiser, or other agent.
The screenshot below shows the Minnesota Department of Revenue's property taxes portal, which covers statewide rules that apply to all Washington County property owners.
The state property taxes page covers payment deadlines, delinquency, and forfeiture rules that apply to all Minnesota counties including Washington.
Search Washington County Property Records Online
Washington County offers several tools for searching property records online. The main starting point is Beacon by Schneider Corp, which provides free access to parcel data, valuations, sales history, and building characteristics. No login is required. You can search by PIN, owner name, or street address, and the interactive map shows parcel boundaries across the county.
For GIS mapping and spatial data, LandShark gives you parcel boundaries, aerial imagery, zoning layers, and street view integration. LandShark is useful for reviewing property layouts in both suburban and rural parts of Washington County. Both systems are free and available 24 hours a day.
The full records portal for Washington County is at co.washington.mn.us. Beacon and LandShark display assessment and mapping data rather than recorded document images. For certified copies of deeds, mortgages, or other recorded documents, contact the Recorder's office at 651-438-4355.
Note: Online data may lag a few days behind recent recordings. Contact the Recorder if you need current ownership confirmation.
Washington County Property Record Types
The Recorder maintains all major real property documents for Washington County. Deeds are the most common. They transfer ownership and must be recorded under Minnesota Statutes Chapter 507 to provide public notice of the change. A deed not on record offers no protection against future claims by parties who had no notice of the sale.
Mortgages, releases, and satisfactions are also recorded here. When a lender takes a security interest in a property, the mortgage is recorded to make that interest public. When the debt is paid, the lender files a release or satisfaction. Other documents include easements, plats, certificates of survey, federal and state tax liens, mechanics liens, and declarations of covenants. Well disclosure certificates are required on most property transfers and are either attached to the deed or filed separately for $50.
Some Washington County parcels use the Torrens title system under Minnesota Statutes Chapter 508. Torrens property is confirmed by a court-issued Certificate of Title rather than a chain of abstract records. Both systems are maintained at the county level. As a high-volume metro-area county, Washington handles a large number of recordings each year, and the Recorder's staff can confirm which title system applies to any specific parcel.
Recording Fees and Transfer Taxes
Recording fees in Washington County follow the Minnesota state standard. The base fee is $46 for the first page of any document, plus $4 for each additional page. Plats cost $56 to record. Well disclosure certificates cost $50 if filed separately. If attached to the deed at recording, the separate fee is waived.
The State Deed Tax under Minnesota Statutes Chapter 287 is 0.33% of the net consideration, with a minimum of $1.65. On a $400,000 home sale, that would be $1,320. The Mortgage Registry Tax is 0.23% of the principal debt. On a $320,000 mortgage, that comes to $736. Both taxes are due at the time of recording. Washington County's higher property values mean these taxes are often larger than in rural counties.
Certified copies cost $10 base plus per-page fees. Non-certified copies are cheaper. Request copies in person or by mail. Call 651-438-4355 to confirm current payment methods.
Property Tax in Washington County
Property taxes in Washington County follow the state schedule under Minnesota Statutes Chapter 279. The first half is due May 15 and the second half is due October 15. Taxes not paid by May 15 become delinquent on January 1 of the following year and begin accruing interest at 9 to 10 percent per year.
Values are set as of January 2 each year. Tax statements and valuation notices are mailed in March. The general property tax framework under Chapter 272 and the valuation standards under Chapter 273 govern all assessments in Washington County. The county's suburban development and high property values make tax assessments an active area, with many homeowners reviewing their annual valuations and filing appeals.
Properties delinquent for three years can enter the tax forfeiture process. The county takes title to those parcels and may sell them at public auction. The Minnesota Department of Revenue property tax page explains how delinquency and forfeiture work statewide.
Well disclosure is required on most property transfers in Minnesota. Sellers must file a certificate at or before closing. More information is at health.state.mn.us.
Cities in Washington County
Washington County is home to Woodbury, one of the fastest-growing cities in Minnesota and the county's largest city. Woodbury is located in the western part of the county near St. Paul. Other communities in Washington County include Stillwater, Cottage Grove, Oakdale, Mahtomedi, and Forest Lake. Property records for all land in Washington County, regardless of city or township, are filed with the County Recorder at 14949 62nd Street N in Stillwater.
Nearby Counties
Washington County shares borders with several other counties in the Twin Cities metro and surrounding area. Each county maintains its own property records through its recorder's office.