Dickinson County, MI Property Records: Search Deeds, Owners, Tax Records, and Maps

Dickinson County covers 777.3 square miles in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Its local property market is influenced by affordable housing and rural lifestyle demands. Popular housing styles include ranch homes, Craftsman homes, and lakefront cottages.

As a buyer’s market, homes in Dickinson County spend about 57 days on the market, which is slower than the Michigan average. County and local offices like the Equalization Department, city and township treasurers, and the Register of Deeds keep property records for more than 26,000 land parcels.

Recent records reveal the underlying factors influencing the local real estate market, with a median home value of $121,150 and median rent of $759, alongside a median household income of $68,397.5 and a median real estate tax rate of 1.15 as a percentage of the property's assessed value.

How to Look Up Dickinson County Property Records

Dickinson County property records are available through three main online portals. You can easily find property information using the property’s address, owner name, or parcel number. Both the BS&A Online portal and the Internet Land Records Search System provide public access to basic information. Nevertheless, researchers may have to pay a nominal fee to access detailed information.

Who Keeps Dickinson County Property Records?

Under the Michigan Freedom of Information Act, anyone may request to inspect these records unless they are exempt from disclosure under state law. Dickinson County property records are managed by both county and local offices, such as:

• Local city and township assessors calculate the fair market and taxable values for every individual property within their respective jurisdiction.

• The Dickinson County Equalization Department reviews real property assessments to ensure that all properties are fairly assessed at 50% of their True Cash Value. It is also responsible for issuing parcel identifier numbers.

• The Dickinson County Register of Deeds records and maintains official ownership documents such as deeds, mortgages, land contracts, and property liens.

• The Dickinson County Treasurer manages long-term tax collection and handles overdue property taxes. Property owners receive their annual summer and winter property tax bills directly from their local treasurers.

How to Search Dickinson County Property Records Online

To conduct a complete property records search online in Dickinson County, you must consult the relevant portals that hold property records:

1. Start with the BS&A Online portal to find a property’s current and delinquent tax records or valuation data. You can search the portal with the property owner’s name, address, or parcel number. For in-depth details, select the municipality where the property is located in the top right corner of the portal. If you are not the owner of the record, you may pay up to $6.85 for full access.

2. The Colligo GIS portal is free and can be used to review parcel boundaries and spatial mapping data. Simply enter the address, parcel number, or owner name to select the correct parcel. You can also select the tool menu to measure distance lines or toggle aerial satellite photos.

3. Search the Internet Land Records Search System with the party name or liber and page number to view documents tied to the property. You may create an account to view document images.

Register of Deeds: Deeds, Mortgages, and Plats

The Dickinson County Register of Deeds primarily records and keeps all legal documents related to real estate ownership in the county. To facilitate record searches, it maintains a chronological index of land records in compliance with MCL 565.28. Examples of property documents recorded in the Register of Deeds office include:

• Warranty deeds, quitclaim deeds, and tax deeds

• Mortgages, mortgage discharges, and assignments of mortgages

• Federal tax liens, mechanics’ liens, and construction liens

• Utility easements, rights-of-way, and ingress agreements

• Survey maps, land corners, and subdivision plats

Assessors and Equalization: Ownership, Values, and Parcel Data

In Dickinson County, local assessors evaluate each property within their respective boundaries. They set fair market values and calculate tax bills. The Equalization Department ensures property values are consistent across municipalities.

Michigan’s property tax system is based on three separate property values:

• True Cash Value: This is the property’s estimated market value

• Assessed Value/State Equalization Value: This value is set at 50% of the property’s true cash value

• Taxable Value: This is the value used to calculate the annual property tax bill

Treasurer’s Office: Taxes, Bills, and Payments

Local treasurers prepare and mail property tax bills to property owners in Dickinson County. They also collect payments on the due dates. Once taxes become “Delinquent,” they are turned over to the Dickinson County Treasurer for collection.

In Dickinson County, summer tax bills are mailed in the first week of July and are due on August 10. Winter bills are sent out in the first week of December and are due on February 14. If either due date falls on a weekend, the payment deadline is extended to the next business day.

Property Tax in Dickinson County: Values, Exemptions, and Appeals

Determining a property's Taxable Value is the first step in calculating a Dickinson County property tax bill. Divide the Taxable Value by 1,000 and multiply by the total millage rate. This rate combines the tax rates levied by the county, cities, townships, schools, and other local taxing units.

Proposal A and Uncapping

Proposal A is a major law passed in 1994 that changed how property taxes are calculated. Under this law, a property’s Taxable Value cannot grow by more than the rate of inflation or 5%, whichever is lower. This cap remains in effect until ownership changes.

Uncapping happens when a property’s Taxable Value resets in the calendar year following a sale or transfer of ownership. The Taxable Value resets to equal the State Equalized Value, reflecting current market assessment. Under MCL 211.27a(7), certain real estate conveyances cannot uncap a property’s Taxable Value:

• Immediate family residential transfers

• Spousal transfers

• Transfers creating or terminating a joint tenancy if at least one of the owners remains on the title

• Transfers resulting from a court order

• Transfers of qualified forest property

Exemptions and Relief

Appealing Your Value

A property owner in Dickinson County may appeal their assessed or taxable value if they believe it is inaccurate. Before filing an appeal, the property owner can contact their local assessor as soon as they receive their assessment notice in February. Assessors often fix factual errors without a formal hearing.

If the value is not corrected, the property owner can submit an appeal to the March Board of Review. The property owner can gather evidence such as recent professional appraisals and comparable sales in their immediate area. A further appeal can be filed with the Michigan Tax Tribunal if the board’s decision is unfavorable.

GIS Maps and Parcel Viewer

Dickinson County provides its interactive geographic data through the Collis GIS platform. Users can view aerial photography, boundary lines, and property dimensions using a parcel number, owner name, or address. The platform displays tax information, property class, Assessed Value, and sales history. The Michigan GIS Open Data portal is accessible for individuals searching for data that cross county lines.

Foreclosure and Tax Sales

Property tax foreclosure and mortgage foreclosure by advertisement are common types of foreclosure in Michigan. Knowing which type applies to a property determines the redemption period.

Property-Tax Foreclosure

The Dickinson County Treasurer manages the property tax foreclosure process under MCL 211.78. Unpaid taxes become “Delinquent” on March 1 and incur an administrative fee and monthly interest. The property forfeits to the Dickinson County Treasurer on March 1 of the following year if taxes remain unpaid.

After forfeiture, the county Treasurer files a petition to the 41st Circuit Court and conducts property site visits. At this stage, the property owner can present objections at a cause hearing. If the taxes, fees, and interest are not paid in full by March 31 after the court hearing, the owner permanently loses the right to redeem the property.

Mortgage Foreclosure

A lender can sell a mortgaged property at a public sheriff's sale without filing a lawsuit. MCL 600.3201 authorizes this sale if the mortgage contract contains a power-of-sale clause. Before a sale, the lender must publish notices in a local newspaper and on the property. Per MCL 600.3240, a borrower retains the right to redeem the property within six months if it is a residential home. To do so, the borrower must pay the winning bid amount, interest, and statutory fees.

Costs to Access Property Records

Pursuant to MCL 600.2567, Michigan mandates a flat fee for recording property documents, regardless of the page count. Under MCL 207.504 and MCL 207.525, county and state transfer taxes are due when real property is transferred for consideration exceeding $100.

How to Record a Document

Follow these steps to record a property document in Dickinson County:

1. Prepare your document to strictly follow Michigan's recording requirements. Include a title line at the top that states the recordable event, a full legal description, and parcel identification numbers.

2. Ensure that all names are clearly typed, printed, and stamped. The signatures must also be notarized with a complete notary block and commission details.

3. If the documents transfer title, such as a warranty deed or land contract, visit the Dickinson County Treasurer to receive a tax certification.

4. Calculate the $30 recording fee and the county and state real estate transfer taxes, if applicable. If exempt, state the specific exemption reason on the front page.

5. Deliver the original document and payment to the Register of Deeds in person, by mail, or online. You may consult CSC eRecording services or INDECOMM global services if you choose to submit documents electronically. The Register of Deeds does not accept e-recording for surveys, plats, corners, or master deeds.

FAQs

Quick Reference: Your Dickinson County Property Records Checklist

Key Contacts and Official Portals