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

Leelanau County has over 32,000 parcels of land. The county maintains property records through several offices, including the Register of Deeds, Equalization Department, county Treasurer, local treasurers, and township assessors.

It takes about 31 to 60 days to sell a home, which is slower than the statewide average of 42 to 50 days. The county's housing inventory is dominated by single-family homes, the majority of which are concentrated in Elmwood Township, the largest settlement by population.

Recent records reveal the underlying factors influencing the local real estate market, with a median home value of $414,150 and median rent of $991, alongside a median household income of $83,235 and a median real estate tax rate of 0.67 as a percentage of the property's assessed value.

How to Look Up Leelanau County Property Records

Leelanau County property records are available to the public through official online tools and offices.

Who Keeps Leelanau County Property Records?

The Michigan Freedom of Information Act provides public access to property records, managed by local offices. Individuals can access Leelanau County property records at the following offices:

• The Register of Deeds is the official recorder for land records in the county. The office records and preserves deeds, mortgages, land contracts, liens, easements, plats, releases, and other real estate documents. The office also reviews submitted documents to ensure they meet the Michigan Recording Act before recording.

• Local or township assessors determine the taxable value and assessment details of real property within their jurisdiction. They may maintain ownership, property characteristics, exemption, and assessment rolls.

• The Equalization Department works with local assessors to ensure assessments are fair and consistent throughout the county. It also maintains parcel information, taxable values, assessment data, maps, and common forms for the public.

• The local and county treasurers issue tax bills and collect current property taxes from property owners within their municipalities. The Leelanau County Treasurer’s Office collects delinquent taxes for all taxing entities in the county. The office also issues Certificates of Deeds for property transfers before the Leelanau County Register of Deeds records them.

How to Search Leelanau County Property Records Online

To search a Leelanau County property, you must use a combination of county and state resources. Follow the steps below to get started.

1. Start with the BS&A Online portal. You can search the portal by property address or owner name to find the parcel ID, assessed value, ownership details, and property characteristics.

2. Search the Register of Deeds Self-Service Web by using the owner’s name. You will find the property's recorded ownership. You can also check the platform by using the owner's name, document number, recording date, or document type.

3. Verify the current owner on the most recent deed. Review the grantor and grantee information to ensure ownership information is correct. If you find any gap in the recorded deed, conduct additional title research.

4. From the Register of Deeds Self-Service Web, check for mortgages, judgments, liens, and land contracts that may affect a property. If applicable, the transfer tax information on a recorded deed may help estimate the property's sale price.

5. Review the tax status of a property through the BS&A Online platform or contact the local treasurer for more information.

Register of Deeds: Deeds, Mortgages, and Plats

The Register of Deeds is a constitutional office that records all land documents in Leelanau County. Under state law, documents are recorded in the county's official records by the names of the grantor and grantee to declare their existence and enactment publicly. Individuals can research these records to identify property ownership and liens placed against property.

Local Assessors and Equalization: Ownership, Values, and Parcel Data

Property assessment is divided between local assessors and the equalization department. Local assessors appraise a property, administer property tax exemptions, calculate taxable values, and track ownership. Leelanau County Equalization Department ensures uniformity of property assessments across the county.

Every property valuation is based on three components, namely true cash value, state equalized value, and taxable value.

Treasurer’s Office: Taxes, Bills, and Payments

Local treasurers issue property tax bills twice a year. They mail summer taxes by July 1st, and the taxes are due by August 31st. Winter taxes are billed December 1st and due on February 14th of the following year. Property owners must pay their current taxes to the local treasurers. Once property taxes are due, they must pay their dues to the Leelanau County Treasurer’s Office.

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

In Leelanau County, property tax is based on a Taxable Value (TV). The fair market value, known as the True Cash Value (TCV), is established on December 31. It is used to determine the State Equalized Value (SEV), which is set at 50% of its fair market value. The resulting value is then combined with the millage rate, set by local tax entities, to produce the Taxable Value (TV). This value is then capped by Proposal A or the inflation rate, whichever is less.

• SEV = 50% of TCV

• Capped Value (CV) = (Prior TV-Losses) x (1+ CPI*) + Additions

*CPI = Percent of change in the rate of inflation or 5%, whichever is less, expressed as a multiplier.

• Taxable Value (TV) = The lesser of SEV or CV unless there is a transfer of ownership.

Proposal A and Uncapping

Proposal A limits annual increases in a property's Taxable Value. It provides a statutory cap on a property's value, provided ownership does not change.

When a qualifying transfer of ownership occurs, the property's Taxable Value is generally uncapped for the following tax year and reset to the current State Equalized Value. Under the General Property Tax Act, certain transactions, such as transfers between spouses and certain close family members, are not subject to uncapping.

Exemptions and Relief

Appealing Your Value

To appeal your value level, file a complaint with the March Board of Review in the municipality where the property is located. Your appeals must address the property's assessed value rather than its Taxable Value. If you disagree with the Board of Review’s decision, escalate the matter to the Michigan Tax Tribunal by July 31st.

GIS Maps and Parcel Viewer

Leelanau County provides an online GIS Map Viewer that allows the public to explore parcel boundaries and property information through an interactive map. Individuals can view assessment records, parcel boundaries, aerial imagery, municipal boundaries, zoning, property class, SEV, and taxable value.

Foreclosure and Tax Sales

In Leelanau County, property foreclosure may occur through either mortgage foreclosures or property tax foreclosure.

Property-Tax Foreclosure

When property taxes remain unpaid after March 1st, the property may enter a foreclosure process under the Leelanau County Treasurer. After March 31 of the third year, the property is sold through a public auction at the courthouse.

Mortgage Foreclosure

Mortgage foreclosure follows the rules under MCL 600.3240. It involves a nonjudicial sale of property. The properties are published in a local newspaper before they are sold off. In many cases, original property owners retain a right, within six months, to reclaim their property.

Costs to Access Property Records

While you can view online records at no cost, you must pay specific fees to record or obtain copies of Leelanau County property records under state law.

How to Record a Document

To record a land document in Leelanau County, you must follow these general steps:

1. Ensure your document contains original signatures, a proper legal description, a completed notarial acknowledgment, and meets all Michigan recording requirements.

2. Calculate recording fees. It costs $30 to record most land documents, regardless of the number of pages. If your document includes multiple instruments or requires additional services, verify the total amount by calling the Register of Deeds at (231) 258-9682 before submission.

3. Submit the original or completed documents to the Leelanau County Register of Deeds’ office in person, by mail, or online through an e-recording. If you transfer a document, you must file a Property Transfer Affidavit with the local assessor within 45 days of the sale.

4. After the document is accepted and recorded, it becomes part of the county’s public records. The original document is returned to you, and the recorded information is added to the public index within a short processing window.

FAQs

Quick Reference: Your Leelanau County Property Records Checklist

Key Contacts and Official Portals