Mecklenburg County, North Carolina Property Records

Mecklenburg County Property Search

Mecklenburg County property records are a collection of legal documents and information related to the county’s real estate in North Carolina. The records usually contain details about property ownership, property values, property location, tax assessments, and tax history.

In Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, the Register of Deeds Office records, indexes, and stores all real estate-related documents presented to be registered. The office ensures that the records are available for the public to view or copy. Documents, including real estate conveyances, deeds of trust and mortgages, assumed names, separation agreements, powers of attorneys, and maps/plats, are maintained and safeguarded by the Register of Deeds. The Register of Deeds must follow the document recording standards provided in the North Carolina General Statutes Section 161-14(b), which are thus:

Be 8½ x 11 inches or 8½ x 14 inches
Have a blank margin of 3 inches at the top of the first page, ¼ inch on the remaining sides of the first page, and on all sides of subsequent pages.
Be typed or printed in black on white paper in a legible font. A font size no smaller than 9 pts. Blanks may be completed in pen, and any corrections may be made in pen, also.
Have text typed or printed on one-sided only.
State the type of document at the top of the first page.

The Mecklenburg County Assessor’s Office is responsible for discovering, listing, and assessing up-to-date records of all real and personal property in the County for taxation purposes.

Mecklenburg County provides a database and search tool for the public to search detailed information, including value, tax bills, and ownership as it has been recorded. Individuals can also request property records and other Mecklenburg County Public Records in person or by mail from the Register of Deeds office and the County Assessor’s office. Property searches help owners confirm that their property assessment is accurate. Realtors and appraisers can evaluate the property’s market value and identify buyers or sellers. Potential investors or homebuyers can research the property’s history to make a purchase decision.

Are Mecklenburg County Property Records Public?

According to the North Carolina General Statutes Chapter 132, the Public Records Law states that public records and information compiled by North Carolina government agencies are the people's property. Hence, property records are public information, and the general public may obtain copies for free or at a minimal cost unless otherwise specified by law.

Mecklenburg government offices such as the Register of Deeds, The Land Records division of Geospatial Information Services, and the County Assessor manage property records. They maintain that the information is up-to-date and disseminate them to the public.

There are certain circumstances where property records and related information are restricted from public disclosure. Some examples include but are not limited to the following:

Confidential by Law: Certain property record information, such as social security numbers, financial account numbers, driver's license numbers, electronic signatures, etc. is considered confidential information in the General Statutes 132-1.2.
Part of an ongoing Criminal Investigation: Any property involved in an ongoing criminal investigation being conducted or part of records of criminal intelligence information are not public records, according to the General Statues 132-1.4.
Subject to a Court Order: Information concerning property involved in ongoing litigation or containing sensitive matters might be restricted if a court orders it to be sealed. Court orders may be placed to protect the parties' privacy, which restricts public disclosure per General Statutes 132-1.2.
Relating to Juveniles: General Statues 7B-3001 state that law enforcement records and files that concern a juvenile should be kept separate from the records and files of adults and withheld from public inspection.

What Do Mecklenburg County Property Records Contain?

Mecklenburg property records typically contain various details related to a property's ownership, physical characteristics, and value. The information can be categorized into the following:

Property Identification Records: The property’s general information, such as the address, legal description, plat number, parcel number, tax identification number
Property Ownership Records: Information about the property ownership, including the owner’s name, the owner’s mailing address, the date of purchase, the purchase price, property mortgages or liens
Property Deed Information: These include the property’s most recent deed, date of transfer, the grantor and grantee names
Property Assessment Records: This section typically includes information on the property’s value that was assessed to calculate the property taxes, such as property location, state of the property and overall market conditions
Building and Zoning Records: This includes information about the building’s characteristics, such as the size of the lot, square footage, type of building, age of the structure, and the number of bedrooms and bathrooms. It also holds construction and renovation permits, zoning designation, land use restrictions, building code violations, and any complaints related to the property
Tax Records: This section includes information on the property’s tax value, market value, tax assessment history, appraisal reports, tax payment history, tax liens, tax exemptions
Sales and Transfer Records: This includes the date of sales, the sales prices, the buyer’s name and mailing address, foreclosure history, transfer history (even between family and relations), property claims
Legal Records: This typically includes leases or rental agreements, easements regarding the property, previous legal disputes
Mapping and Survey Records: This section includes maps and surveys of the property and surrounding areas which provides information on the property’s dimensions, boundaries, environmental reports, survey reports

Where to Perform a Mecklenburg County Property Lookup

Inquirers can lookup property records in Mecklenburg county through the following options:

Online Search: According to the Mecklenburg County Official Website, the Register of Deeds office is the official repository for all real property-related public records. The public can access and search their available database online for modern land records. The Register of Deeds office has also provided a historical index for access to historical land records and related images.
Mecklenburg County also offers public access to the Property Information System, allowing users to look up detailed information recorded by the County Assessor’s Office. This tool provides results such as property values, land use, deeds, tax bills, building details, sales, street maps and directions of the found property.
In-Person: Inquirers are allowed to go and inspect or copy property records physically at the Register of Deeds Office located at 720 E 4th Street, Charlotte, North Carolina. This Office is open between the hours of 8:30 am and 4:30 pm.
Individuals can also visit the County Assessors office located at 3205 Freedom Drive Suite 3500, Charlotte, North Carolina, for property inquiries.
By Phone: Inquirers can request information and enquire about property records from the County Assessor’s office by reaching them at (980) 314-4226. This option is only available from 8 am to 5 pm on Mondays to Fridays, except on holidays.
By Email: Individuals can send property records requests by email to the Register of Deeds office via Deeds@MeckNC.gov or the County Assessor's Office through AssessorQuestions@MeckNC.gov.

How to Perform a Property Owner Lookup in Mecklenburg County

Using the above-mentioned options, users can obtain property ownership information by looking up a property with other information such as the address, parcel number, and legal description. The steps needed to perform a property owner lookup are as follows:

Access the Mecklenburg County official website homepage, navigate to the “Government” tab, and click “Request a Public Record”.
On the Public Records Requests page, scroll down and click “Property Records”.
The Property Information System will be accessible; users can use the “Find a property” search box.
Click the search icon button and filter the search box to allow one search by property address or parcel number.
Input the information, and the system will display results accordingly, and users can choose a list or map display
View the property information page of the search result, which includes details like the property owner's name and address, property tax information, property characteristics etc.
Users can then download the search results into an Excel spreadsheet or PDF mailing label

The County Assessor’s Office can be contacted via phone and email to reconcile any discrepancies with the information obtained.

How to Find Mecklenburg County Property Records Online

The most up-to-date property records are curated by the Mecklenburg County Register of Deeds and County Assessor’s offices. The information they maintain can be searched and obtained online through the county’s website using the Property Information System and Real Estate Index.

There are also online third-party databases that provide access to Mecklenburg County’s property records. They provide relevant property information on their websites, including property ownership, purchase, and sales history, property values, building details, etc. These options allow users to search for properties by owner name, address or parcel number; some even offer advanced features like marketing analysis and customized reports.

Third-party resources usually require a subscription fee, monthly or annually, to access their services or request that users pay a fee per search. Their fees range from $19.95 monthly to $99.95 yearly. The records provided by third-party databases may not be as accurate and should always be cross-checked with official county records.

How to Find Property Owner by Address Free

An individual may search or request for property records by providing the street name and address of the property in part or full. The property search results provide property information, including the current property ownership, mailing address, legal property description, etc. This service is completely free and available to the general public.
Users can find information about the property owner online by searching with the property address on the property information system search tool. In order to search by address, one must follow these steps:

Navigate to the “Property records” section under “Request for public records on the Mecklenburg County website
Access the property information system search tool and click on the search button icon to be able to filter the search by property address.
Input the address of the property, then proceed to view the results provided.

The search, however, only provides the current property owner’s information and not the ownership history.

Mecklenburg County Property Tax Lookup

There are several online and offline tools for obtaining property tax information in Mecklenburg county. They include:

Mecklenburg County Property Search website: A person can conduct a property search an obtain the property’s information which would include tax information like tax billings, payment history, etc
Office of the tax collector: A person can conduct a tax information lookup by directly contacting the office of the tax collector. The lookup can be conducted using the tools on their website, by phone or email
County Assessor’s office: In addition to being responsible for all County property, the office of the county assessor offers property tax resources, including tax relief programs at its office or through its website.
Tax Assessing Office: A person can contact the Tax Assessing Office by phone or email to get property tax information. The office provides information including the tax rate of a property, tax exemptions or abatements that may have been applied.

Situations where individuals like property owners, buyers, sellers, and renters may need to conduct a tax lookup include:

Buying or selling a property: Before buying a property, its tax payment history needs to be checked. A tax lookup is necessary because there is a need to check whether the property taxes are up to date, or if the property has outstanding balances or tax liens
Property Assessments and Appeals: In order to assess their tax information and compare how their property was assessed to other properties on the market, a person needs to conduct a tax lookup. This can help determine whether or not they make an appeal.
Budgeting: When budgeting to rent or purchase a property, it is important to look up its property tax information. This will help create an accurate budget as it is a significant property expense.
Research: People such as real estate agents,and academics who are interested in tax information can lookup property tax information to analyze tax trends and property values, among other research reasons.

How to Find Mecklenburg County Property Appraiser

The channels a person can use to find a property appraiser in Mecklenburg county include the following

Mecklenburg County Assessor’s website: The address and contact of the county assessor can be found on the website. Individuals can locate an appraiser by visiting the office in person, or contacting them by phone or email.
North Carolina Department of Revenue website: The website provides an updated table containing all certified property appraisers in North Carolina, including Mecklenburg County and their certifications.
Professional organizations: Individuals can find property appraisers through the websites of professional organizations that they are members of. Examples of such organizations include the Appraisal Institute or the American Society of Appraisers
Third party sources and referrals: Individuals can find appraisers through third party online directories that provide listings of property appraisers in Mecklenburg County and other areas. They can also get referrals from professionals in the real estate industry such as real estate agents, and attorneys.

The services offered by a property appraiser include property valuation, property tax calculation, providing property information, assisting with property value appeals, tax relief and exemptions, and property assessment education.

Mecklenburg County Property Assessor

In order to ensure fair and accurate taxation of property in Mecklenburg County, the services offered by a property assessor include:

Property Valuation: This is the calculation of value for both real estate and personal property using methods such as the sales comparison approach, cost approach, and the income approach. They ensure that all properties are assessed fairly and equitably,
Property Tax Calculation: This is the determination of the property tax for a property using its assessed value
Property Information: The assessor's office manages a database of accurate and up-to-date information on individual personal property and business personal properties in the county. They provide information, including tax bills, property records, sales data, and assessment values. Taxpayers are mandated to list their taxable property every year for county records.
Property Value Appeals: Property owners who disagree with the assessed value of their real estate, individual personal property, or business personal property can file an appeal with the property assessor's office.
Tax relief and exemptions: This involves reviewing eligibility criteria, helping with application processes, and providing assistance to property owners who are eligible for tax exemptions or abatements, such as veterans, seniors, or disabled individuals.
Education and Outreach: This involves conducting workshops, seminars, and public presentations to inform the public about property assessments and tax laws.

The Mecklenburg County Property Assessor's office can be visited in person at Valerie Woodard Center, 3205 Freedom Dr #1800, Charlotte, NC 28208. They can also be contacted through calls at (980) 314-4226, through email atCAO@MeckNC.gov or through their website.