Search Ingham County, MI Property Records

Individuals can search Ingham County, Michigan, property records through several county offices responsible for maintaining land and property-related documents. These records typically include deeds, mortgages, liens, property tax details, and ownership history. Local municipalities may also maintain certain zoning, permit, and land use information.

In Ingham County, the median home value is $193,450.00, with a median rent of $1,010.00. Households report a median income of $74,531.50, while the median real estate tax paid is 1.87% of the assessed property value.

Property record searches in Ingham County, MI can be completed online, in person, or by requesting copies by mail. The main office is the Register of Deeds, which preserves official land records for the county.

The fastest method is to search online through the Public Search Online portal maintained by the Register of Deeds. There are three search options available. Residents can search for free through Direct Search. They can also pay per search or subscribe to search.

There is also a public vault at the Deeds’ office in Mason that residents can visit in person to view property records, particularly those from before 1960. They must schedule their visit by calling 517-676-7216, Monday to Friday from 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM.

Residents can also send a mail request with the following information:

• Name and/or property description

• Book/page or document number

Payment check for the copies requested at $1 per page (+ $5 for certification)

The request must be sent to:

Register of Deeds CopiesP.O Box 195Mason, MI 48854

When doing their search, researchers are typically required to provide a property address, parcel number, or owner name. However, some documents may require exact names, document numbers, or recording dates.

For a more efficient search, PropertyChecker combines records from multiple public sources into a single accessible database. It allows users to retrieve ownership history, liens, mortgages, and transaction details across jurisdictions using just a property address.

Property Ownership and Title Information

Ownership and title information for real estate in Ingham County can be accessed through the Ingham County Register of Deeds. The office provides a Public Search Online portal where users can locate recorded property documents that establish ownership, transfer history, and legal interests. These documents may include deeds, mortgages, liens, and land contracts.

Aside from online access, residents can also visit the Register of Deeds in person via appointment to search the Public Vault. It is especially useful for records before 1960.

Searches can be performed using the grantor or grantee name, document number, recording date, or document type. Copies of recorded documents may be downloaded online or requested from the office in person or by mail.

Property Sales and Transaction History

To review property sales and transfer history in Ingham County, researchers can use the Ingham County Register of Deeds Public Search Online portal. The system indexes records that may show ownership transfers and sales, such as deeds, land contracts, and mortgage releases.

Additional sales data may be available through the county’s BS&A Online portal, with details often provided by property appraisers. Through BS&A Online, researchers can look up properties by owner name, property address, or parcel number. Logging in will open a parcel record page, where the property’s sales history and other related information may appear.

Researchers may also turn to PropertyChecker as another way to locate sales records. The service gathers public property data and can help identify historical transactions and ownership timelines across multiple databases.

Property Tax Assessment and Payment Records

In Ingham County, assessment records are typically maintained by municipal property tax assessors, while tax billing, collections, and delinquent taxes are handled by the County Treasurer’s Office.

Researchers can check their property parcel record pages through the county’s BS&A Online portal. The page may show the property’s assessed value, taxable value, and current or past tax information.

For property valuation concerns, owners may appeal an assessment through their local March Board of Review using the Board of Review Petition (L-4035) form. Deadlines and locations of the review are typically stated in the annual assessment notice that owners receive. If denied or unresolved, owners may appeal their case to the Michigan Tax Tribunal.

Property Characteristics and Parcel Details

Parcel characteristics and property details in Ingham County are often revealed during the property parcel search through the assessor's databases and the county's GIS tools.

A search can be completed normally through local BS&A Online, where users can open parcel records by entering a property address, parcel number, or owner name. The parcel record page may show information such as lot size, building type, square footage, and land classification.

Parcel boundaries and map-based property data are also available from the Department of Equalization & Tax Mapping through its Tax Mapping Viewer.

Zoning, Land Use, and Planning Records

Zoning and land-use records in Ingham County are generally managed at the municipal level rather than by a central county office. Zoning ordinances, land use regulations, planning documents, and development applications are typically maintained by the planning department of the city or township where the property is located.

Because of this, researchers often need to contact the specific municipality for zoning information. For example, in Ingham Township, the Zoning Administration handles zoning and land-use records, and appointments can be scheduled by calling 517-623-0008.

Researchers may also try using the Tax Mapping Viewer to toggle the different layers that may show zoning districts and boundaries. Some municipalities also have their own zoning maps, like the case of the City of Mason.

Legal Documents Affecting Property

Recorded legal documents that affect property ownership in Ingham County are maintained by the Register of Deeds. The office records documents like deeds, mortgage discharges, liens, and land contracts, which are searchable through the Public Search Online portal. Researchers can locate records by grantor or grantee name, document type, or recording date.

Meanwhile, court filings that may impact property, including judgment liens or foreclosure-related records, may be available through the Ingham County Judicial Circuit Court.

Building Permits, Inspections, and Construction Records

Building permits and inspection records in Ingham County are typically handled by municipal building departments rather than a single county office. For instance, researchers in Mason can search these records through the City Community Development Department.

These local offices may maintain records related to new construction, structural alterations, electrical and plumbing permits, inspection approvals, and certificates of occupancy. Depending on the municipality, records may be available through online permit portals or by submitting requests to the local building or inspection office.

Maps and Visual Property Data

Maps and visual property data for Ingham County are available through the Tax Mapping Viewer. The system allows users to view parcel boundaries, parcel identification numbers, aerial imagery, and tax assessment layers through an interactive map.

To fully cover over 101,800 property parcels, the viewer also supports map-based searches to locate parcels, view property outlines, and examine nearby land features.

The Ingham County GIS Tax Mapping Viewer is the county's parcel-viewing tool. Opening the viewer presents a welcome screen with Application Use and GIS/Mapping disclaimers, which must be accepted by clicking the Accept button before the map loads.

The interactive aerial map displays the full county boundary with layers including Basemaps, Imagery, Parcels, Streets, Subdivisions, Prime Agricultural Soils, Sections, Drain Centerlines, Water Wells, and Lakes and Streams, all toggleable from the Layers and Legend panel. Clicking any parcel on the map opens a Property Details panel on the right side, displaying the following:

• Property address

• Owner address

General tax year information including MBOR Assessed, Final SEV, and Final Taxable values

• Land information

• Zoning

• Acreage

• Tax description

• Sales information

• Building information

• Delinquent tax information

• Tax history

A Report button at the top of the Property Details panel generates a printable report for the selected parcel.

Displayed here are charts summarizing the county's tax rates, accompanied by insights into median home values, income figures, and rent rates.

Median Rent

$1,010.00

Michigan	$850.00
National	$840.25

• +18.8 %
  vs Michigan
• +20.2 %
  vs National

Median Home Value

$193,450.00

Michigan	$147,900.00
National	$173,750.00

• +30.8 %
  vs Michigan
• +11.3 %
  vs National

Median Household Income

$74,531.50

Michigan	$59,874.00
National	$65,108.00

• +24.5 %
  vs Michigan
• +14.5 %
  vs National

Median Property Tax Rate

1.87%

Michigan	1.13%
National	0.74%

• +65.5%
  vs Michigan
• +152.7 %
  vs National

Unemployment Rate

3.6%

Michigan	2.94%
National	2.87%

• +22.4 %
  vs Michigan
• +25.4 %
  vs National

Renter Occupied Housing

35.39%

Michigan	14.56%
National	21.81%

• +143.1 %
  vs Michigan
• +62.3 %
  vs National

The Ingham County Register of Deeds maintains the official archive of recorded land documents. The office records documents such as deeds, land contracts, mortgages, mortgage releases, liens, and easements.

These recorded filings are frequently used by county and local offices to update assessment records, verify property ownership for tax purposes, or review zoning and land use applications. For example, deed recordings help local assessors and planning departments confirm parcel ownership and legal property descriptions.

Records can be searched online through the Public Search Online portal. For a more thorough search, researchers may also pay per search or subscribe to search on other platforms mentioned on the County Register of Deeds official website.

Aside from online, researchers may obtain recorded documents in person at the Register of Deeds public vault. This is especially recommended for copies older than 1960. Access to the vault is by appointment through calling 517-676-7216. Mail requests are also acceptable. Regular copies are typically $1 per page, while an additional $5 is needed for certification.

Most records in Ingham County are maintained at the county-level offices. However, some records, such as those related to local assessments, zoning, land use, permits, and construction, are kept by each municipality. Currently, there are 24 municipalities in the county.

Contact the appropriate municipal offices, such as the assessor, planning, zoning, or building department, or visit their official websites to access local property records.

• East Lansing
• Lansing
• Leslie
• Mason
• Williamston
• Alaiedon Township
• Aurelius Township
• Bunker Hill Township
• Delhi Township
• Ingham Township
• Lansing Township
• Leroy Township
• Leslie Township
• Locke Township
• Meridian Township
• Onondaga Township
• Stockbridge Township
• Vevay Township
• Wheatfield Township
• White Oak Township
• Williamstown Township
• Village of Dansville
• Village of Stockbridge
• Village of Webberville