Crawford County Tax Records Search

Crawford County property tax records are kept by the Equalization Department in Grayling, Michigan. Crawford County sits in the heart of the northern Lower Peninsula and is known for its river access, state forest land, and recreational properties. Property owners, buyers, and researchers can search Crawford County property tax records online through the county's BS&A portal. This page explains the search process, which offices manage the records, and how to appeal an assessment or apply for an exemption.

How to Search Crawford County Property Tax Records

The main online tool for Crawford County property tax records is the BS&A Online portal. It covers all parcels in the county and gives you free access to parcel assessment data. Search by owner name, property address, or parcel number. Results show assessed value, taxable value, property class, school district, active exemptions, and recent tax history. No account or registration is required to use the basic search features.

The Crawford County Equalization Department uses the Crawford County BS&A Online portal to give the public access to parcel data. The system is updated throughout the year as local assessors make changes. Once you find a parcel, you can view the full assessment record including several years of value history and current exemption status. This is helpful when comparing prior year values to your current assessment notice.

The screenshot below shows the BS&A portal used for Crawford County property tax records. This is the best starting point for any parcel search in the county. Go to the Crawford County property tax search portal to begin your search.

Crawford County has a large number of recreational parcels including river frontage on the Au Sable, hunting camps, and seasonal cottages. Many of these parcels do not have a Principal Residence Exemption, which changes the millage rate used to calculate taxes. The BS&A portal shows whether a PRE or other exemption is on file for each parcel, so you can quickly verify the tax status of any property you are researching.

A significant portion of Crawford County land is state forest or otherwise tax-exempt. These parcels may not appear in a standard property tax search. If you are researching land near state forest boundaries, the county assessor or Equalization Department can help clarify which parcels are taxable and which are not.

Note: Contact the Crawford County Equalization Department at 989-348-2841 if you need help locating a parcel or if the data on file does not match your records.

Crawford County Equalization Department

The Crawford County Equalization Department oversees the annual assessment process for all local units in the county. Dawn A. White serves as Equalization Director. Under MCL 211.1 et seq., the department must make sure all property is assessed at 50% of true cash value as of the annual Tax Day. The director reviews local assessments, studies sales data, and applies a county equalization factor if any township or city is assessed above or below the standard.

Crawford County includes several townships with very different mixes of property. The city of Grayling has a different character than the rural townships surrounding it, which have large amounts of state forest, recreational land, and private timber parcels. The Equalization Department works across all of these to ensure a consistent standard. For questions about your property class, how your value was set, or which local unit your parcel falls in, the Equalization Department can help.

Crawford County Register of Deeds

The Crawford County Register of Deeds records all documents affecting real property in the county. Darla J. Jezewski serves as Register of Deeds. Her office is at 200 W. Michigan Ave. in Grayling and can be reached at 989-348-2841. The Register records deeds, mortgages, liens, easements, and other instruments that create or affect ownership interests in Crawford County real estate.

When a property changes hands in Crawford County, the buyer must file a Property Transfer Affidavit (Form L-4025) with the local township assessor within 45 days of closing. This filing notifies the assessor that a sale occurred and triggers the uncapping of taxable value for the next assessment year. This is especially important in Crawford County, where many camp and cabin properties have been held by families for decades and carry very low taxable values. A new buyer will see that taxable value reset to match the assessed value in the first year after the purchase. Standard recording fees in Michigan are $30 per document. Copies cost $1 per page, and certified copies are $5 each.

Deed research in Crawford County can be important for buyers of older recreational parcels. Many lots were sold through platted resort developments many decades ago, and the chain of title can be complex. Staff at the Register of Deeds office can help you search the grantor and grantee indexes and make copies of the documents you need.

Property Tax Assessment in Crawford County

All Crawford County properties are assessed each year as of December 31, the statewide Tax Day under MCL 211.30. Local township assessors set each parcel's assessed value at 50% of its true cash value. The Crawford County Equalization Department then reviews all local assessments and applies equalization factors as needed before state taxes are calculated.

Michigan's taxable value cap is particularly relevant in Crawford County, where many parcels have been owned for a long time with low taxable values. The cap limits annual taxable value increases to the lesser of 5% or the inflation rate. When a property sells, this cap resets, and the new taxable value equals the assessed value for the following year. For buyers of camps, river frontage, or lakefront cottages in Crawford County, this reset can mean paying much more in property taxes than the prior owner paid, even if the sale price seems modest by market standards.

Assessment notices go out in February. They show your current and prior year assessed and taxable values and the deadline to file a Board of Review protest. Act before the March deadline if you want to challenge your assessment. The Michigan Department of Treasury sets the statewide rules that all assessors must follow. You can also use the Michigan Property Tax Estimator to model what your bill would be at different taxable values.

Property Tax Exemptions in Crawford County

Crawford County property owners may qualify for exemptions that lower their annual tax bill. The most widely used is the Principal Residence Exemption. Under MCL 211.7u, if your home is your primary residence, you can claim an 18-mill reduction on the school operating levy. File Form 2368 with your local township assessor by June 1. In Crawford County, where many properties are used only seasonally, this exemption does not apply to vacation cabins or hunting camps that are not the owner's primary home. If you have recently moved here and this is your main residence, verify with the assessor that a PRE is on file.

Agricultural and forestry land in Crawford County may qualify for the Agricultural Exemption under MCL 211.7v. Enrolled land is assessed at its agricultural use value rather than its full market value. Some types of managed timber land may also qualify under related programs. Ask your local assessor or the Equalization Department about enrollment requirements and whether your parcel is eligible.

Low-income property owners may apply for a poverty exemption using Form 5737 and Form 4988. These must be filed with the local assessor before the March Board of Review. Disabled veterans may qualify for a full property tax exemption. Contact the Crawford County Equalization Department at 989-348-2841 to ask about exemption options. Kate M. Wagner serves as Crawford County Treasurer and can also be reached at 989-348-2841 for billing and payment questions.

Note: Submit all exemption forms directly to your local township assessor, not to the county Equalization Department.

Appealing Your Crawford County Assessment

If your Crawford County property assessment seems too high, you have the right to appeal. The process starts at the March Board of Review in your local township. The board meets each March to hear protests. You can appear in person or file a written protest before the deadline. Supporting evidence matters. A recent independent appraisal is the strongest tool. Comparable sales of similar properties, documentation of damage or condition issues, or data showing that the assessor used incorrect information about your property can all help support a reduction.

If the local Board of Review does not lower your assessment to a level you find acceptable, the next step is the Michigan Tax Tribunal in Lansing. The MTT is independent of local government and hears property tax appeals from across the state. Residential property owners must file by July 31. Commercial and industrial owners must file by May 31. The MTT can be reached at 517-335-9760. Your rights during this process are outlined in the Michigan Taxpayer's Bill of Rights, MCL 205.735.

Kate M. Wagner serves as Crawford County Treasurer. Her office at 200 W. Michigan Ave. in Grayling handles property tax billing, payments, and delinquency matters. Contact the Treasurer at 989-348-2841. If your taxes are overdue, reach out to the Treasurer's office as early as possible to discuss payment options and avoid further penalties or loss of your property.

Cities in Crawford County

Crawford County includes the city of Grayling as its county seat and several townships in northern Michigan. No cities in Crawford County meet the population threshold for individual city pages on this site. Communities in the county include Grayling, Lovells Township, Beaver Creek Township, and Maple Forest Township. All Crawford County property tax records are searchable through the Crawford County BS&A portal.

Nearby Counties

Crawford County sits in the northern Lower Peninsula. These neighboring counties each have their own assessing offices and property tax record systems.