Access Marquette County Property Tax Records

Marquette County property tax records are managed by the County Equalization Department at 234 W. Baraga Ave. in Marquette. As the largest county in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, Marquette County maintains a broad set of parcel records covering a wide range of property types, from residential to forested to commercial. Residents, title researchers, and buyers can search Marquette County property tax records online through the BS&A portal. This guide covers how to search, which offices to contact, how assessments work, and how to appeal if you believe your property is overvalued.

How to Search Marquette County Property Tax Records

Marquette County gives the public access to property tax data through the BS&A Online platform. The system lets you search parcels by owner name, address, or parcel number. Results show assessed values, taxable values, ownership details, and tax payment history. All townships and cities in Marquette County are included in one portal.

Go to the Marquette County BS&A property tax portal to start a search. No account is needed. Enter a name, address, or parcel ID and check the results. The portal shows the current owner of record, the legal description, the state equalized value, and recent tax history. This is the most efficient way to find Marquette County property tax records without traveling to the courthouse.

Additional information about the Equalization Department is on the Marquette County Equalization page. For records not available online or for older documents, visit the office at 234 W. Baraga Ave. or call 906-225-8425.

The screenshot below shows the BS&A portal for Marquette County. The Marquette County Equalization BS&A portal is the primary online source for property tax records in the county and is updated regularly.

Marquette County is a large county geographically, with many rural parcels. The BS&A system covers all of them. If a search returns no results, try shortening the owner name or using a partial address to broaden the search.

Marquette County Equalization Department

Director John J. Novak leads the Marquette County Equalization Department. The department conducts the annual review of assessments from all local taxing units in the county to ensure they comply with state law. Under MCL 211.1, all Michigan property must be assessed at 50% of its true cash value. The Equalization Department reviews township and city submissions each spring and applies equalization factors when values fall out of compliance.

The office maintains Marquette County's parcel database, handles exemption applications, and oversees special assessment records. Marquette County has a diverse mix of property types, including city residential, rural acreage, commercial, and mineral-related parcels. The Equalization Department manages records for all of them. Public records are available for review at the Baraga Ave. office during regular business hours.

Marquette County Register of Deeds

The Marquette County Register of Deeds records instruments affecting real property in the county. Deeds, mortgages, liens, easements, and land contracts are all filed here. When property changes hands, the buyer must file a Property Transfer Affidavit (Form L-4025) with the local township or city assessor within 45 days. Failure to do so results in a penalty under Michigan law and can delay the proper uncapping of taxable value.

Register Linda M. Kevelin can be reached at 906-225-8415. The office is in Marquette at the county building on Baraga Ave. Recording fees in Michigan are $30 per document. Plain copies cost $1 per page and certified copies are $5. Recorded documents are public records and can be requested in person or by phone. These records work alongside the BS&A parcel database to document ownership and transaction history for any parcel in Marquette County.

Note: Mineral rights records in Marquette County may also be recorded with the Register of Deeds. If your parcel has severed mineral rights, check the recorded instruments to understand the full status of the property.

Property Tax Assessment in Marquette County

Michigan's Tax Day is December 31 under MCL 211.30. Ownership and property status on that date determine how each parcel is assessed. Township and city assessors in Marquette County value parcels as of December 31. The Equalization Department reviews those values each spring and adjusts equalization factors as needed. Assessment notices go out in February each year.

Michigan caps annual increases in taxable value at the rate of inflation or 5%, whichever is less, in years without a transfer. When property sells, taxable value uncaps to match the assessed value in the next tax year. Buyers in Marquette County should factor this into their purchase plans. The Michigan Property Tax Estimator can help calculate what taxes will look like after a sale. Statewide guidance is at michigan.gov/taxes/property-tax.

Marquette County townships include Ahl, Baraga, Champion, Chocolay, Ely, Forsyth, Humboldt, Ishpeming, Marquette, Michigamme, Negaunee, Norwood, Powell, Republic, Richmond, Sands, Skandia, Tilden, Turin, and Wells. Each applies state assessment rules locally and submits parcel data to the county annually.

Property Tax Exemptions in Marquette County

The Principal Residence Exemption (PRE) is the most commonly used exemption for Marquette County homeowners. Under MCL 211.7u, the PRE removes 18 mills from your school operating tax. File Form 2368 with your local township or city assessor by June 1. The property must be your primary home. Seasonal properties and rentals do not qualify for this exemption. It is worth confirming your PRE status each time you move or purchase a new primary home.

Agricultural land in Marquette County may qualify for an exemption under MCL 211.7v. Some rural parcels in the county's townships may meet the agricultural definition under state law. Contact the Equalization Department or your township assessor to check eligibility and the required paperwork.

The Poverty Exemption is an option for low-income homeowners who meet income and asset tests. File Form 5737 and Form 4988 with your township assessor. The Board of Review rules on poverty exemption requests each March. Disabled veteran exemptions are also available under Michigan law for veterans who qualify and their surviving spouses.

Appealing Your Marquette County Assessment

If you believe your property is overassessed in Marquette County, the first step is the March Board of Review. It meets each year in your local township or city and takes protests in person or by written submission. Bring solid evidence of market value, such as a licensed appraisal or recent comparable sales from the same area. The Board can lower your assessment when the evidence supports it.

If the Board of Review does not resolve the issue, the next step is the Michigan Tax Tribunal in Lansing. Call the MTT at 517-335-9760. The deadline for residential property appeals is July 31. Commercial and industrial appeals must be filed by May 31. The Property Taxpayer's Bill of Rights under MCL 205.735 defines your rights through each stage of the appeal process.

Marquette County Property Tax Payments

The Marquette County Treasurer collects delinquent property taxes after local townships and cities forward them. Summer taxes are generally due in September and winter taxes in February, though exact deadlines vary by local unit. Treasurer Beverly A. Giaski can be reached at 906-225-8420 for questions about delinquent balances, payment plans, and forfeiture status.

Once taxes go delinquent at the county level, interest and fees accumulate under Michigan law. The Treasurer's office handles payment arrangements and the forfeiture process. Properties with unpaid county-level taxes enter forfeiture after one year and can be foreclosed after three years. Contacting the Treasurer as soon as taxes fall behind limits the total you owe and preserves your options before the forfeiture deadline passes.

Note: The City of Marquette has its own local treasury for current tax collection. For current city tax bills, contact the City of Marquette directly. Delinquent amounts are eventually forwarded to the County Treasurer.

Cities in Marquette County

Marquette County includes the city of Marquette as the county seat, along with Ishpeming, Negaunee, and several townships and villages. None of these communities meet the population threshold for individual city pages on this site. Property tax records for all Marquette County communities are available through the Equalization Department and the BS&A online portal.

Nearby Counties

These counties are adjacent to Marquette County in the Upper Peninsula. Each maintains its own equalization office and property tax records. Verify which county a parcel falls in before searching, especially for rural properties in this large geographic area.