Carlton County Recorder Information

Land records in Carlton County are recorded by the County Recorder. The office is held by Bryon Blair.

Documents recorded after April 25, 1978 are available online through idocmarket.com (credit card required). A public research area with terminals is in the County Recorder's Office on the 1st floor of the Carlton County Courthouse, open 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Monday-Friday. Mailed copy requests need the document number, payment, and a self-addressed stamped return envelope.

Checked October 2026 against official publications. Sources: Minn. Stat. 357.18 County Recorder · Recorder's Office - Real Estate · FAQs: Recorder's Office - Property Records

These government fees are separate from any Deeds.com service fees. Confirm current charges with the recorder's office.

Other charges

StatewideThe $46 recording fee is divided by statute: $10.50 goes to the state general fund, $10 to the county recorder's technology fund, and $25.50 to the county general fund. Recording a plat costs $56. Amended floor plans and condominium or common interest community plats cost 50 cents per unit, with a $56 minimum. A noncertified copy of a document submitted for recording costs $2 when a copy or duplicate original comes with it. The recorder collects a $54 fee for receipt of a completed well disclosure certificate (Minn. Stat. § 103I.235). Each county board sets the per-page fee for noncertified copies.

Non-certified copies cost a $3.00 minimum per document for up to three pages, then $1.00 per page; certified copies cost $10.00 per document with no page limit. Fax copies cost $2.00 local or $5.00 long distance, plus the copy fee. Copies of an official plat cost $10.00 non-certified or $15.00 certified. Copies of floor plans, condominium plats, and CIC plats cost $1.00 per page with a $10.00 minimum. Torrens fees: a document transferring a certificate is $46.00, and each certificate after that is $40.00; an entry of memorial is $46.00 per certificate, then $20.00 for multiple certificate entries; a CECT is $40.00; a residue or new additional certificate is $40.00; an exchange certificate is $20.00 for each canceled certificate and $20.00 for each new certificate. Carlton County does not have a conservation fee.

Paying the office

State deed tax and mortgage registration tax are payable to the Carlton County Auditor/Treasurer. The well disclosure fee is payable to the Carlton County Recorder.

Transfer tax

Deed tax. .0033 of the net consideration when the consideration exceeds $3,000; $1.65 when there is no consideration or it is $3,000 or less. The tax is collected when the document is recorded. (statewide, Minn. Stat. § 287.21, subd. 1)

StatewideThe deed tax is due when a taxable deed or instrument is presented for recording (Minn. Stat. § 287.21, subd. 1(d)). A mortgage registry tax is imposed on the privilege of recording a mortgage. Its rate is .0023 of the debt, or portion of a debt, secured by a recorded mortgage of real property in Minnesota (Minn. Stat. § 287.035). Some counties are authorized by special statute to impose their own additional deed and mortgage registry taxes. For example, Minn. Stat. § 383B.80 allows Hennepin County a rate of .0001.

Checked October 2026 against official publications. Sources: Minn. Stat. 357.18 County Recorder · Minn. Stat. 287.21 Imposition of tax · Minn. Stat. 287.035 Imposition of tax · Abstract Department Recording Fees · FAQs: Recorder's Office - Property Records

Confirm current requirements with the recorder's office before submitting documents.

StatewideThe first page has a 3-inch blank space at the top and a one-half inch border on each side and the bottom. The right half of the top blank space is reserved for recording information and the left half for tax certification.

StatewideThese standards apply to documents recorded other than by electronic means. Plats, registered land surveys, and common interest community plats are excepted. The document title must be prominently displayed at the top of the first page, below the blank space, or on the administrative page. No additional sheet may be attached so that it covers information. Documents must be legible enough to reproduce a readable copy. A document should conform to these standards, but should not be rejected unless it is not legible or cannot be archived (Minn. Stat. § 357.18, subd. 5).

One sided documents are preferred to deter bleed through. Legal descriptions attached to a document must be on full sheets printed portrait style. Marital status shown as "Married" is not accepted. White-out is not accepted.

Forms filed along with a transfer

• Certificate of Real Estate Value Statewide Minnesota Department of Revenue (filed with the county auditor)
  whenever any real estate is sold for a consideration in excess of $3,000
• Well Disclosure Certificate Statewide Minnesota Department of Health
  for a deed or other instrument of conveyance requiring a certificate of value, unless the deed contains the statutory no-wells or unchanged-status statement

Submitting documents

In-person real estate service is by appointment (218-384-9122). A cover letter should give a contact telephone number, the return address, whether the document is for the Abstract or Torrens department, and the recording order for multiple documents. Early-day delivery is suggested to ensure same-day recording. Examiner's certifications/directives, plats, CIC plats, registered land surveys, and deeds that create Torrens residue certificates are not accepted for e-recording.

Checked October 2026 against official publications. Sources: Minn. Stat. 357.18 County Recorder · Minn. Stat. 507.093 Standards for documents · Minn. Stat. 507.091 Name and address of drafter · Minn. Stat. 507.092 Name and address for tax statements · Minn. Stat. 272.115 Certificate of value · Recorder's Office - Real Estate · FAQs: Recorder's Office - Property Records · ERecording