Otter Tail County Recorder Information

Land records in Otter Tail County are recorded by the County Recorder. The office is held by Lynn Larson.

Land records can be searched through Tapestry (pay as you go) or by Laredo subscription, which requires a contract and escrow account. Public computers are available at the Recorder’s office. Property Fraud Alert is free.

Checked October 2026 against official publications. Sources: Minn. Stat. 357.18 County Recorder · Recorder - Otter Tail County, MN · Land Records - Otter Tail County, MN

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.

Torrens Department: each additional new certificate or residue certificate $40; each additional memorial $20; certified copy of certificate of title $10; registered land survey recording fee $56. Conservation fee is not charged in Otter Tail County. Copies: a document mailed, e-mailed, or faxed by county staff $10; non-certified full-size copy of a plat, CIC or registered land survey $10; certified full-size copy $15.

Paying the office

Recording fees and the Well Disclosure Certificate fee are payable to the Otter Tail County Recorder; state deed tax, mortgage registry tax, and delinquent or current taxes are payable to the Otter Tail County Treasurer.

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 · Land Records - Otter Tail County, MN · Recording Requirements - Otter Tail County, MN

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).

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
• Sewage Treatment System Property Transfer Form Otter Tail County Land & Resource Management
  For ALL transfer documents

Submitting documents

Torrens documents are not accepted for e-recording. E-recording is not available for one-time submissions, infrequent recordings or individuals recording personal documents. Only original documents can be recorded; emailed or photocopied images are returned without 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 · Land Records - Otter Tail County, MN · Recording Requirements - Otter Tail County, MN · E-Recording Documents - Otter Tail County, MN