Services
In accordance with Section 389.08 of Minnesota Statutes, the Washington County Board has passed Ordinance No.10 requiring any survey of land to be filed with the County Surveyor.
Ordinance No. 10
- Any licensed land surveyor who shall perform a survey of land located within Washington County for an individual or corporation shall file a true and correct copy of the survey in the Office of the County Surveyor within 30 days after completion of said survey.
- The County Surveyor is hereby directed to draw up rules and regulations detailing the manner of said filing and incidents thereto.
- All surveys so filed shall be public records and shall be available at all reasonable times for inspection by any person under rules and regulations determined by the County Surveyor.
- This ordinance shall be in full force and effect from and after its passage and publication according to law.
*Passed by the Board of County Commissioners of Washington County, Minnesota, this 14th day of July, 1975.
Certificates of Survey on file
The County Surveyor maintains a record of each survey of land that is filed by a licensed land surveyor according to Section 389.08, Minnesota Statues. Certificates of Survey are available for public view during office hours.
The location of surveys on file can be seen on the interactive GIS based Data Map. Open the viewer, zoom-in, and open the layers menu with the 3-bar icon in the upper left.
Copyright laws apply. Only those surveys made before March 1, 1989, can be photocopied. All other surveys are copyright protected.
Note that some map products are available on this website at no cost. Check for links.
Hard copy maps can be viewed at our service counter and/or purchased. We accept cash, check, or card payments.
Orders can also be placed by phone or e-mail. You may call the office with your request and provide your card information over the phone. You may also send an email to Public Works with your request, name and phone number. We will then contact you at the number provided with the total cost, and to receive your card information.
Hard Copy Maps
| Parcel Maps: Half-Sections | Horizontal Control Reports |
| Parcel Maps: 11x17 custom | Section Worksheets (NAD83/1986) |
| Color Aerial Photos (2019) | NAD27 Worksheets |
| Photo Archives (1936 – 2009) | Certificates of Survey on file |
| Parcel Map Overlay/Aerial Photo | Judicial Ditch Maps |
| 2-Foot Contours | County Highway Map (PDF) |
| Subdivision Plats | Plat Book - 2016 Edition (PDF) |
| Highway Right-of-Way Plats | Plat Book Archives (1887-2012) |
| School District Map (PDF) | Watershed District Map (PDF) |
License agreements and/or copyright laws may apply for some items.
Digital Parcel Data
The data set includes parcel lines, parcel geocodes, parcel dimensions, subdivision plat boundaries, school district boundaries (PDF), watershed district boundaries (PDF), road centerlines, right-of-way lines, major easements more than 20 feet wide, railroads, lakes, wetlands, rivers, and streams. Washington County Tax System records (acquired separately) may be attached via the parcel geocode.
This data set is available in ArcGIS and/or AutoCAD format.
Aerial Photography
The new 2022 color aerial photography has a ground resolution of 6 inches and a horizontal accuracy of +/- 1.5 feet. This data set is available in TIFF, JPEG, and ECW file formats.
Digital Aerials
| Year | Type | Resolution |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | color | 6 inch resolution |
| 2019 | color | 6 inch resolution |
| 2016 | color | 6 inch resolution |
| 2013 | color | 6 inch resolution |
| 2009 | color | 6 inch resolution |
| 2005 | color | 6 inch resolution |
| 2000 | black and white | 6 inch resolution |
| 1969 | black and white | N/A |
| 1945 | black and white | N/A |
2-foot digital contour
Data Source: November 2011 LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) acquired by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.
A Parcel Search or Surrounding Property Owners List identifies all property owners within a specified distance of a particular parcel.
A Surrounding Property Owners List is a common requirement for zoning permits, variances, conditional use permits and subdivision approval. An Owners List is compiled upon request from citizens, cities, townships, private companies, developers, surveyors, and other county departments.
Surrounding Property Owners' List*
| Product Type | Fee |
|---|---|
| Flat rate for up to 25 parcels | per search: $50 |
| Additional parcels after first 25 | per parcel: $0.50 |
| Mailing labels (30 labels per sheet) | per sheet: $1 |
Surrounding Property Owners' List (Non-Radius Search)*
| Product Type | Fee |
|---|---|
| Specified area of 75+ parcels | per search: $50 |
| Additional hourly labor charge (after first hour) | per hour: $93 |
| Mailing labels (30 labels per sheet) | per sheet: $1 |
Parcel Search Application (PDF)
*Add $2 postage if mailed, emailed, or faxed (includes first four sheets; $0.25 per sheet thereafter).
Releasing Names and Addresses
Pursuant to Chapter 3, Section 27, 1997 Minnesota Laws, property owners' names and addresses cannot be used for business purposes if the business purpose consists of conducting surveys, marketing, or solicitation.
Subdivision Plat
A subdivision plat is a means of dividing a parcel of land into smaller lots/blocks; resulting in a unique and simple legal description. Prepare the plat according to Chapter 505, Minnesota Statutes. Washington County has adopted the Manual of Guidelines for Platting in Minnesota (PDF), a joint publication of the Minnesota Society of Professional Surveyors (MSPS) and the Minnesota Association of County Surveyors (MACS).
See pages 2 through 4 of the Washington County Addendum (PDF) for submittal requirements and fees.
Subdivision Plats are reviewed for mathematical closure, compliance with Minnesota Statutes, county regulations, and professional standards. The plat must be approved by the County Surveyor according to Chapter 820, Laws of Minnesota - 1971, before it is recorded.
Uniform Street Naming System
Please work with each respective city or township to comply with the uniform street naming and property numbering system.
Fact: On average, 77% of all plats are ready to record in 3 reviews or less.
Registered Land Survey
A Registered Land Survey (RLS) is a means of dividing a Torrens parcel of land into separate tracts. Prepare the RLS according to Section 508.47, Subd. 2, Minnesota Statutes.
See pages 2 through 4 of the Washington County Addendum (PDF) for submittal requirements and fees.
The RLS is reviewed for mathematical closure, compliance with Minnesota Statutes, county regulations, and professional standards. The RLS must be approved by the County Surveyor according to Chapter 820, Laws of Minnesota - 1971, prior to recording.
Common Interest Community (CIC) Plat
A CIC plat is a means of dividing a condominium, a cooperative, or a planned community into separate units. Prepare the CIC plat according to Chapter 515B, Minnesota Statutes.
See pages 2 through 4 of the Washington County CIC Plat Manual (PDF) for submittal requirements and fees.
All CIC plats (including Supplemental and Amended) are reviewed for mathematical closure, compliance with Minnesota Statutes, county regulations, and professional standards. Minnesota Statutes, Section 389.09, Subdivision 2, requires that each CIC plat be approved by the County Surveyor before recording.
Common Interest Community (CIC) Plat
A CIC plat is a means of dividing a condominium, a cooperative, or a planned community into separate units. Prepare the CIC plat according to Chapter 515B, Minnesota Statutes.
See pages 3 and 4 of the Washington County CIC Plat Manual (PDF) for submittal requirements and fees.
All CIC plats (including Supplemental and Amended) are reviewed for mathematical closure, compliance with Minnesota Statutes, county regulations, and professional standards. Minnesota Statutes, Section 389.09, Subdivision 2, requires that each CIC plat be approved by the County Surveyor before recording.
The Washington County Title Examiner is an attorney appointed by the District Court Judges to administer all Torrens proceedings for the County.
As directed by the Title Examiner, the Survey Division will review the following for compliance and accuracy:
|
About Torrens
The purpose of the Torrens system is to establish clear title to a parcel of land, free of any future adverse claims, or any encumbrances that are not noted on the Certificate of Title.
Bringing a parcel from abstract into the Torrens system involves a District Court hearing through which any person with an interest in the property has the opportunity to support or oppose the Registration. Applicants are required to submit a complete boundary survey, a proposed legal description, and an Application which describes the defects in the property and lists all interested parties and encumbrances on the property. The survey must be prepared by a Licensed Land Surveyor. The Application and related documents are typically prepared by a real estate attorney.
The Survey Division works closely with staff from Washington County Property Records to review the documents. They work directly with the applicant’s attorney and the applicant’s surveyor to ensure that everything is correct, complete, and can progress smoothly through District Court.
For more information on the Torrens Registration process, or any questions pertaining to Torrens property, please contact Joseph Taylor, the Examiner of Titles at 651-459-6644 or by email.