St. Clair County Property Records

St. Clair County property records are maintained by the Register of Deeds in Port Huron, the county seat on the St. Clair River at the southern tip of Lake Huron. The office records all instruments that affect real property in the county, including deeds, mortgages, easements, liens, and plats. St. Clair County offers online access to document images through Tapestry and Laredo, two subscription platforms widely used by title professionals. Residents and researchers can also visit the Port Huron office in person or submit requests by mail.

Register of Deeds Office

The St. Clair County Register of Deeds is located in Port Huron at the McMorran Boulevard address. The office keeps the grantor-grantee index required by MCL 565.28 and records all real property instruments for the county. Staff can assist with in-person searches during regular office hours.

Online Access: Tapestry and Laredo

St. Clair County property records are available online through two professional platforms. Tapestry offers public access with pay-per-document pricing. Laredo is a subscription-based system used by title companies, attorneys, and others who search records frequently. Both systems provide access to document images indexed by the Register of Deeds.

The St. Clair County website provides links and guidance for accessing these online tools. For users who only need occasional searches, Tapestry's pay-per-use model may be the simpler choice. Title professionals who search St. Clair County daily will generally prefer the Laredo subscription.

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The St. Clair County government website provides access to online property records tools including Tapestry and Laredo for searching recorded document indexes and images.

Types of Documents Recorded

The St. Clair County Register of Deeds holds all types of real property instruments. Warranty deeds and quitclaim deeds record ownership transfers. Mortgages and mortgage discharges track lending. Land contracts, easements, rights-of-way, and condominium documents are also on file. Construction liens, federal and state tax liens, and plat maps complete the range of documents held by the office.

St. Clair County's location along the St. Clair River and Lake Huron means waterfront parcels are common, and many recorded documents involve riparian rights, dock easements, and shoreline access agreements. If you are buying waterfront property in St. Clair County, a thorough title search should include a careful review of easement and riparian records.

Recording Requirements

Documents submitted to the St. Clair County Register of Deeds must meet the formatting standards set by MCL 565.201. The first page needs a 2.5-inch top margin. All other margins must be at least 0.5 inches. Text must be black ink, minimum 10-point font, on white paper. Only one recordable event is allowed per document.

Names must be typed or printed clearly beneath all signatures. The drafter's name and address must be on the document per MCL 565.201a. The property tax identification number must appear on the first page. Original signatures are required. Documents that fail these standards may be returned or assessed a non-standard fee penalty.

Michigan Property Recording Law

Michigan is a race-notice state under MCL 565.29. If two buyers claim the same St. Clair County parcel, the one who records first without prior knowledge of the other's claim wins. This rule applies to all recorded instruments, not just deeds.

The Marketable Record Title Act at MCL 565.101 allows a 40-year chain of title to clear earlier defects. Title companies doing work in St. Clair County rely on this act to establish clean title for buyers without having to trace every document back to the original land grant.

Transfer Taxes and Property Taxes

Real estate transfers in St. Clair County are subject to a county transfer tax of $1.10 per $1,000 and a state transfer tax of $7.50 per $1,000. These are collected at closing. Exempt transfers include certain family conveyances and government transactions as defined by state statute.

Michigan property is assessed at 50% of true cash value. Under Proposal A, taxable value increases are capped annually at the lesser of inflation or 5%. When property sells, the cap lifts and taxable value resets, which can increase property taxes significantly for the new owner.

The Michigan Department of Treasury administers state-level property tax programs including the Principal Residence Exemption, which can reduce property taxes for St. Clair County residents who make the property their primary home.

Additional Resources

The county treasurer maintains tax payment records and delinquency data for St. Clair County parcels. The county clerk holds court records related to foreclosures and boundary disputes. The equalization department manages parcel maps and assessment information.

For statewide property research tools, Macomb County Sanilac County