Brunswick County, NC Property Records: Search Deeds, Owners, Tax Records, and Maps

Property researchers and residents of Brunswick County can obtain property records from the Register of Deeds and Tax Office. These offices maintain records of over 160,000 individual parcels across the county's 1,050 square miles. Brunswick County property records are available to the public in accordance with the North Carolina Public Records Act, with available property records dating back to 1764.

A typical property in the county sits 80 to 94 days on average, slower than the statewide pace. Single-family detached homes, particularly single-story ranch-style designs and coastal cottages, dominate the housing inventory in Brunswick County, making up 69% of all housing units. The county’s current booming real estate development is fueled by rapid population growth, tourism, and proximity to the Port of Wilmington and major highways.

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How to Look Up Brunswick County Property Records

Brunswick County provides free access to property records through several online portals.

Who Keeps Brunswick County Property Records

North Carolina property records are maintained by county offices, and access to these records is governed by the state’s Public Records Act. In Brunswick County, the responsibility for maintaining, updating, and issuing property records is shared among three offices:

• The Brunswick County Register of Deeds records deeds, deeds of trust, plats, easements, liens, and restrictive covenants. This is the office of legal record for the chain of title. It does not perform title searches or give legal advice, which state law prohibits.

• The Brunswick County Department of Tax Administration appraises every parcel, assigns the PIN, mails the bills, and collects payment.

• The Brunswick County Clerk of Superior Court oversees the foreclosure process, including hearings and property auctions.

How to Search Brunswick County Property Records Online

Brunswick County property record searches typically involve navigating multiple official databases. You can view complete records by taking the following steps:

1. Start with the County's Tax Office’s property records portal. This portal allows searches by property owner's name, address, and parcel ID. This page also shows the assessed value and property characteristics.

2. After that, look up the owner's name on the Register of Deeds online records portal. This allows you to pull recorded deeds and deeds of trust.

3. Look at the chain of title from the most recent recorded deed. If the names do not correspond, then you've found a gap that needs further research, potentially by a tax professional.

4. Run the same index for active liens, deeds of trust, and restrictive covenants. The excise tax stamp printed on a deed also tells you roughly what the property last sold for.

5. Then, visit the Brunswick County tax portal. Here, you can confirm the property's tax status. You can search records by owner's name, parcel ID, and tax year.

Register of Deeds: Deeds, Deeds of Trust, and Plats

Brunswick County's Register of Deeds is responsible for the indexing and recording of property documents. The office also maintains a property records database and produces certified copies on request.

Document types recorded include:

• Warranty deeds, special warranty deeds, and quitclaim deeds

• Deeds of trust, releases, assignments, and modifications

• Judgment liens, mechanic's liens, and state and federal tax liens

• Easements, restrictive covenants, and powers of attorney

• Subdivision plats, condominium plats, and highway maps

The Register of Deeds online records portal maintains records dating back to 1929.

Tax Assessor: Ownership, Values, and Parcel Data

Brunswick County Tax Office is responsible for appraising every parcel in the county. North Carolina General Statutes require that all counties conduct a reappraisal of real property at least every 8 years. You can use the office's property records portal to find:

• The current legal owner of any parcel

• The PIN and real estate ID (the master IDs across county systems)

• Assessed value, land value, and building value

• Property characteristics such as square footage, year built, and lot size

• Any active homestead, disability, or veteran exclusion

Property owners in Brunswick County are expected to list their property with the department during the annual listing period.

Tax Collector: Tax Bills and Payments

The same office is responsible for collecting property taxes for Brunswick County. Brunswick County real and personal property tax bills are due and payable on September 1, and can be paid without interest up to, and including, January 5. After January 5, 2% interest will be added to your bill, and if still unpaid, 3/4% interest will be added on February 1, and each additional month it remains delinquent.

Property Tax in Brunswick County: Rates, Exemptions, and Appeals

Brunswick County property tax is calculated using the property’s assessed value and the tax rate set each year by local officials. Both figures are multiplied to determine the final tax bill.

Homestead and relief programs

North Carolina offers three statutory relief programs, and an owner may take only one. Each is filed with the county on Form AV-9 by June 1.

Appealing your value

You may file an appeal with the Brunswick County Board of Equalization and Review. If your appeal is denied, you can then report the issue to the North Carolina Property Tax Commission.

GIS Maps and Parcel Viewer

You can look up specific parcel IDs, boundaries, and ownership details directly using the Brunswick County GIS mapping tools. For data that crosses county lines, the state runs NC OneMap.

Layers available include:

• Subdivision, lot, and block information

• Aerial imagery, updated on a regular cycle

• Zoning, jurisdiction, and voting-district boundaries

• FEMA flood zones and soil layers

Foreclosure and Tax Sales

North Carolina handles foreclosure differently from many other states, and there are two main processes you’ll see when researching property.

Power-of-sale foreclosure

Most home foreclosures are carried out by the trustee named in the deed of trust. The case goes before the Clerk of Superior Court, and the sale happens at the courthouse. After the auction, there is a 10‑day upset‑bid period, which allows anyone to submit a higher bid. This means that the first winning bid is not final.

Property-tax foreclosure

If you do not pay your property tax, the county can foreclose the tax lien through the courts under NCGS 105-374 or use the in‑rem process under 105‑375. Once a tax lien sale is confirmed, the delinquent owner can no longer redeem their property.

Costs to Access Property Records

Searching online is free. Fees apply when you need a copy or are recording a new document.

Recording fees are set by NCGS 161-10, and the excise tax is set by NCGS 105-228.30. Confirm the current schedule with the Register of Deeds before filing.

How to Record a Document

The rules governing the recording of any document that transfers an interest in real property are set out in NCGS Chapter 47. The process generally includes the following four steps:

1. Confirm the document meets North Carolina formatting rules: include original signatures, a notary acknowledgment, legible margins, and the required first-page reference to the grantee's address.

2. Calculate recording fees. Recording costs $26 for the first 15 pages and $4 for each additional page. Deeds also require payment of the excise tax, which is $1 per $500 of the purchase price.

3. Submit documents to the Register of Deeds Office. You can file the document in person, by mail, or through an approved e‑recording vendor. Checks should be made payable to the Brunswick County Register of Deeds.

4. Once the document is recorded, the original is returned to the filer, and a digital image is added to the online index.

FAQs

Quick Reference: Your Brunswick County Property Records Checklist

Match each row to your task to find the fastest path through the system.

Key Contacts and Official Portals