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

Pasquotank County is located in the northeastern region of North Carolina. Its county seat is Elizabeth City, which is known as the Harbor of Hospitality. Property records in Pasquotank County cover more than 20,000 individual parcels across 227 square miles of land. With land records dating back to 1700, you can access property records through the Register of Deeds and the Tax Administration Office. These county offices maintain and provide access to property records under the provisions of the state's Public Records Law.

An average home in Pasquotank County typically spends around 40 to 60 days on the market. The local housing market benefits from a diverse economy led by government services, education, healthcare, tourism, and maritime industries. Single-family detached homes make up much of the housing inventory in communities such as Elizabeth City, Weeksville, Nixonton, and Newland.

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How to Look Up Pasquotank County Property Records

There are designated webpages available to anyone who wants to view or download Pasquotank County property records:

Who Keeps Pasquotank County Property Records?

According to North Carolina’s Public Records Law, custodians of property records must allow individuals to view or request copies of documents. Such custodians include:

• The Register of Deeds is the sole official recording office for all land records in Pasquotank County. The office handles various types of land documents, including warranty deeds, quitclaim deeds, deeds of trust, plats, easements, liens, releases, and powers of attorney. In accordance with NCGS 161-14, the office records and preserves documents that affect real property ownership. However, staff members cannot perform title searches or provide legal advice.

• The Pasquotank County Tax Administration maintains property ownership records, parcel identification numbers (PINs), assessed values, tax billing information, and property characteristics. Individuals can use this office to verify ownership, review assessments, obtain parcel information, and access tax-related records.

• The Pasquotank County Clerk of Superior Court maintains court records including estate matters and foreclosure proceedings. In Pasquotank County, a power-of-sale foreclosure hearing is conducted before the Clerk of Superior Court. However, deeds, deeds of trust, and other land records are recorded with the Register of Deeds.

How to Search Pasquotank County Property Records Online

Individuals can check these designated portals to get a complete picture of a property record in Pasquotank County:

1. The first step is to search the Property Card Search portal. You can usually search by using the property address, owner’s name, parcel identification number (PIN), or account number. From the portal, you will find additional information, including ownership details, assessed values, and property characteristics.

2. Next, you can search the Register of Deeds Consolidated Land Index using the owner’s name. On the webpage, you will find several options, such as document type, recording date, or instrument number, to search a deed. Choose any option and follow its procedure to view a recorded deed.

3. Confirm the current owner on the most recent deed. Ensure the grantor’s name listed on one deed matches the grantee’s name shown on the previous deed. Any break in the chain may require additional title research.

4. You should also check the same Consolidated Index for recorded liens, judgments, deeds of trust, restrictive covenants, easements, and releases. Once you find an excise stamp on a deed, note that it shows the estimated sale price.

5. Finally, confirm the tax status of your property through the ACI Payments platform. Under the provisions of NCGS 105-355 and NCGS 105-362, property tax liens attach to real estate on January 1 of each tax year. The liens remain effective until all taxes, penalties, interest, and related charges are paid.

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

The Pasquotank County Register of Deeds records all real estate documents in the county. These records help establish the chain of title and provide public notice of interests that may affect a property's ownership or use. Like most counties in North Carolina, Pasquotank County primarily uses deeds of trust rather than mortgages to secure real estate loans.

You can access historical and current land records from 1700 to the present using the Register of Deeds’ search webpage.

Tax Assessor: Ownership, Values, and Parcel Data

The Pasquotank County Tax Administration Office appraises all taxable real and personal property within the county. The office handles ownership records, parcel identification numbers (PINs), property characteristics, assessed values, and other information used to administer the property tax system. You can use the Property Card Search to find ownership details, mailing addresses, acreage, land values, building characteristics, tax assessments, and parcel information.

Tax Collector: Tax Bills and Payments

The Pasquotank County Tax Administration Office is also responsible for billing and collecting property taxes. Real and personal property taxes are billed annually. Property owners receive tax bills each year in Pasquotank County.

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

Every property tax bill is based on the taxable value of a property. The Pasquotank County Tax Administration Office is responsible for assessing property values. The county municipalities and the Board of Commissioners set the tax rates used to calculate property taxes. To estimate a property tax bill, divide the assessed value by 100 and multiply the result by the applicable tax rate. Any approved property tax relief program or exemption may reduce the amount of tax owed.

Homestead and relief programs

In Pasquotank County, several property tax relief programs are available to qualifying homeowners. Application forms are generally submitted by applicants to the Pasquotank County Tax Administration by June 1.

Appealing your value

To appeal your property’s assessed value, first request for an informal review through the Pasquotank County Tax Administration Office. You may provide additional information, such as recent comparable sales or evidence of incorrect property details. If the issue is not resolved, you may file a formal appeal with the Pasquotank County Board of Equalization and Review (BOER). Should you disagree with the Board's decision, you may further appeal to the North Carolina Property Tax Commission under state law. If you are dissatisfied with the Commission's decision, escalate the matter to the North Carolina Court of Appeals.

GIS Maps and Parcel Viewer

Pasquotank County hosts its Geographic Information System (GIS) and land description on the Esri platform. The Pasquotank GIS Office allows you to obtain useful information through its online portal. Available data includes property boundaries, acreage, parcel identification numbers (PINs), ownership details, aerial imagery, and building information. In addition, the portal provides access to zoning data, flood maps, and other geographic layers.

Foreclosure and Tax Sales

In Pasquotank County, the foreclosure process follows either power-of-sale foreclosures or property-tax foreclosures.

Power-of-sale foreclosures

In Pasquotank County, residential foreclosures are typically processed through the power-of-sale contained in a deed of trust. The Sheriff's Office executes the public auction at the courthouse. The sale is subject to a 10-day upset bid period, during which you may submit higher bids through the Clerk of Superior Court. If no additional bids are received, the sale is finalized. Then, the successful bidder must make a cash deposit of 10% of the bid according to NCGS 45-21.27.

Property-tax foreclosure

Pasquotank County may also foreclose on properties with delinquent property taxes. This is done in accordance with NCGS 105-374 or the in-rem foreclosure process under NCGS 105-375. These procedures allow the county to recover unpaid taxes, interest, penalties, and costs associated with the property. Be aware that Pasquotank County does not sell tax lien certificates. Once a tax foreclosure sale is completed and the deed is properly issued, there is no right of redemption.

Costs to Access Property Records

Under NCGS 161-10 and NCGS 105-228.30, specific fees apply to record or obtain copies of property records in Pasquotank County:

How to Record a Document

To record a property document in Pasquotank County, you must follow certain procedures in accordance with the North Carolina recording requirements.

• Prepare the Documents: Ensure that your document meets all recording requirements. This includes a legal description of the property, the owner's full name, original signatures, notary acknowledgment, required margins, and the grantee’s mailing address. Also, the document should be prepared with a 3-inch top margin on the first page. If your document fails to meet the standard requirement, you will be fined $25, in addition to the standard recording fee.

• Calculate recording fees: The basic recording fee for a new deed is $64 for the first 35 pages and $4 for each additional page. However, additional costs may apply to the recording process. To know the exact fee, check the fee schedule or contact the Pasquotank County Register of Deeds by phone at (252) 335-4367.

• Submit the Documents: You may submit the completed documents to the Pasquotank County Register of Deeds in person, or by mail. Also, you can submit online through approved e-recording vendors such as Simplifile and CSC.

• Obtain a copy of the Recorded Document: After recording, you may view and download a copy of the recorded land document through the Consolidated Land Index. In addition, you may visit the Register of Deeds' Office to obtain a certified copy of the recorded document.

FAQs

Quick Reference: Your Pasquotank County Property Records Checklist

Key Contacts and Official Portals