deedplatState guides / Michigan / Wayne County
Wayne County property data
Where Wayne County's property records live, how its tax and foreclosure sales work, and what Deedplat puts on one map, including Detroit.
- 34Cities and towns
- 900,000Parcels
Where the records are
The county offices an investor deals with in Wayne County, and what each one puts online.
Deeds and mortgages
Wayne County Register of Deeds. A free name search at waynecountylandrecords.com lists documents, but viewing and printing them costs $6 per 15 minutes plus $2 per page.
Owners and values
City of Detroit Office of the Assessor (BS&A Online). Free BS&A Online search of Detroit assessing and tax records by address or name; other Wayne County cities and townships keep their own assessor records.
Tax sales
Wayne County Treasurer. Foreclosed property lists and past results are posted as PDFs, and bidding runs through the Treasurer's auction website, waynecountytreasurermi.com.
Foreclosure sales
Wayne County Sheriff (mortgage foreclosure sales). Sale notices are published in legal newspapers such as the Detroit Legal News; the Register of Deeds holds redemption deposits after a sheriff's sale.
Parcel maps
Wayne County Maps and Data. The county website links a Parcel GIS Viewer, interactive maps and GIS data downloads under Maps and Data.
How property is sold here
Wayne County follows Michigan's rules, with its own calendar and offices. Read the Michigan guide for how the state works.
Tax sales
Michigan does not sell tax liens; the county forecloses and sells the property itself. Wayne County taxes go delinquent on March 1, the property forfeits a year later, and if unpaid it is foreclosed with title passing to the Treasurer on April 1 about two years after delinquency. The Treasurer then auctions foreclosed property in September and October of that year, with unsold September properties offered again in October, and bidders receive a quit claim deed.
Foreclosure sales
Michigan mortgage foreclosures are mostly by advertisement, ending in a sheriff's sale at public auction run by the Wayne County Sheriff or a deputy at the Coleman A. Young Municipal Center, 2 Woodward Avenue, Detroit. Notices are published in legal newspapers such as the Detroit Legal News, and the former owner can redeem by the date stated in the sheriff's deed.
Assessed values
Each city and township assessor sets values every year, and Detroit's Office of the Assessor holds an annual Assessor Review where owners can appeal.
Transfer tax
Michigan charges a state transfer tax of $3.75 per $500 (0.75%) and Wayne County adds $0.55 per $500 (0.11%), for $8.60 per $1,000 in Detroit and the rest of the county.
Land bank
The Detroit Land Bank Authority sells city-owned houses and lots through daily online auctions, Own-it-Now listings, side lots and project applications at buildingdetroit.org.
Worth knowing
The Register of Deeds moved to appointment-only service on October 1, 2025, and raised recording fees to $30 per document on January 1, 2026.
Worth knowing
Detroit is the county seat and keeps its own assessor; property values and tax bills there come from the City, not the county.
Worth knowing
Michigan court rulings now let former owners claim surplus auction proceeds, so a Notice of Intent to Claim must be filed by July 1 of the foreclosure year.
Every town in Wayne County
The cities, towns and townships inside the county line.
- Allen Park city
- Belleville city
- Dearborn Heights city
- Dearborn city
- Detroit city
- Ecorse city
- Flat Rock city
- Garden City city
- Gibraltar city
- Grosse Pointe Farms city
- Grosse Pointe Park city
- Grosse Pointe Woods city
- Grosse Pointe city
- Hamtramck city
- Harper Woods city
- Highland Park city
- Inkster city
- Lincoln Park city
- Livonia city
- Melvindale city
- Northville city
- Plymouth city
- River Rouge city
- Riverview city
- Rockwood city
- Romulus city
- Southgate city
- Taylor city
- Trenton city
- Village of Grosse Pointe Shores city
- Wayne city
- Westland city
- Woodhaven city
- Wyandotte city
Questions
Where are deeds recorded in Wayne County?
Deeds and mortgages are recorded by the Wayne County Register of Deeds in Detroit, by appointment. Records can be searched by name for free at waynecountylandrecords.com, and copies cost $2 per page.
When is the Wayne County tax sale?
The Wayne County Treasurer auctions tax-foreclosed property every September and October. Properties not sold in September go back up in October, and the foreclosed property list is posted on the Treasurer's Auctions and Claims page.
How do I find who owns a property in Wayne County?
For Detroit, search the City's BS&A Online assessing records by address or name. For other communities, use that city or township's assessor records, or search the Register of Deeds by name.
Are Wayne County property records online?
Yes. Deed indexes, Detroit assessing data, tax auction lists and county parcel maps are online. Viewing full deed images requires a paid On-Demand account.
Sources for this guide
Office hours, fees and sale dates change. We checked these sources in October 2026; confirm with the county before you act.
- waynecountymi.gov/Services/Property-Taxes/Auctions-Claims
- waynecountymi.gov/Government/Elected-Officials/Treasurer/Property-Tax-Information/Forfeitu
- waynecountymi.gov/Government/Elected-Officials/Register-of-Deeds/Search-Services-and-Copy-
- waynecountymi.gov/Services/Records/Land-Records
- waynecountymi.gov/Government/Elected-Officials/Register-of-Deeds/Document-Recording
- waynecountymi.gov/Government/Elected-Officials/Register-of-Deeds/Sheriffs-Deed-Redemptions
- waynecountymi.gov/News/Treasurer/2026/Wayne-County-Returns-Millions-in-Tax-Foreclosure-Pro
- devtraining.detroitmi.gov/departments/office-chief-financial-officer/ocfo-divisions/office
- bsaonline.com/Home/WelcomePage?uid=155
- legalnews.com/Home/PublicNoticesDetails/1338869
- buildingdetroit.org/structures/
Every parcel in Wayne County, on one map
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