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State guides / North Carolina

North Carolina property data

North Carolina keeps its land records county by county, all 100 of them, each with its own systems. Here's what's public, what's hard to get, and what Deedplat puts on one map.

  • 100Counties
  • PublicSale prices
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What you can get in North Carolina

North Carolina makes most property records public, including what each property sold for. The catch is that every county keeps them differently.

Public everywhere

Every county has these, and Deedplat loads them all.

  • Owners and mailing addressesFrom the county tax assessor in each county
  • Sale pricesThe state excise tax stamp on each recorded deed is based on the price, so the sale price can be read from the deed, and county tax offices also post sale prices.
  • Deeds and mortgagesRegister of Deeds in each county
  • Assessed valuesEach county must reappraise all real property at least every eight years, and many counties do it more often, so the schedule varies by county.
  • Tax deed salesRun county by county
  • Foreclosure filings and salesCourt filings or recorded notices, depending on the route
  • Lot linesCounty parcel maps

Depends on the town

Cities and some counties keep code enforcement cases, building permits and minimum housing orders, and those records are covered by the Public Records Act.

  • Code violations and condemnations
  • Building permits
  • Rental registration and inspections
  • Zoning maps and ordinances
  • Water and sewer liens

Not public

What no office will hand over, so you know where the line is.

  • Owner phone numbers and emails
  • Rents and leases
  • Active listingsThose live in the MLS
  • Mortgage balancesThe original loan amount is recorded; what's left is not

How property changes hands here

Distressed property reaches the market through a few channels, and they differ by county.

Tax deeds

North Carolina does not sell tax lien certificates. The county tax collector forecloses on the tax lien, either through a court lawsuit or an in rem process where the sheriff sells, and the property goes to public auction. Each sale stays open for 10 days for higher upset bids, and the owner can redeem by paying everything owed until the court confirms the sale, after which the buyer gets a deed.

Foreclosure, two ways

Most foreclosures use the power of sale in a deed of trust: the clerk of superior court holds a short hearing, then a trustee sells the property at the county courthouse. After the sale there is a 10-day upset bid period, and each higher bid restarts it; judicial foreclosure is used mainly when there is no power of sale.

Land banks

North Carolina has no land bank enabling law, so cities and counties that want to land bank must piece it together from other redevelopment and acquisition laws.

Transfer tax

The state excise tax is $1 per $500 of the price, paid to the Register of Deeds, and a few coastal counties such as Dare add a 1% local land transfer tax.

Worth knowing

Both mortgage foreclosures and tax foreclosures have a 10-day upset bid period, so a winning bid at auction is not final until 10 days pass with no higher bid.

Worth knowing

Reappraisal years differ from county to county, so a county that has not revalued in several years may carry assessed values well below market.

Every county in North Carolina

Choose any county to get started.

Questions

Are property sale prices public in North Carolina?

Yes. The state excise tax of $1 per $500 is stamped on every recorded deed, so the price can be worked out from the deed, and county tax offices also show sale prices in their records.

How do tax sales work in North Carolina?

North Carolina does not sell tax lien certificates. The county forecloses on unpaid taxes, through the courts or an in rem process, and sells the property at public auction. Bids stay open for 10 days for higher upset bids, and the owner can still pay off the taxes until the court confirms the sale.

Where are deeds and mortgages recorded in North Carolina?

Deeds and deeds of trust are recorded with the Register of Deeds in the county where the property sits.

How often are North Carolina properties reassessed?

Each county must reappraise at least every eight years. Many counties reappraise more often, so check the county's schedule.

Is foreclosure judicial in North Carolina?

Usually not. Most foreclosures are power of sale cases with a short hearing before the clerk of superior court, followed by a trustee sale at the courthouse and a 10-day upset bid period. Judicial foreclosure is used when the loan document has no power of sale.

Can I get records Deedplat doesn't have?

Yes. The North Carolina Public Records Act lets anyone request records from state agencies, counties and cities, such as code enforcement files or permits. We file those requests for you, clean up the results and add them to your map.

Sources for this guide

Laws and fees change. We checked these sources in October 2026; confirm with the county before you act.

Every parcel, on one map

Deedplat is in beta. Pick any North Carolina county to get started.

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