Property Descriptions and Tax Mapping
The Bay County Equalization Department handles tax mapping and property description updates for most Bay County townships and cities. The Equalization Department works together with the townships and cities to ensure concurrence in the results of the land division and combination process. The resulting Parcel Tax-Identification Numbers issued become effective for the following year assessment roll. Your city or township Assessor should be consulted prior to planning any land divisions in order to ensure that resulting parcel(s) comply with local zoning ordinances and with the State of Michigan Land Division Act (PA 288 of 1967 as amended).
If any errors or discrepancies are discovered in assessment descriptions or tax maps prepared by Bay County Equalization, please contact the Equalization Department directly at (989) 895-4075.
Tax Mapping & Descriptions Resources
Bay County Tax Maps PDF images of the official tax parcel maps for most of Bay County. Please note that the City of Bay City, Bangor Township and Hampton Township handle their own mapping.
Land Descriptions as well as assessment information and tax information may be obtained online with the Property Tax Query which may be accessed anywhere on the Bay County website by selecting the drop down box labeled "Online Services" (above).
Deciphering Your Parcel ID Number What do the numbers mean in the Parcel Number? One can identify the general geographical location of a parcel by interpreting the Tax Parcel ID number by consulting this resource page.
Common Assessment Parcel Description Abbreviations What do the abbreviations in the property description on your assessment mean?
Subdivision and Condominium Index All Bay County Subdivisions and Condominiums are listed alphabetically to indicate Tax Parcel ID number codes and their locations by Section, Township and Range.
Subdivision Plat Maps The State of Michigan has PDF images of all recorded Plats in the state which can be accessed here. Condominium maps are available only at the Bay County Register of Deeds office.
General Land Office (GLO) Plats The State of Michigan has PDF images of the original township maps drafted when the first township surveys were executed in the mid-1800s. Full color copies are available from the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) GLO Records website.
Historical Information
History of the Original Government Surveys in Bay County A historical synopsis of the origin of the township lines, Indian Reservation lines, and the surveyors who marked them in the early 1800s.