Search Union County, NC Property Records

In Union County, North Carolina, property records are split between county and municipal offices, depending on the type of record. County offices keep the main land records, tax records, parcel data, and other core ownership documents. Municipal offices usually handle zoning, permits, inspections, codes, and other land-use records for property inside town limits.

Based on county records, the market median home value is $265,100.00, while the median rent is $1,207.00. Household income reaches $81,495.00, and the median real estate tax rate equals 0.66% of the assessed property value.

Property records in Union County, NC, are accessible through several sources. Online portals provide tax and assessment data. GIS tools support parcel and map review, and the Register of Deeds offers access to deeds and plats. Public access to many of these records is governed by North Carolina General Statutes Chapter 132.

PropertyChecker can also serve as a useful starting point. It pulls data from multiple databases and lets users review one report for a broader property snapshot. This report may help confirm key details before a search or verification through county offices.

Some limits still apply. Certain files remain restricted by law, and offices may redact sensitive information from public copies. In some cases, recent transactions may not appear immediately in online systems, while older records may require an in-person search at the appropriate office.

Property Ownership and Title Information

Property ownership and title information are available through the Register of Deeds. The office provides access to deeds, plats, condo records, and land records that confirm ownership and legal interests, all accessible through the North Carolina Public Search system. The system allows searches by grantor, grantee, instrument number, or book and page.

Transfer instruments, such as deeds, remain available, but security instruments, such as deeds of trust, are restricted on the public site due to sensitive information. For these records, interested individuals may need to contact the Register to obtain an official or certified copy.

Property Sales and Transaction History

Prospective owners can review property sales and transaction history through the Real Property Search tool, which the County Taxes and Property Department administers.

The tool allows users to locate records by the owner’s name, property address, and parcel number. Results may display a complete sales history, including the document number, sales type, sales price, sales date, and a link to the applicable land record document.

Before running a county search, property appraisers and other users can turn to PropertyChecker to verify an address, parcel number, or owner name with confidence. Cross-referencing this information with county parcel data strengthens comparisons of sales activity.

Property buyers can also use the comparable sales feature in the Real Property Search tool to add market context during a sales review.

Property Tax Assessment and Payment Records

In Union County, the Appraisal Division handles property tax assessment records. Meanwhile, the Revenue Division serves as the county tax collector and maintains payment records. Both divisions operate within the Union County Taxes and Property Department.

Assessment records appear in the Real Property Search Tool, where users can review assessed value, market value, land value, improvement value, and past value changes. These entries may also show the date of change, tax year, and the reason tied to that adjustment.

Tax bills and payment records are hosted through the online Property Tax Inquiry. Those records may include tax dues, tax rates, billing data, exclusions or exemptions, and up to 10 years of payment history, as posted.

When an owner disputes an assessed value set by the property tax assessors, Union County first offers an informal review through the Appraisal Division. If this review does not resolve the issue, the owner may then appeal to the Union County Board of Equalization and Review. After that, a further appeal may go to the North Carolina Property Tax Commission.

Property Characteristics and Parcel Details

Individuals can view Union County property characteristics and parcel details through the Property Tax Inquiry and the Real Property Search Tool. Both sources support a property parcel search by parcel number. These records usually include the owner, parcel number, property class, situs address, and other basic parcel data associated with the account.

These records may also list land value, improvement value, year built, building type, square footage, room counts, and other structural details when available. In many cases, users can also review acreage, account status, deferred tax data, sales references, and appraisal notes tied to the parcel.

Zoning, Land Use, and Planning Records

The Union County Planning and Development Department maintains zoning, land-use, and planning records for unincorporated areas and Hemby Bridge. These records may include zoning classifications, site plans, development review files, subdivision matters, and other planning documents tied to land use and project review.

County zoning authority applies in unincorporated areas and in Hemby Bridge only. For property inside other municipalities, the proper source is the town or city planning office. The county’s online determination tool can confirm whether a parcel falls within municipal limits or county zoning control.

The county also posts a list of the Municipal Planning Department so users can reach the proper local office for town-based records.

Legal Documents Affecting Property

Union County legal property records are divided between the Register of Deeds and the Clerk of Superior Court. The Register of Deeds is the proper source for deeds of trust, plats, cancellations, powers of attorney, and other land records tied to real property.

However, the office notes that mortgage information does not appear on its deed lookup site, so users may need to consult other county or court records for a fuller review.

For liens, judgments, and other court-filed matters that may affect title or property rights, the Clerk of Superior Court is the appropriate office. Court records may be reviewed at public self-service terminals at the Clerk's Office, and paper files are also available for copying.

Users may also check records through the Smart Search Portal, especially when the case number or record number is known.

Building Permits, Inspections, and Construction Records

Building permits, inspections, and construction records for properties within the county’s jurisdiction are available through the Online Plan Review and Permitting Service. This system allows users to search records, request inspections, submit plans, and track project progress.

The County Building Code Enforcement Department manages access to county-level permit records for building, electrical, HVAC, gas, plumbing, fire, and signage.

For properties located within town limits, permit, inspection, and construction records may be maintained by the municipality instead of the county. Confirm the property’s location before requesting records.

Maps and Visual Property Data

Union County maps and visual parcel data are mainly available through UC Atlas and standard maps, managed by the County GIS and Mapping Department. These tools often display parcel lines, aerial imagery, land area, and other map-based details for a parcel search.

Alternatively, these data can be viewed through the Real Property Search tool. It can help confirm parcel location, boundary layout, map position, and related geographic context before a deeper review of deed, tax, or assessment records.

Displayed here are charts summarizing the county's tax rates, accompanied by insights into median home values, income figures, and rent rates.

Median Rent

$1,207.00

North Carolina	$846.75
National	$840.25

• +42.5 %
  vs North Carolina
• +43.6 %
  vs National

Median Home Value

$265,100.00

North Carolina	$176,900.00
National	$173,750.00

• +49.9 %
  vs North Carolina
• +52.6 %
  vs National

Median Household Income

$81,495.00

North Carolina	$57,889.50
National	$65,108.00

• +40.8 %
  vs North Carolina
• +25.2 %
  vs National

Median Property Tax Rate

0.66%

North Carolina	0.72%
National	0.74%

• -8.3%
  vs North Carolina
• -10.8 %
  vs National

Unemployment Rate

3.08%

North Carolina	3.02%
National	2.87%

• +2.0 %
  vs North Carolina
• +7.3 %
  vs National

Renter Occupied Housing

17.67%

North Carolina	25.4%
National	21.81%

• -30.4 %
  vs North Carolina
• -19.0 %
  vs National

The Union County Register of Deeds serves as the county’s registrar of deeds and official custodian of land records. Its office maintains deeds, plats, cancellations, powers of attorney, and related real estate documents. These records provide verification of ownership history, property transfers, and the official status of real estate documents in Union County.

Public access is available through two remote systems. The North Carolina Public Search is a full system that covers land record index data from January 1, 1973, to current records, while scanned index books reach back to 1842.

For records that do not appear online, users may visit the office, send a mail request, or use the county public records request portal for larger or more complex requests.

Public records requests that involve hours of searching may incur a $40-per-hour charge after the initial 4 hours. Certified copy fees cost $5 for the first page and $2 for each additional page.

County offices remain the main source for deeds, tax records, parcel data, assessments, and other core property records across Union County. However, municipal offices often maintain zoning files, permit records, inspection files, code enforcement records, council actions, and other local land-use records for parcels within town limits.

A county search may not be enough when the request involves local development review, zoning approval, or municipal permit history. In those cases, the correct source is often the town or city where the property sits rather than the county office.

Union County includes 14 municipalities. These local governments may hold town-level property records for parcels within their boundaries:

• Fairview
• Hemby Bridge
• Indian Trail
• Lake Park
• Marshville
• Marvin
• Mineral Springs
• Monroe
• Stallings
• Unionville
• Waxhaw
• Weddington
• Wesley Chapel
• Wingate