Q: Are property tax maps available from Macomb County GIS Services?

A: Current property tax maps can be purchased directly from the Department of Planning and Economic Development. Maps in this series depict property taxation information at a scale of 1” = 100’. Maps in this series include information regarding property tax identification numbers (SIDWELL Number), deeded property dimensions, deeded acreage measurements and other legal identifying information. Maps are available in two hardcopy formats; property line information only or with the county’s most recent aerial photo in the background. Hardcopy map products are sold as individual black and white 24” x 36” paper map sheets printed on-demand by front counter staff. Electronic versions of aerial composite tax maps are available as 24” x 36” documents in Adobe Acrobat .PDF format.

Q: Can maps I purchase be faxed?

A: Hardcopy paper maps cannot be faxed since they exceed the paper size and resolution limits of standard fax machines. Subsections of maps cannot be faxed due to limits in fax resolution.

Q: Can maps I purchase be emailed?

A: Electronic versions of aerial composite tax maps can be emailed with some limitations. Electronic versions of aerial composite tax maps are available as 24” x 36” documents in Adobe Acrobat .PDF format. These documents average 9 MB in size. Please check with your email provider to ensure that file attachments in this size range are permitted. Requests for multiple map sheets will be transmitted as separate emails. Paid in full orders that cannot be transmitted will be mailed via U.S.P.S. at standard rates if requested by the purchaser. The Macomb County Department of Planning and Economic Development is not responsible for confirmation of delivery nor guarantees the delivery of aerial composite tax maps utilizing email due to these limitations.

Q: How current are your property tax maps?

A: Macomb County property tax maps are maintained on a continuous basis. All legal instruments regarding the subdivision of real property submitted to the Macomb County Register of Deeds office are assigned a tax identification number and checked for closure by the Land File division of the Treasurer’s Office prior to being added to the base tax map. In most cases recorded changes are processed within 2-3 business days.

Q: How can I get a copy of the last survey of my property?

A: FAQ entry pending.

Q: How can I get a legal description of a property?

A: Official legal descriptions for property can be obtained from the Land File Division of the Macomb County Treasurer’s Office. The address for this office is Macomb County Administration Building, One South Main Street Mount Clemens, Michigan 48043. The phone number is 586-469-5190.

Q: How can I purchase Macomb County GIS data and maps?

A: GIS data and maps may be purchased/ordered in person at the Macomb County Department of Planning and Economic Development’s front counter during the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Maps may also be purchased by mail or by phone. All orders must be paid in full (cash or check) before they are shipped. Private firms may apply for a purchase account that is invoiced on a monthly basis. An Application form to establish can be obtained by clicking here.

Q: How can I pay for maps and data products?

A: Maps and GIS data products can be paid for in person or by mail. Payments can be made using cash or check made out to the “Macomb County Department of Planning and Economic Development”. Credit cards are not an accepted form of payment at this time.

Q: Is property assessment information available from Macomb County GIS Services?

A: Property assessment data is not currently available from Macomb County GIS Services. Macomb County is comprised of 27 local units of government covered by 24 individual taxing authorities. Assessment data inquiries must be directed to the assessment department of the local unit of government.

Q: What are the hours of map and GIS data sales?

A: Maps and GIS data can be purchased during map sales hours. 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Q: What formats are GIS data available?

A: GIS data sets are available in ESRI Shapefile format or in ESRI Personal Geodatabase version 9.1 format. Parcel data requiring full dimension annotation information can only be delivered in ESRI Personal Geodatabase format.

Q: What is the datum and projection of Macomb County GIS Services Data?

A: Michigan State Plane Coordinate System South International Feet, North American Datum 1983 HARN adjusted

Q: What GIS data is freely available on the Internet to the general public?

A: Many of the GIS datasets maintained by Macomb County GIS Services are accessible via the Internet from our online mapping service. The service can be accessed directly at gis.macombcountymi.gov Current public access mapping services include Aerial Imagery Browser, Delinquent Tax Search, Environmental Resources, Property Tax Map Sheet Preview/Order Service and FEMA Digital Flood Rate Insurance (DFIRM) Map Viewer. Property Tax maps are not freely available from this online map service.

Q: What GIS data is available through Macomb County’s Enhanced Access Policy?

A: Macomb County’s Enhanced Access Policy provides a price schedule for GIS data as determined by the Macomb County Board of Commissioners. GIS data currently covered by this policy include Digital Aerial Photography and Property Tax Parcel information.

Q: What is the current Enhanced Access fee structure for GIS data sets?

A: Tax Parcel Data (ESRI shapefile or Personal Geodatabase format) - .15 per tax parcel Digital Aerial Imagery B/W 2000, 2004 (.TIF w/ worldfile format) - $30.00 per 1/4 section Digital Aerial Imagery Color 2005 (MrSID format)- $300.00 per geographic township

Q: What aerial photography products are available?

A: Aerial photography products are available for a wide number of flight years. Historical flights covering flight years 1964, 1972, 1980 and 1990 are available as hardcopy paper maps. Flight years 2000, 2004 and 2005 are digital imagery products. Flight year 2004 is available in hardcopy format as part of the current tax parcel composite map product.

Q: What are the differences between a plat map, tax map, aerial photo composite and a line drawing?

A: A Plat Map is a drawing submitted to the register of deeds office that shows the detailed subdivision of land from a larger parcel to individual subdivided lots. Referenced by subdivision name and liber and page number, copies of recorded plats can be obtained from the Macomb County Register of Deeds office. A Tax Map is a map that depicts taxable properties in Macomb County. Tax maps are created and maintained through a cooperative effort between the Land File division of the Treasurer’s Office and the GIS Services division of the Macomb County Department of Planning and Economic Development. The county’s Tax Map series depicts much of the legal property description information contained within the recorded subdivision plat maps and also includes tax parcel information for condominium developments and non-platted tracts of land.

A Line Drawing is an individual 24” x 36” map sheet from the tax map series available in hard copy only.

An Aerial Photo Composite is an individual 24” x 36” map sheet from the tax map series that includes the most recent aerial photo imagery as a backdrop available in either hardcopy or Adobe Acrobat .PDF format