Parcel Mapping
| Why Parcel Mapping? | ||
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In the public sector, governments administer and make policy through the creation of and maintenance of land records that are associated with a parcel of land. Thus the parcel is often the basic administrative unit of local government. Parcel maps are developed at many levels of government and by the private sector.
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| Parcel maps help facilitate administration, zoning, building and site development, flood control, lake and stream erosion control, and the planning, design and construction of roads and public works. In the private sector, parcel maps are useful to attorneys, appraisers, assessors, surveyors, engineers, and utility corporations as a means to inventory land holdings and index land records. Wisconsin State Cartographer's Office (SCO) A parcel is produced by using the best available information on record which may include recorded deed descriptions, plats, certified survey maps, and maps of survey. Using Coordinate Geometry, a method of defining geometric features through the input of bearing and distance measurements, we can map together parcel ownership of land throughout Polk County. |
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| View Parcel Mapping | ||
| *New* Press Release Beacon Demo Video |
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View Land Records Online Portal This Polk County online portal allows users to search for land records, such as real property, and display associated information, maps, aerial images, zoning permits, tax records, and survey documents. Includes new Sales Search and Survey Index Search. |
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| Parcel Map Disclaimer |
| A parcel map doesn't replace an actual field survey. All data provided is considered preliminary in nature; Polk County is not responsible for any errors or omissions. It is the responsibility of all users to verify the data provided on this website. |
| Contacts | ||||
| County Surveyor Ed Flanum (715) 485-9260 |
Land Information Technician Tracy Klatt (715) 485-9203 |
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| Office Hours M-F, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM |
Department of Land Information Polk County Government Center 100 Polk County Plaza, Suite 130 Balsam Lake, WI 54810 [directions] |
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Related Parcel Mapping Information
An important reason for having a high quality parcel mapping program is service to the public a.k.a. taxpayer and property owner. They pay most of the cost of local government.
There is savings (both in time and money) benefit to the landowner (taxpayer) when quick answers are needed. Whether it is a required zoning set back or “is the big tree on the property line” type of question, what a service it is to be able to come to the Government Center or look online and address such questions immediately.
When government bodies such as Town Boards, Cities, County Boards, Planning Commissions etc., have complex land issues to deal with, they have a source of reliable information and guidance.
Accurate parcel maps have a great value to Town Assessors for fair taxation. Legal descriptions such as “that part of the SW-SW lying north of the highway” may be 8 acres, may be 16 acres, may be 2 acres etc. You don’t know where the road falls in the forty until the parcel map is completed based on the U. S. Public Land Survey corners, and viewed with an aerial photo back drop showing the location of the road (unless you pay to have a land survey done.)
Road right of ways are researched and shown on parcel maps which assist town personnel in their determinations of 3 rod or 4 rod roads for clearing, reconstruction and other maintenance.
When parcel maps are based on survey information, as Polk County’s are, their value is multiplied. For example, if a “cartoon type” parcel map is overlaid on an orthophoto (corrected aerial photo) and a barn appears to be over the boundary line…it may be, in reality, that the barn is well within the boundaries. The appearance of an encroachment can cause unnecessary grief for both land owners. In a survey based parcel map, the appearance of a barn over the boundary line indicates it should be checked out.
Possibilities for long range planning activities are expanded, enhanced and more accurate.
Parcel mapping is integral with 911 mapping, Census activity, school district designation… the list goes on.
The County Real Property Lister can perform their job better, assist town officials and problem solve more efficiently with the availability of a parcel map.
Lake Districts and other organizations consisting of land owners are frequent users of parcel maps for identifying possible members, land owners or problems.
Parcel maps are a critical part of Geographic Information Systems (GIS), 911, addressing, planning, zoning, and many other types of mapping.
100% of the County is parcel mapped. Completed in 2017.
| Year | Completed |
| 1997 | Villages of Luck and Milltown. |
| 1999 | Eastern portion of the Town of Alden. |
| 2000 | Towns of Farmington, Osceola, St Croix Falls, along with the Villages of Osceola, Dresser, and Frederic. |
| 2002 | City of Amery. |
| 2007 | Towns of Eureka, Garfield, and Laketown. |
| 2008 | Western portion of the Town of Alden, Towns of Black Brook and Clayton along with the Villages of Centuria and Balsam Lake. |
| 2009 | Towns of Apple River, Clear Lake, Lincoln, and Luck. |
| 2010 | Towns of West Sweden, Lorain, and Clam Falls. |
| 2011 | Towns of Bone Lake and McKinley. |
| 2012 | Big Blake Lake District in the Town of Georgetown. |
| 2013 | City of St Croix Falls, Town of Johnstown, Bone Lake Management District (Bone Lake area in the Town of Georgetown), and the Deer Lake Conservancy (Deer Lake area in the Town of Balsam Lake). |
| 2015 | Towns of Beaver and Milltown along with the Villages of Clayton, Clear Lake, and Turtle Lake. |
| 2016 | Town of Georgetown. |
| 2017 | Town of Balsam Lake and the Town of Sterling. |