Matanuska-Susitna Borough Public Records /Matanuska-Susitna Borough Property Records

Matanuska-Susitna County Property Records

What Is Matanuska-Susitna County Property Records

Property records in Matanuska-Susitna Borough are official government documents that capture the legal history of real property — including land parcels, residential structures, and commercial buildings — located within the borough's boundaries. These records document ownership transfers, encumbrances, easements, mortgages, liens, plats, and other instruments that affect title to real property. The primary purpose of maintaining property records is to establish a clear chain of title, provide constructive public notice of all recorded interests in a given parcel, protect the rights of property owners and lienholders, and facilitate lawful real estate transactions. Pursuant to Alaska Statutes § 40.17.080, instruments affecting title to real property must be recorded with the appropriate district recorder to be effective against third parties. In Matanuska-Susitna Borough, the Recorder's Office — operating under the Alaska Department of Natural Resources, Division of Mining, Land and Water — serves as the official repository for recorded instruments. The Borough Assessor's Office maintains complementary records related to assessed values, ownership data, and parcel identification. Members of the public may access property value and tax information through the Borough's official web portal.

Matanuska-Susitna Borough Assessor's Office 350 E. Dahlia Ave., Palmer, AK 99645 (907) 745-9747 Matanuska-Susitna Borough

Are Property Records Public Information In Matanuska-Susitna County?

Property records in Matanuska-Susitna Borough are public information under both state recording law and Alaska's public records statutes. Under Alaska Statutes § 40.25.110, public records maintained by government agencies are open to inspection by any member of the public, and no requester is required to state a reason or demonstrate a personal interest to obtain access. Recording statutes further reinforce this principle: instruments recorded in the official land records are, by legal definition, constructive notice to the world, meaning that public accessibility is an inherent feature of the recording system rather than a discretionary policy. Transparency in land ownership serves the public interest by deterring fraudulent conveyances, enabling informed real estate transactions, and supporting equitable property taxation. The Borough Clerk's office coordinates public records requests at the borough level, while recorded instruments such as deeds and mortgages are accessible through the Alaska Recorder's Office serving the Matanuska-Susitna Recording District.

Matanuska-Susitna Borough Clerk's Office 350 E. Dahlia Ave., Palmer, AK 99645 (907) 745-9688 Public Counter Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Borough Clerk – MSB

How To Search Property Records in Matanuska-Susitna County in 2026

Members of the public may search property records in Matanuska-Susitna Borough through several official channels. The following steps outline the standard process:

Identify the parcel. Obtain the parcel number, legal description, or property address before initiating a search. The MSB Parcel Viewer allows users to locate parcels interactively using address, owner name, or parcel identification number.
Determine the record type needed. Deeds, mortgages, and liens are recorded with the Alaska Recorder's Office, Matanuska-Susitna Recording District. Assessment and ownership data are maintained by the Borough Assessor's Office. Tax records are available through the Borough's Finance Department.
Submit an in-person request. Members of the public may visit the Borough Assessor's Office or the Alaska Recorder's Office during public counter hours to inspect records directly.
Submit a written public records request. Requests may be directed to the Borough Clerk in writing, by mail, or by email, pursuant to the borough's public records request procedures.
Use online portals. Multiple digital tools are currently available for remote access without requiring a formal request.

Alaska Recorder's Office – Matanuska-Susitna Recording District 645 G St., Suite 100, Anchorage, AK 99501 (serves Mat-Su Recording District) (907) 269-8895 Public Counter Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Alaska Department of Natural Resources, Recorder's Office

How To Find Property Records in Matanuska-Susitna County Online?

Several official online platforms currently provide remote access to Matanuska-Susitna Borough property records without requiring an in-person visit.

The MSB Parcel Viewer is an interactive mapping tool that allows members of the public to search for parcels by address, owner name, or parcel number and view associated ownership data, parcel boundaries, and assessment information.
The Borough's real property tax portal provides access to current and historical tax records, including assessed values, tax billing history, and payment status.
The Alaska Recorder's Office maintains the Alaska Public Notices and Recordings System, through which recorded instruments — including deeds, deeds of trust, and liens — may be searched by grantor/grantee name, document type, or recording date for the Matanuska-Susitna Recording District.
The Borough Assessor's Office online resources provide parcel-level data including ownership history, property characteristics, and assessed fair market value.

How To Look Up Matanuska-Susitna County Property Records for Free?

Multiple no-cost options are currently available for members of the public seeking property records in Matanuska-Susitna Borough.

The MSB Parcel Viewer is freely accessible online and provides parcel-level ownership and assessment data at no charge.
The Borough's property value and tax information page offers free access to assessed values and tax data for all parcels within the borough.
In-person inspection of records at the Borough Assessor's Office and the Alaska Recorder's Office is available at no cost during public counter hours; fees may apply only when copies are requested.
The Alaska Recorder's Office provides free online index searches for recorded instruments affecting property in the Matanuska-Susitna Recording District.
Information on borough land sales, including tax foreclosure properties, is publicly available at no charge through the Borough's official website.

What's Included in a Matanuska-Susitna County Property Record?

A complete property record in Matanuska-Susitna Borough may be maintained across multiple offices and encompasses both real property and, in limited contexts, personal property used in connection with real estate. Real property records pertain to land and permanently affixed structures; personal property records maintained by the Assessor's Office relate to taxable business personal property. The following categories of information are typically included in a property record:

Ownership information: Current and historical owner names, mailing addresses, and vesting details as recorded in the official instruments.
Legal description: Lot, block, subdivision, section, township, and range data identifying the parcel under Alaska's land survey system.
Parcel identification number (PIN): A unique numeric identifier assigned by the Borough Assessor for tax and administrative purposes.
Deed and conveyance history: Recorded deeds, quitclaim deeds, warranty deeds, and other instruments transferring title, indexed by grantor and grantee.
Encumbrances: Mortgages, deeds of trust, easements, covenants, and recorded liens affecting the property.
Assessment data: Fair market value as determined by the Borough Assessor, pursuant to Alaska Statutes § 29.45.110, which governs borough property assessment standards.
Tax records: Annual tax levies, payment history, and any delinquency status.
Plat maps: Recorded subdivision plats showing parcel boundaries, dimensions, and easements.
Property characteristics: Structure type, year built, square footage, lot size, and zoning classification.

How Long Does Matanuska-Susitna County Keep Property Records?

Property records in Matanuska-Susitna Borough are subject to retention schedules established under Alaska law and borough administrative policy. Recorded instruments — including deeds, mortgages, and liens — are maintained permanently by the Alaska Recorder's Office, as these documents constitute the official chain of title and must remain accessible in perpetuity. Borough Assessor records, including assessment rolls and ownership data, are retained in accordance with the Alaska Local Government Records Retention Schedule published by the Alaska State Archives. Key retention periods currently in effect include:

Recorded instruments (deeds, mortgages, liens): Permanent retention by the Alaska Recorder's Office.
Assessment rolls and valuation records: Retained for a minimum of seven years by the Borough Assessor's Office.
Property tax records: Retained for a minimum of seven years following the tax year to which they pertain.
Plat maps and survey records: Retained permanently as part of the official land records.
Correspondence and administrative files related to property: Retained for periods ranging from three to seven years depending on document type, per the applicable retention schedule.

How To Find Liens on Property In Matanuska-Susitna County?

Liens on property in Matanuska-Susitna Borough are recorded instruments and are therefore searchable through the Alaska Recorder's Office for the Matanuska-Susitna Recording District. Members of the public may identify liens affecting a specific parcel using the following methods:

Online index search: The Alaska Recorder's Office online system allows searches by grantor/grantee name or document type, enabling users to identify recorded mortgages, federal and state tax liens, mechanic's liens, and judgment liens associated with a property owner or parcel.
In-person search: Members of the public may visit the Alaska Recorder's Office during counter hours to conduct a manual title search using the official grantor-grantee index.
Borough tax liens: Delinquent property tax obligations may result in a tax lien or foreclosure action by the Borough. Information on tax and LID foreclosure sales is publicly available through the Borough's land sales page, which documents properties obtained by the Borough through judicial foreclosure for non-payment of taxes and special assessments.
Title search professionals: Licensed title companies and abstractors operating in Alaska routinely conduct comprehensive lien searches for real estate transactions and may be engaged for a fee.

What Is Property Owner Rule In Matanuska-Susitna County?

Property ownership in Matanuska-Susitna Borough is governed by a combination of Alaska state law and borough ordinance. Under Alaska law, any individual, corporation, partnership, or other legal entity may hold title to real property within the borough. The Borough Assessor is responsible for identifying and recording the current owner of each taxable parcel, and ownership is established through recorded instruments filed with the Alaska Recorder's Office. Key ownership-related regulations include the following:

Assessment and taxation: The Borough Assessor determines the fair market value of all real property within the borough and assigns tax liability to the owner of record as of January 1 of each assessment year, pursuant to borough taxing authority under Alaska Statutes.
Property tax obligation: Under current law, the owner of record is responsible for all property taxes levied against a parcel. Failure to pay taxes may result in a lien and, ultimately, judicial foreclosure by the Borough, as described on the MSB land sales page.
Transfer of ownership: Ownership transfers become effective against third parties only upon recording of the conveyancing instrument with the Alaska Recorder's Office, consistent with Alaska's race-notice recording statute.
Exemptions: Certain ownership categories — including owner-occupied primary residences, senior citizens, disabled veterans, and nonprofit organizations — may qualify for property tax exemptions or reductions under Alaska Statutes and borough ordinance. Exemption applications are processed by the Borough Assessor's Office.
Borough land use authority: The Borough exercises zoning and land use authority over privately owned parcels, and property owners are subject to applicable zoning regulations, subdivision requirements, and building codes administered by the Borough's Planning and Land Use Department.