Watonwan County
Watonwan County covers 435 square miles of south-central Minnesota, with the county seat at St. James.
Open PublicGIS map Watonwan County parcel map and property search
Watonwan County official website
Jump to
PublicGIS maps 8,117 parcels for Watonwan County. PublicGIS does not show owner names for this county.
Where to find things
- PublicGISProperty lines
Fast, simple parcel map and property viewer. Tap any parcel to see its lines, size, owner of record, and the official county links for it.
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- Minnesota Geospatial CommonsDownload Minnesota's statewide GIS data, such as roads, boundaries, imagery and elevation and property lines.
- MnDOT Right of Way Mapping and MonitoringView scanned MnDOT right-of-way maps showing highway boundaries and easements next to private property.
- Watonwan County parcel map and property searchCounty GIS map · Property records · Property owner · Aerial imagery
Beacon is Watonwan County's public parcel map and property search. Look up a property by address, owner, or parcel number to see its boundary, acreage, ownership, classification, and assessed value.
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- MnGeoHome page of the state GIS office. Explains state mapping programs and links to the Geospatial Commons.
- Minnesota Business Filings SearchLook up a Minnesota business, LLC or corporation, including its registered agent and address, when a company name appears on a deed or tax record.
- Statewide ParcelsOne statewide map layer of property parcel boundaries compiled from counties that share their parcel data openly. Includes parcel ID and, where the county provides it, owner and address fields.
- Minnesota Historical Aerial Photographs OnlineBrowse and download historical aerial photos of Minnesota back to the 1930s to see how a property looked in past decades.
- MNHS Collections SearchSearch the historical society's collections: maps, atlases, photographs, manuscripts and county records held by the state archives.
- Watonwan County property tax search and paymentProperty taxes
Pay property taxes online by electronic check or credit card, by mail, by drop box, or in person at the treasurer's office.
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- Property TaxesHub for Minnesota property tax topics: how taxes are set, refunds, homestead, classification and where to contact your county.
- Watonwan County zoning and land useZoning
County zoning districts and land use rules. County zoning generally applies outside city limits; cities zone their own land.
- Watonwan County wetlandsWetlands
Wetland Conservation Act administration: how to find out whether a wetland affects your land and what you need before draining or filling.
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- Minnesota public drainage systemsExplains Minnesota public drainage law: landowners share open ditches and tile lines, and a public drainage authority runs each one. The authority is a county board of commissioners, a joint county board, or a watershed district board of managers. Contact the county or watershed district that runs the ditch.
- NRCS wetland determinations and conservation complianceFarm wetland rules for USDA program participants. Before you drain, fill or clear a wet area in a farm field, ask NRCS at your local USDA Service Center for a wetland determination.
- Board of Water and Soil ResourcesState agency overseeing soil and water conservation districts, watershed districts, the Wetland Conservation Act, buffers and conservation easements such as RIM.
- Watonwan County: Section 11 Flood Plain Overlay DistrictFlood zones
A floodplain document published by Watonwan County (PDF).
More options
- FEMA Flood Map Service CenterOfficial source for flood insurance rate maps. Enter an address to see the current flood zone and download the FIRM panel and letters of map change.
- DNR Floodplain Management ProgramHow floodplain mapping and local floodplain ordinances work in Minnesota and where to get flood map help.
- Find a DNR Area HydrologistCounty-assigned DNR contacts for public waters, shoreland and public waters work permits. For local Wetland Conservation Act decisions, use the BWSR Wetland Conservation Act LGU contact directory.
- Watonwan County RecorderPlats
Where deeds, mortgages, easements, and other land documents are recorded. Start here to search recorded documents or order a copy.
Karla Doll, County Recorder- Phone
- 507-375-1216
- karla.doll@watonwancountymn.gov
- Address
- 710 2nd Ave. S., St. James, MN 56081
More options
- GLO Plat Maps, Minnesota 1848-1907Map viewer of the original government survey plats for every Minnesota township. Shows section lines, water and features as first surveyed.
- Watonwan County septic systemsSeptic systems
Rules and permits for subsurface sewage treatment systems (septic), including new systems, replacements, and compliance inspections.
More options
- MPCA Septic SystemsState program page for septic (subsurface sewage treatment) systems: rules, homeowner guidance, compliance inspections and forms.
- Local Septic System ProgramsExplains that counties and some cities issue septic permits, and lists local SSTS program contacts.
- Minn. Rules Ch. 7080 Septic System RulesTechnical rules for individual septic systems in Minnesota.
- Watonwan County land use and building permitsBuilding permits
Which permits the county issues for building, land use, and site work, and how to apply.
- Office
- Watonwan County Building Department
More options
- Minnesota Building Codes and LawsThe building codes Minnesota has adopted, including the residential code, plus the statutes and rules behind them and which local jurisdictions enforce them.
- Minnesota Certificate of Occupancy RequirementsMinnesota Rules 1300.0220 describes certificate of occupancy requirements, exceptions and temporary occupancy. Read the state rule, then confirm its application to a particular building with the local building official. This does not certify that a building is approved for occupancy.
- Minnesota county coordinate system (MnCCS) and map projectionsGIS data downloads
MnDOT's reference for the Minnesota County Coordinate System and State Plane zones used in Minnesota surveys and GIS, with the zone parameters for each county.
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- State Plane Coordinate System zonesThe official State Plane Coordinate System from the National Geodetic Survey: which zone covers each state and county, zone definitions and conversion tools.
- DNR HydrographyStatewide lake, river and stream outlines with DNR lake ID numbers.
- Watonwan County tax-forfeited landPublic land
Land that went to the state for unpaid taxes, and how the county manages and sells it.
More options
- BWSR Conservation EasementsHow Reinvest in Minnesota conservation easements work and how to check whether land is enrolled. Contact the local soil and water conservation district for parcel-level answers.
- Lands and MineralsState mineral leasing, state land records and mineral ownership information, including how to research severed mineral rights and lease sales.
- Mineland ReclamationRules and records for reclaiming mined land in Minnesota, covering iron mining on the Iron Range and nonferrous mining sites.
Watonwan County offices
- Watonwan CountyCounty government home page in St. James.
- Website
- Visit website
- Watonwan County AssessorProperty valuation and classification.
- Phone
- 507-375-2510
- meggie.munsterman@watonwancountymn.gov
- Address
- 710 2nd Ave. S., St. James, MN 56081
- Website
- Visit website
- Watonwan County Auditor-TreasurerProperty tax billing, collection, and tax-forfeited land.Kelly Pauling, County Auditor
- Phone
- 507-375-1210
- Kelly.Pauling@watonwancountymn.gov
- Address
- 710 2nd Ave. S., St. James, MN 56081
- Website
- Visit website
- One phone line for 2 offices
- Phone
- 507-375-1225
- Watonwan County Planning and ZoningZoning, land use, permits, and SSTS (septic system) permits.
- David.Haler@watonwancountymn.gov
- Website
- Watonwan County zoning and land use, listed above
- Watonwan Soil and Water Conservation DistrictSoil and water conservation district serving Watonwan County, Minnesota: conservation, erosion, wetland and shoreland assistance for landowners.
- david.haler@watonwancountymn.gov
- Address
- 108 8th St. S., St. James, MN 56081
- Website
- Visit website
- Watonwan County Environmental ServicesCounty environmental health services. Call to confirm who issues septic permits here.
- Phone
- 507-344-2710
- Website
- Visit website
- Watonwan County: Section 10 Shoreland Overlay DistrictA shoreland document published by Watonwan County (PDF).
- Watonwan County Highway DepartmentCounty roads, bridges, and right of way.
- Phone
- 507-942-2200
- michael.mccarty@watonwancountymn.gov
- Address
- 1304 7th Ave. S., St. James, MN 56081
- Website
- Visit website
- Watonwan County GIS contactCounty GIS contact: Mike True, GIS Specialist (Information Technology). Questions about county maps and geospatial data.Mike True, GIS Specialist
- Phone
- 507-375-2539
- mike.true@co.watonwan.mn.us
- Website
- Visit website
- Watonwan County USDA FSA and NRCS officeThe Farm Service Agency office for Watonwan County is at the St James Service Center, 823 1ST Ave S, St James, MN 56081. Call it to sign up for the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) and other farm programs, and for farm and tract records. The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) works from the same office: ask it for wetland determinations, highly erodible land questions and conservation plans.
- Phone
- (507) 375-3191
- Address
- 823 1ST Ave S, St James, MN 56081
- Website
- Visit website
Other county departments (5)
- Watonwan County Court AdministrationCourt Administration for Watonwan County, Minnesota, which keeps the district court records and filings.
- Phone
- 507-621-6005
- Website
- Visit website
- Watonwan County Emergency ManagementEmergency management office for Watonwan County, Minnesota: preparedness, hazard mitigation planning, evacuation and disaster recovery.
- Phone
- 507-375-5841
- Address
- 710 2nd Ave. S., St. James, MN 56081
- Website
- Visit website
- Watonwan County ExtensionUniversity extension office for Watonwan County, Minnesota: soils, agriculture, horticulture, 4-H and natural resource education.
- Phone
- 507-375-1275
- Address
- 108 8th St. S., St. James, MN 56081
- Website
- Visit website
- Watonwan County SheriffCounty sheriff: law enforcement, civil process, jail and warrant records for Watonwan County, Minnesota.Jared Bergeman, County Sheriff
- Phone
- 507-375-3121
- Website
- Visit website
- Watonwan County Veterans ServicesCounty veterans service office: helps veterans and families file VA benefit claims in Watonwan County, Minnesota.Deb Grote, Veterans Service Officer
- Phone
- 507-375-1254
- deb.grote@watonwancountymn.gov
- Address
- 108 8th Street South, Suite 3, St. James, MN 56081
- Website
- Visit website
Guides
Other Minnesota counties
Neighboring counties
About Watonwan County
Watonwan County covers 435 square miles of south-central Minnesota, with the county seat at St. James. The county Assessor sets property values, the Auditor-Treasurer bills property taxes, and the Recorder keeps recorded land documents.