Search a Montana Parcel by Address, Owner, Geocode or Assessment Code
Montana makes statewide parcel research easier than many states because two official systems work together. Property.MT.gov is the Montana Department of Revenue property-record search, while Montana Cadastral is the statewide map-based parcel system maintained through the Montana State Library.
Use Property.MT.gov when you primarily need property characteristics, ownership information, market value or assessment details. Use Montana Cadastral when you need to see the parcel on a map, find a geocode, compare surrounding land, review legal-description information or search by location.
Montana parcel search: choose what you need
Use these shortcuts to go directly to the property task you are trying to complete.
Quick answer: which Montana property tool should you use?
Start with Property.MT.gov or Montana Cadastral. Both can help identify the parcel.
Property.MT.gov supports name searches. Montana Cadastral also provides an owner-search option.
Use Montana Cadastral. The geocode is a key Montana parcel identifier used by several Department of Revenue services.
Use Property.MT.gov for assessment and improvement information maintained through the Department of Revenue.
Use Montana Cadastral to view the statewide GIS parcel framework.
Contact or search the appropriate County Treasurer. The Department of Revenue determines values, but counties calculate and collect property taxes.
How to use Property.MT.gov
Property.MT.gov is the Department of Revenue’s public property-search system. You can search using a property number, assessment code, owner name or address.
Use the state-hosted system instead of beginning with a commercial parcel site.
The search field accepts an address, assessment code, name or property number.
The state recommends selecting a county or field type when a broad search is returning too many results or loading slowly.
Compare the owner, location and property identifiers rather than selecting the first similar address.
Check land, improvements, classification, current market value and other available property details.
These identifiers are useful when switching to Montana Cadastral, contacting the Department of Revenue or working with local tax records.
How to search Montana Cadastral
Montana Cadastral is the state’s map-centered land-information tool. It combines Department of Revenue appraisal data with parcel geography maintained through state and local GIS programs.
The current Cadastral application can search by owner, geocode, assessment code, address, subdivision and Certificate of Survey information.
Go directly to the statewide map application.
Select the search method that matches the information you have.
This is especially useful for common surnames or people who own property in several parts of Montana.
The map will move to the parcel and display its property-information panel.
The property panel can provide current information and, where available, earlier tax-year information.
You can examine imagery, topography, nearby parcels and general land context, but GIS parcel geometry should not replace recorded surveys when an exact boundary matters.
Montana geocode, assessment code and property number explained
Do not assume every number shown on a Montana property record means the same thing. Saving the correct identifier makes later research much easier.
Identifier |
What it is used for |
Where it helps |
|---|---|---|
Geocode |
A unique parcel identifier used in Montana cadastral and property systems. Department of Revenue guidance describes the geocode used for homestead and long-term rental applications as a 17-digit identifier. |
Cadastral searches, Department of Revenue applications and property research. |
Assessment code |
An assessment identifier associated with property records. |
Property.MT.gov, Cadastral and personal-property searches. |
Property number |
A property identifier accepted by the Property.MT.gov search system. |
Direct property lookup. |
Certificate of Survey |
Recorded survey information associated with certain parcels. |
Montana Cadastral provides a Certificate of Survey search option. |
What a Montana parcel record can show
The exact fields vary by property type, but Montana’s statewide systems bring together a large amount of assessment and parcel information.
Owner name and mailing information associated with the assessment record.
The location attached to the Department of Revenue property record.
The parcel identifier used across Montana property and cadastral systems.
Another identifier that can help connect appraisal and tax information.
The Department of Revenue’s appraised land component.
The appraised value of taxable improvements where applicable.
The state’s market-value estimate used as the starting point for tax calculations.
Cadastral records can include agricultural acreage and land-use information.
Parcel data can identify taxing-district context associated with the property.
The statewide GIS layer includes links back to the relevant property record where available.
What Montana’s statewide GIS parcel map actually contains
The Montana Cadastral Framework includes taxable and tax-exempt parcels for most of the state. Selected owner, address, assessed-value, agricultural-use and tax-district information is copied from the Department of Revenue’s ORION property-appraisal database and connected to parcel geometry.
Useful Cadastral map tools
- Owner search
- Geocode search
- Assessment-code search
- Address search
- Subdivision search
- Certificate of Survey search
- County, city and township/range/section quick zoom
- Aerial imagery and topographic basemaps
- Parcel identification
- Distance measurement
- Property reports
Market value and taxable value are not the same number
The Montana Department of Revenue’s Property Assessment Division values taxable property at 100% of market value. That market value is then multiplied by the property’s applicable tax rate to create taxable value.
Local mill levies are then applied to taxable value to estimate general property taxes.
The Department of Revenue’s appraised value of the property.
The percentage established in Montana law for the applicable property classification or reduced-rate category.
Market value multiplied by the applicable tax rate.
The combined mills imposed by the taxing jurisdictions serving the parcel.
2026 Montana residential tax rates changed significantly
Montana introduced a new 2026 structure that gives qualifying principal residences and long-term rentals lower tiered tax rates. Second homes, short-term rentals and vacant residential lots generally use a different flat rate.
2026 qualified homestead and long-term rental tiers
Portion of market value |
2026 tax rate |
|---|---|
First $378,000 |
0.76% |
$378,001–$756,000 |
0.90% |
$756,001–$1,511,999 |
1.10% |
$1,512,000 and above |
1.90% on that portion |
Other 2026 residential property
Example: how a Montana property value becomes a tax estimate
Use this only as a method example. The exact tax rate and total mills must come from the property’s actual classification and taxing jurisdictions.
- Assume the property’s taxable value after applying its applicable rate is $4,000.
- Assume its combined taxing jurisdictions levy 600 mills.
- 600 mills ÷ 1,000 = 0.600.
- $4,000 × 0.600 = $2,400 estimated general property tax.
Check whether a Montana home has the reduced homestead rate
The homestead reduced tax rate is for qualifying principal residences. Montana defines a qualifying principal residence as a home occupied by the owner as the principal residence for at least seven months of the year, along with other program requirements.
The 2026 enrollment period is closed. Montana is now accepting applications for the 2027 tax year.
The Department of Revenue states that 2026 enrollment closed March 20, 2026.
The current application period runs from May 4, 2026 through March 1, 2027.
The homeowner generally must live in the property as a principal residence for at least seven months of the year.
Tax-payment status is part of eligibility.
How to verify or apply
Search Property.MT.gov or Montana Cadastral and copy the geocode.
Use the official Department of Revenue program rather than a third-party filing service.
The Department provides an enrollment-verification option.
Do not assume every residential parcel automatically receives the reduced rate.
What to do if the Montana property value or characteristics are wrong
Montana’s 2025 appraisal notices established values for the 2025–2026 valuation cycle. The normal deadlines tied to those notices have now passed, but understanding the process is still useful when reviewing an existing record or preparing for the next appraisal cycle.
Check land size, improvements, classification and other property characteristics before disputing the value itself.
Gather photographs, measurements, market information, sales evidence or other documents that explain the error.
For the 2025 notice cycle, the normal deadline was 30 days from the appraisal-notice date.
For the current valuation cycle, Montana allowed informal-review requests through June 1, 2026, but changes from late requests applied only to tax year 2026.
Property Assessment Division staff can help explain valuation or classification questions.
Parcel owner information is not the same as a recorded deed
Montana Cadastral and Property.MT.gov are useful for identifying the owner associated with the tax and assessment record. If the question is legal title, a transfer document or a recorded easement, move to the appropriate County Clerk and Recorder.
Montana requires a Realty Transfer Certificate to be filed with the County Clerk and Recorder when a qualifying deed transferring real estate is recorded. That recording process is separate from the public parcel map.
Question |
Best source |
|---|---|
Who is listed on the tax property record? |
Property.MT.gov or Montana Cadastral |
Where is the parcel? |
Montana Cadastral |
What is the state-assessed market value? |
Montana Department of Revenue property record |
What deed was recorded? |
County Clerk and Recorder |
What are the exact legal boundary dimensions? |
Recorded plat/survey, legal description and professional survey where needed |
What tax amount is currently owed? |
County Treasurer |
Montana parcel GIS data can also be downloaded
Montana’s statewide cadastral program is not limited to an interactive map. The Montana State Library publishes parcel data for GIS users and provides monthly county cadastral updates.
Statewide parcel GIS data is available in Esri file-geodatabase format.
A statewide shapefile download is available for users working in compatible GIS software.
The Montana State Library provides an ArcGIS REST parcel service for mapping and query applications.
The State Library also publishes Department of Revenue ORION CAMA data for property-data analysis.
Common Montana parcel-search problems and fixes
Montana State Library notes that address points come from a separate local/tribal address dataset. In some areas, an address point may not fall inside the correct cadastral polygon. Verify with the geocode, owner and property details.
Assessment systems can lag behind recorded transactions. Verify the deed with the County Clerk and Recorder if ownership timing matters.
Select the county before searching, then compare addresses and geocodes.
Montana Cadastral maps land parcels. Personal property uses a separate Department of Revenue search and may not have a mappable parcel.
Open the property detail and check whether prior tax-year information is available rather than relying on the current display alone.
The current statewide parcel web-service documentation notes that large areas of public land in Flathead County may be missing from the statewide parcel dataset. Check county and public-land sources when researching those areas.
Check the 2026 tax-rate category, homestead/long-term-rental status, taxable value, total mills and any special assessments.
Do not measure the Cadastral map as if it were a legal survey. Use recorded survey and deed information.
Other useful Property.MT.gov searches
Search market and taxable values by county, year and taxing jurisdiction.
Search granted property-tax exemptions by name, address, property number or county.
Search statewide personal-property records using an assessment code and county.
Montana property terms worth knowing
Term |
Plain-English meaning |
|---|---|
Cadastral |
Land and parcel information dealing with rights and interests in land, including tax parcels and ownership-related data. |
Geocode |
A unique Montana parcel identifier used to connect property and cadastral records. |
Assessment code |
An identifier tied to a property’s assessment record. |
Market value |
The Department of Revenue’s appraised value before the applicable tax rate is used. |
Taxable value |
Market value multiplied by the property’s applicable Montana tax rate. |
Mill |
One dollar of tax for every $1,000 of taxable value. |
Who to contact when an online Montana parcel record is not enough
Your problem |
Correct office |
Next step |
|---|---|---|
Incorrect market value |
Montana Department of Revenue Property Assessment Division |
Contact the field office serving the property’s county. |
Wrong property characteristics |
Property Assessment Division |
Provide documentation showing the factual error. |
Parcel-map or GIS question |
Montana State Library / applicable local GIS office |
Check Cadastral data sources and local parcel mapping. |
Tax bill or payment |
County Treasurer |
Use the county’s current tax-payment information. |
Deed or recorded document |
County Clerk and Recorder |
Search or request the recorded instrument. |
Homestead reduced tax rate |
Montana Department of Revenue |
Use the official homestead enrollment/verification program. |
Montana parcel search FAQs
1. What is the official Montana parcel search?
Montana provides two primary statewide tools. Property.MT.gov is the Department of Revenue property-information search, while Montana Cadastral is the statewide GIS parcel map maintained through the Montana State Library.
2. Can I search Montana property records by owner name?
Yes. Property.MT.gov accepts owner-name searches, and Montana Cadastral also offers an owner-search tool. Selecting the county first can make common-name searches faster and more accurate.
3. Can I search Montana parcels by address?
Yes. Both Property.MT.gov and Montana Cadastral support address-based research. If a Cadastral address search points to the wrong parcel, verify the result using the owner, geocode and property characteristics because map address points are maintained separately from parcel geometry.
4. What is a Montana property geocode?
A geocode is a unique parcel identifier used in Montana’s property and cadastral systems. Department of Revenue guidance describes the geocode used for homestead and long-term rental applications as a 17-digit identifier.
5. Does Montana Cadastral show property values?
Yes. The statewide parcel framework includes selected assessment information copied from the Montana Department of Revenue’s ORION appraisal database, including land, building and total values where applicable.
6. Is the owner name on Montana Cadastral proof of legal ownership?
No. It is useful assessment and ownership-reference information, but recorded deeds and transfer documents should be verified with the County Clerk and Recorder when legal title matters.
7. Are Montana Cadastral parcel lines legal property boundaries?
They should be treated as GIS and property-research boundaries rather than a substitute for an authoritative survey. Use recorded plats, surveys and legal descriptions when exact boundary location matters.
8. How is Montana property tax calculated?
The Department of Revenue establishes market value. The applicable tax rate converts market value to taxable value, and the combined local mill levy is then applied to taxable value. Special assessments and fees may be added separately.
9. What are the Montana homestead tax rates for 2026?
For qualified homesteads and long-term rentals, 2026 uses tiered rates of 0.76% on the first $378,000 of market value, 0.90% on the portion from $378,001 through $756,000, 1.10% on the portion from $756,001 through $1,511,999 and 1.90% on the portion at or above $1,512,000.
10. Where do I find the actual amount of Montana property tax owed?
Use the County Treasurer for the county where the property is located. Property.MT.gov and Montana Cadastral help explain the property and valuation, but the county handles the tax bill, collection and local special assessments.
Official Montana parcel and property resources
- Property.MT.gov — statewide Department of Revenue property tools.
- Montana Property Search — search by property number, assessment code, name or address.
- Montana Cadastral — statewide parcel and GIS map.
- Montana State Library Cadastral Program — parcel documentation, web services and downloads.
- Montana Property Assessment Division — appraisal, classification and property-tax resources.
- 2026 Montana Property Tax Information — current residential tax-rate changes.
- Property Review and Appeal Process — informal review and formal appeal guidance.
- Understanding Montana Property Taxes — market value, tax rate and mill-levy explanation.
- Property Assessment Field Offices — county-specific appraisal help.
Khushboo Bobade is the editor and digital publisher of CountyAuditors.org. She oversees the research and editorial process for the website, ensuring that information about county auditor offices, property records, and government resources is accurate, verified, and easy for visitors to understand.
10 Ohio Property Tax Calculators & Auditor Tools
Built specifically for Ohio's 35% assessment ratio, current DTE forms, and 2026 Homestead, Owner-Occupancy, CAUV, Conveyance Fee, and Board of Revision rules. Every number reflects verified Ohio Department of Taxation amounts.
Annual Tax Bill Estimator
OHIOApplies Ohio's 35% assessment ratio plus your county's effective millage tier — the actual math your auditor uses.
Homestead Reduction Calculator
DTE 105A2026 Ohio Homestead: $29,000 general or $58,000 enhanced (100% disabled vet, KIA spouse). OAGI under $41,000 required for non-veteran applicants.
Owner-Occupancy & Non-Business Credits
DTE 105CEvery Ohio owner-occupied home qualifies for the 2.5% Owner-Occupancy Credit plus the automatic 10% Non-Business Credit. Most owners don't realize these stack.
Conveyance Fee Calculator
ORC 322When you sell or transfer Ohio property, the auditor collects $1 state + up to $3 county per $1,000, plus $0.50 per parcel. Counties choose their rate.
CAUV Agricultural Savings
DTE 109Ohio's Current Agricultural Use Value cuts taxable value dramatically for farmland (10+ acres, or smaller with $2,500+ annual gross income).
Mill Rate Converter
Ohio tax rates appear three ways on auditor sites: mills, percent, or dollars per $1,000. Convert between them instantly.
Parcel Number Cleaner
Ohio's 88 counties each format parcels differently — Franklin uses 010-123456-00, Cuyahoga uses 001-23-456, Hamilton uses 100-0001-0001-00. Auto-detects.
35% Ratio Sanity Check
Ohio law sets taxable value at 35% of market value. If yours is significantly higher, you're a strong BOR appeal candidate.
BOR Appeal Savings
DTE 1A successful Board of Revision complaint typically cuts your value 10–20%. Filing is free and stays in effect until the next reappraisal.
BOR Deadline Countdown
MAR 31Ohio's statutory Board of Revision filing deadline is March 31 for the prior tax year. Miss it and you wait until next year — no extensions.
Verify with the official Ohio source
These calculators use the verified 2026 Ohio Department of Taxation amounts and statutory rules. For your exact bill, exemption status, and county-specific deadlines, always confirm with your county auditor and the Ohio Revised Code:
Estimates use Ohio's 35% statutory assessment ratio and effective tax rate tiers averaged across major Ohio counties. Your actual bill depends on local school levies, voted millage, inside vs. outside millage splits, House Bill 920 reduction factors (HB 920), and special assessments. The 2026 Homestead general amount ($29,000) and enhanced amount ($58,000) reflect HB 187 inflation indexing — your county auditor's office may show slightly different transitional figures. Nothing here is legal or tax advice. CountyAuditors.org is an independent informational directory, not affiliated with any county government.