How To Search for Green Bay Property Records

Green Bay offers a unique blend of affordability and strong, community-driven demand. However, it is always a good idea to review property records before buying or investing in real estate. They are a goldmine of information, offering valuable insight into ownership history, assessed values, tax obligations, zoning classifications, liens, foreclosures, amenities, and other crucial details that you can use to make informed investment decisions. Property records are considered public information in Green Bay, meaning anyone can view them or request copies. The key is knowing where to search. Below is a list of primary resources you can use to find different types of Green Bay property records.

Brown County Register of Deeds

The Brown County Register of Deeds maintains official documents that establish real estate ownership and interests in Green Bay, including deeds, land contracts, plats, certified survey maps, lis pendens, annexations, and more. The register of deeds office provides two options for accessing these records online: Tapestry, a pay-per-search service designed for occasional users, and Laredo, a subscription-based tool with tiered access levels for frequent users (registration requires contacting the office directly). You can also search and request copies of records in person at the register of deeds office, at Room 260, 305 E. Walnut Street, Green Bay, WI 54301. Note that advance appointments are required for in-person record searches and copy fees may apply. You can call the office at (920) 448-4470 for assistance and general inquiries.

Green Bay City Assessor's Office

The Green Bay City Assessor's Office identifies, lists, and values real property in Green Bay for tax purposes. The office is a key resource for property information, including ownership details, assessed values, building characteristics, parcel details, and other related data. You can access this information online using the office's Parcel Data tool; searches may be done by address or parcel ID. You can also visit the office at 100 N. Jefferson Street, Green Bay, WI 54301, for in-person services or call (920) 448-3066 for general inquiries and assistance.

Brown County Treasurer's Office

The Brown County Treasurer's Office manages property tax billing and collection for the City of Green Bay (sharing duties with the city's finance office for current-year collections). The treasurer's office serves as the primary resource for tax-related property information, including tax bills, payment histories, and delinquent tax status, and provides a Property Search tool that you can use to look up this information online. Searches may be done by property type, name, parcel number, and address. If you prefer in-person services, you can visit the treasurer's office at Room 160, 305 E. Walnut Street, Green Bay, WI 54301, or call them at (920) 448-4074 for general inquiries and assistance.

Green Bay Finance Division

The Green Bay Finance Division is responsible for collecting the first installment of property tax payments and administering credits and refunds for city taxpayers, playing a supporting role to the Brown County Treasurer's Office in overall property tax collection. You can visit the finance office at 100 N. Jefferson Street, Green Bay, WI 54301, call (920) 448-3020, or email finance@greenbaywi.gov for information on tax bills, due dates, tax credits, and other property tax-related inquiries.

Brown County Circuit Court

The Brown County Circuit Court is the main resource for property records tied to legal matters in Green Bay, such as foreclosure filings, liens, boundary disputes, and civil judgments that may affect property title. You may search these records online by name or case number using the Wisconsin Circuit Court Access (WCCA) system. You can also search and request copies of records in person at the Brown County Courthouse, located at 100 South Jefferson Street, Green Bay, WI 54301. Note that fees may apply. You can contact the Clerk of Circuit Court at (920) 448-4155 for additional information or assistance.

Green Bay GIS Resources

The City of Green Bay maintains a GIS Hub on its website, which serves as a central online platform for interactive maps, spatial data, and geographic applications, providing access to property maps, zoning information, infrastructure layers, and other geographic resources in one place. Through this hub, you can explore property boundaries, zoning districts, floodplains, parks, and public facilities, check zoning and land use, visualize city data, and get a better understanding of a property's development patterns and zoning constraints before visiting the site in person.

Green Bay property taxes fund a wide range of essential local government services, including police and fire protection, emergency services, public schools and libraries, parks and recreation, road maintenance, and community health programs. The Green Bay City Assessor's Office is responsible for identifying and valuing property for tax purposes, while the Green Bay Finance Division and the Brown County Treasurer's Office handle tax billing and collection. Property values are established based on fair market value and assessed following the Wisconsin Property Assessment Manual (WPAM), as required by state law. Property taxes are calculated by applying local tax rates to those assessed values, and tax bills reflect the assessed value along with any applied credits, special assessments, and charges.

Property tax bills are typically mailed in mid-December. Payments may be made in two installments: the first half is due by January 31st (payable to the City of Green Bay), and the second half is due by July 31st (payable to the Brown County Treasurer). Note that if the first installment is missed, the installment option is canceled, and interest charges begin accruing on February 1st. At that point, all payments must be made directly to the Brown County Treasurer's Office. Long-term delinquency can eventually result in tax foreclosure. There are several ways to pay Green Bay property taxes, including online, mail-in, and in-person transactions. You can contact the Green Bay Finance Division at (920) 448-3020 or the Brown County Treasurer's Office at (920) 448-4074 for more information and assistance.

Assessments

The Green Bay City Assessor's Office assesses all real property in the city to determine each property's value. Properties are assessed every year, and valuations are primarily done using a Computer-Assisted Mass Appraisal (CAMA) system, with physical inspections periodically conducted to review and update records and ensure accuracy. Properties are assessed at or near 100% of their market value (typically between 90% and 110% of estimated market value). In addition, a citywide revaluation/reassessment of properties is also conducted at least once every five years to ensure that assessed values for properties stay within 10% of the actual market value, in accordance with state law. Green Bay's most recent city-wide revaluation was completed in 2022.

Assessment notices are typically mailed out in the late spring or early summer, usually between May and June (specific dates may vary slightly year-to-year depending on when the assessment roll is completed). It is important to note that you will only receive this notice if your property's value has changed by a certain amount (typically $300 or more) or if the city is conducting a full revaluation. The mailing of these notices triggers the city's "open book" period, during which property owners can contact the assessor's office with questions about their new assessed values. If you still disagree with the assessed value after this, you can file a formal objection with the city's Board of Review. Note that you must provide written or oral notice of intent to object to the City Clerk at least 48 hours before the board's first scheduled meeting (for the period). You can call the Green Bay City Assessor's Office at (920) 448-3066 or the Green Bay City Clerk at (920) 448-3010 for general inquiries or assistance with the process.

Appraisals

Green Bay assessments work similarly to appraisals. They both determine the fair value of property by comparing similar properties with others in the local area that have sold recently. In cases of odd structures or new construction, the county may call upon an appraiser to help determine the value. Estate planners, courts, and lenders also use appraisals to value real property.

Tax Rates

Green Bay, Wisconsin, has a median effective property tax rate of 1.56%, higher than the national median of 1.02% but slightly below the Wisconsin state median of 1.58%. The average annual tax bill in Green Bay is $3,132, which is also above the national average of $2,400.

Here's a look at how Green Bay's tax rate compares to other counties in Wisconsin:

• Ashland County 1.89%
• Barron County 1.25%
• Calumet County 1.87%
• Dane County 2.02%
• Kenosha County 2.06%
• La Crosse County 1.93%
• Menominee County 1.75%
• Milwaukee County 2.38%
• Outagamie County 1.71%
• Sheboygan County 1.82%
• St. Croix County 1.50%
• Vilas County 0.71%
• Waukesha County 1.34%

Exemptions

Property taxes in Green Bay are generally higher than the national average, and homeowners may find it challenging to meet their annual tax obligations. Thankfully, there are several tax relief programs available to eligible residents to help ease their tax burden. These include:

• Veterans and Surviving Spouses Property Tax Credit: Available to eligible veterans and their un-remarried surviving spouses, and provides up to a 100% reimbursement on property taxes.

• Homestead Credit: Available to eligible low-to-moderate-income homeowners (and renters) and reduces their overall tax burden.

• Lottery and Gaming Credit: Available to all homeowners who use the property as their primary residence as of January 1st of the tax year.

• First Dollar Credit: Automatically applied to every taxable parcel in the city that contains a real property improvement, provided the improvement meets a specified threshold amount.

You can contact either the Green Bay City Assessor's Office at (920) 448-3066 or the Green Bay Finance Division at (920) 448-3020 for additional details on property tax credits, including eligibility requirements and assistance with applying. Inquiries may also be directed to the Brown County Treasurer's Office at (920) 448-4074.

You need a permit for most construction, remodeling, renovation, improvement, and repair projects in Green Bay. Exceptions may be made for purely cosmetic projects like painting and flooring, as well as certain minor repairs or general maintenance work. Permits are issued by the Green Bay Community and Economic Development Department. You can apply for one by submitting the appropriate permit form, along with required supporting documentation and fees, to the department's office at Room 608, 100 N Jefferson Street, Green Bay, WI 54301. You can call (920) 448-3300 for assistance and general inquiries.

Common types of permits issued in Green Bay include:

• Building Permits: Required for new construction and alterations to existing buildings.

  • Residential Building Permits: For work on one- or two-family dwellings.

  • Commercial Building Permits: For work on other types of structures.

• Electrical Permits: Required for any electrical work being done in conjunction with a building permit. They are also required if no building permit is issued, provided the work involves more than three outlets (receptacles, lights, switches, etc.).

• HVAC Permits: Required for any heating, ventilation, and air conditioning work, including furnace replacements and air conditioning replacements.

• Plumbing Permits: Required for work on plumbing systems, such as turf watering systems, sanitary sewers, storm sewers, and water heater replacement.

When applying for any of these permits, you must submit the proper documentation (building plans, blueprints, contractor licenses, materials lists, etc.). You must also pay the appropriate fee.

Building inspections are part of the permit process, and they ensure that the work complies with local building and safety codes. You can schedule an inspection through the online portal or in person at the office during regular business hours.

Green Bay is Wisconsin's third-largest city and the oldest permanent settlement in the state. Located at the mouth of the Fox River on Lake Michigan, right along the Green Bay inlet, it serves as the flagship city and economic hub of northeastern Wisconsin and is an established regional center for shipping, paper manufacturing, and healthcare. The city is also famously home to the Green Bay Packers, the only community-owned non-profit professional football team in the United States. Beyond football, Green Bay boasts several other prominent local attractions, including the historic Lambeau Field, Packers Heritage Trail, the Tarlton Theatre, Cofrin Memorial Arboretum, Resch Center, and the Green Bay Botanical Garden.

Green Bay, Wisconsin, has a population of 107,395 residents. There are 44,341 housing units in the city, of which 97% are occupied and 57% are owner-occupied. The city has a diverse stock of housing options, including single-family homes, luxury condos, and historic riverfront properties, with housing styles like Ranch, Tudor, Colonial, Cape Cod, Victorian, Greek Revival, Craftsman, and Mid-Century Modern. The average home value in Green Bay, WI, is $266,936, representing a 6.3% increase from previous years. Keep in mind that actual home values can often vary across different neighborhoods. Here are some examples:

• Baird Creek $296,617
• East Shore Drive $339,231
• Nicollet Drive $579,939
• Oak Grove $213,948
• Olde North $184,547
• Red Smith $422,867
• Schmitt Park $333,734
• Three Corners $196,233

The Green Bay, Wisconsin, real estate market is a stable yet competitive market, with rising values, low inventory, and relatively quick sales. Homes typically go under contract within 44 days of listing, with around 53% of properties selling above their initial asking price.

Searching across multiple government offices and databases to piece together a complete property profile can be time-consuming, but PropertyChecker simplifies the process by pulling key ownership details, tax records, transaction histories, and more into a single, easy-to-use platform. Whether you are buying, investing, or simply doing your due diligence, visit PropertyChecker.com to get the property information you need in minutes.