Bibb County, GA Property Records: Search Deeds, Owners, Tax Records, and Maps

Bibb County has over 70,000 land parcels and offers one of the most affordable and balanced real estate markets in central Georgia. The county’s real estate market demand is largely driven by employment opportunities in sectors such as healthcare and manufacturing, as well as the rental needs of Mercer University students. Property records in the county are typically maintained by the County Clerk of Superior Court, the Tax Assessor’s Office, and the Tax Commissioner’s Office.

The housing stock in Bibb is abundant in traditional, single-family detached homes spread across Macon, particularly in the city’s downtown area. Property listings in the county typically spend up to 21 days on the market before sale, which is faster than the county average of around 33 days.

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How to Look Up Bibb County Property Records

Bibb County property records, including deeds, security deeds, liens, and plats, are available online via the County Clerk of Superior Court Public Records E-Search portal. The Tax Assessor also offers a search tool for looking up property information, including personal property cards, assessed values, ownership details, property improvement information, and sales history. Tax information for parcels in Bibb County, including tax bills, payment history, and delinquent taxes, is accessible through the Tax Commissioner Property Tax Search Portal.

To obtain certified copies of deeds in the county, contact the Clerk of Superior Court Office by phone at (478) 621-6527 or visit the county courthouse in Macon.

Who Keeps Bibb County Property Records?

The Georgia Open Records Act allows interested individuals to access property records in Bibb County. The county has three offices that are responsible for maintaining different categories of property records:

• Clerk of Superior Court: The Bibb County Clerk of Superior Court is responsible for recording real estate documents. The office also keeps important property records, such as deeds, security deeds, plats, liens, easements, and satisfactions.

• Tax Assessor's Office: This office is responsible for appraising all parcels located within the county and also processing homestead exemptions. The office maintains property information, such as ownership details, parcel inventories, property cards, sales history, valuations, and property sketches.

• Tax Commissioner: The office is responsible for billing and collecting real and personal property taxes in the county. The Tax Commissioner also organizes the Judicial In Rem Tax Sale. Property records maintained by this office include tax delinquency records, property tax bills, and property tax history.

How to Search Bibb County Property Records Online

Bibb County Property Records are searchable online using these steps:

1. Locate the Parcel: Visit the Bibb County qPublic portal and search by owner name, location address, parcel number, account number, or legal information. You can also locate a parcel using the map feature.

2. Open the Parcel Details: Click the matching parcel in the search results list to view a detailed property report that shows the parcel summary, ownership details, property description, sales history, assessed values, and sketches.

3. Pull the Recorded Documents: Recorded property documents are accessible online through the Clerk of Superior Court’s Public Records E-Search portal. Open the portal as a user or continue as a guest to search land records by name, index type, date, or book/page.

4. Verify the Current Tax Status: To verify the tax status of a property online, visit the Tax Commissioner’s search portal and enter the property’s bill number, parcel ID, address, or owner’s name. The portal shows payment details for each tax year, including prior payments and outstanding balance.

5. Request Certified Copies if Required: You can obtain certified copies of recorded property documents by contacting the Clerk of Superior Court by email, phone, or by visiting the county courthouse in Macon.

Clerk of Superior Court: Deeds, Mortgages, and Liens

The Bibb County Clerk of Superior Court serves as the recorder of real estate documents and maintains the county’s official real estate index.

Tax Assessor: Ownership, Values, and Parcel Data

The Tax Assessor's Office handles appraisals for all tangible properties in Bibb County and maintains records, including parcel maps, assessed values, exemptions, ownership details, and parcel data.

Tax Commissioner: Tax Bills and Payments

In Bibb County, the Tax Commissioner is responsible for property tax billings and collections. The office also maintains records of tax payments and organizes the county’s tax sales.

Property Tax in Bibb County: Rates, Exemptions, and Appeals

The amount homeowners pay for property taxes in Bibb County depends on the local millage rate and the property value. The county’s Tax Assessor determines the total value of a property, which is its fair market value (FMV). However, the tax is calculated using the assessed value, which is 40% of the FMV. The property tax is calculated by multiplying the assessed value by the millage rate and deducting applicable exemptions.

• Property tax due = assessed value x millage rate.

• Assessed value = FMV x 40%

Homestead exemptions

• Basic homestead exemption: Georgia offers the basic homestead exemption to Bibb residents who own and occupy a property in the county as their legal residence. Homeowners who qualify may apply through the Tax Assessor’s office.

• Local additions: Homeowners in Bibb County may also be eligible for local exemptions. For instance, the county offers an additional $5,000 homestead exemption. The requirements for other local exemptions include age, income level, and veteran status.

• CUVA & FLPA: The Conservation Use Valuation Assessment (CUVA) and Forest Land Protection Act (FLPA) are programs introduced in Georgia to reduce taxes on eligible lands. CUVA provides reduced property taxes on agricultural lands or environmentally sensitive areas through assessments based on land use for agriculture or livestock, rather than market value. Similarly, the FLPA reduces property taxes for lands used for the commercial production of trees or timber.

Appealing an assessment

To appeal an assessment in Bibb County, file a written appeal with the Board of Tax Assessors within 45 days of receiving a Notice of Assessment. You can support the appeal by providing relevant evidence, such as independent appraisals, outdated or incorrect errors in the property card, or comparable sales.

The Board will review the appeal and provide a decision within 180 days. The matter is automatically assigned to the County Board of Equalization (BOE) if the Board of Tax Assessors denies the appeal. However, the property owner must file an appeal with the BOE within 30 days if dissatisfied with the adjustment to the property’s assessed value. The decision of the Board of Equalization may also be appealed to the Superior Court.

GIS Maps and Parcel Viewer

Bibb County maintains a GIS and property map viewer that displays parcel boundaries, aerial imagery, and certain property information. Visit the Tax Commissioner’s map view portal or the qPublic Map portal, and search by address, parcel number, or owner name to access these details.

Foreclosure and Tax Sales

Under Georgia law (O.C.G.A. § 48-4), the Bibb County Tax Commissioner can auction properties with delinquent taxes through the Judicial In Rem Tax Sale. The tax sales are held on the first Tuesday of each month, starting at 11:00 a.m. The Tax Commissioner’s office publishes a list of tax-delinquent properties available for auction on its website.

Right of redemption

The right of redemption refers to the 12-month period during which a property owner can reclaim the property auctioned at the tax foreclosure sale. To redeem the property, the owner must pay the outstanding amount to settle the delinquent taxes and any other fees. This statutory right allows the property owner to keep their property, while the Tax Commissioner will refund the buyer at the auction within 10 to 15 business days after redemption.

Costs to Access Property Records

The O.C.G.A., Section 15-6-77 sets the fee schedule for recording documents and related costs for accessing property records in Bibb County.

How to Record a Document

You can follow this step-by-step process to record a deed in Bibb County with the Clerk of Superior Court:

1. Prepare the document: Ensure the document contains relevant information, such as the grantee and grantor names and the legal description, and follows the formatting standards. Check for necessary forms on the Clerk’s website and complete them with the required details.

2. Calculate fees: The recording cost for a deed or any other instrument relating to real estate, including liens, lis pendens, satisfaction, and release, is $25 each. However, the cost for recording plats, maps, or plans is $10.

3. Submit to the Clerk: Submit the documents for recording to the Clerk’s office in person or by mail. Electronic submissions are also available through authorized e-recording vendors, such as CSC, Simplifile, or the Georgia Superior Court Clerks' Cooperative Authority (GSCCCA) eFile Portal.

4. Retrieve the recorded copy: You can obtain the recorded copy in person at the Clerk’s office or have it mailed to the returning address if you sent a mail-in package. The GSCCCA search platform also provides online access to recorded real estate documents.

FAQs

Quick Reference: Your Bibb County Property Records Checklist

Key Contacts and Official Portals