Rice County Property Tax Records
Rice County property tax records are kept by the auditor-treasurer and assessor offices in Faribault, Minnesota. Property owners and researchers can search parcel data, view assessed values, access tax statements, and look up payment history through the county's online Beacon portal or by contacting the offices at 320 NW 3rd Street in Faribault. This page covers how Rice County property taxes are administered, how to search records, how assessments are set, and the steps available if you want to challenge a valuation.
Rice County Overview
How Rice County Property Taxes Work
Rice County is located in southern Minnesota and includes a mix of agricultural land, small cities, and suburban growth on the edge of the Twin Cities metro. Property taxes follow the statewide framework under Minnesota statutes. The county assessor values all real property as of January 2 each year under Minnesota Statutes Chapter 273. Rice County's property base is diverse: residential neighborhoods in Faribault, farming operations across the county's rural areas, and commercial development tied to the county's growing population.
The auditor-treasurer handles billing and collection. Tax statements are mailed by March 31. The year's taxes split into two payments. First half is due May 15. Second half is due October 15. Under Chapter 279, late payments carry interest beginning the day after the due date. Properties with long-term delinquency can enter the forfeiture process governed by Chapter 282.
Truth in Taxation hearings take place each fall before December 31 under Chapter 275. Rice County, local cities and townships, school districts, and special taxing districts all set levies at these hearings. The combined levy drives your tax rate for the following year.
Search Rice County Property Tax Records Online
The main online search tool for Rice County property tax records is the Beacon system by Schneider Geospatial. You can search by owner name, address, or parcel identification number. Beacon shows assessed values, ownership history, tax amounts, classification data, and parcel maps. Access the Rice County Beacon portal at beacon.schneidercorp.com. No login is required and there is no charge to search.
The county's official website at co.rice.mn.us connects you to department pages for the auditor-treasurer, assessor, and recorder. Department contact information, forms, and service details are available there. The auditor-treasurer page is at co.rice.mn.us/departments/auditor-treasurer/, and the assessor page is at co.rice.mn.us/departments/assessor/.
The Rice County official website is a useful starting point for all property and tax record searches. The screenshot below shows the county's public-facing site.
The Rice County site at co.rice.mn.us connects you to the assessor, auditor-treasurer, and recorder offices that handle all local property tax records.
Rice County Assessor Office
The Rice County Assessor values all taxable property in the county each year. The assessor's work covers residential homes, agricultural land, commercial buildings, industrial parcels, and vacant lots. Values are set as of January 2 based on estimated market value under Chapter 273. Rice County's residential market, particularly in Faribault and the communities that feed into the southern metro, means the assessor tracks a broad range of recent sales to keep values current.
The assessor handles homestead applications, agricultural classifications, and questions about your estimated market value. If you think your value is off, call the office at (507) 332-6102 before any formal appeal deadline. The assessor's page at co.rice.mn.us/departments/assessor/ has forms and contact information. The office is located at 320 NW 3rd Street in Faribault.
| Office | Rice County Assessor |
|---|---|
| Address | 320 NW 3rd Street, Faribault, MN 55021 |
| Phone | (507) 332-6102 |
| Website | co.rice.mn.us/departments/assessor/ |
Paying Rice County Property Taxes
The Rice County Auditor-Treasurer sends out tax statements and collects payments. Statements arrive by March 31. First half is due May 15. Second half is due October 15. Homestead properties with a total bill under $100 may pay in full by May 15. Interest applies to any late payment under Chapter 279. The auditor-treasurer's office can be reached at (507) 332-6101.
You can pay in person at 320 NW 3rd Street in Faribault. Check the auditor-treasurer's page at co.rice.mn.us/departments/auditor-treasurer/ for current payment options including online or mail-in procedures. Have your parcel ID from your tax statement ready. For property owners who own multiple parcels in Rice County, each parcel has its own statement and payment record.
Note: Rice County property owners who pay through escrow via a mortgage servicer should still confirm with their servicer that payments are being made on time, as delinquency can result in penalties regardless of escrow arrangements.
Homestead Classification in Rice County
Homestead status in Rice County applies to a property you own and live in as your primary home. You apply through the assessor's office, must occupy the property by December 1, and must apply by December 31. Homestead classification lowers the class rate used to calculate your tax under Chapter 273. This can mean a meaningful difference in annual tax cost compared to a non-homestead property of similar value.
Agricultural homestead is available to Rice County farmers who live on or near the land they farm. This classification lowers the class rate on both the home site and the agricultural land. It requires ownership and active farming by a qualifying person. Contact the assessor at (507) 332-6102 to discuss whether your situation qualifies. The December 31 deadline applies here as well.
Minnesota's Property Tax Refund, filed using Form M1PR, can help low and moderate income property owners in Rice County recover a portion of taxes paid. The form is available through the Minnesota Department of Revenue at revenue.state.mn.us.
Land Records and the Rice County Recorder
The Rice County Recorder handles deed recording and maintains land records that support property tax administration. When property changes hands, the deed is filed with the recorder and the deed tax is paid under Chapter 272. The recorder's office is at 320 NW 3rd Street in Faribault, and its page is at co.rice.mn.us/departments/recorder/. Ownership transfers recorded here flow to the assessor's office, where they inform annual value reviews.
If you need to research ownership history, easements, or prior sales on a Rice County parcel, the Beacon portal is often the fastest starting point because it aggregates ownership data alongside tax and assessment records. For official recorded documents, the recorder's office is the authoritative source. The Minnesota DOR also publishes levy and assessment data at revenue.state.mn.us/property-tax-data-and-statistics for all counties including Rice County.
Appealing Your Rice County Assessment
If you believe the Rice County Assessor overvalued your property, start by contacting the assessor at (507) 332-6102. Informal review often resolves the issue. If not, you can appeal to the Local Board of Appeal and Equalization in spring under Chapter 274, then to the County Board of Appeal and Equalization if needed.
As a final step, you can file a petition with the Minnesota Tax Court. The deadline is April 30 of the year taxes are payable under Chapter 278. The Tax Court can be reached at (651) 539-3260 or through mn.gov/tax-court. This deadline is strict. Missing it typically closes your appeal options for that tax year, so act early if you plan to file.
Nearby Counties
These counties border Rice County. Each has its own assessor and auditor-treasurer for local property tax records.