Free parcel data in Minnesota

Yes. Minnesota publishes a free statewide parcel layer: Parcels, Compiled from Opt-In Open Data Counties, Minnesota, from Minnesota IT Services / MnGeo (Minnesota Geospatial Commons). Coverage: 59 of 87 counties (opt-in only, 2,710,201 parcels). It's a public ArcGIS REST service with no API key or login.

The layer

Layer	Parcels, Compiled from Opt-In Open Data Counties, Minnesota
Publisher	Minnesota IT Services / MnGeo (Minnesota Geospatial Commons)
Coverage	59 of 87 counties (opt-in only, 2,710,201 parcels). Missing: Beltrami, Blue Earth, Brown, Cottonwood, Dodge, Faribault, Freeborn, Goodhue, Hubbard, Kanabec, Kandiyohi, Kittson, Le Sueur, Lincoln, Mahnomen, Martin, Meeker, Nicollet, Nobles, Pine, Redwood, Rock, Roseau, Sibley, Swift, Todd, Wadena, Watonwan
Data vintage	Compiled 2026-08-06 / 2026-09-01; county acquisition dates vary (see layer 0)
Terms	Free open data from counties that opted in to open distribution; attribution: MnGeo and the contributing counties
Fields	parcel number (county_pin, state_pin); owner (owner_name); legal description; subdivision
Not published	deed references, plat references
REST endpoint	`https://enterprise.gisdata.mn.gov/aghost/rest/services/us_mn_state_mngeo/plan_parcels_open/FeatureServer/1`
Last verified	2026-10-19 with a live point and parcel-number query

Notes for GIS users

No single situs field: address is split into anumber, st_pre_dir, st_name, st_pos_typ, st_pos_dir, sub_type1/sub_id1, zip. ctu_name is the city/township (can be null), postcomm the postal community. co_code is 5-digit FIPS (27053); co_name is the county name. state_pin = co_code + '-' + county_pin. Layer 0 (Plan Parcels Open Metadata) lists every county with gac_open_approval and acquisition dates.

How to use it

QGIS: Layer > Data Source Manager > ArcGIS REST Server, add a connection with the service URL (the endpoint above without the final /0), then add the layer. Filter to your area before exporting.
ArcGIS Pro: Add Data > Data From Path, paste the endpoint.
Direct query: append /query?geometry=LON,LAT&geometryType=esriGeometryPoint&inSR=4326&spatialRel=esriSpatialRelIntersects&outFields=*&f=geojson to get the parcel at a point.
CAD: see getting a parcel into AutoCAD or Civil 3D.

Assessor parcel lines are for taxation and are often 5 to 50 ft off the legal boundary. Why.

Basesheet uses this to draw the parcel line on a base plan for any Minnesota address, with LiDAR contours, soils, flood zones and wetlands.

Build a base plan