Frequently Asked Questions

• It is Michigan Law that every dog is licensed
• It tells everyone that your dog is updated on its rabies vaccination.
• It enables Animal control officers to return your dog quickly if found.
• If your dog is found and is wearing the license tag, your owner information can be obtained from our website for the fast, safe return of your pet.

All dogs must be licensed at: 

• Four months of age, or
• Within 30 days of acquisition, or
• Within 30 days of new residency in Midland County

*A license is required even when the dog is always kept indoors or on a farm*

Yes, it is Michigan law that requires all dogs to get licensed. A dog license is the only ID that can be traced quickly by animal control officers.

Yes, Michigan law requires all dogs four (4)months of age and older to be licensed.

Yes, your dog needs to be licensed in the county that it resides. The license must be purchased within 30 days of residency. If your dog’s license is currently valid you can bring the current license and paperwork to the Office of the Midland County Treasurer and we may be able to replace it for free.

You can call our office at (989) 832-6850 and we will replace it free of charge.

If you currently have a one year license it will expire the same MONTH of your dog’s rabies vaccination. If you currently have a three year license it will expire with your dog’s rabies vaccination. On the current license it will say the year that the tag will expire.

Both dogs rabies may not expire in the same month. Licenses expire by the month the rabies expire and the year on their current tag.

We may have printed the renewal notice before you renewed your dog’s license at the vet.

You can call our office at (989) 832-6850.

No. Licenses are not able to be transferred to a different dog. Since we go by the rabies vaccination month, the dog’s rabies dates will be different.

No. Whenever the ownership or possession of any dog is permanently transferred from one person to another within the same county, the license of the dog can likewise be transferred. Please contact the Treasurer’s office at (989) 832-6850 so we can update our records.

• First you must contact your local unit of government zoning official to obtain information on the zoning and building requirements. 
• Second, contact the Animal Control Officer at (989) 832-6856.

Yes, service dogs are required to have a license. We will license them free of charge if you come into the Office of the Midland County Treasurer and show proof that the dog is an active service dog. Examples of acceptable proof would be the service dog contract, a certified service dog card, or the identification badge issued by Paws with a Cause or other certified service dog agency.

In order to get a dog”s license without getting a rabies shot we would need to see a letter from the veterinarian as to why the dog cannot get a rabies shot.

Yes. Please contact the Office of the Midland County Treasurer at (989) 832-6850.

Yes, Michigan law requires that does wear their tag at all times, except when the dog is engaged in lawful hunting accompanied by its owner or custodian.

You can make the check out to “Midland County Treasurer”

MIDLAND COUNTY TREASURER

220 W. Ellsworth St.

Midland, MI 48640

(989) 832-6850

dogs@co.midland.mi.us

You may purchase a 3 year dog license if you purchase the license in the same month your dog receives his/her 3 year rabies vaccination.

Yes,  If the license is not purchased by the end of the month the rabies expires, you will be charged an additional $20.00 per dog. Please see the fee schedule for current prices. 

You could receive a citation and a fine up to $200.

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Yes. P.A. 123 of 1999 as amended, changed the property tax revision process. Tax years remaining unpaid for two years will be foreclosed and the property will be sold to the highest bidder. 

You will need to notify the assessor and treasurer where the property is located. You will need to notify the county treasurer if there are delinquent taxes due on the parcel. Whether or not you have an escrow account to pay your property taxes, you should always make sure that the taxes are paid. Check your monthly mortgage statement for expenditures from your escrow account.

No. Failure to receive a tax bill will not waive delinquent fees. That is the law. If you do not get a tax bill, contact your city, township or village treasurer where the property is located. Even if your taxes are paid by a mortgage escrow account, you should receive a copy of the tax bill.

No. The payment is stamped received the day the payment is received into the office.

Partial payments of $10.00 or more are accepted. We also accept major credit cards, for an additional fee.

The county treasurer has a night payment drop box located on the Ellsworth side of the Midland County Services Building. Please do not put cash into the night drop box.

You will be charged a minimum of $25.00. If the check is not made good in 5 days, the check will be forwarded to the Midland County Prosecutor for possible further legal action.

Yes. You can contact the Midland County Department of Human Services, 211, local churches, Midland Area Homes, and help agencies to see if they will help with funds to pay the taxes. You can also request a County Hardship . The County Treasurer will work with all property owners to help get their taxes paid and avoid final foreclosure.

On March 1, the first day of delinquency, the County Treasurer adds to the base tax 4% administration fee and 1% interest. Beginning in April, and each and every month thereafter the County Treasurer will add an additional 1% interest. In October a $15.00 certified mailing fee will be assessed. If the taxes remain unpaid on the succeeding March 1, the County Treasurer will forfeit the parcel and add $175, recording fees, posting fees, and an additional .05% interest for each prior 12 months. Costs will continue to accrue during the next 12 months. If the total of the taxes, interest and fees are not paid within 21 days after the judgment of foreclosure is entered on the property the parcel will be foreclosed and offered for public auction sale. If you are an occupant of foreclosed property you will immediately be ordered to vacate the property or face forced eviction.

Yes, if they ask or request to view your property information. Information concerning property assessment and taxes is public information.

The PA 123 Foreclosed Property Auction Procedures page will explain the procedures, how to bid and when the sales will be held.

Not yet. Again, if you do not pay the total of taxes, interest and fees due within 21 days after a foreclosure judgment is entered on the property you will lose your ownership interest in the parcel. If the parcel is foreclosed it will be sold at public auction. You will not receive any of the proceeds of that auction.

Your property was uncapped according to the requirements of Proposal A. In 1994, under Proposal A, all property taxable value was capped. This means that the taxable (capped) value can only increase by the percent of the Consumers Price Index to a maximum of 5% each year. When the property ownership is transferred the taxable value is "uncapped" and the assessor will place a new taxable value on the parcel. After that transfer of ownership, the property is once again "capped" until the next transfer of ownership. It is wise when looking to purchase property that the potential buyer view the State Equalized Value on the parcel. The S.E.V. will give the buyer a ballpark estimate of the figure that the taxes will be based on the year following the sale.

Take the time to know when tax bills are due and to whom they are payable. Do not assume that the seller will pay the taxes in the year of sale. The buyer normally pays these taxes.

Do not send a check in the mail and assume that the check reached the treasurer. Do not sit back if you do not get a summer and/or winter tax bill. Call the city, township or village treasurer where the property is located and request to be sent a new bill. At the same time, check to make sure the treasurer has your correct mailing address. If you believe your taxes are assessed incorrectly, call the assessor and ask for an explanation. If not satisfied, go to the March Board of Review and appeal the assessment. If you are claiming a Principal Residence Exemption make sure it is correct. If you are not sure if your property qualifies for a Principal Residence Exemption or qualified agriculture exemption, ask your assessor.