Plats, Corners & Surveys Online

These records are maintained as scanned image files (TIFF) to preserve the integrity of the original recorded documents, including plats, survey documents, and corner certificates. As image-based files, they may not fully meet accessibility standards for users who rely on assistive technologies.Due to the nature of these archival records, descriptive text alternatives are not available. Individuals who need assistance accessing the information contained in these documents may contact the Clay County Recorder’s Office. The County will make reasonable efforts to provide access to this information in an alternative format in accordance with applicable accessibility standards.

Corner Certificate Map Viewer

This interactive PLSS Corner Viewer map allows you to search by Jurisdiction and from there, select the appropriate corner. The most recent document recorded will be available.

Corners

A Certificate of Location of Government Corner, also known as a Corner Certificate, is a document developed by a licensed land surveyor to mark a corner within a section of land. A section is a parcel of land generally comprised of one square mile or 640 acres. 36 sections make up a township. When a survey or plat is made, proper recording of Corner Certificates is required, consisting of a minimum of two or more appropriate controlling government corner locations.

Each section corner has a specific identification number. The Clay County PLSS Section Corner Point ID System explains how the number is determined.

Download the Certificate of Location of Government Corner Templates

Plats

A plat is a map of a tract of land subdivided into lots with streets and alleys drawn to scale showing dimensions. Usually an owner of a tract of land chooses to plat the land so lots can be sold. Instead of a metes and bounds description, a lot, block and name of a plat are used to describe the property once it is platted.

Surveys

The Clay County Recorder's Office began filing surveys in 1991 when the county required a survey according to county ordinance. Searches can be done by document / survey number, location (section, township and range) or by parcel number. Parcel numbers are not entered on older surveys. If no survey is found by parcel number, search using the section, township and range option or by the city name.

Original PLS Maps

Minnesota’s original PLS maps are available for Clay County from MN Geo.