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Geographic Information System (GIS)

Show All Answers

1. Website not Rendering Correctly

Gaston County recently launched a new website on July 12, 2022 and as a result, we have updated the theme of all applications hosted at Gaston County, including GIS.

If you screen does not render correctly or looks partially broken, look for the hard refresh  button located on any of the GIS webs application toolbars and click it to perform a hard refresh. This will update your web browsers cache and pull down the newly updated theme.

Alternatively, you can try any of the following methods listed in the link below for your device and/or web browser: Guide to Performing a Hard Refresh In Each Web Browser

2. Where can I find Help for the GIS website?

A series of instructional videos is available on the Gaston County GIS YouTube.

If the GIS website is not loading or working properly for you, you may need to clear your browser's cache or perform a hard refresh. To perform a hard refresh, while on the GIS website page, press and hold the CTRL (or CMD for Mac devices) and R key.

For all other assistance regarding GIS website technical support, please contact us by email.

3. Can I download GIS data / Parcel information?

Yes, you can download Gaston County GIS vector data on our GIS Data Download page.

4. Where is the zoning for the Town of Ranlo?

For zoning within the Town of Ranlo and Ranlo's ETJ, please contact the Town of Ranlo.

1624 Spencer Mountain Rd
Gastonia, NC 28054
704.824.3461

5. How can I tell if Taxes are owed or what the Tax Bill is?

View the Tax Bill online.

6. What do I need to use the GIS website?

A web browser such as Chrome, Edge, Firefox, etc.

Internet Explorer users - Microsoft has deprecated IE, use Edge or another browser. (If you are an Internet Explorer 8 / Windows XP user, try using Chrome or Firefox.)

7. How can I tell what browser I am using?

If you don't know what browser you are using, please check the help/about section of your browser or try visiting the What's My Browser website.

8. Why do I need to allow pop-up windows?

The print or the web form window will not be viewable without enabling pop-up windows. You must use these windows to print from the website. Please disable your pop-up blockers or set it to allow pop-ups from this site.

9. How do I enable pop-ups in Google Chrome?

To enable popups, please view the Block or Allow Pop-ups in Chrome article.

10. Can GPS or latitude/longitude information be obtained from the Gaston County GIS website?

Yes, the latitude/longitude can be obtained by using the Measure tool located in menu for Advanced Tools on the right side of the GIS website map.

• Latitude = Y
• Longitude = X (negative number for Gaston County)
• North Latitude "+" Positive
• South Latitude "-" Negative
• East Longitude "+" Positive
• West Longitude "-" Negative

11. Can I send a link to a parcel?

You can obtain a link for a parcel from the GIS website to send via email or other medium by clicking the Identify tool and selecting a parcel. At the bottom of the Parcel Information window there is a button titled Create a Link to this Parcel; click this button to obtain your link.

12. Where is the Book Map and Parcel (BMP)?

In 2002 when Gaston County converted from paper tax maps to GIS the BMP number was discontinued and replaced with a 6 digit Parcel ID and a 10 digit NC PIN. Historic reference may be found on the GIS website Optional Map Layers in the Overlay group.

13. How do I print a property card? (Appraisal Cards, Tax Appraisal Sheets)

Property Record Cards have been replaced with Information Sheets.

Please contact the Tax Office for more information.

14. How do I print a deed / recorded plat / plat map / survey?

The Gaston County GIS website does not have recorded deeds, plats, or surveys.

Recorded instruments are only available at the Gaston County Register of Deeds, which is located in the Gaston County Courthouse:
325 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Way
Gastonia, NC 28052
Phone: 704-862-7687

For further assistance with deeds or plats, please contact the Register of Deeds directly during office hours at 704-862-7686 or 704-862-7684.

15. Why can I not link (a deed / plat) from the GIS website to the Register of Deeds website?

This is currently not permitted by the Gaston County Register of Deeds.

16. How do I identify the assigned School District for a property?

Gaston County school districts have been unavailable as a GIS map layer on the Gaston County GIS website since July 2013. For more information on assignments and registration, please contact the Gaston County Schools at:
P.O. Box 1397
Gastonia, NC 28053-1397

• Visit our WebQuery website to find your school
• For Student Assignments contact Terri Surbeck at 704-810-7284
• For Transportation Information and School District GIS Data email Debbie Auten
• For Communications contact Todd Hagans at 704-866-6118
• For the Superintendent contact Jeffrey W. Booker at 704-866-6111

17. How do I change my Tax Bill Mailing Address?

To change your mailing address please visit Change of Mailing Address.

18. Who do I talk to about a property address?

For Gaston County contact Building and Development Services by email.

For the City of Gastonia (for addresses located inside the city limits of Gastonia) contact the Engineering Department at 704-866-6022 or by email.

19. Who do I talk to about my Tax Appraisal Value?

Please contact the Tax Appraisal Office at 704-810-5856.

20. Who Do I Talk to About Land Use?

Contact David Turbyfill with the Tax Appraisal Office at 704-810-5809.

21. Where do I find information on utilities (electric, gas, water and sewer)?

Gaston County does not have a utilities department. You will need to contact the utility company or municipality directly to obtain this information.

NC811

• Call Before You Dig: 800-632-4949
• Visit the NC811 website

22. Who do I talk to about Zoning?

Zoning for a parcel is dependent on the jurisdiction it resides in. Please contact the corresponding Planning Department:

• Gaston County: 704-866-3075
• Belmont: 704-901-2066
• Bessemer City: 704-629-5542
• Cherryville: 704-435-1705
• Cleveland County: 704-484-4947
• Cramerton: 704-824-4337
• Dallas: 704-922-3176
• Gastonia: 704-866-6746
• High Shoals: 704-735-1651
• Kings Mountain: 704-734-4596
• Lincoln County: 704-736-8440
• Lincolnton: 704-736-8930
• Lowell: 704-824-3518
• McAdenville: 704-824-3190
• Mecklenburg County: 704-366-2205
• Mount Holly: 704-822-2938
• Ranlo: 704-824-3190
• Stanley: 704-263-4779

23. What are the definitions to the Zoning Codes?

View the UDO Zoning (County Jurisdiction) Definitions (PDF).

24. What is the Unified Development Ordinance (UDO)?

The Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) combines and integrates all the land use ordinances for Gaston County into one document

• Zoning
• Subdivision
• Manufactured
• Watershed Water Supply
• Flood Damage Prevention

For questions or comments, please contact us by email.

25. What are the setbacks in Gaston County?

26. Who do I talk to about waterfront property access?

Lake access needs to be verified by Duke Energy Lake Services at 800-443-5193.

An Interactive Shoreline Map is available online.

27. Can I print a map to scale?

No, due to variations in screen sizes and resolutions this option is not available on the GIS website.

28. How can I acquire a map printed to scale?

Custom printed maps are available in accordance to the Gaston County GIS Fee Schedule. Please make an appointment with a GIS staff member.

29. How do I print a map?

To print a map use the Print tool located in the toolbar on the right side of the GIS website map.

30. How do I print a map with tax information?

In the GIS website, select a parcel, scroll down to the bottom of the Parcel Information window. Click the Print Map and Report button, this will open a new window; print from this print window.

31. How do I resolve printing issues?

The Map/Map and Report/House and Report print pages are designed to fit a single 8.5 inch by 11 inch page with ½ inch margins. If you are having printing problems please try one of the following solutions:

Check your margins. In most major browsers you can change the margins by going into the Page Setup menu screen.

Enable Shrink to Fit. In most major browsers you can enable 'Shrink to Fit' by going into the 'Page Setup' menu screen.

Use a Print to PDF driver. Print to PDF drivers will vary among which operating systems like Windows, Mac, or Ubuntu you are using. You may have to explore which options are best suited for your system's needs.

Due to the small differences between all web browsers, it is not possible to render all print pages the same. Printing pages should render just fine in browsers like Internet Explorer and Google Chrome. You may print in other browsers but please note that you may have to change some of the print settings as mentioned above to achieve a proper print layout. If you are still having problems please contact us by email.

32. Who do I talk to about the house (structure) photograph?

Contact the Gaston County Tax Appraisal Office at 704-866-3145, or by email. Please make reference to the 6 digit Parcel ID Number.

33. Who do I talk to about the parcel map or owner information?

• “The property is listed to the Heirs of my mother, but all my siblings have passed, is the property mine now.” 

Numerous scenarios to consider here:

Please review the North Carolina “Intestate Succession” for all questions regarding or contact a Real-estate Attorney.

• “I need a copy of the map of my property to determine my boundary lines.” Or “The GIS website shows my neighbors building on my line”

The GIS-Mapping Division of the Tax office maintains the county-wide digital parcel layer.  This layer is for taxation purposes only, it is not a legal document or a survey.   Only a licensed surveyor can determine your property lines.     Disclaimer.

• “I need to update my parcels mailing address” or “The physical address of my home”

Mailing address changes

Request to Change “Real Property Address” PARCEL

Request to Change “Personal Property Address”   Boats, Cars, etc..

Physical address changes

• “I need help navigating the GIS Website”

A series of instructional videos is available on GIS YouTube. 

If the GIS website is not loading or working properly for you, you may need to clear your browser's cache or perform a hard refresh. To perform a hard refresh, while on the GIS website page, press and hold the CTRL (or CMD for Mac devices) and F5 keys.    For all other assistance regarding GIS website technical support, please Email GIS.

• How do I get a property listed in my name?

Property ownership in North Carolina is conveyed by deed, court order, or the estate of a deceased property owner.  The tax listing reflects the ownership as presented in these documents after they are filed with the Gaston County courthouse.  A Real-estate Attorney can answer your questions on filing a document to change the property ownership/listing.

• “I’ve paid the taxes on a property for years, does that not give me ownership of it?”

No, payment of property taxes is not an avenue to property ownership.  Ownership of real property is achieved by recording a deed, a court-order, or the estate file of a deceased person.

Contact the Gaston County GIS/Tax Mapping Department with questions about Parcels and Ownership:

• Victoria Chafin: 704-810-3184
• Kathryn Mitchem: 704-810-5827
• Leslie Ferguson: 704-810-5830
• William Page: 704-810-5831
• Paul Lang: 704-810-5832

34. Why does this property map show less acreage than I actually own?

The GIS website shows a calculated acreage based on the taxable area. An example of this would be when the property lines extend to the center of a right of way (public road or railroad). The owner is not taxed on the area inside of the right of way.

35. Why is Flood blank in the Parcel Details window?

If "Flood" is blank it means that the parcel in not in a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA). The SFHA is the area where the National Flood Insurance Program's (NFIP's) floodplain management regulations must be enforced and the area where the mandatory purchase of flood insurance applies. The SFHA may be shown as A, AE or.2 PCT. For more information on flood zones visit the FEMA Flood Zones page.

36. Who do I talk to about Floodplain?

We recommend contacting one of the following agencies directly with questions about Flood, Floodplain, Flood Insurance, Floodway, Special Flood Hazard Area, etc.

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

• FEMA website
• National Flood Insurance Program page

Flood Risk Information System (FRIS)

• FRIS website
• NC Flood website

County

• Floodplain Management page

37. What is a Voluntary Agricultural District?

Gaston County farmers who enroll their farms in the Gaston County Voluntary Agricultural District Program agree to keep their lands in agricultural uses for 10 years - in return for protecting farmlands they receive recognition with roadside signs and listing on this GIS website.

What other benefits do farmers receive?

Farmers will not be assessed or required to connect to Gaston County water and/or sewer infrastructure if Gaston County constructs, maintains or possesses such infrastructure in the future. Farmers will also have the right to public hearings in their communities if there are ever land condemnation proceedings against lands in the districts-

How does the web listing benefit both farmers and non-farmers?

Many people use this website as a starting place when considering purchasing property- The Voluntary Ag District listing informs anyone investigating a parcel if that parcel is within ½ mile of a district. This informs potential buyers that slow moving vehicles (tractors), dusts, odors and noises associated with the normal practice of farming may occur near the investigated parcel- The notice should help non-farmers understand potential impacts from neighboring farms and lessen misunderstandings between neighbors.

Who should I contact for more information about Voluntary Agricultural Districts?

Contact Gaston Natural Resources at 704-922-4181.

38. Who do I talk to about the GIS website?

Send Gaston County GIS an email.