County · code 27141
Sherburne CountyMinnesota
Sherburne County is a county in Minnesota, with its seat in Elk River. The county was formed on February 25, 1856, from Benton County.
- Founded1856
- County seatElk River
- Named forMoses Sherburne
- Land area433 sq mi + 18 sq mi water
- Population97,183 2020 Census
- Parcels mapped45,116 checked 15 October 2026
Where it is
Sherburne on the map of Minnesota
Minnesota has 87 counties and county equivalents, each with its own records office. Shapes with a page are links.
History
Formed in 1856 from Benton County
An old deed may name a county that no longer exists, or a boundary that has since moved.
Sherburne County was created from Benton County and organized for county government while attached to Benton for judicial purposes. In 1861, Sherburne County gained territory from Ramsey County while remaining attached to Benton County, then became fully organized and detached from Benton in 1862.
- 1856Sherburne County created Sherburne created from Benton; Sherburne organized for county government, attached to Benton "for judicial purposes." · Minn. Terr. Laws 1856, ch. 38, secs. 1-6/pp. 66-67
- 1856Changed Sherburne attachment to Benton confirmed; both attachments were "for judicial purposes." · Minn. Terr. Laws 1856, ch. 38, sec. 6/p. 67
- 1860Changed Sherburne authorized to gain from Ramsey, dependent upon local referendum; change not effected. · Minn. Laws 1859-1860, spec., ch. 72, secs. 1-2/pp. 117-118
- 1861Gained territory Sherburne gained from Ramsey (same area subject to 1860 referendum); Sherburne remained attached to Benton. · Minn. Laws 1861, spec., ch. 28, secs. 1-2/p. 269
- 1862Changed Sherburne fully organized, detached from Benton. · Minn. Laws 1862, gen., ch. 49, sec. 1/pp. 106-107
- 1889Changed Stearns authorized to gain small area from Sherburne (4 sq. mi. at northwest corner of Sherburne), dependent upon local referendum that failed (no change). · Minn. Gen. Stat. 1894, ch. 8, title 1, sec. 605/p. 175; Minn. Laws 1889, gen., ch. 169, secs. 1-2/pp. 277-278
Land and parcels
What the maps cover in Sherburne
Who publishes each layer, how good it is, and when we last checked.
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Parcels Good enough
Lot lines and tax-map numbers for 45,116 parcels from Sherburne County. Drawn for tax purposes: usually within a few feet of a survey, but not a survey.
checked 15 October 2026 -
Address points Official
One point per address, 38,317 in all from Minnesota Geospatial Information Office (MnGeo), Minnesota Geospatial Commons.
checked 13 October 2026 -
Buildings Reference
Roof outlines traced from aerial imagery from FEMA Response Geospatial Office with Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL). Good for seeing what is on a lot; not accurate enough to set a fence from.
checked 18 October 2026
- Official
- from the office that keeps the record
- Good enough
- a reliable statewide or national copy
- Fallback
- a guide only; check the official record
- Missing
- nothing public found yet
People and land
Sherburne by the Census
Source: US Census Bureau, 2020 Census; US Census Bureau, 2020 Gazetteer Files. Not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.
Rules and offices
Who to ask before you build, dig or sell
Official county pages only. We link to them; we do not copy them, because they change.
Inside a city or town, permits usually come from that city rather than the county.
Records
Zoning and code
- Planning and zoning
Zimmerman Public Safety Building
- Ordinances
- Other Ordinances
- Zoning
- Zoning & Permits
GIS and maps
County government
- County government
The official website of Sherburne County.
See your own lot on these maps
Open Sherburne County on Parcel Chart's free map and click your parcel. Save it with a free account; the full record of your place (site map, projects, documents) is Pro, in early access.
Questions
Common questions about Sherburne County
- When was Sherburne County founded?
- Sherburne County was founded in 1856, formed from Benton County, and named after Moses Sherburne.
- What is the county seat of Sherburne County?
- The county seat of Sherburne County is Elk River.
- Is there an online parcel map for Sherburne County?
- Yes. Sherburne County publishes a parcel map of 45,116 parcels, rated good enough here. You can click any parcel on it in Parcel Chart's free map, no sign-in needed.
- Has Sherburne County's boundary or name changed?
- Sherburne County was created in 1856 from Benton County. Since then the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries records 4 later changes, chiefly involving Benton County and Ramsey County.
- Who issues building permits in Sherburne County?
- The county's page on building permits: Permits. Inside a city or town, ask that city first.
- Who issues septic and well permits in Sherburne County?
- The county's page on septic systems and wells: Contact Health and Human Services.
- Is my lot in a flood zone?
- We do not have flood maps for Sherburne County yet. Look up the address on FEMA's Flood Map Service Center, which shows the effective flood map for any lot.
Nearby