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North Carolina · Charlotte Metro Northeast · #198 Most Populous County in the US
Cabarrus County, North Carolina
Concord and Charlotte's northeast suburbs - home of the Charlotte Motor Speedway, the site of America's first documented gold discovery, and one of North Carolina's fastest-growing counties. NASCAR, Reed Gold Mine, and a Charlotte metro explosion in equal measure. Property tax, courts, public records, probate, and senior services for Cabarrus County residents.
Affiliate disclosure: This page contains affiliate links. We may earn a commission if you use them, at no extra cost to you. Our editorial recommendations are independent of these relationships.
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Cabarrus County's assessment ratio means effective tax rates are low — but incorrect appraisals still cost money. Ownwell manages the appeal with no upfront cost.
Office: Cabarrus County Emergency Management – accessible via cabarruscounty.us
Services: Prepares a plan of action to respond to emergencies, disasters, and hazards of all types across the four phases of mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery
Related: Cabarrus County Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC).
Roads & Utilities
ROADS & TRANSPORTATION
Roads: I-85 and US-29 serve Concord, the county seat, in the Charlotte metropolitan region of south-central North Carolina
Transit: Rider Transit (Cabarrus County’s regional transit system) provides local service – confirm current routes directly.
Business & Permits
BUILDING & PERMITS
Office: Cabarrus County Construction Standards – 65 Church St S, Concord, NC 28025 | Inspection scheduling: (704) 920-2128 | Email: [email protected]
Services: Handles building permits for unincorporated areas; issues permits jointly through Accela Citizen Access alongside the City of Concord and City of Kannapolis’s own planning/zoning review; residential plan review typically takes 5-21 days depending on complexity
Related: City of Concord Planning and Neighborhood Development – Concord City Hall, 35 Cabarrus Ave W, Concord, NC, handles zoning; each of Cabarrus County’s 6 municipalities operates its own building department for in-city projects.
Notes: FRAUD ALERT (per county’s own portal): fake permit emails have been circulating requesting wire payment – Cabarrus County does not request payment or communicate exclusively via email.
Veterans Services
VETERANS SERVICES
County VSO: Cabarrus County Veterans Services Office – Concord, NC
Libraries
LIBRARIES
System: Cabarrus County Public Library – 6 branches serving nearly 200,000 residents
Main Branch: Concord Library (Charles A. Cannon Memorial Library) – 27 Union Street N, Concord, NC 28025 | (704) 920-2050 | Email: [email protected] | Hours: Mon–Thu 9 AM–8 PM, Fri–Sat 10 AM–6 PM (closed Sun)
Services: Traces its roots to the very first Cabarrus County library, established July 8, 1902 in a small frame house on Spring Street in Concord; today offers over 250,000 books, magazines, audio, and video materials plus digital collections, with more than one in three county residents registered as library users
Key Assets: Cabarrus County is genuinely and famously home to REED GOLD MINE, the site of the first documented discovery of gold anywhere in the United States – an event that triggered America’s very first gold rush, a full half-century before the more famous California Gold Rush of 1849; the story begins on a Sunday in 1799, when 12-year-old Conrad Reed – son of John Reed, an illiterate German immigrant and former Hessian mercenary who had deserted the British army and settled to farm along Little Meadow Creek in what was then Mecklenburg County (now Cabarrus County) – stayed home from church to play near the creek and stumbled upon a striking 17-pound yellow “rock”; not recognizing its true nature, the Reed family used the massive nugget as a doorstop in their home for the next three years; it was only in 1802, when John Reed brought the rock to a jeweler in Fayetteville, that its true identity as a solid gold nugget was revealed – the jeweler purchased it on the spot for the price Reed himself named: a modest $3.50, roughly a week’s wages at the time, when the nugget’s actual value was closer to $3,600 – nearly a thousand times what Reed had asked; once Reed learned the rock’s true worth, he organized a small mining partnership around 1803, and word of his stunning good fortune spread quickly through the Piedmont, sparking the nation’s first true gold rush as farmers up and down the region began searching their own creeks and streams; within the operation’s very first year, an enslaved boy named Peter, working for Reed’s mining partnership, unearthed an even larger 28-pound nugget – the largest documented gold nugget ever found in the United States; North Carolina went on to lead the entire nation in gold production for the next half-century, until 1848, when the discovery of gold in California definitively eclipsed the Carolina fields; at its height, at least 56 mines were operating across the state, employing some 30,000 workers, and total North Carolina gold production between 1799 and 1860 is estimated at $60 million; the Reed Mine itself became the first commercially successful gold mine in United States history, ultimately yielding an estimated $10 million in gold before operations wound down, with the last underground mining occurring in 1912; today, Reed Gold Mine – located in Midland, about 12 miles southeast of Concord – operates as a North Carolina State Historic Site and National Historic Landmark, where visitors can tour restored underground tunnels, view historic mining equipment and gold exhibits, and even try their hand at gold panning in season (April through October)
Notes: Reed Gold Mine’s genuine, extensively documented status as the site of America’s first gold discovery – and the true origin point of the nation’s very first gold rush – is one of the most historically significant sites found anywhere in this project.
GIS & Maps
GIS & MAPS
GIS Portal: Cabarrus County GIS – accessible via cabarruscounty.us
Parcel Search: Cabarrus County Tax Office
Addressing/911: Coordinated through Cabarrus County Emergency Management
Services: Operated by Cabarrus County Animal Control, a division of the Cabarrus County Sheriff’s Office; an open-admission shelter (never turns away an animal in need); owner surrenders require a pre-scheduled appointment; NOT a pet boarding facility
Related: Humane Society of Concord & Greater Cabarrus County – 2010 Wilshire Court SW, Concord, NC, (704) 784-7387, a separate no-kill organization focused on cruelty investigation support, spay/neuter access, and pet therapy programs.
Environmental & Waste
ENVIRONMENTAL / WASTE MANAGEMENT
Environmental Complaints: NC Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) – deq.nc.gov
Notes: Contact your specific municipality directly for current refuse collection and recycling program details.
NOTES
Cabarrus County is genuinely and famously home to Reed Gold Mine, the site of America’s first documented gold discovery in 1799, which sparked the nation’s first gold rush a full half-century before California’s. All contact information above was sourced from official county, city, library, and shelter pages as of this writing; phone numbers and hours should be reconfirmed directly with the relevant office before a visit.
About Cabarrus County
Cabarrus County holds two claims to American historical distinction that few counties can match: it is the site of the first documented gold discovery in the United States, and it is home to one of the most important motorsports venues in the world.
Reed Gold Mine – located near Midland in Cabarrus County – is where in 1799, a 12-year-old named Conrad Reed found a 17-pound gold nugget in Little Meadow Creek. His family used it as a doorstop for three years before a jeweler identified it as gold and purchased it for $3.50 (worth far more). The discovery triggered the nation’s first gold rush – the Carolina Gold Rush preceded the California Gold Rush by 50 years – and North Carolina was the leading gold-producing state in the nation until 1848. Reed Gold Mine is now a National Historic Landmark and a state historic site where visitors can pan for gold.
Charlotte Motor Speedway – located in Concord on the Cabarrus-Mecklenburg county line – is the premier venue of the NASCAR Cup Series and one of the most storied motorsports facilities in the world. The Coca-Cola 600 (Memorial Day weekend, the longest race on the NASCAR calendar) and the Bank of America ROVAL 400 draw hundreds of thousands of spectators annually. The Speedway complex includes hotels, restaurants, and the Hendrick Motorsports Museum nearby. Cabarrus County’s identity is deeply intertwined with NASCAR – team headquarters, shops, and suppliers for many of the sport’s major operations are clustered in the Charlotte metro area.
Concord (the county seat, population ~105,000) is one of North Carolina’s fastest-growing large cities – positioned northeast of Charlotte along I-85 and US-29, with the Concord Mills mega-mall (one of the most visited shopping destinations in the Carolinas) and the adjacent Great Wolf Lodge anchoring a regional destination retail and hospitality corridor. Kannapolis – made famous as the hometown of NASCAR legend Dale Earnhardt Sr. – has been reinvented as a life sciences research hub anchored by the North Carolina Research Campus, a major biotechnology and nutrition research facility funded by David Murdock of Dole Food Company.
County government is a five-member Board of Commissioners with a County Manager. Separately elected: Clerk of Courts, Register of Deeds, and Sheriff.
All Services
Browse every category and topic available for this county.
North Carolina assesses property at 100% of market value. The Cabarrus County Tax Administration (65 Church Street SE, Concord, 704-920-2166) maintains all assessment records. Confirm current revaluation year and next scheduled revaluation with the Tax Administration.
Charlotte metro appreciation: Cabarrus County has experienced strong appreciation as Charlotte metro buyers seek affordable alternatives to Mecklenburg. Communities along the I-85 and US-29 corridors in particular have seen rapid value increases.
The appeal process:
Step 1 – Informal review: Contact the Tax Administration for an informal review.
Step 2 – Board of Equalization and Review: File an appeal within the advertised window following assessment notices. The Board holds hearings.
Step 3 – NC Property Tax Commission: Appeal to the North Carolina Property Tax Commission in Raleigh within 30 days, then to the NC Court of Appeals.
Senior Exclusion: Qualifying homeowners age 65+ with income at or below $36,700 (2025) may exclude the greater of $25,000 or 50% of appraised value from taxation. Apply by June 1.
No North Carolina estate tax. No North Carolina inheritance tax.
OWNWELL CTA: Cabarrus County’s appeal window varies by revaluation year – confirm with Tax Administration. Charlotte metro appreciation has driven values higher. Senior exclusion up to 50% of value for 65+ with income ≤$36,700. Ownwell manages the appeal with no upfront cost.
Recommended
Cabarrus County's appeal window varies by revaluation year - confirm with Tax Administration. Charlotte metro appreciation has driven values higher. Senior exclusion up to 50% of value for 65+ with income ≤$36,700. Ownwell manages the appeal with no upfront cost.
Courts & Legal
Courts & Legal
The Cabarrus County Superior Court at 77 Union Street S, Concord (704-786-4125) handles all civil, criminal, family, and probate matters. The Cabarrus County Clerk of Superior Court at the same address maintains all court records. The Cabarrus County Register of Deeds (704-920-2112) at 65 Church Street SE maintains all land records – searchable online at cabarruscounty.us.
No NC estate or inheritance tax. North Carolina Clerk of Superior Court serves as ex officio probate judge. North Carolina recognizes Transfer on Death deeds (2024).
NASCAR team estate planning: The concentration of NASCAR team operations in the Charlotte metro area – including Cabarrus County – creates specific estate planning needs for team owners, drivers, and senior executives. NASCAR team ownership interests (partial or full) are closely held business interests with specific valuation challenges. Driver endorsement contracts, appearance fees, and prize money structures interact with estate plans in specific ways. The NASCAR Hall of Fame in Charlotte is a major recipient of motorsports memorabilia gifts and charitable bequests.
NC Research Campus biotech estate planning: The North Carolina Research Campus in Kannapolis has attracted biotech and nutrition science researchers, startups, and corporate R&D operations. Research IP, spinout equity, and academic/industry collaboration agreements require estate planning attention for scientists and executives in this community.
Senior Services: The Cabarrus County Department of Human Services – Aging Services (704-920-1296) at 301 Corban Avenue SE, Concord coordinates senior centers, home-delivered meals, transportation, SHIIP Medicare counseling, caregiver support, Adult Protective Services, and connections to North Carolina Medicaid long-term care programs.
Marriage & Vital Records
Marriage licenses, divorce records, and birth & death certificates are handled by the following office(s):
CLERK OF SUPERIOR COURT
77 Union St South, Concord, NC 28025
(704) 262-5400
Genealogy
County-level record sources
Cabarrus County Clerk of Superior Court, Concord (probate/estate case files – see Probate section above).
The Cabarrus County Courthouse (1875-76) and South Union Street Courthouse and Commercial Historic District, NRHP-listed, are significant local landmarks.
Local societies
No dedicated Cabarrus County genealogical society was confirmed in available directories.
Probate & Estate
Losing someone and having to deal with courts and paperwork at the same time is hard. This section won’t make that easier, but it should tell you what to expect, what it costs, and where to go – so at least you’re not walking in blind.
Where to go
Cabarrus County Clerk of Superior Court – Estates Division 77 Union Street South (mail: P.O. Box 70), Concord, NC 28026 (704) 262-5500
Cabarrus County was founded in 1792, named for Stephen Cabarrus, in south-central North Carolina, seated in Concord. The 1875-76 Cabarrus County Courthouse, part of the South Union Street Courthouse and Commercial Historic District, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Step 1: figure out which path applies
North Carolina has NOT adopted the Uniform Probate Code. Probate is handled by the Clerk of Superior Court – an elected official who serves as the ex officio judge of probate – in the county where the decedent was domiciled, under Chapter 28A of the North Carolina General Statutes. Unlike most states, North Carolina does not have a separate probate court; the Clerk’s Estates Division handles all wills, estates, and guardianship matters.
Affidavit for Collection of Personal Property of Decedent (“collection by affidavit,” N.C. Gen. Stat. § 28A-25-1 and § 28A-25-1.1) – available when the decedent’s personal property, less liens and encumbrances, does not exceed $20,000, or $30,000 if the surviving spouse is the sole heir and receives all property covered by the statute. Filed at least 30 days after death, using Form AOC-E-203B. Real property CANNOT be transferred through this process. If the decedent left a will, the will must first be admitted to probate and a certified copy attached to the affidavit.
Summary Administration – an abbreviated procedure available only when the surviving spouse is the sole heir.
Full Estate Administration – required for larger or more complex estates; the personal representative (called “executor” if named in a will, “administrator” if intestate) is appointed by the Clerk and receives Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration.
Step 2: filing for administration
File the will (if any) and a petition with the Clerk of Superior Court, Estates Division, in the county where the decedent was domiciled.
The Clerk appoints the personal representative and issues Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration.
The personal representative publishes notice to creditors; North Carolina’s creditor claim period is typically at least three months from first publication.
The personal representative inventories the estate’s assets, pays debts and expenses, and distributes the remaining assets according to the will or North Carolina’s intestacy law, reporting back to the Clerk at key stages.
The estate is closed once a final accounting is filed and approved by the Clerk.
What it costs
Filing fees for full estate administration generally follow the statewide statutory schedule, which scales with the estate’s value.
North Carolina repealed its state estate tax in 2013. There is no state estate tax and no state inheritance tax – only the federal estate tax could apply, and only to very large estates.
Probate filings, estate administration, and guardianship matters are handled by the following office(s):
Public Safety & Arrests
Arrest records, inmate search, and law enforcement services are handled by the following office(s):
SHERIFF
715 Burrage St, Concord, NC 28025
(704) 920-3000
Elections & Voting
Voter registration, polling locations, and elections information are handled by the following office(s):
ELECTIONS
65 Church St SE, Concord, NC 28025
(704) 920-2860
Health & Human Services
Offices & Contacts
Health services, social services, and assistance programs are handled by the following office(s):
Health Alliance
300 Mooresville Rd, Kannapolis, NC 28081
(704) 920-1000
Human Services
1303 South Cannon Blvd, Kannapolis, NC 28083
(704) 920-1400
Public Health Information
PUBLIC HEALTH
Office: Cabarrus County Public Health – Concord, NC
Related: Atrium Health Cabarrus – 457-bed acute-care teaching hospital in Concord, a Level III trauma center, founded 1937 as Cabarrus Memorial Hospital.
Services: Immunizations, WIC, environmental health, vital records
Editorial independence: CountyOffices maintains strict editorial independence from our affiliate partners. Our content is researched from official government sources. Affiliate relationships do not influence our recommendations or the information we publish.
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