Cambria County, PA Property Records

The most recent estimate places Cambria County's population at approximately 130,108. Located in the Allegheny Mountains of central Pennsylvania, the county seat is Ebensburg, while Johnstown, the county's only city and largest municipality, dominates economic life as the center of the Johnstown Metropolitan Statistical Area.

The county has experienced sustained population decline since its mid-20th-century industrial peak, when Johnstown was a major center of steel production and coal mining. Today, Cambria County is among Pennsylvania's more affordable housing markets. The typical home value is $116,363, down 4.1% over the past year as of February 2026. This is well below Pennsylvania's statewide median of $275,155. Average asking rents in the county are also among the lowest in the state, at approximately $811 per month.

Despite low prices, the market moves at a respectable pace. Homes go pending in an average of 23 days, with a median sale price of $119,567 and a sale-to-list ratio of 0.979. Notably, about 24.6% of sales close above the asking price, indicating that entry-level properties, especially in Johnstown and the surrounding boroughs, can attract competitive interest even in a declining-price environment.

According to Federal Reserve Economic Data (FRED), an estimated 30% or more of Cambria County households spend 30% or more of their income on housing costs (ACS 5-year estimate). With a county median household income of approximately $57,000, the cost burden here is driven more by low wages than by high housing prices.

Who Keeps the Official Land Records

All official land records in Cambria County are maintained by the Cambria County Recorder of Deeds, an elected office located on the first floor of the Cambria County Courthouse, 200 South Center Street, Ebensburg. The office has been the keeper of Cambria County land records since the county's founding in 1804.

Online access to recorded documents is available through two platforms. The Tyler Technologies portal covers records from 1986 to the present and requires no subscription; a $0.50 per page fee applies to printing or downloading.

SearchIQS at www.searchiqs.com covers the historical index from 1924 to 1985 and requires a separate subscription. Documents predating 1924 are available only at the office in person. Subscription accounts at the Tyler portal are also available for volume users at discounted per-page rates

What Cambria County Property Records Include

The Cambria County Recorder of Deeds maintains all instruments affecting the ownership of real property within the county. Recorded documents include deeds, mortgages, rights of way, easements, leases, condemnations, declarations of taking, consents, assignments of leases and rents, sewage permits, water permits, highway occupancy permits, statements of adverse possession, and boundary line agreements. The office also records military discharge documents and provides certified copies of those records to veterans at no charge.

Pennsylvania uses a recorded land title system statewide. Documents are recorded in the order received, assigned an instrument number (and book and page for older records), and indexed by grantor/grantee name, recording date, instrument number, book and page details, and legal description. All recorded instruments are public records; military discharge documents are a protected exception.

The Recorder's records extend all the way back to 1804. The online index covers 1924 to the present across two platforms; pre-1924 documents are accessible only in the office.

How to Access Cambria County Property Records

Cambria County property records are accessible online through two portals, in person at the courthouse, by phone, by mail, or through e-recording.

Online Access

Tyler Technologies Portal (1986–present, free to search, $0.50/page to print). No login required. Subscription accounts are available for discounted printing. SearchIQS (1924–1985, subscription required): www.searchiqs.com. Pre-1924 records: in-office access only. Contact (814) 472-1473.

In Person

Visitors may search records and request copies at the courthouse. Staff can assist with locating documents, but cannot conduct title searches or provide legal advice.

Address: Cambria County Courthouse, 1st Floor, 200 South Center Street, Ebensburg, PA 15931.
Office Hours: Monday–Friday, 9:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m, Recording Hours: Monday–Friday, 9:00 a.m.–3:30 p.m. (Instruments presented after 3:30 p.m. are held for the next business day), Copy fees: $0.25/page (subscription); $0.50/page (no subscription); $5.00 for certified copies, plus per-page copy cost.

By Phone

Call (814) 472-1473 during office hours. Staff will quote recording fees and copy costs and can assist with general inquiries about recording requirements.

By Mail/Overnight

Mail documents for recording to: Cambria County Recorder of Deeds, 200 South Center Street, Ebensburg, PA 15931. Mailed documents will be forwarded by the Recorder's Office to the Tax Assessment Office for UPI approval before recording. Include a self-addressed, stamped envelope of sufficient size.

Checks payable to “Recorder of Deeds.” A $5.00 processing fee applies to overpayment refunds in any form other than cash. Recorded documents are returned within two business days.

E-Recording (Professionals)

Cambria County accepts e-recording through three approved vendors: Simplifile (1-800-460-2617; simplifile.com), CSC Global (1-866-403-5272; cscglobal.com), and Indecomm Global Services (1-877-272-5250.

What's Not at the Recorder's Office (But Matters for Property Research)

The Recorder of Deeds holds recorded title instruments only. Assessed values, parcel data, tax records, and exemption information are managed by separate offices at the courthouse.

The Cambria County Tax Assessment Office (Suite 105, 200 South Center Street) assigns and approves Uniform Parcel Identifier (UPI) numbers, which are required on virtually all real property documents before recording.

Submitters can email documents for UPI pre-approval to upicambria@co.cambria.pa.us; note that UPI approval is not available from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. on weekdays. GIS parcel mapping and assessment data are available through the county's GIS portal.

The Cambria County Tax Claim Bureau (Suite 110, 200 South Center Street; (814) 472-1445) handles delinquent tax matters and tax certifications. For statewide millage and local government finance data, the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) is the authoritative source.

Step-by-Step: How to Pull a Deed Online

Cambria County's Tyler portal is free to access with only a per-page fee to print or download. Here are the steps:

Visit the Cambria County Recorder of Deeds. No login is required. A $0.50 per page fee applies if you print or download.
Search by grantor/grantee name, recording date, instrument number, book and page, or legal description. This portal covers 1986 to the present.
For documents recorded between 1924 and 1985, use SearchIQS (separate subscription required).
For records before 1924, contact the Recorder's Office at (814) 472-1473 or visit in person at the Cambria County Courthouse.
Note the instrument number, book, page, and recording date. Use prior deed references to trace ownership history backward through the chain of title.
For certified copies, contact the office at (814) 472-1473 or submit a written mail request to 200 South Center Street, Ebensburg, PA 15931. Fee: $5.00 plus per-page copy cost.

Cities & Towns in Cambria County (and Their Record Custodians)

The Cambria County Recorder of Deeds is the single official custodian of recorded property documents for all incorporated municipalities in Cambria County, approximately 58 in total, comprising 1 city, approximately 24 boroughs, and approximately 33 townships.

All instruments affecting real property in any of these municipalities are recorded with and retrievable from the single Recorder's Office at the Cambria County Courthouse.

City: Johnstown.
Notable boroughs: Carrolltown, Chest Springs, Cresson, Ebensburg (county seat), Ferndale, Geistown, Loretto, Nanty Glo, Portage, Richland, Scalp Level, South Fork, Summerhill, Westmont, and Wilmore, among others.
Townships include: Adams, Allegheny, Barr, Blacklick, Cambria, Carroll, Chest, Clearfield, Conemaugh, Cresson, Croyle, Dean, East Carroll, East Taylor, Elder, Gallitzin, Jackson, Munster, Portage, Richland, Stonycreek, Summerhill, Susquehanna, Washington, West Carroll, West Taylor, White, and Yoder, among others.

Municipality list per Wikipedia and county sources.

City/Town Resources for Assessments & Taxes

Property assessments in Cambria County are handled centrally by the Tax Assessment Office rather than at the municipal level. The Assessment Office is also directly involved in the recording workflow, as it must approve UPI numbers on all applicable real property documents before recording can take place.

GIS parcel mapping and assessment data are available through the county's Geographic Information Systems portal. Individual municipal tax collectors handle local real estate tax collection. For statewide tax data, the Pennsylvania DCED publishes comprehensive millage rate and local government finance information. Delinquent tax matters and tax certifications are handled by the Tax Claim Bureau at (814) 472-1445.

Cambria County-Specific Nuances

UPI approval is required before recording, with a daily blackout window. Since August 1, 2016, virtually all real property documents must receive Uniform Parcel Identifier (UPI) approval from the Cambria County Tax Assessment Office before the Recorder will record them.

This requirement covers deeds, mortgages, rights of way, easements, leases, condemnations, sewage permits, water permits, highway occupancy permits, statements of adverse possession, and boundary line agreements. UPI approval is not available from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. on weekdays.

To avoid delays, email documents for UPI pre-approval to upicambria@co.cambria.pa.us before presenting them for recording.

Recording closes 30 minutes before the office. Office hours run to 4:00 p.m., but the recording desk closes at 3:30 p.m. Any instrument presented after 3:30 p.m. will be held for the next business day.
Mail-in documents are routed through the Tax Assessment Office. Documents mailed to the Recorder's Office are forwarded by the Recorder to the Tax Assessment Office for UPI approval before recording. Build in additional processing time for mail submissions accordingly.
Recorded documents are scanned and returned immediately at the counter. When documents are presented in person, the office scans the instrument and returns it to the submitter immediately after recording. There is no waiting period for in-person submissions.
Two separate online portals for different time periods. Records from 1986 to the present are on the Tyler Technologies portal (free to search; $0.50/page to print). Records from 1924 to 1985 are on SearchIQS (separate subscription). Documents before 1924 are only available at the courthouse. Plan your research workflow around this split.
Multi-municipality deeds must state the local transfer tax rate for each municipality. If a deed covers property in more than one municipality, for example, a parcel straddling a borough and a township boundary, the deed must state the applicable percentage of local realty transfer tax for each municipality. This is a Cambria County-specific requirement that practitioners should flag when dealing with boundary-straddling parcels.
Johnstown Flood history adds historical title research context. The Johnstown Flood of May 31, 1889, was one of the most devastating natural disasters in American history, claiming over 2,200 lives and destroying much of the city and the surrounding area.

Property records from this period can reflect the complex rebuilding, re-titling, and boundary adjustments that followed. Researchers examining pre-1890 Johnstown-area properties may encounter unusual gaps or irregularities in the chain of title that trace back to flood-era conditions.

Records date to the county's founding in 1804. Cambria County was organized in 1807 from territory created in 1804. The Recorder's Office holds land records going back to that founding year, making it a resource for deep historical and genealogical research. Pre-1924 records require an in-person visit.

Typical Contents of a Cambria County Property Record

When reviewing official property records at the Cambria County Recorder of Deeds, you will typically find instruments containing the following:

Deeds:
- Grantor and grantee names.
- Full legal description of the property.
- Uniform Parcel Identifier (UPI) number (required since August 1, 2016).
- Consideration amount; if multi-municipality, the applicable local transfer tax percentage for each municipality.
- Certificate of Residence for the grantee, with original signature.
- Prior instrument number or book and page reference.
- Acknowledgment details: notary name matching the instrument, notary signature, stamp, and expiration date; acknowledgment date on or after execution date.
- Deed type (warranty, quitclaim, trustee, personal representative, correction, etc.).
Mortgages and Discharges:
- Lender and borrower names.
- Loan amount, interest rate, and repayment terms.
- Instrument number and recording date.
- Satisfaction of mortgage, assignment of mortgage, or partial release when applicable.
Permits and Agreements:
- Sewage permits, water permits, and highway occupancy permits.
- Consents, boundary line agreements, and statements of adverse possession.
Easements, Rights of Way, and Leases:
- Parties, description of the area, and duration.
- Lease terms and assignments of leases and rents.
- Condemnations and declarations of taking.
Encumbrances and Other Notices:
- Mechanics' liens.
- Lis pendens (notice of pending litigation).
- Restrictive covenants and land use agreements.

Recording Changes to Property Titles

All instruments affecting real property in Cambria County must be recorded with the Recorder of Deeds. Submissions may be made in person, by mail, or through approved e-recording vendors.

The essential first step is obtaining UPI approval from the Cambria County Tax Assessment Office. Documents presented without UPI approval will not be accepted for recording. For in-person submissions, UPI approval can typically be obtained at Suite 100, 200 South Center Street

Before proceeding to the Recorder's window, be aware of the 1:00–2:00 p.m. daily blackout. For mail-in packages, the Recorder will route documents to the Assessment Office automatically.

Recording is accepted Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Documents must be fully legible. Notarizations must identify the county and state, match the acknowledging party's name exactly as it appears in the document, include the notary's signature, stamp, and expiration date, and carry an acknowledgment date on or after the execution date.

Pennsylvania's standard 2% realty transfer tax applies to most deed transactions (1% state, 1% local). For deeds covering property in more than one municipality, the local transfer tax percentage for each municipality must be stated on the deed.

A Statement of Value (form REV-183 EX) is required in duplicate whenever the full consideration is not stated, the transfer is without consideration or by gift, or a tax exemption is claimed; a Statement of Value is also required for easements and rights of way. Payment is by cash or check (payable to “Recorder of Deeds”). Call (814) 472-1473 for fee quotes before submitting.

Practical Research Flow (Checklist)

A practical approach for researching property records in Cambria County, PA:

Identify the UPI number and parcel data. Use the county GIS portal to locate the parcel, confirm the UPI number, and verify the legal description.
Search the Tyler portal for records from 1986 to the present. No login required; $0.50/page to print. Search by name, date, instrument number, or legal description.
Search SearchIQS for records from 1924 to 1985. Visit www.searchiqs.com (subscription required).
Request in-office access for records before 1924. Contact (814) 472-1473 or visit in person at the Cambria County Courthouse.
Trace the chain of title. Follow prior instrument references backward through the ownership record, confirming legal description consistency at each transfer. Note any flood-era gap periods for Johnstown properties (1889–1895).
Review permits, easements, and other encumbrances. Search for sewage and water permits, highway occupancy permits, easements, rights of way, liens, lis pendens notices, and boundary line agreements.
Verify assessment and tax status. Check assessment data. Contact the Tax Claim Bureau at (814) 472-1445 for delinquent tax information.

Appendix A: Municipalities in Cambria County

Cambria County has 1 city, approximately 24 boroughs, and approximately 33 townships, for a total of roughly 58 incorporated municipalities.

City: Johnstown.
Notable boroughs: Carrolltown, Chest Springs, Cresson, Ebensburg (county seat), Ferndale, Geistown, Loretto, Nanty Glo, Portage, Richland, Scalp Level, South Fork, Summerhill, Westmont, and Wilmore, among others.
Townships include: Adams, Allegheny, Barr, Blacklick, Cambria, Carroll, Chest, Clearfield, Conemaugh, Cresson, Croyle, Dean, East Carroll, East Taylor, Elder, Gallitzin, Jackson, Munster, Portage, Richland, Stonycreek, Summerhill, Susquehanna, Washington, West Carroll, West Taylor, White, and Yoder, among others.