Carbon County, PA Property Records

Carbon County has approximately 65,743 residents, and it is located in northeastern Pennsylvania. The county borders the Lehigh Valley's Lehigh and Northampton counties to the south, Monroe County and the Pocono Mountains region to the east, Luzerne County to the north, and Schuylkill County to the west. The county seat is Jim Thorpe.

Carbon County was created on March 13, 1843, from parts of Northampton and Monroe Counties, and its name directly references the anthracite coal deposits that shaped its entire 19th-century economy. The county was home to the trials and executions of the Molly Maguires, and it launched the Mauch Chunk Switchback Railway in 1827, the nation's first large-scale railroad, originally designed to carry coal.

Carbon County sits approximately 117 miles west of New York City, and its Pocono-adjacent eastern and northern sections have benefited from decades of exurban migration from the New York metropolitan area.

The typical home value is $256,558, up 0.9% over the past year. This is just below Pennsylvania's statewide median of $275,155, reflecting the county's dual character. Pocono-adjacent communities like Kidder Township and Penn Forest Township carry significantly higher values, while the older anthracite mining boroughs of Lansford, Nesquehoning, and Coaldale remain among the most affordable markets in the Northeast.

Who Keeps the Official Land Records

All official land records in Carbon County are maintained by the Carbon County Recorder of Deeds, an elected office located on the first floor of the Carbon County Administration Building at 2 Hazard Square in Jim Thorpe. The Recorder of Deeds is responsible for recording, indexing, scanning, and archiving all real property instruments in compliance with the state-approved PDF/A archive format. Verified documents are stored on the public retrieval system (Landex) and backed up on two separate secure servers at separate locations.

Remote online access to Carbon County's recorded documents is available through Landex (landex.com) for records from 1988 to the present. Both Landex Remote (subscription-based for title searchers and frequent users) and Landex WebStore (pay-per-document for the general public) are available.

What Carbon County Property Records Include

The Carbon County Recorder of Deeds is the official repository for all instruments affecting real property within the county. Recorded documents include deeds, mortgages, easements, rights-of-way, satisfactions of mortgages, releases of mortgages, financing statements, notary bonds and commissions, veterans' discharges, elected officials' bonds, and powers of attorney.

Pennsylvania uses a recorded land title system statewide. Documents are recorded in the order received, indexed into the public retrieval system, scanned, verified for accuracy, and then stored in the Landex archive. All recorded instruments are public records; veterans' discharge documents are a protected exception.

The three-step recording process used by this office indexes, scans, and verifies to ensure that each document is fully searchable and archived in two independent secure locations before the record is considered complete. The online index covers records from 1988 to the present via Landex.

How to Access Carbon County Property Records

Carbon County property records are accessible online via Landex, in person at the Administration Building, by phone or email, by mail, or through e-recording vendors.

Online Access (Landex, Fee-Based, 1988–Present)

Records from 1988 to the present are accessible through Landex Remote (subscription for frequent searchers) or Landex WebStore (pay-per-document for the public). Both platforms allow searches by name, recording date, instrument type, and parcel information.

In Person

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

Address: Carbon County Administration Building, 2 Hazard Square, 1st Floor, Jim Thorpe, PA 18229, Office Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m, Copy fees: $0.50 per page; $1.50 per document for certification.

By Phone or Email

Call (570) 325-2651 or email anitadietrich@carboncounty.net during office hours. Staff can provide recording fee quotes and copy pricing, and can assist with document retrieval requests.

By Mail/Overnight

Mail documents for recording to Carbon County Recorder of Deeds, P.O. Box 89, Jim Thorpe, PA 18229. For overnight or courier delivery, use the physical address: 2 Hazard Square, 1st Floor, Jim Thorpe, PA 18229. Include all required fees.

E-Recording (Professionals)

Carbon County accepts e-recording through two approved vendors: CSC (Corporation Service Company) (ingeo.com) and Simplifile (simplifile.com).

Important e-recording restriction (effective October 1, 2024): The Carbon County Recorder of Deeds will no longer accept e-recorded deeds into a trust. Deeds for property being transferred into a trust must be submitted in person or by mail.

Additionally, for e-filings of agreements, easements, leases, rights-of-way, or any document requiring a tax parcel number extension (such as 22A-51-EV1234ESMT), contact the GIS Department at (570) 325-8519 before submitting to confirm the exact parcel number and avoid rejection.

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 characteristics, tax records, and exemption data are maintained by separate offices.

The Carbon County Tax Assessment Office is responsible for maintaining uniform property assessments and parcel records countywide. Assessment data and parcel information are accessible online through the Carbon County Property Hub and the GIS Open Data Portal. Property records, reports, and assessments are available via the Tax Assessment page.

Zoning is administered at the municipal level in Carbon County, not by the county. For zoning questions, contact the individual municipality's zoning officer. The Carbon County Tax Claim Bureau handles delinquent taxes and tax certifications; see the Tax Claim Bureau page.

For statewide millage rates 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

Carbon County's Landex portal covers records from 1988 to the present on a fee-per-use or subscription basis. Here are the steps:

Visit landex.com. Choose Landex Remote for frequent subscription-based searches or Landex WebStore for occasional pay-per-document access. Select Carbon County, Pennsylvania.
Search by grantor/grantee name, recording date, instrument type, or parcel information. The index covers records from 1988 to the present.
Review results and select the relevant instrument to view the document details, including the recording date, instrument number, and parties involved.
Purchase and download the document. Note the instrument number and recording date for chain-of-title research.
For certified copies, contact the office at (570) 325-2651 or email anitadietrich@carboncounty.net with the instrument number. Certified copies are $0.50/page plus a $1.50 certification fee.

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

The Carbon County Recorder of Deeds is the single official custodian of recorded property documents for all 23 municipalities in Carbon County. There are no cities; all municipalities are boroughs and townships.

Boroughs: Beaver Meadows, Bowmanstown, Coaldale, East Side, Jim Thorpe (county seat), Lansford, Lehighton, Nesquehoning, Palmerton, Parryville, Summit Hill, Weatherly, and Weissport.
Townships: Banks, East Penn, Franklin, Kidder, Kline, Lausanne, Lehigh, Lower Towamensing, Mahoning, Packer, Penn Forest, Towamensing.

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

Municipality list per county, sources, and Wikipedia.

City/Town Resources for Assessments & Taxes

Property assessments in Carbon County are administered centrally by the Tax Assessment Office, not at the municipal level. Assessment data is publicly accessible through the county's online property tools at the Carbon County Property Hub and the GIS Parcel Viewer.

Zoning is handled at the municipal level throughout Carbon County. Each of the 23 municipalities administers its own zoning ordinance through its own zoning officer or planning board. Contact your specific municipality to verify current zoning classification, permitted uses, and applicable setbacks before proceeding with any transaction.

For delinquent taxes, contact the Carbon County Tax Claim Bureau. Delinquent taxes can also be paid online at payments.msbpay.com/carboncountypa_taxclaim. For statewide millage rates, the Pennsylvania DCED publishes comprehensive local government finance information.

Carbon County-Specific Nuances

E-recorded deeds into a trust are no longer accepted (effective October 1, 2024): The Carbon County Recorder of Deeds will not accept e-recorded deeds transferring property into a trust. Any deed conveying property to a trust must be submitted in person at the Administration Building or mailed to P.O. Box 89, Jim Thorpe, PA 18229. This restriction took effect on October 1, 2024, and applies to all e-recording vendors.
GIS Department contact required for complex parcel number e-filings: For any e-filing that involves agreements, easements, leases, rights-of-way, or any document requiring a tax parcel number extension (e.g., a parcel segment number such as 22A-51-EV1234ESMT), contact the Carbon County GIS Department at (570) 325-8519 before submitting.

Using an incorrect parcel number on these document types will result in rejection and recording delays.

Online index covers 1988 to present via Landex: Records from 1988 onward are available through the Landex platform (fee-based). The county also maintains a historical archive at the Carbon County Archives, 44 Susquehanna Street, Jim Thorpe (open M–F, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.; call 570-325-5713), where deed and mortgage records on microfilm can be accessed for genealogical and historical research.
Affordable Housing Program fee collected at recording: In addition to the standard 2% Pennsylvania realty transfer tax and state judicial computer fees, Carbon County collects an Affordable Housing Program fee at the time of recording. This fee supports income-based housing programs in the county. Review the current fee schedule or use the PRODA fee calculator at padeeds.com/fee-calculator.
Major internal price disparity Pocono corridor vs. coal borough communities: Carbon County's countywide ZHVI of $256,558 masks a wide internal range. Kidder Township and Penn Forest Township in the Pocono Mountains, near ski resorts and recreational areas, carry considerably higher values and attract second-home buyers from the New York metro area.

Meanwhile, former anthracite mining boroughs such as Lansford, Coaldale, and Nesquehoning remain among the most affordable in the northeast. Researchers and buyers should look at submarket-level data rather than the countywide average when evaluating a specific property.

Historic county with notable research context: Carbon County's anthracite coal history generates a long paper trail of mineral rights instruments, company deeds, and lease assignments that may still encumber certain properties.

Researchers examining properties in the former coal-mining boroughs and townships should specifically search for coal rights deeds, company land conveyances from the Lehigh Coal & Navigation Company and related entities, and associated easements and rights-of-way dating back to the 19th century.

Jim Thorpe Borough has a unique naming history relevant to title research: The county seat's current name dates only to 1954, when the formerly separate boroughs of Mauch Chunk and East Mauch Chunk merged and renamed themselves.

Documents recorded before 1954 will refer to Mauch Chunk Borough or East Mauch Chunk Borough rather than to Jim Thorpe. Researchers tracing title in the county seat should account for this name change when working backward through the chain of title.

Typical Contents of a Carbon County Property Record

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

Deeds:
- Grantor and grantee names.
- Full legal description of the property.
- Consideration amount.
- Certificate of Residence for the grantee, with original signature.
- Prior instrument number and recording date.
- Acknowledgment details: notary name matching the document, signature, stamp, and expiration date; acknowledgment date on or after execution date.
- Deed type (warranty, quitclaim, trustee, personal representative, etc.).
Mortgages and Discharges:
- Lender and borrower names.
- Loan amount, interest rate, and repayment terms.
- Instrument number and recording date.
- Satisfaction of mortgage, release of mortgage, or assignment.
Easements and Rights-of-Way:
- Parties granting and receiving the easement or right of way.
- Description of the area, purpose, and duration.
- Parcel number (contact GIS at (570) 325-8519 if parcel number extensions apply).
Financing Statements and Other Instruments:
- Notary bonds and commissions.
- Elected officials' bonds.
- Veterans' discharge records.
- Powers of attorney.

Recording Changes to Property Titles

All new deeds, mortgages, easements, rights-of-way, satisfactions, releases, and other instruments affecting real property in Carbon County must be recorded with the Recorder of Deeds. Submissions may be made in person, by mail, or via approved e-recording vendors (with the trust deed restriction noted above).

Each document must meet the following standards: acknowledgment by a notary with the acknowledging party's name matching the document exactly; notary signature, stamp, and expiration date included; acknowledgment date on or after the execution date; pages between 8.5 x 11 and 8.5 x 14 inches with minimum 1-inch margins free of markings; complete legal description present; and a Certificate of Residence for the grantee.

Pennsylvania's standard 2% realty transfer tax applies to most deed transactions (1% state, 1% local shared between the school district and municipality). Carbon County also collects an Affordable Housing Program fee at recording.

A Statement of Value (REV-183) is required when the full consideration is not stated, when the transfer is without consideration or by gift, or when an exemption is claimed. Current recording fees (effective November 17, 2025) are available, or use the PRODA fee calculator at padeeds.com/fee-calculator. Call (570) 325-2651 for fee quotes before submitting.

Practical Research Flow (Checklist)

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

Identify the parcel and verify the parcel number. Use the Carbon County GIS Parcel Viewer or the Carbon County Property Hub to locate the parcel and confirm the parcel number. If the property involves easements or rights-of-way with extended parcel numbers, call GIS at (570) 325-8519 for the exact format.
Search for recorded documents via Landex. Visit landex.com and search Carbon County records from 1988 to the present by name, recording date, or instrument type.
Note key reference numbers. Record the instrument number and recording date for each relevant document. Use prior instrument references to trace the chain of title backward.
Review mineral rights and coal company conveyances for older properties. For properties in former anthracite mining areas (Lansford, Coaldale, Summit Hill, Nesquehoning, and surroundings), search specifically for coal rights deeds and 19th-century company conveyances that may still affect title.
Account for the Mauch Chunk/Jim Thorpe name change for county seat properties. Pre-1954 instruments will reference Mauch Chunk Borough or East Mauch Chunk Borough, not Jim Thorpe.
Review easements, rights-of-way, and encumbrances. Search for liens, lis pendens notices, easements, and rights of way.
Verify assessment and tax status. Use the Property Hub or GIS Parcel Viewer. For delinquent taxes, check the Tax Claim Bureau portal.

Appendix A: Municipalities in Carbon County

Carbon County has 23 incorporated municipalities, 13 boroughs, and 10 townships. There are no cities.

Boroughs: Beaver Meadows, Bowmanstown, Coaldale, East Side, Jim Thorpe (county seat), Lansford, Lehighton, Nesquehoning, Palmerton, Parryville, Summit Hill, Weatherly, and Weissport.
Townships: Banks, East Penn, Franklin, Kidder, Kline, Lausanne, Lehigh, Lower Towamensing, Mahoning, Packer, Penn Forest, and Towamensing.