Columbia County, PA Property Records

Columbia County has a population of 65,439, making it one of the few non-metropolitan counties in the state whose population has been modestly growing rather than declining. The county seat is Bloomsburg, which holds a civic distinction unique in Pennsylvania. It is the only incorporated town, not a city, not a borough, that serves as a county seat anywhere in the commonwealth.

Columbia County is part of the larger Bloomsburg–Berwick–Sunbury Combined Statistical Area, which includes Montour, Northumberland, Snyder, and Union counties. Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania anchors the county's economy and cultural life. Ricketts Glen State Park, partly within Columbia County's northern portion, draws significant recreational interest to the region.

The county is also home to Centralia Borough, whose underground anthracite coal mine fire has been burning since 1962, leading to a mass government buyout of properties and relocation of nearly all residents. Centralia now has a population of approximately five people, making it effectively uninhabited, yet it remains an incorporated borough with its own recording jurisdiction under Columbia County.

The typical home value in the Bloomsburg–Berwick area is $238,698, up 4.1% over the past year as of February 2026. Homes go pending in around 40 days, with a median sale price of $228,633 and a sale-to-list ratio of 0.969. The county's housing market is modestly competitive relative to the rural PA counties, supported by the steady employment base of Bloomsburg University, healthcare, and light industry.

Who Keeps the Official Land Records

All official land records in Columbia County are maintained by the Columbia County Register and Recorder's Office, a combined office handling Recorder of Deeds (land records) and Register of Wills (estate records) under a single elected official. The current Register and Recorder is Brenda S. Lupini, whose term expires January 1, 2028. The office is located at 35 West Main Street, Bloomsburg, PA 17815.

Remote online access to land records is available through Landex Remote, a subscription-based desktop application that provides time-billed access charged at $0.20 per minute. Document images are printed locally at no additional cost. Searches can be performed by name, instrument number, reference instrument, municipality, file number, book and page number, recorded date, and instrument type. Subscribe at landex.com/remote; for assistance, call the OSS information line at (717) 274-5890.

The county website does not indicate that e-recording is currently available. Researchers and practitioners should contact the Register and Recorder's Office directly at (570) 389-5632 to confirm the current e-recording status before submitting documents.

What Columbia County Property Records Include

The Columbia County Register and Recorder's Office maintains all instruments affecting real property within the county, including deeds, mortgages, assignments of mortgages, releases, easements, rights-of-way, agreements, installment land contracts, leases, powers of attorney, awards of real estate, orders of court, ordinances, maps, subdivision plans, UCC financing statements, and notary commissions.

Pennsylvania uses a recorded land title system statewide. Documents are recorded in the order received, indexed for public retrieval, and publicly accessible. The county's records extend back to its 1813 formation and reflect its coal, lumber, and agricultural heritage through historic mineral deeds, timber conveyances, and mill-site instruments found in older title chains.

The office also maintains estate records and issues marriage licenses through the Register of Wills function.

How to Access Columbia County Property Records

Columbia County property records can be accessed via Landex Remote online, in person at the courthouse, by phone/email, or by mail. E-recording status should be confirmed with the office.

Online Access (Landex Remote, Time-Billed Subscription)

Columbia County uses Landex Remote, a subscription-based desktop application for remote access to recorded documents. Billing is at $0.20 per minute online; printing is free (performed locally). The system allows searching by name, instrument number, reference instrument, municipality, file number, book and page number, recorded date, and instrument type. To subscribe, visit landex.com/remote and create a debit account. For support, call the OSS line at (717) 274-5890.

An inventory of which records are available online can be downloaded from the county website.

In Person

Visitors may search records and request copies at the Register and Recorder's Office.

Address: 35 West Main Street, Bloomsburg, PA 17815.

Copy fees: $0.50/page (8½×11” or 8½×14”); $1.00/page (11×17”). Name search fee: $20.00 (plus $0.50/page for copies), Certification: $1.50 plus $0.50/page for copies.

By Phone/Email

Call (570) 389-5632 or email RegisterRecorder@columbiapa.org during regular business hours.

By Mail/Overnight

Mail documents for recording to: Columbia County Register and Recorder, PO Box 380, Bloomsburg, PA 17815. Every mail submission must include a stamped, self-addressed envelope of sufficient size to return the recorded documents.

E-Recording

E-recording availability is not confirmed on the county website. Contact the Register and Recorder's Office at (570) 389-5632 or RegisterRecorder@columbiapa.org to verify current status before attempting electronic submission.

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

The Register and Recorder's Office holds recorded title instruments only. Assessed values, parcel data, and Clean & Green enrollment are maintained by the Columbia County Assessment Office.

GIS and parcel mapping are available through the County GIS system. Zoning questions should be directed to the individual municipality or to the Columbia County Planning and Development Commission at (570) 389-9146 for county-level planning matters.

For statewide millage and local government finance data, consult the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED). Bloomsburg Town and other incorporated municipalities each maintain their own local earned income tax and permit functions.

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

Columbia County uses Landex Remote for online access. Here are the steps:

Subscribe at landex.com/remote and fund a debit account. For OSS support, call (717) 274-5890.
Launch the Landex Remote client. Select Columbia County from the county list.
Search by grantor or grantee name, instrument type, municipality, book and page, recording date, or other available criteria.
Review results. Note the instrument number or book/page reference and recording date. Time billed at $0.20/minute while connected.
View and print document images locally (no additional print cost). Download or save as needed.
For certified copies, contact the office at (570) 389-5632. Certification fee: $1.50 plus $0.50/page.

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

The Columbia County Register and Recorder's Office is the single official custodian of recorded property documents for all 39 municipalities in Columbia County, comprising one town, 11 boroughs, and 27 townships.

Town: Bloomsburg.
Boroughs: Berwick, Benton, Catawissa, Centralia, Millville, Mifflinville, Nescopeck, Orangeville, Stillwater, Washingtonville, and Wilburton.
Townships: Beaver, Benton, Briar Creek, Catawissa, Cleveland, Conyngham, Fishing Creek, Franklin, Greenwood, Hemlock, Jackson, Locust, Madison, Mifflin, Montour, Mount Pleasant, Mugser, North Centre, Orange, Pine, Roaring Creek, Scott, South Centre, Sugarloaf, Valley, and Fishing Creek.

Municipality list per county, sources, and Wikipedia.

City/Town Resources for Assessments & Taxes

Property assessments are handled centrally by the Columbia County Assessment Office. Parcel and GIS data are available.

Bloomsburg Town, as the county's only town and seat of government, maintains its own municipal administration, including town zoning, building permits, and local tax collection. Researchers working on Bloomsburg properties may need to contact Bloomsburg Town Hall in addition to county offices. Berwick Borough, as the county's second-largest community, also maintains its own municipal functions.

For zoning questions, contact the specific municipality or the Columbia County Planning and Development Commission at (570) 389-9146. For statewide tax data, consult the Pennsylvania DCED.

Columbia County-Specific Nuances

Bloomsburg is Pennsylvania's only town serving as a county seat. Under Pennsylvania law, municipalities can be classified as cities, boroughs, townships, or towns. The “town” classification is exceedingly rare in Pennsylvania. Bloomsburg is the only example that also serves as a county seat.

This distinction is civic rather than procedural: all property recordings go to the same Register and Recorder's Office at 35 West Main Street, regardless of this classification.

The fee schedule was updated twice in 2025; verify before submitting. The Columbia County Recorder of Deeds fee schedule was updated effective June 1, 2025 (base deed/mortgage fee rose to $86.75) and again effective November 17, 2025. Documents submitted with incorrect fees will be rejected outright. Always download the current fee schedule or call (570) 389-5632 before preparing a submission.
No margin requirements. A cover sheet is attached to every recorded document. Unlike many other PA counties that impose specific top/side/bottom margin requirements on submitted documents, Columbia County has no margin requirements. A cover sheet is automatically attached to each recorded document at the time of recording. However, the maximum page size accepted is 8½×14 inches (except for maps).
Certificate of Residence required on deeds, mortgages, and assignments of mortgage. Most PA counties require a Certificate of Residence on deeds only. Columbia County additionally requires a signed Certificate of Residence (showing the precise mailing address) on mortgages and on assignments of mortgage. The certificate requires an original ink signature.
AKA names must be signed, acknowledged, and indexed separately. When a party signing a document uses one or more aliases (a/k/a names), all variant names must be signed separately on the document and must all appear in the notarial acknowledgment. All a/k/a names will be indexed separately in the recording system. A document signed with John Q. Public a/k/a John Public a/k/a John Q. Public Jr. must include three distinct signatures and three names in the acknowledgment.
Corporate and entity documents require an authorized officer's title and company name in two places. When a corporation, partnership, or other entity (not an individual) executes a document, the authorized officer's title and company name must appear both under the signature line and within the notarial acknowledgment. Missing either placement is grounds for rejection.
Subdivision maps must be recorded within 90 days of approval and cannot be Mylar. Subdivision maps and land development plans must have county or municipal approval before recording. If approved by a municipality, the county must also review the map. The map must be recorded within 90 days of approval. Mylar maps are not accepted.
Foreign language documents require English translation. Any document in a language other than English must be accompanied by a written English translation recorded alongside the original.
Re-recording requires the original document and original cover sheet. To re-record a document, the submitter must present the original document, including its original recording cover sheet, provide a written explanation of why re-recording is needed, and obtain a new acknowledgment. If the original notary is unavailable, the parties must re-sign before a different notary.
Centralia Borough properties. Centralia Borough, despite its population of approximately five, remains an incorporated municipality in Columbia County. Properties within Centralia's boundaries are recorded at the Columbia County Register and Recorder's Office like any other Columbia County municipality. Some parcels in Centralia have complex ownership histories tied to government acquisition proceedings and environmental condemnations that may appear in the title chain.
Landex time-billing manages session length. Unlike Landex Webstore (which charges per document) or most other online county systems (which charge by subscription or search), Columbia County's Landex Remote bills at $0.20 per minute connected. Users should perform searches efficiently and disconnect when not actively retrieving records to minimize charges.

Typical Contents of a Columbia County Property Record

When reviewing official property records at the Columbia County Register and Recorder's Office, you will typically find instruments containing:

Deeds:
- Grantor and grantee names.
- Full legal description of the property.
- Total and complete consideration amount; the written amount must match the numerical amount.
- Certificate of Residence for the grantee, with original ink signature.
- Notarial acknowledgment: state, county, date, party appearing, notary signature, notary stamp, notary expiration date. Acknowledgment date on or after execution date.
- For corporate/entity grantors: authorized officer's title and company name under signature and in acknowledgment.
- Municipality; if multiple, proportional RTT percentage to each.
- Deed type (warranty, quitclaim, corrective, distribution, foreclosure, mineral, declaration of trust, etc.).
Mortgages and Discharges:
- Lender and borrower names; loan amount and terms.
- Certificate of Residence for the mortgagee (lender), with original ink signature.
- Releases, assignments, and modifications (each with Certificate of Residence for the assignee).
Easements, Agreements, Plans:
- Easements, rights-of-way, installment land contracts, leases.
- Subdivision maps and land development plans (with approval documentation; recorded within 90 days of approval).
- Powers of attorney, agreements, and miscellaneous instruments.

Recording Changes to Property Titles

All new deeds, mortgages, easements, leases, releases, satisfactions, and other instruments affecting real property in Columbia County must be recorded with the Register and Recorder's Office. Submissions are accepted in person or by mail; e-recording status should be confirmed with the office.

Every document must be legible and suitable for imaging. All signatures and initials must be original; blue ink is preferred. The document must be dated, and the acknowledgment date cannot predate the document date. The acknowledgment must be formal (not sworn and subscribed) and must state the state, county, date, party appearing, notary signature, notary stamp, and notary expiration date.

Pennsylvania's standard 2% realty transfer tax applies in two separate checks of 1% each. If consideration is not fully stated on the deed, a Statement of Value must be completed in its entirety. Deeds covering multiple municipalities must state the proportional RTT percentage for each. Recording fees are subject to the schedule effective November 17, 2025; deed and mortgage base fees increased to $86.75 as of June 2025 and may have been further updated. Verify the current fee schedule or by calling (570) 389-5632. Mail submissions must include a stamped, self-addressed return envelope.

Practical Research Flow (Checklist)

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

Look up the parcel via GIS. Use gis.columbiapa.org to locate the parcel and confirm the municipality.
Review assessment data. Check the Assessment Office for assessed values and parcel characteristics.
Search recorded documents via Landex Remote. Subscribe and search by grantor/grantee, instrument type, or recording date. Manage session time (billed at $0.20/min).
Note recording references. Record the instrument number, book, page, and recording date. Trace the chain of title backward.
Review easements, assignments, maps, and encumbrances. For older properties, look for coal, timber, and mineral conveyances. Check that subdivision maps were properly recorded.
Check for delinquent taxes. Contact the Tax Claim Bureau. For properties in Bloomsburg, Berwick, or other municipalities, confirm local tax obligations with the respective municipality.
Confirm e-recording status if submitting electronically. Call (570) 389-5632 or email RegisterRecorder@columbiapa.org before attempting electronic submission.
Verify the current fee schedule before submitting. Incorrect fees result in document rejection. Download the current schedule from the county website.

Appendix A: Municipalities in Columbia County

Columbia County has 1 town, 11 boroughs, and 27 townships, 39 incorporated municipalities in total.

Town: Bloomsburg.
Boroughs: Berwick, Benton, Catawissa, Centralia, Millville, Mifflinville, Nescopeck, Orangeville, Stillwater, Washingtonville, and Wilburton.
Townships: Beaver, Benton, Briar Creek, Catawissa, Cleveland, Conyngham, Fishing Creek, Franklin, Greenwood, Hemlock, Jackson, Locust, Madison, Mifflin, Montour, Mount Pleasant, Mugser, North Centre, Orange, Pine, Roaring Creek, Scott, South Centre, Sugarloaf, Valley, and others per county records.