Cumberland County, PA Property Records

    Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, has an estimated population of approximately 283,442, according to recent U.S. Census data. This places it as the 15th most populous county in the state. By land area, the county ranks 33rd largest in Pennsylvania, covering about 550 square miles. The average home value in Cumberland County is $335,650, reflecting a 4.1% increase from the previous year. This figure is significantly higher than the statewide average home value of $275,155.

    The Cumberland County housing market is characterized by a fast-paced and competitive real estate landscape with strong demand. Listings move remarkably quickly, typically going under contract in about 13 days. Approximately 38.4% of homes sell above the asking price. According to Federal Reserve Economic Data (FRED), approximately 24.5% of households in Cumberland County, PA, spend at least 30% of their income on housing.

    Property records in Cumberland County are managed across several county-level offices. Each office is responsible for different aspects such as ownership history, assessments, and tax status. To fully research a parcel, individuals may consult multiple offices, including the recorder of deeds, assessment office, and tax administration.

    Who Keeps the Official Land Records

    Cumberland County maintains a centralized, county-administered system for recording all official land records. These records are managed by the Recorder of Deeds, which serves every municipality and unincorporated area within the county. The office provides an online search platform via LANDEX that is available to the public 24 hours a day. This allows the public to perform searches by name, document type, and other criteria. For in-person services, individuals may visit the office of the Recorder of Deeds at 1 Courthouse Square, 1st Floor, Carlisle, PA 17013. Certain services, including the recording of subdivision plans, require scheduling an appointment.

    What Cumberland County Property Records Include

    Cumberland County property records are official documents that provide a legal record of real estate ownership, transfers, and encumbrances within the county. These records are organized into several categories, including deeds, mortgages, and a range of miscellaneous documents. Miscellaneous filings may include notary oaths, powers of attorney, subdivision plans, historical charters, assessment records, military discharges, and other related materials.

    Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, operates under a recorded land title system consistent with other counties in the state. Documents are recorded in chronological order and assigned an official book and page number. These records are indexed by grantor, grantee, document type, and property description and are publicly accessible. The Cumberland Recorder of Deeds maintains official land records, which can be searched online with access to documents dating back several decades. Records that have not been digitized remain available in physical form at the Recorder of Deeds office.

    How to Access Cumberland County Property Records

    Cumberland County property records can be accessed through multiple methods. These include online portals, in-person visits, and formal requests.

    Online Access (Free)

    Cumberland County property records dating from 1750 to the present are available online through the Landex Remote and Landex Webstore portals. These platforms provide standard search options that allow users to locate records by name, document type, recording date range, and book and page number.

    Landex Remote also offers an advanced search feature with additional criteria and services designed for frequent users; however, this option requires downloading the software and registering an account. Basic document information may be reviewed online for free. Nevertheless, fees are charged to view images or to download and print copies.

    In Person

    The Cumberland County Recorder of Deeds office is located on the first floor of 1 Courthouse Square, Carlisle, PA 17013. Property records can be accessed and copies requested in person at this location. The office is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and appointments are requested for visitors.

    Fees are charged for printed and certified copies of records. For public records that are not available through standard search methods, individuals may be required to submit a Standard Right-to-Know Request Form to the County Open Records Officer.

    By Phone or Email

    Individuals may contact the Cumberland County Recorder of Deeds office by phone at (717) 240-5360 for general inquiries and assistance with accessing property records. Official record requests must be submitted through the county's online systems, in person at the Recorder of Deeds office, or by mail.

    By Mail/Overnight

    Original documents may be submitted by mail to the Cumberland County Recorder of Deeds at 1 Courthouse Square, 1st Floor, Carlisle, PA 17013 for recording. All documents must meet specific requirements, including the inclusion of a Uniform Parcel Identifier (UPI) stamp. A self-addressed stamped envelope must also be provided for the return of the original document along with the required fees. Most documents follow a standard recording fee that covers up to four pages and four names. The initial fee is typically $72.25 or $98.75, depending on the document type, for the first four pages. An additional page costs $2 also an extra name to be indexed costs $0.50 while a $20.00 fee is required for UPI certification of each parcel.

    Certified copies of recorded documents can be requested by mailing a written request to the Cumberland County Recorder of Deeds, 1 Courthouse Square, 1st Floor, Carlisle, PA 17013. The request must include the recording date, party names, book and page number, and document type, which can be found online through Landex Remote or Webstore portals.

    A self-addressed stamped envelope and a check payable to the "Recorder of Deeds" are required. The minimum mail-in fee is $10.00, with certified copies costing $1.50 per document or up to $5.75 depending on certification type. A $5.00 search fee applies if book and page information not provided. For assistance, individuals may call (717) 240-6370.

    E-Recording (Professionals)

    The Cumberland County Recorder of Deeds office accepts documents electronically for recording. To use eRecording services, all documentation must be submitted through an approved eRecording vendor. The eRecording service allows the public to retain the original document while securely submitting images for recording over the internet. For more details, individuals may visit the Cumberland County Recorder of Deeds eRecording page.

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

    The Cumberland County Recorder of Deeds is the official custodian for deeds, mortgages, subdivision plans, and other recorded land documents. Nevertheless, this office does not maintain all information necessary for comprehensive property research. Property assessment data, including assessed values, building characteristics, property record cards (MIC cards), and sales history, are managed by the Cumberland County Property Assessment Office and the Property Mapping/GIS Department. Statewide tax information, including the Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program and Realty Transfer Tax exemptions, is provided by the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue.

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

    Official recorded documents, including deeds in Cumberland County, may be obtained online by completing the following steps:

    • Access Landex through the link available on the Cumberland County Recorder of Deeds webpage.

    • Use Webstore for simple searches and Landex Remote for extensive search options.

    • Records can be located by entering a name, selecting a document type, and specifying a date range, municipality, or book and page number.

    • Choose a record from the search results to view details, including the grantor, grantee, and property description.

    • A credit card payment is required to view or download the full scanned image. The Landex Webstore charges per document.

    • Certified copies can be requested through the system or by mail, subject to an additional fee.

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

    The Recorder of Deeds is the official custodian of land records for Cumberland County. This office is responsible for maintaining records across all 33 municipalities in the county. These municipalities consist of 11 boroughs and 22 townships:

    • Camp Hill Borough

    • Carlisle Borough

    • Cooke Township

    • Dickinson Township

    • East Pennsboro Township

    • Hampden Township

    • Hopewell Township

    • Lemoyne Borough

    • Lower Allen Township

    • Lower Frankford Township

    • Lower Mifflin Township

    • Mechanicsburg Borough

    • Middlesex Township

    • Monroe Township

    • Mount Holly Springs Borough

    • New Cumberland Borough

    • Newburg Borough

    • Newville Borough

    • North Middleton Township

    • North Newton Township

    • Penn Township

    • Shippensburg Borough

    • Shippensburg Township

    • Shiremanstown Borough

    • Silver Spring Township

    • South Middleton Township

    • South Newton Township

    • Southampton Township

    • Upper Allen Township

    • Upper Frankford Township

    • Upper Mifflin Township

    • West Pennsboro Township

    • Wormleysburg Borough

    City/Town Resources for Assessments & Taxes

    Property assessments and tax records in Cumberland County are administered by the Cumberland County Property Assessment Office and the Cumberland County Tax Claim Bureau. These offices maintain property cards, valuations, parcel maps, and tax roll information. The county provides online tools that allow searches by owner name, site address, or parcel identification number:

    At the state level, the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue offers access to certified tax data. This includes state tax liens filed within Cumberland County.

    Cumberland County-Specific Nuances

    Cumberland County operates a decentralized but coordinated system for property research with key characteristics:

    • Land records are maintained by the Recorder of Deeds, while valuations and tax records are managed by the Property Assessment Office. The two offices ensure ownership changes from recorded deeds are updated in the tax assessment database monthly.

    • Every property in Cumberland County is assigned a Uniform Parcel Identifier (UPI), which matches its tax assessment parcel number. The UPI system links legal documents to specific land parcels. A UPI certification is required for most real estate instruments to be recorded.

    • Cumberland County maintains deed records dating to 1750 online through Landex, with physical books archived since 2017.

    • County offices oversee property ownership and tax assessments, but municipalities control zoning, planning, and permitting. Specific land-use regulations and assessments must be obtained from the relevant municipal authority.

    Typical Contents of a Cumberland County Property Record

    Cumberland County property record is a set of official documents that detail ownership history, financial obligations, parcel boundaries, and land use restrictions. These records typically include the following information:

    • Deeds

      • Grantor and grantee names (seller and buyer)

      • The property's legal description (lot, block, subdivision, metes and bounds)

      • Consideration amount (the purchase price or value used to calculate the 2% Realty Transfer Tax)

      • Prior Book and Page References (links to earlier transactions)

      • Uniform Parcel Identifier (must be certified and displayed on the first page of the deed for recording)

      • The type of deed (warranty deed, quitclaim deed, sheriff's deed, and trustee deed)

    • Mortgages and Discharges

      • Lender and borrower names

      • Principal loan amount

      • Mortgage book and page/Instrument number

      • Satisfaction pieces (to release a mortgage lien)

      • Assignments and subordinations (if the mortgage is transferred to another lender)

    • Plans and Plats

      • Electronic AutoCAD Files

      • Subdivision and land development plans

      • Lot and block identifiers

      • Site plans or boundary surveys (when recorded)

      • Condominium declarations and amendments

    • Encumbrances and Legal Notices

      • Easements (utility, access, drainage, etc.)

      • Lis pendens (notice of pending litigation)

      • Restrictive covenants (HOA rules, land use limitations)

      • Civil judgment

      • Tax and municipal liens

    Cumberland County property records may also include affidavits and clarifications, powers of attorney, notices of commencement, mechanic's liens, municipal claims, trust agreements, and trustee appointments.

    Recording Changes to Property Titles

    All deeds, mortgages, lien satisfactions, assignments, releases, and other title-related documents in Cumberland County must be recorded with the Cumberland County Recorder of Deeds. Documents may be recorded at 1 Courthouse Square, 1st Floor, Carlisle, PA 17013, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

    Appointments are requested for in-person visits and are required for recording subdivision plans and notary commissions. Submissions are also accepted via mail. Documents may be submitted in Cumberland County through authorized eRecording vendors. Detailed information on recording requirements, fee schedules, and eRecording procedures is available on the Recorder of Deeds official website.

    Practical Research Flow (Checklist)

    To research property in Cumberland County, individuals may follow these procedures using official county resources:

    • Search Official Land Records: The Cumberland County Recorder of Deeds provides online access to deeds and mortgages dating back to 1750. These records can be searched 24/7 through the Landex portal.

    • Note Key Property Identifiers: In Cumberland County, the Uniform Parcel Identifier (UPI) is a unique series of numbers (and occasionally letters) used to identify individual tracts or parcels of real estate. This identifier is identical to the property's current tax assessment parcel number or tax map number.

    • Trace the Chain of Title: Property transfer histories can be reviewed through the Landex portal. Digitized records extend back to the county's founding, allowing online searches of most residential and commercial parcels.

    • Review Recorded Plans and Encumbrances: Office and the Recorder of Deeds. Easements, restrictive covenants, and liens such as mortgages and tax liens are recorded in these offices and may limit how a property can be used.

    • Verify Parcel Data with the Assessment Office: The Cumberland County Property Mapper (GIS) provides information on current ownership, property boundaries, and assessed values. It also includes data on taxable status, land-use classifications, and comparable sales prices within the neighborhood.

    • Check Zoning and Civil Records: Municipal Zoning Maps should be reviewed to identify local land-use restrictions. Searchable Civil Records provide information on active lawsuits, judgments, or foreclosures involving property owners.

    Appendix A — Municipalities in Cumberland County

    Cumberland County, PA, has 33 local municipalities* (11 boroughs and 22 townships) and several census-designated places and unincorporated communities**.

    • Boroughs: Camp Hill, Carlisle, Lemoyne, Mechanicsburg, Mount Holly Springs, New Cumberland, Newburg, Newville, Shippensburg (part), Shiremanstown, and Wormleysburg.

    • Townships: Cooke, Dickinson, East Pennsboro, Hampden, Hopewell, Lower Allen, Lower Frankford, Lower Mifflin, Middlesex, Monroe, North Middleton, North Newton, Penn, Shippensburg, Silver Spring, South Middleton, South Newton, Southampton, Upper Allen, Upper Frankford, Upper Mifflin, and West Pennsboro.

    *Cumberland County maintains a comprehensive list of its municipalities along with their dates of incorporation.

    (Pennsylvania State Archives).

    **Census-designated places and unincorporated communities are recognized as populated areas but lack their own municipal government.

    (Wikipedia).

    Appendix B — Key Contacts & Portals

    • Cumberland County Recorder of Deeds:

      • Recorder of Deeds Office

        • Address: 1 Courthouse Square, Suite 120, Carlisle, PA 17013.

        • Phone: (717) 240-6370.

    • Cumberland County Board of Assessment

    • Cumberland County Treasurer

      • Address: 1 Courthouse Square, Suite 102, Carlisle, PA 17013.

      • Phone: (717) 240-6380.

    • Cumberland County Tax Collector Information:

    Local Tax Collector Directory: In Pennsylvania, property taxes are collected by elected local collectors for each borough and township.

    • Pennsylvania Department of Revenue (Statewide Tax Rates & Finance Data)