Delaware County, PA Property Records

    Delaware County's population of around 576,000 residents makes it the fifth most populous county in Pennsylvania. The typical home value in Delaware County is about $355,438, representing a rise of 2.1% from the previous year. It is slightly higher than the national average and 28% higher than the state's average of $278,018.

    Property listings in the county are usually sold in about 10 days, with 44.2% selling above list price, suggesting a competitive housing market. The county's real estate market is influenced by its strong regional economy with diversified sectors, proximity to Philadelphia, and access to efficient public transportation.

    With a median household income of $90,088, data from the Federal Reserve Economic Data indicate that about 32.5% of households in Delaware County spend 30% or more of their income on housing. If left unchecked, this could have an adverse socio-economic effect on residents.

    Delaware County maintains a centralized property assessment system administered by the Delaware County Board of Assessment, which assesses and values all taxable properties in the county.

    Who Keeps the Official Land Records?

    The Delaware County Recorder of Deeds maintains official land records for all municipalities within the county. These records include deeds, liens, mortgages, maps, and conveyance instruments. The Board of Assessment also provides access to the county's property records. You can contact the board by using the details and direct links provided below:

    • Delaware County Recorder of Deeds: 201 West Front Street, Room 108, Media, PA 19063.

    • Phone: (610) 891-4152. PAROD Online Records, PAROD CloudSearch.

    • Delaware County Board of Assessment: 201 West Front Street, Government Center Building, Media, PA 19063.

    • Phone: (610) 891-4879, Fax: (610) 891-4883, Public Access System.

    What Delaware County Property Records Include

    Property records in Delaware County refer to the official documentation of property ownership, transfers, liens, and boundaries within the county. These records typically include deeds, assignments, releases and discharges, liens, mortgages, lis pendens filings, easements, restrictions, surveys, plats, and maps.

    How to Access Delaware County Property Records

    The Delaware County Recorder of Deeds is responsible for recording and maintaining all documents related to real estate transactions in the county and making them available to the public.

    You can find property records dating back to 1789, the year the county was formed, in the Recorder's office. Delaware County property records can be accessed in person, by mail, or through online platforms.

    Online Access (Free)

    The Delaware County Recorder of Deeds Office provides online access to the county's land records through the PAROD Online Records portal. This system allows you to search for property records by name, address, book/page number, parcel number, or instrument number. The platform also allows you to search for historical records from 1789 to 1981.

    While searches are free, it costs $0.50 per page to obtain copies of documents. If you are interested in obtaining certified copies of property records or in a more refined search, then use the Recorder of Deeds Cloud Search platform to retrieve the documents. can register for free on the platform to receive email alerts about activities on property.

    In Person

    You may access Delaware County property records in person by visiting the Delaware County Recorder of Deeds Office with a valid photo ID. The office is open for record searches from Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. You will need to provide identifying information about the property, including the property address, owners' names, legal description, or parcel ID, to make a request. Copies of documents may be obtained at $1.00 per page.

    By Phone or Email

    You may call the Delaware County Recorder of Deeds office for specific information about property records, but detailed research is best done through their online portals or in person. Furthermore, the county does not provide an email address for property records searches. can only subscribe to email notifications on actions relating to property to prevent fraud.

    By Mail/Overnight

    Property records may be accessed by mail or overnight delivery. You will need to contact the Delaware County Recorder of Deeds office for the request format and applicable fees. Typically, you will need to provide details about the property, such as the owner's name, address, book/page number, or parcel ID.

    E-Recording (Professionals)

    You can submit Delaware County property records through e-recording by using approved third-party e-recording service vendors. The Recorder of Deeds Office currently receives electronic records from four vendors: Simplifile, CSC Global, ePN, and Indecomm Global Services.

    These vendors enable you to electronically submit documents, which the county Recorder of Deeds office subsequently verifies and digitally records. You can check the Recorder of Deeds Fee Schedule for applicable recording fees.

    What's Not at the Registry (But Matters for Property Research)?

    While the Delaware County Recorder of Deeds records and maintains documents that affect property title and ownership transfers, several other important property documents are kept by different government departments. These departments include the Delaware County Board of Assessment, the Delaware County Treasurer, and municipal treasury offices. The Delaware County Board of Assessment is responsible for property valuation in the county, while the Delaware County Treasurer and municipal treasury offices collect property taxes.

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

    You may obtain Delaware County deeds online by taking the following steps:

    • Visit the Delaware County Recorder of Deeds webpage.

    • Click on either the Recorder of Deeds Online Records platform or the Cloud Search platform to access the recorded documents search interface. Certified copies can only be obtained on the Cloud Search platform.

    • Select your search criteria. You may search by owner name, address, parcel ID, book/page number, or instrument number. Searching by parcel ID is the most efficient. The index fields are grouped by year ranges, with records from 1982 to the present grouped as modern and records from 1789 to 1981 grouped as historical.

    • Streamline the search results by document type, date range, or other relevant search criteria.

    • Identify the correct deed entry from the search results and click to view the document.

    • You can view or purchase copies of your search results.

    Cities & Towns in Delaware County (and Their Registry Districts)

    Delaware County operates a unified property record system, where the Delaware County Recorder of Deeds records and maintains all property records from every municipality within the county's borders. Below is a complete list of cities, townships, and boroughs served by the Delaware County Recorder of Deeds Office:

    • Chester City, Aldan, Brookhaven, Chester Heights, Clifton Heights, Collingdale, Colwyn, Darby, East Lansdowne, Edstone, Folcroft, Glenolden, Lansdowne, Marcus Hook, Media, Millbourne, Morton, Norwood, Parkside, Prospect Park, Ridley Park, Rose Valley, Rutledge, Sharon Hill, Swarthmore, Trainer, Upland, Yeadon, Aston, Bethel, Chadds Ford, Chester, Concord, Darby, Edgmont, Haverford, Lower Chichester, Marple, Middletown, Nether Providence, Newtown, Radnor, Ridley, Springfield, Thornbury, Tinicum, Upper Chichester, Upper Darby, and Upper Providence.

    City/Town Resources for Assessments & Taxes

    The county's Board of Assessment handles property assessment in Delaware County, PA, while tax collection is managed by a combination of county, municipal, and school district tax collectors.

    Taxes are determined by the millage rates set by the county, municipality, and school district, which are then applied to the county's assessed value. To find specific tax collector, can look up property's parcel information on the Delaware County Public Access System or contact your local municipal treasurer or school district offices.

    An appeal of a Board of Assessment decision must be filed within 30 days of the Board's conclusions being released. This appeal is filed with the courts through the Office of Judicial Support (OJS), and it attracts a filing fee. You can call the OJS at (610) 891-4388 for more details.

    Delaware County-Specific Nuances

    Delaware County has several distinctive features that may affect how property research is conducted:

    • Delaware County maintains a centralized land recording structure through the Recorder of Deeds Office, which oversees the recording and maintenance of deeds, maps, mortgages, and historical volumes.

    • The county follows Pennsylvania's deed-based recording framework, where real property ownership is documented through successive recorded deeds and related instruments.

    • Delaware County's archival real property collection extends from 1789, when the county was founded, to the present.

    • Copies of the county's real property records from 1799 have been digitized and can be accessed online through the Recorder of Deeds' online search platforms.

    • The Recorder of Deeds Office is responsible for managing land recording at the county level. The county's Board of Assessment is responsible for property assessment, while municipal governments oversee planning and zoning. For comprehensive property information, you must contact both the county and municipal offices.

    Typical Contents of a Delaware County Property Record

    A Delaware County property record typically contains information about the property's value, ownership, assessment, taxes, legal description, transfer details, and ownership history. These records are compiled from publicly available filings related to real estate ownership, transfers, and assessment within the county.

    Typical documents and information found in Delaware County property records include:

    • Deeds conveying ownership and change of title:

      • Grantor and grantee names

      • Legal description of the property

      • Date of conveyance and execution

      • Notarial certification

      • Habendum or warranty clauses

      • Reservations or exceptions, including easements

      • Prior book or page reference used to maintain the chain of title

    • Mortgages and assignments

      • Borrower and lender names

      • Loan amount, interest rate, terms, and repayment conditions

      • Recording date, page, or instrument number

      • Release or satisfaction entries, filed when a lien is paid

      • Mortgage assignment

      • Marginal notations related to discharges or assignments

      • Endorsements or riders documenting modifications

    • Plans:

      • Survey or plan number

      • Lot and block identifiers

      • Subdivision plats

      • Approval or endorsement stamp

      • Dimensions or boundary lines

      • Registered land plans (when applicable)

      • Amendments or revisions noted on the plot

    • Encumbrances (claims and restrictions):

      • Lis pendens

      • Judgments, or tax liens

      • Restrictive agreements or conservation easements

      • Rights of way or shared access agreements

    Depending on the specific filing, records may also include documents such as declarations of trust, power of attorney filings, tax sale certificates, affidavits, corrective or confirmatory deeds, and notices of settlement.

    Recording Changes to Property Titles

    To record a property title change in Delaware County, PA, you must prepare and record a new deed through the office of the Recorder of Deeds. A deed cannot be altered once recorded, so you must execute a new one to add, remove, or change values on it. Gather your documents, which will include the new deed and other supporting papers, then submit them to the Recorder of Deeds office along with the required fees.

    The Delaware County Recorder of Deeds' office is open for recording from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Mondays through Fridays. Submissions may be filed in person, by mail, or through e-recording and must meet the strict formatting requirements provided by the Recorder of Deeds. You can use one of the four approved e-recording partners in the county to record the new deed. While you can prepare and submit your deeds by yourself, it is advised to consult with an attorney or a real estate title company.

    Practical Research Flow (Checklist)

    Use the following checklists to research a property in Delaware County:

    • Verify ownership and legal status. Use the Recorder of Deeds website to verify the current owner, property characteristics, deeds, square footage, construction type, and ownership history.

    • Record reference numbers: Note the instrument number or book/page number for older records.

    • Review property taxes. Contact the Delaware County Treasurer to verify the current property taxes and check for any delinquencies. Check for the previous 10 years' tax records.

    • Verify assessment data with local authorities: Check local assessment, parcel mapping, and tax-rate data through the Board of Assessment.

    • Review mortgages and liens: Review prior deeds, mortgages, or liens if needed

    • Review zoning and land use. Contact planning and zoning authorities to ascertain that the property's intended purpose is permitted.

    • Identify environmental concerns. Assess the topography, elevation, slope, and drainage. Check the property's location relative to flood zones and potential risks to determine necessary insurance coverage.

    • Maintain a record of findings: Keep copies of all documents and parcel maps for future reference or legal review.

    Appendix A - Municipalities in Delaware County

    Delaware County has 40 municipalities, consisting of one city, 27 boroughs, and 21 townships.

    • Cities:

    Chester City

    • Boroughs:

    Aldan, Brookhaven, Chester Heights, Clifton Heights, Collingdale, Colwyn, Darby, East Lansdowne, Edstone, Folcroft, Glenolden, Lansdowne, Marcus Hook, Media, Millbourne, Morton, Norwood, Parkside, Prospect Park, Ridley Park, Rose Valley, Rutledge, Sharon Hill, Swarthmore, Trainer, Upland, and Yeadon.

    • Townships:

    Aston, Bethel, Chadds Ford, Chester, Concord, Darby, Edgmont, Haverford, Lower Chichester, Marple, Middletown, Nether Providence, Newtown, Radnor, Ridley, Springfield, Thornbury, Tinicum, Upper Chichester, Upper Darby, and Upper Providence.

    Delaware County comprises unincorporated communities and census-designated places created for compiling demographic data or postal use. These areas are not recognized as jurisdictions under Pennsylvania law.

    Appendix B - Key Contacts & Portals