Forest County, PA Property Records

    Forest County is the third-least populous county in Pennsylvania, with a population of approximately 6,449. Its county seat, Tionesta Borough, has a population of just over 300, making it one of the smallest county seats in Pennsylvania and among the smallest in the United States. The county occupies 430 square miles in north-central Pennsylvania, substantially all of which is forested.

    The Allegheny National Forest, Pennsylvania's only national forest, covering approximately 513,000 acres, spans most of Forest County and extends into adjacent McKean, Warren, and Elk counties.

    One fact is critical to interpreting Forest County's population figures, the State Correctional Institution Forest (SCI Forest), located in Marienville in Jenks Township, houses approximately 2,200 inmates. U.S. Census methodology counts incarcerated individuals at their institution's location, not their home address. This means that a substantial share of Forest County's official population of 6,973 consists of incarcerated persons, and the county's civilian population is considerably smaller.

    The typical home value in Forest County is approximately $73,097, up about 10.3% over the past year. Redfin MLS data shows the median sale price fluctuating significantly from month to month due to the extremely thin transaction volume (typically only 5–10 homes sold per month across the entire county), making any single month's figure unreliable as a market signal.

    Who Keeps the Official Land Records

    The official custodian of all land records in Forest County is the Forest County Recorder of Deeds, an independently elected office separate from the Register of Wills. The current Recorder is Miriah L. Tkach, supported by Deputy Crissa Woodworth and Recorder's Clerk Jamie Say.

    The office is located on the first floor of the Forest County Courthouse at 526 Elm Street, #2, Tionesta, PA 16353. It is the repository for all deeds, mortgages, satisfactions, assignments, rights-of-way, powers of attorney, agreements, leases, and oil and gas instruments filed for recording purposes in Forest County.

    Online deed index access is available through INFOCON County Access. The index covers recordings from January 1, 1983, to the present; document images are available for deeds recorded after January 1, 1997. INFOCON is a fee-based subscription service. Pre-1983 records must be searched in person.

    What Forest County Property Records Include

    The Forest County Recorder of Deeds maintains all instruments affecting real property in the county, including deeds, mortgages, satisfactions, assignments, rights-of-way, powers of attorney, agreements, and leases. The office also maintains a dedicated category of oil and gas instruments, reflecting the county's active mineral rights recording activity.

    Pennsylvania uses a recorded land title system statewide. Forest County's records extend to the county's organization in 1857. Title research in Forest County requires particular attention to two categories of instruments: oil and gas leases, assignments, and related mineral instruments, which are actively recorded and have their own fee category; and federal land, which does not pass through the county recorder.

    Much of Forest County's acreage is within the Allegheny National Forest and owned by the federal government. Private mineral rights under federal surface, however, are commonly severed and recorded at the Recorder's Office.

    The county also maintains UCC Financing Statements (Secured Transactions) through the Recorder. A $20 UPI fee is required on most real estate transactions; the UPI application is available.

    How to Access Forest County Property Records

    Forest County property records can be accessed via the Infocon online system (fee-based), in person at the courthouse, by phone or email, or by mail. E-recording status is not indicated on the county website; confirm directly with the Recorder before planning an e-recording workflow.

    Online Access (Infocon County Access Fee-Based)

    The county uses Infocon County Access for remote deed searching. A subscription or pay-per-search account is required. The index covers recordings from January 1, 1983, to the present. Document images are available for recordings from January 1, 1997, forward. Records predating 1983 must be searched in person at the courthouse.

    In Person

    Records are available for public inspection and copying at the Recorder's Office. Address: Forest County Courthouse, 526 Elm Street, 2, Tionesta, PA 16353. Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. Copies: $0.25 per page (monochrome); $0.50 per page (color); certified copies add $5.00 per record. Payment: cash or check only.

    By Phone or Email

    Call (814) 755-3526 or email mtkach@forestcountypa.gov during office hours. The office cannot provide legal advice. For Remote Open Records requests (non-deed records), use the Open Records Request form to openrecords@forestcountypa.gov or contact the Open Records Officer at (814) 755-3537.

    By Mail Overnight

    Mail submissions to: Forest County Recorder of Deeds, 526 Elm Street, 2, Tionesta, PA 16353. Include correct fees (check payable to Forest County Recorder of Deeds) and a self-addressed stamped envelope.

    E-Recording

    E-recording availability is not indicated on the Forest County Recorder's website. Call (814) 755-3526 to confirm the current status before planning an e-recording workflow.

    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 identification, and UPI numbers are maintained by the Forest County Assessment and Tax Claim Office at the courthouse.

    Zoning is administered entirely at the municipal level in Forest County; there is no county-level planning and zoning authority. Contact the individual township or borough directly for zoning determinations. The Conservation District and Planning Office at the county handle stormwater management and conservation planning but do not administer municipal zoning.

    A critical note for research involving properties within the Allegheny National Forest: federal land itself does not transfer through the county recorder; deeds for federal tracts are handled by the U.S. Forest Service (Marienville Ranger District).

    However, private mineral rights under national forest surface are commonly held separately and recorded at the Forest County Recorder's Office. Oil and gas leases covering these private mineral interests are regularly recorded and are searchable in the Infocon system.

    For questions about federal versus private mineral ownership, contact the Allegheny National Forest Marienville Ranger District at (814) 927-6628. For statewide tax data, use the Pennsylvania DCED.

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

    Forest County uses the Infocon County Access platform. Follow these steps:

    • Go to the INFOCON County Access System and select Forest County from the county list.

    • Create an account or log in. Infocon requires a paid subscription or pay-per-search arrangement for index and image access.

    • Search by grantor/grantee name, document type, recording date, or other available criteria. The index covers January 1, 1983, to the present.

    • Document images are available for recordings from January 1, 1997, forward. Earlier documents (1983–1996) are index-only online; request copies from the office at (814) 755-3526.

    • For records before 1983, visit the office in person at 526 Elm Street, #2, Tionesta, M–F 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.

    • For certified copies, contact the Recorder at (814) 755-3526. Copies are $0.25/page monochrome, $0.50/page color, plus $5.00 for certification. Payment by cash or check only.

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

    All recorded property documents for every municipality in Forest County are maintained by the Forest County Recorder of Deeds at 526 Elm Street, #2, Tionesta. The county has 9 municipalities in total: 1 borough and 8 townships. There are no cities in Forest County.

    • Borough: Tionesta Borough.

    • Townships:

      • Barnett Township: Clarion River corridor.

      • Green Township: sparsely populated; northeastern Forest County.

      • Harmony Township: includes West Hickory along the Allegheny River.

      • Hickory Township: Allegheny River.

      • Howe Township: Brookston and Porkey; northwestern Forest County.

      • Jenks Township: largest township by area; includes Marienville, home of SCI Forest state prison and the Allegheny National Forest's Marienville Ranger District.

      • Kingsley Township: southeastern Forest County, adjacent to Tionesta Borough.

      • Tionesta Township: surrounds Tionesta Borough along the Allegheny River and Route 36.

    Municipality list per county, sources, and Wikipedia.

    City/Town Resources for Assessments & Taxes

    Property assessments are handled by the Forest County Assessment and Tax Claim Office at the courthouse. Millage rates are published on the county website. Zoning inquiries must go to the individual municipality. Contact individual township supervisors or the borough office for zoning, permits, and local tax questions. The Pennsylvania DCED provides statewide finance and millage data.

    Forest County-Specific Nuances

    • Cash or check only, no credit or debit cards. The Recorder's Office accepts only cash or check. Remote submissions must include a check made out to the Recorder. Confirm the exact check payee name when calling the office.

    • Forest County uses the same Infocon County Access system as Clarion and Clinton counties. Index coverage begins January 1, 1983, and images begin January 1, 1997. The 1983–1996 window is index-only; online documents from that window require in-office copy requests. Records before 1983 are in-office only.

    • The Active Oil and Gas Recording Act 122 does not apply. Forest County has a full dedicated fee schedule for oil and gas instruments, including oil & gas deeds ($74.75), leases ($18.50), assignments ($20.50), amendments ($20.50), and ratifications ($20.50), among others. The county website specifically notes that Act No. 122 JCS/ATJ does not apply to oil and gas instruments, a distinction relevant to how certain fee calculations are handled. If you are researching rural properties, a complete title review should include a search for mineral rights instruments.

    • Private mineral rights under Allegheny National Forest surface are recorded at the county Recorder. Federal surface ownership of Allegheny National Forest land does not transfer through the county recorder.

    However, the mineral rights underlying much of the national forest were never acquired by the federal government and remain in private hands, a historic quirk of how the Weeks Act forest acquisitions were structured. These private mineral rights (and the oil and gas leases on them) are recorded at the Forest County Recorder's Office and are searchable via Infocon.

    This creates a category of instruments, leases, and assignments covering land where the surface is federal but the minerals are privately held that appears regularly in Forest County title chains and that has no parallel in most other PA counties.

    • Population figures are overstated by the prison population. The official 2020 census population of 6,973 includes approximately 2,200 incarcerated persons at SCI Forest in Marienville. The actual civilian population is closer to 4,700–5,000 people.

    This affects how population-driven metrics, such as median income, housing burden ratios, and demographic percentages, should be interpreted for the county. Transaction volume is correspondingly very low; Redfin typically records fewer than 10 property sales per month across the entire county.

    • Marienville, not Tionesta, is the county's most populous community. The county seat is Tionesta Borough, but Marienville in Jenks Township is a larger unincorporated community and effectively the county's population center. It is home to the Marienville Ranger District of the Allegheny National Forest, SCI Forest state prison, Marienville Area Library, and Marienville Medical Center. All recordings go to the courthouse in Tionesta regardless of where the property is located.

    • No county zoning; all zoning is municipal. Forest County does not have a county-wide zoning ordinance. Each of the 9 municipalities (1 borough and 8 townships) administers its own land use rules, or in some cases has no formal zoning at all. Contact the individual township supervisors or borough secretary to determine the zoning status for a specific parcel.

    • Fax policy: call first. The county website explicitly states, “Do not send fax without first confirming with our office.” Do not assume fax acceptance; call (814) 755-3526 before sending.

    • The Recorder is separate from the Register of Wills. Forest County maintains a standalone Recorder of Deeds and a separate Register of Wills. This is distinct from several other small counties (such as Cameron County and Elk County) that have combined the two offices under a single elected official.

    Typical Contents of a Forest County Property Record

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

    • Deeds:

      • Grantor and grantee names and addresses.

      • Legal description of the property, including township and county.

      • Consideration amount or Statement of Value for exempt transactions.

      • Certificate of Residence for the grantee.

      • UPI/Parcel ID on the document (required; $20 UPI fee).

      • Notarial acknowledgment: county, state, date, persons appearing, notary signature, and notary expiration date.

    • Mortgages and Releases:

      • Lender and borrower names, loan terms, and property description.

      • Satisfactions, releases, assignments, and modifications of mortgages.

    • Oil and Gas Instruments:

      • Oil and gas leases, deeds, assignments, amendments, ratifications, releases, and memoranda.

      • Note: Act No. 122 JCS/ATJ does not apply to oil and gas instruments in Forest County.

    • Other Instruments:

      • Rights-of-way and easements.

      • Powers of attorney and revocations.

      • Agreements, installment sale agreements, and leases.

      • UCC Financing Statements (Secured Transactions).

      • Survey and subdivision maps.

    Recording Changes to Property Titles

    All new deeds, mortgages, easements, oil and gas instruments, and other instruments affecting real property in Forest County must be recorded with the Recorder of Deeds. Submissions are accepted in person or by mail; e-recording status is unconfirmed.

    Before submitting, ensure the UPI number ($20 fee per parcel) has been obtained from the Forest County Assessment Office and appears on the first page of the document. Include all required fees by check (no credit or debit cards accepted). Allow time for the office to process and return documents by mail; include a self-addressed stamped envelope.

    The acknowledgment must include: county, state, date, persons appearing, notary signature, and notary expiration date. The acknowledgment date should not predate the document's execution date. A notary seal is optional for Pennsylvania acknowledgments. For oil and gas instruments, note that Act No. 122 JCS/ATJ does not apply.

    Practical Research Flow (Checklist)

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

    • Search Infocon online. Visit the INFOCON County Access System and select Forest County. The index covers recordings from 1983 forward; images are available from 1997 forward.

    • For 1983–1996 records (index-only online), request copies from the office. Call (814) 755-3526 during office hours.

    • For records before 1983, visit in person. Forest County Courthouse, 526 Elm Street, #2, Tionesta, M–F 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.

    • Search for oil and gas instruments separately. If the property is rural, particularly in Jenks Township or any area near the Allegheny National Forest, conduct a separate search for oil and gas leases, assignments, and mineral rights instruments. Act 122 does not apply to oil and gas in Forest County.

    • Determine federal vs. private mineral ownership. For any parcel within or adjacent to the Allegheny National Forest, verify whether mineral rights are federal or private. Private mineral rights under national forest surface are recorded at the county Recorder and may be under active leases.

    • Check parcel maps and assessments. Use the GIS map and contact the Assessment and Tax Claim Office for parcel values and UPI.

    • Confirm municipal zoning with the individual township or borough. There is no county zoning in Forest County. Contact the specific township supervisors or Tionesta Borough for zoning and permit questions.

    • Submit documents before 4:00 p.m. with a check (no cards accepted). Allow additional time if mailing; include a self-addressed stamped envelope.

    Appendix A: Municipalities in Forest County

    Forest County has 9 incorporated municipalities: 1 borough and 8 townships. There are no cities.

    • Borough: Tionesta Borough.

    • Townships:

      • Barnett Township: Clarion River corridor.

      • Green Township: sparsely populated; northeastern Forest County.

      • Harmony Township: includes West Hickory along the Allegheny River.

      • Hickory Township: Allegheny River.

      • Howe Township: Brookston and Porkey; northwestern Forest County.

      • Jenks Township: largest township by area; includes Marienville, home of SCI Forest state prison and the Allegheny National Forest's Marienville Ranger District.

      • Kingsley Township: southeastern Forest County, adjacent to Tionesta Borough.

      • Tionesta Township: surrounds Tionesta Borough along the Allegheny River and Route 36.

    Municipality list by county, sources, and Wikipedia.

    Appendix B: Key Contacts & Portals