Lehigh County, PA Property Records

    Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, is part of the Lehigh Valley, the state's third-largest metropolitan area, with a population of over 370,000, based on recent U.S. Census population estimates. Its county seat, Allentown, is the Commonwealth's third-largest city after Pittsburgh and Philadelphia. The average home value of Lehigh County homes is $350,770, up 3.5% from previous years, and comparatively higher than the statewide average of $278,018.

    Listings in Lehigh County typically stay on the market for around 10 days before being sold, and approximately 51.8% of those sales are above the listing price. This suggests a strong seller's market that features competitive prices, rising demand, and low inventory levels.

    Additional factors driving the growth of Lehigh County's real estate market include the increased access caused by the Lehigh Valley International Airport's expansion, along with the growing job market and economy. Per Federal Reserve Economic Data, 32.39% of Lehigh County households are cost-burdened (implying that housing expenses constitute 30% or more of their income), suggesting a widening gap in housing affordability among residents.

    Lehigh County property appraisals and other real estate records are managed by specific institutions within centralized databases in the county. In addition to deeds and property valuation records, these databases also house real estate transaction records, including mortgages, liens, and lease agreements, all of which are publicly accessible.

    Who Keeps the Official Land Records?

    The Lehigh County Recorder of Deeds maintains land and other real estate records, including deeds, mortgage statements, maps, and liens in the county. You can use the Recorder of Deeds search portal, the Online Records Access (ORA) system, to search and view property records online or perform in-person lookups at the county courthouse during business hours.

    The Recorder of Deeds office also offers additional online portals for accessing property records, including the LANDex Webstore and LANDex Remote. The contact information, coverage areas, record search link, and hours of operation of the Lehigh County Recorder of Deeds Office are outlined as follows:

    Lehigh County Recorder of Deeds: Lehigh County Courthouse, 455 W. Hamilton Street, Room 122, Allentown, PA 18101-1614.

    • Phone: (610) 782-3162, Records Search.

    • Coverage: All Lehigh County municipalities.

    From 1812 to 1975, Lehigh County operated under the traditional Pennsylvania county government system, overseen by a board of county commissioners. Its present governance system, which is known as the Home Charter Rule, has had no significant changes in the structure and operation of the Lehigh County Recorder of Deeds.

    What Lehigh County Property Records Include

    In Lehigh County, property records refer to official documents that provide detailed information on property ownership, description, and history. Typically, title deeds, certificates of deed, mortgage statements, liens, foreclosure notices, and plat maps are examples of such property records. Also included in property records is financial-related information, such as property assessments and tax data.

    Lehigh County and the rest of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania operate the deed recording system of land registration. Under this system, land ownership is established using a deed and is validated through a chain of deeds (recorded in the county).

    Land records in Lehigh County date back to 1812, the year the county was created. These records, which include historical indexes, are also available online to the public. You can also obtain digitized and paper copies of Lehigh County by visiting the Recorder of Deeds office in person.

    How to Access Lehigh County Property Records

    can access Lehigh County property records in various ways, including online portals, in-person requests, and mail-in requests. selected method of access typically depends on the record type and preferred channel of requesting.

    Online Access (Free)

    You can conduct a property record lookup online for free in Lehigh County by using the LANDex Webstore portal on the Recorder of Deeds Records Search webpage. This portal, however, only permits basic search and retrieval of various property records, including all indexes, deeds, mortgages, and maps, among others. You can search by name, address, parcel ID number (PIN), document ID/instrument number, or date. While searching property records is free, viewing and printing copies of documents attract certain fees.

    In Person

    You can perform a property records search in person at the Public Review area of the Lehigh County Recorder of Deeds Office. Copy fees apply for downloading and printing record copies, and in-person visits can be done during business hours at:

    Lehigh County Recorder of Deeds: Lehigh County Courthouse, 455 W. Hamilton Street, Room 122, Allentown, PA 18101-1614, Phone: (610) 782-6132

    Office hours: 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Mondays through Fridays.

    By Phone or Email

    While Lehigh County property records are not accessible by phone or email, you can call the Recorder of Deeds office for general information related to property records.

    • Lehigh County Recorder of Deeds: (610) 782-3162.

    By Mail/Overnight

    The Lehigh County Recorder of Deeds Office accepts mail-in requests for property records in the county. You can mail a record request to:

    • Lehigh County Recorder of Deeds Division: Lehigh County Courthouse, 455 W. Hamilton Street, Room 122, Allentown, PA 18101-1614.

    Note that your mail-in records request must include a stamped, self-addressed envelope or a $3.00 per document mail-back fee, along with a check to cover the required fees payment. You must also provide a detailed description of the requested records, including document type, volume of documents, and the page/instrument number of the papers. A copy of a mailed record request costs $1.00 per copy, while certified copies cost an additional $1.50 per copy.

    In addition, can mail title deeds to the Recorder of Deeds office for recording, in accordance with the recording guidelines outlined on the county's website. You must also include a stamped, self-addressed envelope (for the return of your original documents) and the applicable payment for the recording. Note that all submissions must contain only original wet signatures.

    E-Recording (Professionals)

    In Lehigh County, you can submit land title documents electronically by engaging the services of the Recorder of Deeds-approved vendors. Submitting your land records electronically reduces the document rejection rate and facilitates same-day processing (or resubmission, if rejected). The Lehigh Recorder of Deeds Office maintains an updated list of e-Recording vendors (including their contact information) and provides detailed information on the e-recording process on its website.

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

    Although the Lehigh County Recorder of Deeds Office maintains a vast collection of real property documents, it does not preserve certain records that are essential to property research within its custody. Typical examples of such records include property assessment records and tax data. The Lehigh County Office of Assessment is responsible for maintaining these records.

    To access statewide tax data, you can visit the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania's Department of Revenue website.

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

    In Lehigh County, you can pull a deed online using these steps:

    • Visit the Lehigh County Recorder of Deeds website and click on the Records Search link.

    • Search for the deed by using the LANDREX Remote or LANDREX Webstore, depending on your frequency of access.

    • Locate the documents required using name, address, parcel ID, document ID/instrument number, or index book tab (for older records).

    • Check the “Add to Cart” box and proceed to checkout by making a credit card payment for your selected documents.

    • View the documents online or opt to download and print the required copies.

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

    Lehigh County has only one property registry, namely, the Lehigh County Recorder of Deeds. This office, located in the county seat, serves as the central repository for all real property documents, providing researchers throughout the county with access to these records. Additionally, the Lehigh County Office of Assessments handles all property assessments for taxation purposes and offers public access to these records.

    The Lehigh County Recorder of Deeds serves various cities, boroughs, townships, and other communities, including:

    • Ancient Oaks, Wescosville, Allentown, Bethlehem, Alburtis, Emmaus, Catasauqua, Slatington, South Whitehall, Hanover, Heidelberg, Lynn, and Weisenberg, among others.

    City/Town Resources for Assessments & Taxes

    The Lehigh County Office of Assessments is responsible for keeping property records related to real estate assessments and taxes. This office primarily maintains records relating to assessment rolls, which are periodically updated lists of taxable real estate within the county.

    Other property records, including assessed values, information on property adjustments, and details of land parcels and lots, are also maintained within its repository. Property assessment records are available online to the public through the Search Records webpage on the Lehigh County Office of Assessment's website.

    Additionally, you can obtain tax rates and state financial information from the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue's website.

    Durham County-Specific Nuances

    The following characteristic features may affect property research in Lehigh County, PA:

    • Lehigh County's sole property registry, the Recorder of Deeds Office, maintains a centralized database of property records, providing convenient public research.

    • Lehigh Valley's strong economic and population growth has led to a spike in demand for affordable housing. This has forced the Lehigh County real estate market to expand in response to meet this demand, resulting in rapid property development.

    • The Lehigh County Recorder of Deeds Office oversees a historical archive of various property records dating back to 1812. This ensures comprehensive searches of real property in the county.

    • While Lehigh County offers various options for accessing real property records online, only basic searches are provided without charge. Various subscription and processing fees limit viewing and printing of record copies, including deeds.

    • Lehigh County's transition to the Home Rule Charter System of government consolidated the Recorder of Deeds office, along with certain other departments, into a single municipal office, the Lehigh County Clerk of Judicial Records, thus facilitating property research.

    Typical Contents of a Lehigh County Property Record

    Lehigh County property records are important sources of information on real estate ownership, descriptions, mortgages, and other property-related transactions within the county. These records commonly provide the following details:

    • Deeds (proof of ownership transfer):

      • Grantor and grantee names

      • Grantee address

      • Legal description of the property

      • Sale consideration/price

      • Transaction date

      • Book/page or certificate (previous deed references)

      • Notary acknowledgement

      • Statement of value (if applicable)

    • Mortgages and Discharges (evidence of debt):

      • Lender's name

      • Borrower's name

      • Loan details (mortgage amount, interest rate, and repayment terms)

      • Parcel tax/ID number

      • Recording date and document type

      • Discharge or release details

    • Plans (visual maps):

      • Survey or plan number

      • Subdivision references

      • Lot dimensions and layout

      • Endorsement references

      • Acreage (or parcel size)

      • Zoning code and description

    • Encumbrances (claims and restrictions)

      • Leases

      • Restrictions or covenants

      • Liens and mortgages

      • Rights of way or shared access agreements

      • Easements and encroachments

      • Lis pendens notices

    Additional details can be obtained from Lehigh property records, including Uniform Parcel Identifier (UPI), details of the property structure (year built and total square footage of assessed living area), and geographic features (longitude and latitude coordinates).

    Recording Changes to Property Titles

    To record changes to property titles in Lehigh County, you must submit a new deed to the Recorder of Deeds office. This submission can be done in person, by mail, or electronically through officially pre-approved eRecording vendors.

    Note that the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, including Lehigh County, does not operate the Registered Land title system (or Torrens' system). You must also ensure that all submitted documents are duly notarized and include the applicable recording fees.

    The Lehigh County Recorder of Deeds Office provides a current list of eRecording vendors on its website and accepts submissions of land documents from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Mondays through Fridays. You can also access additional information on recording, including recording guidelines and working hours, on the Recorder's website.

    Practical Research Flow (Checklist)

    In Lehigh County, PA, you can conduct comprehensive property research using this checklist:

    • Identify the property record required. Ascertaining the specific record type focuses your efforts and streamlines your search options.

    • Use the Recorder of Deeds search portal to locate the property records. Follow this approach, provided you have the required search parameters.

    • Use the Property Assessment's Online Remote Access system to locate property owners. You can use this when the land has no identifiable address. It involves zooming in on the property until the property lines are discernible.

    • Take note of relevant reference numbers. Note important identifiers, including the recent sale's book/page.

    • Trace the chain of title. You can use the recent owner's name and address to backtrack through the past property owners and identify important details from the property history.

    • Study plans and encumbrances. Confirm clear deeds by checking for recorded plans, encumbrances, restrictions, and easements.

    • Verify parcel data with the Lehigh County Office of Assessments Office. Doing this confirms that all retrieved property details, including property characteristics, assessed value, and tax details, are accurate.

    Appendix A - Municipalities in Lehigh County

    Lehigh County, PA, comprises 25 municipalities, including 2 cities, 8 boroughs, and 15 townships*:

    • City: Allentown and Bethlehem**.

    • Boroughs: Alburtis, Catasauqua, Coopersburg, Coplay, Emmaus, Fountain Hill, Macungie, and Slatington.

    • Townships: Hanover, Heidelberg, Lower Macungie, Lower Milford, Lowhill, Lynn, North Whitehall, Salisbury, South Whitehall, Upper Macungie, Upper Milford, Upper Saucon, Washington, Weisenberg, and Whitehall.

    *Lehigh County also encompasses several census-designated places and unincorporated municipalities. However, Pennsylvania law does not recognize these territories as distinct jurisdictions.

    **The City of Bethlehem has most of its territory (roughly 75%) in Northampton County. (Wikipedia).

    Appendix B - Key Contacts & Portals