Mercer County, PA Property Records

    Recent U.S. Census estimates place Mercer County's population at approximately 108,000 residents, ranking it 31st among Pennsylvania's 67 counties and declining gradually, down roughly 8% since 2010. The county is part of the Youngstown–Warren–Boardman, OH-PA Metropolitan Statistical Area, reflecting its western Pennsylvania location on the Ohio border. It is home to Grove City College and Thiel College, and its economy is anchored by healthcare, manufacturing, and retail.

    The average home value in Mercer County, PA, is $174,845, up 1.4% over the past year, well below the Pennsylvania statewide average of approximately $286,351. Home values have climbed sharply in recent years, with the middle price tier rising over 21% annually at points, though growth has since moderated. Listings typically go pending in around 11 days, making this one of the faster-moving markets in this series despite its modest price point and rural character.

    According to Federal Reserve Economic Data, approximately 27–29% of Mercer County households are cost-burdened, spending 30% or more of their income on housing, which is meaningful given the county's median household income of approximately $59,976. Property records are maintained at the county level by the Recorder of Deeds, with assessments and tax data handled through separate county offices.

    Who Keeps the Official Land Records

    The official custodian of all land records in Mercer County is the Mercer County Recorder of Deeds, a standalone elected office. The elected official is Dee Dee Zickar. The office is located at 125 S. Diamond Street, Suite 109, Mercer, PA 16137-0066.

    Online deed records are accessible through the county's own eSearch system, which indexes from 1972, images from 1986, with a Historical Online Index for older records (records began in 1803). E-recording is available through Simplifile, CSC, and ePN. A free fraud monitoring service called PropertyCheck is available, operating on a name-based alert model.

    What Mercer County Property Records Include

    The Recorder of Deeds maintains all instruments affecting real property within the county. Recorded document types include deeds (warranty, quitclaim, corrective, decree of distribution, deed of dedication, vacating ordinance), mortgages (and amendments, corrections, modifications, subordination of lien), mortgage assignments, releases, extensions, postponements, satisfactions and marital releases, easements, rights of way, agreements (taxable and general), articles of agreement and land contracts, leases (including oil and gas memoranda), oil and gas leases, subdivision plans, agricultural security areas, condominium declarations and regulations, powers of attorney, UCC financing statements, notary bonds, highway plans, and other instruments affecting real estate.

    Pennsylvania uses a recorded land title system statewide. Mercer County uses a file-number indexing system rather than a book-and-page system. When referencing a previously recorded document, provide the year of recording followed by the file number, for example, 2010-1444.

    A UPI (Uniform Parcel Identifier) number is required on all documents and must be certified before recording. The UPI is placed at the top of the first page on the LEFT side; it is not considered part of the legal description.

    The office explicitly cautions consumers against including Social Security numbers or dates of birth in any document that will be recorded in the public record, as these instruments become permanently accessible to the public once filed.

    How to Access Mercer County Property Records

    Records can be accessed online via the county's eSearch system, in person at the courthouse, by phone, by mail, or via e-recording.

    Online Access

    Mercer County maintains its own eSearch system. Indexes are available from 1972, and digital images from 1986. A Historical Online Index is available for records before 1972. Records date from 1803. Subscription may be required for full image access; purchasing fees apply for retrieved records. Searches are name-based. The county's Assessment Office parcel search is available for parcel ID lookup by owner, address, or parcel number.

    In Person

    • Address: 125 S. Diamond Street, Suite 109, Mercer, PA 16137-0066. Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. (closed holidays). Copies: $0.50 per page; 11×17 plan copies: $1.50/page; certification: $1.50 per document.

    By Phone

    Call (724) 662-3800 x 2274 during office hours (Mon–Fri 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.).

    By Mail

    Mail documents and payment to: Mercer County Recorder of Deeds, 125 S. Diamond Street, Suite 109, Mercer, PA 16137-0066. Include all required fees and a return envelope.

    E-Recording

    E-recording is available through three vendors: Simplifile (1-800-460-5657 | simplifile.com), CSC (1-866-652-0111, erecording.com), and ePN (1-888-325-3365, goepn.com).

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

    The Recorder of Deeds is a standalone elected office. Estate and probate records are held by the Register of Wills and Clerk of Orphans' Court; court-filed civil judgments and liens are at the Prothonotary. Both are at the Mercer County Courthouse.

    Property assessments and parcel lookup are handled by the Mercer County Tax Assessment Office, with a public access portal. The Tax Claim Bureau handles delinquent tax proceedings.

    Zoning in Mercer County is administered at the municipal level; the Mercer County Regional Planning Commission (mcrpc.com) provides zoning maps and guidance for the county's approximately 30 municipalities that have local zoning ordinances. For statewide financial data, consult the Pennsylvania DCED.

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

    Mercer County uses its own eSearch system for online deed access:

    • Go to recorder.mercercountypa.gov and log in or create an account.

    • Search by property owner name, recording date range, instrument number, instrument type, or file number. Index records available from 1972; images from 1986.

    • For records before 1972, use the Historical Online Index feature within the eSearch system.

    • Note the file number for any referenced instrument recorded in the format YEAR-FILENUMBER (e.g., 2010-1444), not book and page.

    • For parcel number lookup, use the Assessment Office portal.

    • For certified copies or in-office assistance, contact (724) 662-3800 x 2274 or visit 125 S. Diamond Street, Suite 109, Mon–Fri 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.

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

    All recorded property documents for every municipality in Mercer County are maintained by the single Mercer County Recorder of Deeds in Mercer.

    • County Seat Borough: Mercer Borough.

    • Cities: Hermitage, Sharon, and Farrell.

    • Selected Boroughs: Clark, Coolspring, Fredonia, Greenville, Grove City, Jackson Center, Jamestown, New Lebanon, Sandy Lake, Sheakleyville, Stoneboro, West Middlesex, and others.

    • Town: Mercer.

    • Selected Townships: Coolspring, Delaware, East Lackawannock, Fairview, French Creek, Gillmore, Greene, Hempfield, Lackawannock, Lake, Lakeland, Liberty, Mahoning, Mercer, Neshannock, New Lebanon, New Vernon, Otter Creek, Perry, Pine, Pymatuning, Salem, Sandy Creek, Sandy Lake, Shenango, Springfield, Sugar Grove, West Salem, Wolf Creek, Worth, and others.

    Full municipality list at mercercountypa.gov/Municipalities/Municipalities.aspx.

    City/Town Resources for Assessments & Taxes

    Property assessments are administered at the county level by the Mercer County Tax Assessment Office. Free parcel search by owner name, address, or parcel ID. The Tax Claim Bureau handles delinquent tax proceedings. Individual municipalities maintain their own tax collectors and, where applicable, zoning departments.

    The Mercer County Regional Planning Commission (MCRPC) at mcrpc.com provides county-wide zoning maps and planning resources and covers approximately 30 municipalities that have local zoning ordinances. Contact the applicable municipal zoning officer for parcel-specific determinations.

    Mercer County-Specific Nuances

    • File number indexing NOT book and page: the only county in this series with this system. Mercer County does not index land records by book and page. Instead, the office uses file numbers in the format YEAR-FILENUMBER (e.g., 2010-1444).

    When preparing any document that references a previously recorded instrument, such as a mortgage assignment, satisfaction, or corrective deed, you must cite the year of recording and the file number rather than a book and page reference.

    Documents that include a book-and-page reference instead of a file number may create indexing confusion; confirm the correct referencing format with the office before submitting.

    • UPI placed top-LEFT; recording margin at top-RIGHT. Mercer County requires the UPI number on the top of the first page on the LEFT side, while recording stamp information occupies a 2-inch top margin at the top RIGHT corner of each page.

    This split-margin layout, UPI left, recording info right, is distinct from counties where both appear in the same top-margin zone. Documents prepared without this layout may need modification before acceptance.

    • Certificate of Residence required on deeds, mortgages, agreements, AND assignments. Mercer County extends the Certificate of Residence requirement beyond just deeds. A signed Certificate of Residence is required on deeds, mortgages, agreements, and assignments. This is one of the broader Certificate of Residence requirements in this series, similar to Juniata County. Prepare a signed Certificate of Residence for any of these instrument types before submission.

    • PropertyCheck is name-based, not PIN-based: Mercer County's free fraud monitoring service, PropertyCheck, monitors recordings by property owner name as it appears on the official document, not by a parcel identification number. Registration. Because the alert is name-based, it will catch any new recording in the owner's name, including documents on unrelated properties. Monitoring for a specific parcel requires setting up the alert with the exact name on the deed.

    • Oil and gas leases recorded at the Recorder's Office. Mercer County is in northwest Pennsylvania, and the office explicitly lists oil and gas leases among the document types it records (not merely memoranda of leases, but the leases themselves).

    This is relevant for title research on rural properties in western and southern Mercer County townships, where Appalachian basin oil and gas activity has been documented. Lease memoranda under 30 years record for $18.50; leases over 30 years record for $58.75.

    • The eSearch system with an in-county URL is not a third-party platform. Unlike most counties in this series that use Landex, SearchIQS, or another third-party platform, Mercer County maintains its own eSearch system. Index records begin in 1972; images begin in 1986. A Historical Online Index is available within the system for earlier records. Records at the office date to 1803.

    • SSN and date of birth warning. The office specifically cautions against including Social Security numbers and dates of birth in documents submitted for recording. Once a document is recorded, it becomes a permanent public record accessible to anyone. These identifiers should be omitted from deeds, mortgages, and all other recordable instruments.

    • Veterans' discharges are confidential, the only confidential files in the office. All recordings in the Mercer County Recorder's Office are public information except for veterans' discharge papers, which are maintained as confidential files. Recording a DD-214 with the Recorder provides a secure copy that the veteran can obtain without having to request it from the National Archives.

    • Hermitage is larger than Mercer Borough, but county offices are in Mercer. With a population of around 15,000, Hermitage dwarfs Mercer Borough (pop. 1,982) in size, but all county government offices, including the Recorder of Deeds, Tax Assessment, Tax Claim Bureau, Register of Wills, Prothonotary, and courts, are located at the courthouse in Mercer Borough at 125 S. Diamond Street. Searching for “Mercer County” records based on a Hermitage or Sharon address requires a trip to (or online access from) Mercer.

    Typical Contents of a Mercer County Property Record

    When reviewing recorded instruments at the Mercer County Recorder of Deeds, you will typically find:

    • Deeds:

      • Grantor and grantee names (consistent throughout document).

      • Complete legal description including municipality, county, and state.

      • Real property address on the first page.

      • Consideration amount or Statement of Value.

      • Certificate of Residence for the grantee (signed).

      • UPI number at top of first page, LEFT side (certified, not part of legal description).

      • 2-inch top margin at the top RIGHT corner of each page for recording information.

      • Notarial acknowledgment (acknowledgment date on or after execution date).

      • Indexed by file number (YEAR-FILENUMBER), not book and page.

    • Mortgages and Related:

      • Certificate of Residence for the mortgagee (signed).

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

      • Assignments, releases, extensions, satisfactions, and marital releases.

      • Certificate of Residence required on assignments.

    • Other Common Instruments:

      • Easements, rights of way.

      • Oil and gas leases and memoranda.

      • Agricultural security area documents.

      • Agreements (taxable and general); articles of agreement and land contracts.

      • Subdivision plans and condominium declarations.

      • Powers of attorney.

      • UCC financing statements.

      • Notary bonds.

      • Veterans' discharge papers (DD-214, confidential).

    Recording Changes to Property Titles

    All new deeds, mortgages, easements, and other instruments affecting real property in Mercer County must be recorded with the Recorder of Deeds. Submissions may be made in person, by mail, or via e-recording (Simplifile, CSC, or ePN).

    Before submitting, ensure the UPI number is certified and placed at the top-left of the first page, with a 2-inch top-right margin reserved on all pages. Include a signed Certificate of Residence on all deeds, mortgages, agreements, and assignments.

    Pennsylvania's 2% Realty Transfer Tax (1% state + 1% local) applies to most deed transactions. Include a Statement of Value when the full consideration is not stated or an exemption is claimed. Reference any prior recorded instrument by its file number (YEAR-FILENUMBER), not by book and page.

    Practical Research Flow (Checklist)

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

    • Search online via eSearch: Go to Mercer County, Pennsylvania Recorder of Deeds. Search by owner name, date range, file number, or instrument type. Index from 1972; images from 1986. Use the Historical Online Index for pre-1972 records.

    • Note file numbers, not book page: Collect file numbers for all instruments in the chain in the format YEAR-FILENUMBER.

    • Look up parcel ID: Use the Assessment Office portal to confirm parcel IDs by owner name, address, or parcel number.

    • Check for oil and gas instruments: Search for oil and gas leases, royalty assignments, and easements when researching rural parcels in western or southern Mercer County townships.

    • Sign up for PropertyCheck: Free at recorder.mercercountypa.gov. Alerts by property owner's name as it appears on recorded documents.

    • Verify zoning: Contact the Mercer County Regional Planning Commission at mcrpc.com or the specific municipal zoning officer.

    • Check delinquent taxes: Contact the Tax Claim Bureau at the courthouse in Mercer.

    • Prepare recording documents: UPI certified and placed top-left first page; 2-inch top-right margin on all pages; signed Certificate of Residence on deeds, mortgages, agreements, and assignments; file number (not book/page) on referencing documents; SOV if required; omit SSNs and dates of birth; e-record via Simplifile, CSC, or ePN, or submit in person/by mail.

    Appendix A: Municipalities in Mercer County

    Mercer County has approximately 48 incorporated municipalities: 3 cities, 13 boroughs, 31 townships, and 1 town.

    • County Seat Borough: Mercer Borough.

    • Cities: Hermitage, Sharon, and Farrell.

    • Selected Boroughs: Clark, Coolspring, Fredonia, Greenville, Grove City, Jackson Center, Jamestown, New Lebanon, Sandy Lake, Sheakleyville, Stoneboro, West Middlesex, and others.

    • Town: Mercer.

    • Selected Townships: Coolspring, Delaware, East Lackawannock, Fairview, French Creek, Gillmore, Greene, Hempfield, Lackawannock, Lake, Lakeland, Liberty, Mahoning, Mercer, Neshannock, New Lebanon, New Vernon, Otter Creek, Perry, Pine, Pymatuning, Salem, Sandy Creek, Sandy Lake, Shenango, Springfield, Sugar Grove, West Salem, Wolf Creek, Worth, and others.

    Full list at mercercountypa.gov/Municipalities/Municipalities.aspx.

    Appendix B: Key Contacts & Portals