Monroe County, PA Property Records

    With approximately 166,500 residents, Monroe County ranks 20th among Pennsylvania's 67 counties. The county seat is Stroudsburg, with East Stroudsburg serving as the commercial and institutional hub. Monroe County anchors the East Stroudsburg, PA, Micropolitan Statistical Area and sits within the broader Allentown–Bethlehem–East Stroudsburg, PA–NJ Combined Statistical Area. A geography that reflects both its Pocono Mountain identity and its deep economic ties to the New York and Philadelphia metros.

    The typical home value in Monroe County is $261,570, broadly in line with the Pennsylvania statewide average of $286,351. Homes sell after a median of approximately 57 days, a slower pace than most Pennsylvania counties. The market tilts buyer-leaning, with roughly 62% of homes selling below asking price. A pattern more consistent with a second-home and vacation market than a primary-residence commuter market, where bidding pressure tends to be more acute.

    What sets Monroe County apart is the severity of its housing cost burden. According to a Pew Charitable Trusts analysis drawing on ACS data, 61% of Monroe County renters were cost-burdened last year, well above the 55% national rate and 53% Pennsylvania rate, the result of rents rising roughly 81% in recent years against a backdrop of severely constrained new housing supply. The median household income of approximately $87,000 offers some buffer, but the burden falls disproportionately on lower-income renters.

    Property records in Monroe County are maintained at the county level by the Recorder of Deeds, with assessments and tax data administered through separate county offices.

    Who Keeps the Official Land Records

    The official custodian of all land records in Monroe County is the Monroe County Recorder of Deeds, a standalone elected office. The elected official is Kate Best. The office is located at One Quaker Plaza, Room 106, Stroudsburg, PA 18360 (Administration Building).

    Online deed records are accessible through Landex. Records from August 1995 forward are on the Landex system; instruments from 1836 through July 31, 1995, are maintained in bound books in the search room, with microfilm backups. E-recording is available through CSC, ePN, and Simplifile. A free Record Alert System (name-based, via Landex) is available.

    What Monroe 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, deed of dedication, and others), mortgages, mortgage satisfactions (satisfaction piece), mortgage assignments and releases, easements and rights of way, agreements of sale, leases (over 30 years), subdivision plans, powers of attorney, assignments of rent and lease, UCC financing statements, notary bonds and commissions, and other instruments affecting real estate.

    Pennsylvania uses a recorded land title system statewide. Documents are indexed by grantor/grantee name, document type, recording date, and book and page reference. A tax code number (Monroe County's term for the Uniform Parcel Identifier) must be stated on all documents. For the UPI tax code number lookup, contact the Monroe County Mapping Department. Each tax code number on a document carries a $10.00 fee in addition to the base recording fee.

    Monroe County's real estate landscape includes a large vacation and investment property sector, planned vacation communities, ski resort parcels, and short-term rental properties. Title chains for these parcels may include homeowners' association declarations, condominium documents, recreational easements, and vacation community covenants that require careful review in addition to standard deed and mortgage chains.

    The Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area and Pocono State Forest lands also bound many private parcels in the county; proximity to these boundaries should be noted when researching rural tracts.

    How to Access Monroe County Property Records

    Records can be accessed online via Landex, in person at One Quaker Plaza, by phone, by mail, or via e-recording.

    Online Access

    Monroe County uses Landex for remote deed and land record access. Two options are available:

    • Landex Remote Web, a subscription service providing full access to records indexed from August 1995 to the present; and

    • Landex Document Publishing Service, a pay-per-document option for non-subscribers (landex.com/webstore).

    There is a $5 processing fee on all Landex orders. Records from 1836 through July 31, 1995, are not online and require an in-person search of the bound books or microfilm in the Recorder's search room.

    In Person

    • Address: One Quaker Plaza, Room 106, Stroudsburg, PA 18360. Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. (closed holidays). Public search room available for viewing pre-1995 bound books and microfilm.

    Copies: $1.00/page. Certification: $1.00/page plus $3.00 for the certification stamp. Payment: Cash, money order, business check, or credit/debit card. Personal checks not accepted. No change or refunds given; $2.00 service charge on all returned/rejected documents.

    By Phone

    Call (570) 517-3969 during office hours (Mon–Fri 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.).

    By Mail

    Mail documents and payment to Monroe County Recorder of Deeds, One Quaker Plaza, Room 106, Stroudsburg, PA 18360. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope for the return of originals. No personal checks; no refunds or change given.

    E-Recording

    E-recording is available through three vendors: CSC, ePN, and Simplifile. Contact the office at (570) 517-3969 for current e-recording enrollment details.

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

    The Recorder of Deeds is a standalone elected office in Monroe County, separate from the Register of Wills (which maintains probate, estate, and marriage license records) and the Prothonotary (civil court liens, judgments). The Register of Wills is a separate department at One Quaker Plaza.

    Property assessments are administered by the Monroe County Assessment Office (phone available through the county website). The UPI tax code number for a parcel is assigned by the County Mapping Department. Delinquent taxes are handled by the Tax Claim Bureau in Room 104, One Quaker Plaza.

    Zoning is administered entirely at the municipal level across Monroe County's 16 townships and 4 boroughs. For statewide data, see the Pennsylvania DCED.

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

    Monroe County uses Landex for online deed access (from August 1995):

    • Go to the Monroe County Assessment property search. Run an address search and locate the property. Note the owner's name and book/page numbers from the Sales section.

    • Go to the Landex Document Publishing Service. Select Pennsylvania, then Monroe County.

    • Search by owner name and document type “Deed.” Match the book/page numbers from Step 1 to locate the correct deed. Add to cart and check out. A $5 processing fee applies to all Landex orders. The document appears as a PDF on completion.

    • For records before August 1995 (1836–1995), visit the search room in Room 106, One Quaker Plaza, Mon–Fri 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. The bound books and microfilm are available for self-directed research.

    • For certified copies, request in person or by mail. Copies are $1.00/page + $3.00 certification stamp.

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

    All recorded property documents for every municipality in Monroe County are maintained by the Monroe County Recorder of Deeds at One Quaker Plaza, Stroudsburg. The county has incorporated municipalities, boroughs, and townships.

    • County Seat Borough: Stroudsburg.

    • Other Boroughs: Delaware Water Gap, East Stroudsburg, and Mount Pocono.

    • Selected Townships: Barrett, Chestnuthill, Coolbaugh, Eldred, Middle Smithfield, Paradise, Pocono, Price, Ross, Smithfield, Stroud, Tobyhanna, Tunkhannock, and others.

    Full municipality list at en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monroe_County,_Pennsylvania.

    City/Town Resources for Assessments & Taxes

    Property assessments are administered at the county level by the Monroe County Assessment Office. The public property search portal. The Tax Claim Bureau (Room 104, One Quaker Plaza) handles delinquent taxes; online payments are available through the ACI Payments System. Property tax collection for current taxes is administered at the municipal level; contact the local tax collector for information.

    Zoning is administered entirely by individual municipalities across Monroe County's 16 townships and 4 boroughs. There is no county-wide zoning ordinance. Because Monroe County includes a large number of planned vacation communities, some zoning and covenant questions may be answered by homeowners' association (HOA) documents recorded with the Recorder of Deeds rather than, or in addition to, municipal zoning codes.

    The Monroe County Planning Commission (One Quaker Plaza) can provide guidance on county-level land use planning.

    Monroe County-Specific Nuances

    • Tax code number (UPI) carries a $10.00 per-parcel fee. Monroe County uses the term “tax code number” rather than UPI or PIN for parcel identification. The fee for each tax code number on a document is $10.00, in addition to the base recording fee. This fee applies to deeds, mortgages, easements, and all other document categories, not just deeds. A deed with two parcel tax code numbers, for example, would carry an additional $20.00 in tax code fees. Contact the County Mapping Department for tax code number assignment and lookup.

    • Personal checks not accepted, no change or refunds given. Monroe County does not accept personal checks for recording fees or copies. Accepted forms of payment are cash, money order, business check, or credit/debit card. A service fee applies to card payments ($1.00 for payments up to $36.50; 2.75% for payments above $36.50). The office issues no changes or refunds. Payment must be in the exact amount.

    • Pre-1995 records are in bound books in the office only (no online access). The Landex system holds Monroe County records from August 1995 to the present. Documents recorded from 1836 through July 31, 1995, are maintained in bound books in the Recorder's search room at One Quaker Plaza, Room 106, with microfilm backups. These records require an in-person visit for research. Monroe County has been recording documents since 1836 (the year the county was formed).

    • $2.00 service charge on all returned documents. Any document that is returned, whether rejected for failure to meet requirements, improperly tendered, or otherwise returned, carries a $2.00 service charge. Verify all requirements and fees carefully before submission to avoid this charge.

    • ACT 197 Mortgage Satisfaction Piece all mortgages since January 1, 1987. Under ACT 197, all mortgages recorded since January 1, 1987, must be satisfied using a Mortgage Satisfaction Piece rather than a marginal satisfaction on the original mortgage. ACT 197 allows a Satisfaction Piece to be recorded without the original mortgage or a certified copy. Older mortgages (pre-1987) may use different satisfaction methods; confirm the original recording date before preparing a satisfaction.

    • Monroe County Affordable Housing Agency surcharge included in recording fees. In addition to the standard recording fees and JCS fees, Monroe County's Recorder collects a surcharge for the Monroe County Affordable Housing Agency and archives funds for historical preservation. These surcharges are built into the posted fee schedule rather than charged separately.

    • E-recording is available via CSC, ePN, and Simplifile. Some third-party sources are not updated. Monroe County accepts e-recorded documents through CSC, ePN, and Simplifile. Some third-party sources (including deeds.com) still reflect the pre-launch status. The county's own e-recording is the authoritative source for current vendor information.

    • Vacation community covenants and HOA documents in deed chains. Monroe County's large vacation and investment property sector means that many residential title chains include recorded HOA declarations, condominium documents, recreational easements, and vacation community covenants that run with the land.

    • Record Alert System free service name-based Landex monitoring. Monroe County offers a free Record Alert System through Landex, alerting registrants by email when a document is recorded in their name. Sign up through the county website. This service alerts by name only, not by parcel number, so registrants should use the exact name form that appears on their recorded documents.

    Typical Contents of a Monroe County Property Record

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

    • Deeds:

      • Grantor and grantee names (consistent throughout document).

      • Complete legal description, including municipality and county.

      • Consideration amount or Statement of Value (Affidavit of Value for exemptions).

      • Tax code number (UPI) for each parcel ($10.00 per parcel).

      • Certificate of Residence for the grantee.

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

      • For multi-municipality deeds: percentage transfer tax per municipality.

      • For family transfers: the relationship stated on the deed.

    • Mortgages and Related:

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

      • Tax code number on mortgage ($10.00 per parcel).

      • For mortgages recorded since January 1, 1987: satisfaction via Mortgage Satisfaction Piece (ACT 197).

    • Other Common Instruments:

      • Easements and rights of way (including recreational easements for resort communities).

      • HOA declarations, condominium documents, and vacation community covenants.

      • Subdivision plans.

      • Delaware Water Gap NRA boundary and access easements (for relevant parcels).

      • Powers of attorney.

      • UCC financing statements.

      • Notary bonds and commissions.

    Recording Changes to Property Titles

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

    Include the correct tax code number (UPI) on all documents. Allow $10.00 per tax code number in addition to the base recording fee. Pennsylvania's 2% Realty Transfer Tax (1% state + 1% local) applies to most deed transactions. Include a Statement of Value (Affidavit of Value) whenever the full consideration is not stated, the deed is without consideration, or an exemption is claimed.

    For family transfers, state the relationship on the deed. Include a SASE for return of originals. Payment by cash, money order, business check, or credit/debit card. No personal checks, no change, no refunds. The $2.00 returned-document service charge applies to any rejected submission.

    The base deed/mortgage recording fee is $86.75 (4 pages, 4 names) plus $10.00 per tax code number. Additional pages: $2.00 each; additional names: $0.50 each. Mortgage Satisfaction/Assignment/Release, Agreement of Sale, Lease (30+ yrs), Easement & Right of Way: $58.75 (same overage rates + $10.00/tax code). POA, Agreements, Assignment of Rent & Lease, all other instruments: $18.50 (same overage + $10.00/tax code). Copies: $1.00/page; certification: $1.00 page + $3.00 stamp.

    Practical Research Flow (Checklist)

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

    • Search the assessment portal. Go to agencies.monroecountypa.gov/monroepa_prod/. Look up the property by address to find the owner's name, tax code number (UPI), and book/page of the most recent deed transfer.

    • Search online via Landex. Use the Landex Document Publishing Service (pay-per-document) or Landex Remote Web (subscription). Records from August 1995 forward. Note the $5 processing fee per Landex order. Search by owner name and document type to find all instruments in the title chain.

    • For pre-1995 records, visit in person. Bound books and microfilm (1836–1995) in the search room at One Quaker Plaza, Room 106. Mon–Fri 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.

    • Review HOA and community documents. For resort community or vacation property parcels, search for recorded HOA declarations, condominium documents, and covenants affecting the parcel.

    • Confirm tax code number. Contact the County Mapping Department. Each tax code number carries a $10.00 recording fee.

    • Check assessment data. Use the Assessment Office portal for property values and characteristics.

    • Sign up for Record Alert. Free at the county website, through Landex; alerts by name when documents are recorded.

    • Verify zoning. Contact the specific township or borough directly. All zoning is municipal; no county ordinance.

    • Check delinquent taxes. Contact the Tax Claim Bureau in Room 104, One Quaker Plaza; online payments are available through the ACI Payments System.

    • Prepare recording documents. Tax code number required ($10.00/parcel); SASE; no personal checks; payment in exact amount (no change, no refunds); multi-municipality % transfer tax stated; SOV (Affidavit of Value) for exemptions; family transfer relationship on deed; ACT 197 Satisfaction Piece for post-1987 mortgages; e-record via CSC, ePN, or Simplifile, or submit in person/by mail.

    Appendix A: Municipalities in Monroe County

    Monroe County has 20 incorporated municipalities: 4 boroughs and 16 townships.

    • County Seat Borough: Stroudsburg.

    • Other Boroughs: Delaware Water Gap, East Stroudsburg, and Mount Pocono.

    • Selected Townships: Barrett, Chestnuthill, Coolbaugh, Eldred, Hamilton, Jackson, Middle Smithfield, Paradise, Pocono, Price, Ross, Smithfield, Stroud, Tobyhanna, Tunkhannock, and others.

    Full list at en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monroe_County,_Pennsylvania.

    Appendix B: Key Contacts & Portals