Pike County, PA Property Records

    Pike County occupies Pennsylvania's northeastern corner, where the Delaware River traces the border with New Jersey and New York. With roughly 61,000 residents, it ranks 41st among Pennsylvania's 67 counties and is growing at 1.1% annually, one of the state's steadier growth rates. The county's median age of 49 tells much of the story: a large share of its population consists of retirees and former New York metropolitan residents who relocated for space and relative affordability, a migration that accelerated sharply after 2020.

    The housing market reflects that external demand. The typical home value is approximately $255,000, roughly in line with the Pennsylvania statewide average of $286,351, though ACS-derived estimates for 2024 place the median closer to $297,000. Values have risen sharply lately due to constrained supply.

    According to Federal Reserve Economic Data, an estimated 28–32% of households are cost-burdened, spending 30% or more of their income on housing. A median household income of approximately $79,000 provides some cushion, though the county's bifurcated market of primary residents and seasonal owners complicates that picture.

    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 Pike County is the Pike County Recorder of Deeds, a combined office also serving as Register of Wills (6th-class county). The elected official is Sharon Schroeder, first elected in 2023 with a term through December 31, 2027. The office is located in the County Administration Building, 506 Broad Street, Milford, PA 18337.

    Online deed records are available through the US Land Records and the PA Land Records (PALR) system. Document viewing costs $0.50/page with a maximum of $5.00 per document; printing during the viewing session is free. Registration is required, but no credit card is needed for record alerts. A credit card is required only if you purchase document downloads. E-recording is available through Simplifile and CSC.

    What Pike 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, trustee, personal representative, and others), mortgages, mortgage satisfactions, releases of mortgage, assignments of mortgage, corrective mortgages and modifications, easements, leases (under and over 30 years), liens, plats and highway maps, notary bonds and commissions, police commissions, powers of attorney, and other instruments affecting real estate. Military discharge papers (DD-214) are also recorded.

    Pennsylvania uses a recorded land title system statewide. Documents are indexed by grantor or grantee name and book and page reference. Document numbering uses Type, Book & Page; a separate Record Book has been maintained since 1989. The deed base fee includes one PIN (Parcel Identification Number) certification within the base rate.

    Pike County's recording volume includes a high proportion of vacation and second-home transactions. Many properties in community developments (Hemlock Farms, Fawn Lake, Wild Acres, Pocono Mountain Lake Estates, and similar communities) carry recorded Homeowners Association covenants, conditions, and restrictions (CC&Rs) that are part of the chain of title.

    How to Access Pike County Property Records

    Records can be accessed online via US Land Records (PALR), in person at the Administration Building, by phone, by mail, or via e-recording.

    Online Access

    Pike County uses the US Land Records, PA Land Records (PALR) system for online property record access. Users register for a free account. Document viewing is $0.50 per page, with a maximum of $5.00 per document; printing during the session is free.

    No credit card is needed to set up record alerts; it is only needed if you purchase downloads. Search by grantor/grantee name, document type, recording date, or book and page.

    In Person

    • Address: County Administration Building, 506 Broad Street, Milford, PA 18337, Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Certified copies: Available in person or by mail; certified documents for up to 4 pages are $5.00, with $0.25 per additional page.

    Note: The office does NOT perform searches of real estate records. Staff can assist with document location, but will not conduct title searches.

    By Phone

    Call (570) 296-3508 ext. 1160 during regular office hours.

    By Mail

    Mail documents and payment to Pike County Recorder of Deeds, 506 Broad Street, Milford, PA 18337. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope of the proper size. Originals are always returned after recording. Three separate checks are required for taxable deed submissions (state RTT, local RTT, and recording fee). All checks are payable to Pike County Recorder of Deeds.

    E-Recording

    E-recording is available through two vendors: Simplifile (erecord@simplifile.com; (800) 460-5657) and CSC (erecording@cscglobal.com; (866) 652-0111). Contact either vendor to enroll.

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

    The Register of Wills (probate, estate records, inheritance tax) is administered by the same combined office under Sharon Schroeder. Register of Wills online search is available through Infocon County Access (infoconcountyaccess.com) on a subscription basis, a different platform from the deed records' US Land Records system.

    Property assessments are administered by the Pike County Assessment Office. Free individual property access and an advanced county-wide search (by subscription) are available. The county's online GIS parcel viewer. Delinquent taxes are handled by the Tax Claim Bureau online delinquent tax search.

    Zoning is administered at the municipal level; the county Planning and Mapping Office at (570) 296-3500 maintains county-wide zoning maps and can confirm zoning designations.

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

    Pike County uses US Land Records (PALR) for online deed access:

    • Go to pa.uslandrecords.com. Register for a free account (no credit card required for alerts only; credit card needed for document downloads).

    • Search by grantor/grantee name, document type (Deed), or recording date. The system searches by book and page as well.

    • Note all book and page references for deed, mortgage, satisfaction, and easement instruments in the chain.

    • For vacation community parcels, identify applicable CC&Rs and HOA instruments. For Delaware River/Delaware Water Gap corridor properties, look for NPS easements and flood plain instruments.

    • For parcel identification and assessment data, use the Assessment portal or the GIS.

    • For certified copies or in-office research, visit 506 Broad Street, Mon–Fri 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Certified documents: $5.00 for up to 4 pages.

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

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

    • County Seat: Milford Borough.

    • Borough along the Delaware River: Matamoras.

    • Selected Townships: Blooming Grove, Delaware, Greene, Lackawaxen, Lehman, Milford Township, Palmyra, Pike, Porter, Shohola, and Westfall.

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

    City/Town Resources for Assessments & Taxes

    Property assessments are administered at the county level by the Pike County Assessment Office. Free individual property access is available at the county's Courthouse Online portal; advanced county-wide subscription searches are also available. The GIS parcel viewer provides interactive parcel mapping.

    Zoning is administered at the municipal level; there is no county-wide zoning ordinance. The Pike County Planning and Mapping Office (phone: (570) 296-3500) maintains county-wide zoning maps and can confirm zoning designations.

    Many vacation communities in Pike County also have private HOA architectural review and land-use controls in addition to municipal zoning. These should always be verified separately from municipal zoning determinations. Delinquent taxes are handled by the Tax Claim Bureau, accessible through the county website.

    Pike County-Specific Nuances

    • US Land Records (PALR) is a different platform from most PA counties. Pike County uses US Land Records and PA Land Records (pa.uslandrecords.com) for online deed access. This is distinct from Landex (used by many PA counties) and Infocon (used by the Register of Wills function). A separate registration is required. Document viewing is $0.50 per page (max $5.00 per document), printing is free, and record alerts require no credit card.

    • Deed fee includes one PIN. Additional PINs are $10.00 each, $4.00 per additional page. Unlike many PA counties, where the parcel certification fee is entirely separate from the base recording fee, Pike County's standard deed fee of $81.75 includes one PIN within the base rate. Each additional PIN is $10.00. Each additional page over four carries a $4.00 charge for deeds and mortgages, double the $2.00 standard seen in most PA counties.

    Additional names are $1.00 each on deeds and mortgages (not the usual $0.50). Always confirm current fees at (570) 296-3508 against the county's December 2025 fee schedule.

    • Three separate checks are required for taxable deeds. When recording a taxable deed, Pike County requires three separate checks: one for the state Realty Transfer Tax (1%), one for the local Realty Transfer Tax (1%), and one for the recording fee. All checks should be made payable to Pike County Recorder of Deeds. Submitting a combined check for taxes and recording fees will result in rejection.

    • No blanket assignments and no blanket releases accepted. Pike County does not accept blanket mortgage assignments or blanket mortgage releases. Each assignment or release must identify a specific individual mortgage instrument.

    • No Conformed Copies provided. Unlike some PA counties that stamp a copy of the document “conformed” at the time of recording and return it to the submitter, Pike County does not provide conformed copies. The original document is stamped with the recording information and returned in the SASE. Plan submissions accordingly.

    • No office searches performed. The Recorder of Deeds office staff does not conduct real estate searches on behalf of requestors. Users must search the records themselves, either online via the PALR system or in person at the public terminals. This is standard for most PA recorder offices, but worth noting for requestors expecting research assistance.

    • All foreign-language documents must include a written English translation. Any instrument in a language other than English must be accompanied by a complete written English translation to be recorded. This requirement is relevant in Pike County, given its significant number of out-of-state and international buyers.

    • Vacation community CC&Rs and HOA instruments are integral to title chains. A large portion of Pike County's housing stock consists of homes in private vacation communities: Hemlock Farms, Fawn Lake, Wild Acres, Pocono Mountain Lake Estates, Lords Valley, Hidden Lake, and many others.

    These communities have recorded Declaration of Covenants, Conditions, and Restrictions (CC&Rs), plats, and amendments on file with the Recorder. A complete title chain for any such property requires locating and reviewing all applicable HOA governing documents. HOA status and dues records are maintained by the individual communities, not the county.

    • Delaware Water Gap NRA easements and floodplain instruments: Properties in the Delaware River corridor, particularly in Delaware, Shohola, Lackawaxen, and Westfall townships, may carry recorded National Park Service scenic easements, conservation easements, or FEMA floodplain restriction instruments.

    Any parcel adjacent to the Delaware River or within the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area boundary deserves a thorough review of easement instruments in the chain.

    • Book and page numbers must appear on all documents referencing a prior mortgage. When recording any document that relates to an existing mortgage, a satisfaction, release, assignment, modification, or subordination, the book and page numbers of the original mortgage must appear on the document being recorded. Missing book page references on related mortgage instruments are among the most common errors flagged by the office.

    Typical Contents of a Pike County Property Record

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

    • Deeds:

      • Grantor and grantee names (consistent throughout document).

      • Complete legal description, including municipality and county.

      • Written consideration amount matches the numerical amount.

      • Statement of Value ($2.00) when required.

      • Certificate of Residence for the grantee.

      • PIN (Parcel Identification Number), one included in the base fee, $10.00 per additional.

      • Grantee address (must be signed).

      • Notarial acknowledgment (acknowledgment date on or after execution date; county, state, date, names/titles, notary signature, seal, and expiration date required).

      • For multi-municipality deeds: local transfer tax division stated in dollar amounts.

      • For vacation community parcels: reference to applicable CC&R declarations.

    • Mortgages and Related:

      • Mortgagee, mortgagor names, property description, and loan terms.

      • Book and page numbers on all related documents (required).

      • No original mortgage required for satisfaction piece, submit a legible copy of the first recorded page of the original mortgage.

      • No blanket assignments or releases.

    • Other Common Instruments:

      • HOA CC&R declarations and amendments (vacation communities).

      • NPS and conservation easements (Delaware River corridor properties).

      • Plats and highway maps ($30.00 standard; $10.00 first page highway maps).

      • Leases (under 30 years: $54.00 base; over 30 years: different rate).

      • Powers of attorney.

      • Notary bonds and commissions ($51.00).

      • Military service discharges (DD-214).

    Recording Changes to Property Titles

    All new deeds, mortgages, easements, and other instruments affecting real property in Pike County must be recorded with the Recorder of Deeds. Submissions may be made in person (Mon–Fri 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.), by mail, or via e-recording (Simplifile or CSC).

    For taxable deeds, prepare three separate checks (state RTT, local RTT, recording fee), all payable to Pike County Recorder of Deeds. Include an SASE of proper size (originals are always returned), the PIN on the document, and a Statement of Value when required.

    For multi-municipality properties, state the local RTT division in dollar amounts. Include written English translations for any foreign-language documents. Book and page references are required on all documents relating to prior recorded instruments.

    Practical Research Flow (Checklist)

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

    • Search online via US Land Records (PALR). Register free at pa.uslandrecords.com. No credit card needed for record alerts. Search by name or book/page.

    • Note all book and page references. Collect deed, mortgage, satisfaction, easement, and CC&R instrument references for the full chain.

    • Identify vacation community instruments. For properties in HOA communities (Hemlock Farms, Fawn Lake, Wild Acres, etc.), locate and review all CC&R declarations and amendments.

    • Check for Delaware River corridor easements. For Delaware township, Shohola, Lackawaxen, and Westfall parcels near the Delaware River, search for NPS and conservation easements.

    • Verify parcel data. Use the Assessment portal at courthouseonline.com or GIS at gis.pikepa.org.

    • Verify zoning. Contact the specific municipality or the Pike County Planning and Mapping Office at (570) 296-3500.

    • Check delinquent taxes. Online.

    Appendix A: Municipalities in Pike County

    • County Seat: Milford Borough.

    • Borough along the Delaware River: Matamoras.

    • Selected Townships: Blooming Grove, Delaware, Greene, Lackawaxen, Lehman, Milford Township, Palmyra, Pike, Porter, Shohola, and Westfall.

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

    Appendix B: Key Contacts & Portals

    • Pike County Recorder of Deeds:

        • Address: County Administration Building, 506 Broad Street, Milford, PA 18337.

        • Phone: (570) 296-3508 ext. 1160.

        • Fax: (570) 296-3514.

      • Recorder: Sharon Schroeder.

      • Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.

      • Website: pikepa.org/government/recorder_of_deeds/

    • US Land Records PA Land Records (PALR) Online Deed Search:

      • Portal: pa.uslandrecords.com

      • $0.50/page (max $5.00/document); free printing; free alerts (no credit card).

    E-Recording