Allentown Property Records Guide
Allentown property records are maintained at the Lehigh County level through the county assessor and recorder offices. Allentown is the largest city in Lehigh County and the third-largest city in Pennsylvania. Property deeds, mortgage documents, ownership data, and assessed values for Allentown properties are available through the Lehigh County Government Center and its online tools. The City of Allentown also maintains zoning, permit, and code enforcement records that complement county property data. This page covers where to find Allentown property records and how to search them.
Allentown Quick Facts
Where to Find Allentown Property Records
Lehigh County maintains property records for Allentown and all municipalities in the county. The Lehigh County Assessor's office is located at the Government Center, Room 517, 17 South 7th Street, Allentown, PA 18101. This office is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The assessor handles property valuation records, assessment data, and tax information for Allentown properties. The Lehigh County Recorder of Deeds is also located at the Government Center and records deeds, mortgages, and other real estate instruments.
The City of Allentown maintains additional property-related records through city departments. City offices provide zoning information, building permits, and code enforcement records for Allentown properties. Visit allentownpa.gov to access city services and find contacts for planning and zoning departments. City records complement county deed and assessment data when researching Allentown property history.
| Office | Lehigh County Assessor |
|---|---|
| Address | Government Center, Room 517, 17 South 7th Street, Allentown, PA 18101 |
| Phone | (610) 782-3038 |
| Fax | (610) 871-1442 |
| Hours | Monday-Friday, 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM |
| County Website | lehighcounty.org |
Note: The Lehigh County Government Center serves as the hub for most county record requests. When visiting in person, bring the property address or parcel ID number to speed up the search process.
How to Search Allentown Property Records
Lehigh County offers free property tax and assessment records searches online. Users can search by address or parcel ID number. Search results include property ownership, assessed values, property characteristics, and tax information. The county's online system does not require registration for basic searches. Visit lehighcounty.org and navigate to the assessor's property search section to begin looking up Allentown records.
The statewide Pennsylvania Real Property Official Records Search at pa.uslandrecords.com provides access to recorded Lehigh County documents including Allentown deeds and mortgages. This portal uses grantor and grantee indexing, allowing searches by seller name, buyer name, or property address. It is a useful tool when tracing Allentown property ownership over multiple transactions or years.
The Unified Judicial System at pacourts.us/public-records covers foreclosure filings and judgment liens that may affect Allentown properties. These court records are separate from deed records but can reveal encumbrances that affect title. For UCC filings tied to Allentown real property, use the Pennsylvania Department of State portal at dos.pa.gov.
Property Documents in Allentown
The Lehigh County Recorder of Deeds holds all recorded real estate documents for Allentown properties. These include warranty deeds, quit claim deeds, sheriff's deeds, mortgage instruments, mortgage satisfactions and assignments, easements, subdivision plans, mechanic's liens, and UCC filings. Documents are assigned sequential book and page numbers and are scanned into the recording system. The resulting images are available at public terminals in the Government Center and through online portals.
Assessment records maintained by the Lehigh County Assessor include land values, building values, total assessed values, and property class designations. The assessor also maintains records of physical property characteristics including lot size, building square footage, year built, and number of rooms. This data is used to calculate property tax obligations for Allentown property owners.
For properties with complex histories, the Pennsylvania State Archives maintains colonial-era land warrants and patent records. Researchers tracing early Allentown land history can consult the PA State Archives land records overview for guidance on accessing these historical documents.
Pennsylvania Property Records and Public Access Law
Allentown property records are public under the Pennsylvania Right-to-Know Law (RTKL) at 65 P.S. § 67.301. This law presumes all government-held records are public. Agencies must prove an exemption applies before withholding records. No reason is required to request Allentown property records from Lehigh County offices.
The Pennsylvania Office of Open Records at openrecords.pa.gov handles appeals for denied records requests statewide, including Lehigh County. Requesters have 15 business days after a denial to file an appeal. The OOR also publishes advisory opinions and maintains a directory of agency open records officers for all Pennsylvania municipalities, including Allentown.
Property tax records for Allentown are tied to state-level programs administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue at revenue.pa.gov. The Department oversees the Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program and maintains records of tax liens and delinquencies. The Pennsylvania Land Title Association at plta.org provides resources for understanding how property title searches work across Pennsylvania counties including Lehigh.
Note: Right-to-Know requests for Allentown city records should be submitted to the City of Allentown's designated open records officer. County record requests go to the Lehigh County open records officer.
Allentown Property Assessment Records
The Lehigh County Assessor assigns values to all Allentown properties for tax purposes. Assessment records are available through the county's free online search system. Each record includes the assessed land value, building value, total assessed value, and tax amount. The assessor also records property class, zoning designation, and physical characteristics that affect valuation.
Allentown property owners who disagree with their assessment may file an appeal with the Lehigh County Board of Assessment. The appeal process requires submitting a formal application with supporting evidence of market value, such as a recent appraisal or comparable sales data. The deadline to appeal is set annually and tied to the date assessment notices are mailed.
For current property tax rates and payment information, contact the Lehigh County tax office or the City of Allentown tax office directly. The county and city levy separate taxes, so Allentown properties are subject to both county and city rates in addition to school district taxes.
Getting Copies of Allentown Property Records
Copies of Allentown property records are available through the Lehigh County Recorder of Deeds and the county assessor's office. In-person requests at the Government Center allow same-day access to most documents. The office is at 17 South 7th Street, Allentown, with public access available Monday through Friday during business hours. Bring the property address or parcel number and a form of payment to cover copy fees.
Mail requests are also accepted. Send written requests to the Lehigh County Recorder of Deeds at the Government Center address. Include specific information about the property and the document type needed. Copy fees vary by document type, so call (610) 782-3038 before mailing to confirm current rates and the page count for your document.
Online access is available for basic assessment data through the county website and for recorded documents through the statewide pa.uslandrecords.com portal. The statewide system charges fees for document images but allows free index searches. In-person access at the Government Center provides the broadest access to Allentown property records at the lowest cost per page.
Lehigh County Property Records
Allentown property records are maintained through Lehigh County. For full county recorder details, deed search tools, and additional resources, visit the Lehigh County property records page.
Nearby Pennsylvania Cities
These nearby cities also maintain property records through their county recorder offices.