Philadelphia Property Records Search
Philadelphia property records are maintained by the Department of Records at City Hall. Philadelphia is a consolidated city-county, meaning city and county records functions are combined in one office. The Department records deeds, mortgages, liens, and all real estate documents for properties within the city. Records date back to 1683. Residents, title searchers, and researchers can access Philadelphia property records in person, by mail, or through the PhilaDox online portal. This page explains where to find records and how to use the available search tools.
Philadelphia Quick Facts
Where to Find Philadelphia Property Records
The Philadelphia Department of Records is the primary office for property records in the city. It is located at City Hall, Room 154, 1400 John F. Kennedy Blvd., Philadelphia, PA 19107. The public room is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Staff hours for in-person requests run from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The Department records real estate documents, manages the City Archives, and provides public access to all recorded land records in Philadelphia.
Because Philadelphia is a consolidated city-county, there is no separate county recorder of deeds. All recording and access functions fall under the Department of Records. This office handles deeds, mortgages, easements, mortgage satisfactions, liens, and related land documents. It also manages financial disclosure forms and public safety reports. The Department has maintained continuous records since 1683, making it one of the longest-running property record offices in the country.
| Office | Philadelphia Department of Records |
|---|---|
| Address | City Hall, Room 154, 1400 John F. Kennedy Blvd., Philadelphia, PA 19107 |
| Phone | (215) 686-2292 |
| deedcopy.info@phila.gov | |
| Public Room Hours | Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM |
| Staff Hours | Monday-Friday, 8:30 AM - 3:30 PM |
| Website | phila.gov/departments/department-of-records |
The Office of Property Assessment is a separate city office that handles property valuations and assessment data for Philadelphia. Visit phila.gov/departments/office-of-property-assessment for assessment records, current market values, and property characteristic data. Assessment records and deed records come from two different offices in Philadelphia.
Note: Mail requests for deed copies should be sent to Room 154 at the address above. Include the property address, grantor and grantee names if known, the deed date, and a check or money order payable to the City of Philadelphia.
How to Search Philadelphia Property Records
PhilaDox is the primary online system for searching Philadelphia property records. It provides access to recorded documents from 1974 to the present. Free searches allow users to look up records by name or address and view watermarked unofficial copies. To print clean document images, a paid subscription is required. Subscription options include one day ($15), one week ($60), one month ($125), and one year ($750). A 3.5% convenience fee applies to online payments. Access PhilaDox at epay.phila-records.com.
Documents recorded within two to four weeks may not yet appear in PhilaDox search results. For very recent recordings, contact the Department of Records directly. For records from before 1974, researchers must visit in person or request copies by mail. The City Archives holds historical deed books and microfilm dating to the late 17th century. The historical records system contains over 18 million scanned images from deed books recorded between 1683 and 1974.
The statewide portal at pa.uslandrecords.com also provides access to Philadelphia recorded documents. This system covers multiple Pennsylvania counties and offers grantor and grantee index searching. It is useful when researching properties across county lines or when using a single login for statewide research.
Note: The Pennsylvania Land Title Association at plta.org offers guidance on title search procedures and understanding property record searches in Philadelphia and across the Commonwealth.
Property Documents in Philadelphia
The Philadelphia Department of Records maintains a wide range of property documents. Deeds are the most commonly requested records. The office holds warranty deeds, quit claim deeds, sheriff's deeds, and other transfer instruments. Deeds recorded in Philadelphia are assigned a document ID number and indexed by grantor and grantee name as well as property address.
Other recorded documents available through the Department include mortgage instruments, mortgage satisfactions and releases, easements and rights-of-way, subdivision plans, mechanic's liens, municipal liens, federal tax liens, and notary commissions. Military discharge papers are also recorded and copies are provided at no charge to eligible individuals and their families.
The following document types are searchable through PhilaDox and the Department's public terminals:
- Deeds (1683 to present)
- Mortgages and mortgage satisfactions
- Liens and judgments
- Easements and rights-of-way
- Subdivision plans
- UCC filings
Copy fees vary by document type. Contact the Department at (215) 686-2292 or email deedcopy.info@phila.gov to confirm current rates before submitting a request. In-person visits allow same-day access to most records.
Pennsylvania Property Records Law
Philadelphia property records are public records under Pennsylvania's Right-to-Know Law (RTKL), codified at 65 P.S. § 67.101 et seq. The law establishes that records held by public agencies are presumed to be accessible to any person. Agencies bear the burden of proving a record is exempt, not the requester. This means anyone can request Philadelphia property records without stating a reason.
The Pennsylvania Office of Open Records (OOR) oversees compliance with the RTKL and serves as an appeals body for denied records requests. If the Department of Records denies a request, the requester has 15 business days to appeal to the OOR. The OOR's new mailing address is 555 Walnut Street, Suite 605, Harrisburg, PA 17101. Visit openrecords.pa.gov for appeal forms, advisory opinions, and agency contact listings.
The Unified Judicial System portal at pacourts.us/public-records provides access to court records that may relate to Philadelphia properties, including foreclosure cases, judgment liens, and property disputes filed in the courts of common pleas. UCC filings that affect real property in Philadelphia can be searched through the Pennsylvania Department of State at dos.pa.gov.
Note: The Pennsylvania State Archives at the PHMC maintains historical land records including warrant and patent records from colonial times. See the land records overview at the PA State Archives for guidance on researching early Philadelphia property history.
Philadelphia Property Assessment Records
The Office of Property Assessment (OPA) maintains valuation and assessment records for all Philadelphia properties. The OPA assigns assessed values used to calculate property tax bills. Records include land values, building values, total assessed value, property classification, and physical characteristics such as lot size, square footage, year built, and number of rooms.
Property owners can search OPA records online at the Office of Property Assessment website. Searches can be done by address or account number. The OPA also handles appeals of assessed values. Owners who believe their assessment is incorrect may file an appeal through the Board of Revision of Taxes. Assessment data is updated on a regular schedule and reflects current market conditions as determined by the OPA.
Tax records tied to Philadelphia properties are maintained by the Department of Revenue. The Pennsylvania Department of Revenue at revenue.pa.gov oversees state-level property tax programs and provides information about the Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program, which may benefit eligible Philadelphia property owners.
Getting Copies of Philadelphia Property Records
Copies of Philadelphia property records are available through multiple channels. In-person requests at City Hall Room 154 allow same-day access to most documents. Staff can look up records by property address, document ID, or grantor and grantee name. Cash, money orders, credit cards, and business or certified checks are accepted in person. Personal checks are not accepted at the Department of Records window.
Mail requests require you to include the property address, names of parties involved, the approximate deed date, and payment. Send a check or money order payable to the City of Philadelphia along with a self-addressed stamped envelope. Contact the Department at (215) 686-2292 or by email at deedcopy.info@phila.gov to confirm the exact page count and fee amount before mailing payment.
Online access through PhilaDox covers records from 1974 forward. Subscribers can download and print document images. A convenience fee of 3.5% applies to online payments. For certified copies, contact the Department directly. The Department also provides free certified copies of deeds or mortgages to property owners who are filing a fraud report in person at Room 154.
Philadelphia property owners can protect themselves from deed fraud by monitoring their records through PhilaDox. If you suspect fraud, contact the Department at Room 154 in person, file a police report, and notify the Philadelphia District Attorney's Economic and Cyber Crime Unit at (215) 686-9902.
Philadelphia County Property Records
Philadelphia property records are maintained through Philadelphia County. For full county recorder details, deed search tools, and additional resources, visit the Philadelphia County property records page.
Nearby Pennsylvania Cities
These nearby cities also have property records available through their respective county offices.