Search Allegheny County Property Records

Allegheny County property records are managed by the Department of Real Estate in Pittsburgh. This office handles recording of deeds, mortgages, liens, and other land documents for all properties throughout the county. Allegheny County is the most populous county in western Pennsylvania, covering Pittsburgh and over 130 municipalities. The Real Estate Portal gives users free access to basic property data online, with document images available at public terminals or through the statewide system. Searching by address, parcel number, or owner name makes it easy to locate the records you need.

Allegheny County Department of Real Estate

The Allegheny County Department of Real Estate combines the functions traditionally handled by a Recorder of Deeds office with broader property services. The main office is at 542 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15219, with a mailing address at 400 Courthouse, 436 Grant Street. The Department processes new deed recordings, maintains the historical index of all real estate transactions, and provides public access to recorded documents.

Deed records in Allegheny County are fully indexed from 1986 to the present. The indexing system uses a ten-digit parcel number format along with grantor and grantee names. Staff can direct you to public access terminals in the office lobby, where you can search and print documents without assistance. For older records predating the digital index, physical index books are available at the courthouse.

The Allegheny County Real Estate Portal provides an impressive range of property data online. The image below shows the portal, which is accessible at no cost for basic property lookups.

The portal displays current owner information, assessed values, sales history, building characteristics, and deed book references all in one place, making it one of the most complete county property portals in the state.

How to Search Allegheny County Property Records

The Allegheny County Real Estate Portal is the starting point for most searches. The portal allows you to search by parcel number (10-digit format), property address, owner name, or municipality. Results show all key property information including sales history, assessed values, and deed references. Basic property information is free of charge.

For recorded document images, the statewide pa.uslandrecords.com portal provides access to deed and mortgage images for Allegheny County. This system covers recorded documents and lets you view and print images from home. The portal uses the same grantor-grantee indexing system as the courthouse office.

The county also maintains a GIS platform that displays property boundaries visually. You can view aerial photography, locate properties by address or parcel ID, and export maps and data. This tool is valuable for understanding lot dimensions, neighborhood boundaries, and adjacent parcel ownership.

Public access terminals are also available at the Department of Real Estate office and select public libraries throughout the county. These terminals offer free access to document images without the need for an online account.

The statewide portal is particularly useful when you need to search multiple counties in the same session, since all 67 Pennsylvania counties are accessible through a single login.

Note: Office staff cannot conduct detailed title searches. For a complete chain-of-title search, consult a licensed title company or real estate attorney.

Property Records Available in Allegheny County

Allegheny County's Department of Real Estate maintains a broad range of recorded documents. Deeds have been indexed from 1986 forward in the digital system. The office also holds mortgages, mortgage satisfactions, releases, liens, judgments, easements, rights-of-way, and subdivision plans. These documents form the foundation of title research for any property in the county.

The Real Estate Portal goes beyond basic deed records to include property tax information, building characteristics, lot dimensions, zoning, and ownership history with dates and prices. This depth of data makes the portal a powerful research tool for buyers, sellers, attorneys, and researchers. For court-related documents such as foreclosures and judgments, the Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System portal provides access to Allegheny County court records.

Allegheny County Property Assessment Records

The Allegheny County property assessment system ties closely to the Real Estate Portal. Each parcel has separate land and building assessed values, which combine to form the taxable value used to calculate annual property taxes. The assessment office phone is (412) 350-4100 for questions about valuations.

The image below shows the assessment section of the Allegheny County Real Estate Portal, which displays detailed valuation breakdowns for each property.

Assessment data includes owner history, building details such as square footage and year built, land dimensions, acreage, and zoning classification. Sales history with dates and prices is also part of the assessment record, which helps in understanding how property values have changed over time.

The Pennsylvania Local Government Commission provides guidance on how property assessments are conducted statewide and explains the legal process for appealing an assessment you believe is inaccurate. Property owners have the right to challenge their assessed value through the county's Board of Property Assessment Appeals and Review.

Public Access Rights in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania's Right-to-Know Law at 65 P.S. § 67.301 establishes that all government records are presumed public. Property records at the Recorder of Deeds and assessment offices are public documents. You do not need to state a reason for requesting them. Any person, regardless of state residency, may inspect and copy public records.

The Pennsylvania Office of Open Records handles appeals when agencies deny RTKL requests. If the Allegheny County Real Estate Department or any associated office refuses a records request, you have 15 business days to file an appeal with the OOR. The OOR can issue a binding decision requiring the agency to release the records.

The Pennsylvania Land Title Association provides information about what title professionals review during a property search, which helps researchers understand the scope of public property records and how they are used in real estate transactions.

How to Request Allegheny County Records

Document copies can be requested online, by mail, or in person. For online access, the Real Estate Portal at alleghenycounty.us provides free basic property information. Document copies carry a fee of $5 per page, with additional fees for certified copies. Online requests for basic data receive an immediate response. Document copies typically process in one to two business days.

Mail requests go to: Allegheny County Recorder of Deeds, 400 Courthouse, 436 Grant Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15219. Mail requests take five to seven business days to process. Include the property address or parcel number, document type, and approximate recording date to speed up processing.

In-person visits to Room 101 of the County Office Building give you access to public terminals and staff assistance. The Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission holds historical land records from colonial times that can supplement modern county records for deep genealogical or historical research. For UCC filings related to personal property and fixtures, search the Pennsylvania Department of State database.

Nearby Counties

Properties near the Allegheny County borders may have records filed in these adjacent counties as well.

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