Berks County Property Records
Berks County property records are maintained by the Recorder of Deeds at the Berks County Services Center in Reading, Pennsylvania. Deed records in Berks County date back to 1752, making this one of the older county-level records collections in the state. The Recorder maintains deeds, mortgages, easements, UCC filings, and other instruments affecting real property. You can search Berks County property records online through the county GIS portal for assessment data or through the statewide PA USLandRecords system for deed and mortgage documents. In-person searches are also available at the Reading courthouse during regular business hours.
Berks County Quick Facts
Berks County Recorder of Deeds
The Berks County Recorder of Deeds is located at the Berks County Services Center, 633 Court Street, 3rd Floor, Reading, PA 19601. The office has been recording real property instruments since 1752, when Berks County was established. This long history means the Recorder holds some of the oldest continuous county-level land records in Pennsylvania. Every deed, mortgage, easement, and subdivision plan filed in the county since then is part of the public record maintained here.
Documents recorded at the Berks County Recorder of Deeds are assigned a book and page number and scanned into the county's computer system. The grantor-grantee indexing system lets you search by buyer or seller name. Public access terminals at the courthouse allow you to search and view documents during office hours without staff assistance. The office phone for general inquiries is (610) 478-6262.
The image below shows the statewide PA USLandRecords portal, which provides online access to Berks County deed and mortgage records from any location.
Through the statewide portal, Berks County deed documents are searchable by party name and property address, giving you access to recorded instruments without a trip to Reading.
| Office | Berks County Recorder of Deeds |
|---|---|
| Address | Berks County Services Center, 633 Court Street, 3rd Floor, Reading, PA 19601 |
| Phone | (610) 478-6262 |
| Fax | (610) 478-6261 |
| Hours | Monday-Friday, 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM |
| Website | co.berks.pa.us |
How to Search Berks County Property Records
Berks County property records can be searched online through two main systems. The first is the statewide pa.uslandrecords.com portal, which provides access to deed and mortgage records recorded at the Berks County Recorder of Deeds. You can search by grantor or grantee name, property address, or document type. Document images are viewable and printable from the portal.
The second tool is the county GIS mapping system, which provides property tax and assessment records with interactive parcel maps. You can search by owner name, property address, or parcel ID. The GIS system displays parcel boundaries, assessment values, property characteristics, ownership information, and sales history. Aerial photography is also available as a map layer. This system is valuable for visual research and for connecting assessment data to mapped parcel locations.
In-person searches at 633 Court Street in Reading give you access to the full index and physical document archives for the oldest records dating back to 1752. Public terminals in the office allow self-directed searches. For court records affecting property such as foreclosures and judgments, the Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System portal covers Berks County court records.
Note: Berks County deed records from 1752 to the present represent one of the most extensive county property archives in Pennsylvania. Researchers may need to use multiple index systems for searches spanning different time periods.
Land Records Available in Berks County
The Berks County Recorder of Deeds maintains a wide range of documents affecting real property. Deeds dating from 1752 form the core of the archive. The office also holds mortgages and mortgage satisfactions, easements and rights-of-way, and subdivision plans. UCC filings, notary commissions, and military discharge papers (DD-214) are also part of the recorded document collection.
For properties with complex histories, the Berks County records can trace ownership through multiple generations. The grantor-grantee index allows you to follow a chain of title forward or backward from any transaction. Subdivision plans document how larger parcels were divided into the lots that make up many modern neighborhoods and developments.
- Deeds dating back to 1752
- Mortgages and mortgage satisfactions
- Easements and rights-of-way
- Subdivision plans
- UCC filings
- Notary commissions
- Military discharge papers (DD-214)
Pennsylvania Property Records Law
The Pennsylvania Right-to-Know Law, 65 P.S. § 67.301, establishes that all government records are presumed to be public. Property records at the Berks County Recorder of Deeds and Assessment Office are open to any person without a requirement to state a reason. Pennsylvania does not require residency to access public property records.
The Pennsylvania Office of Open Records enforces the RTKL and accepts appeals when agencies deny records requests. Requesters have 15 business days after a denial to file an appeal. The OOR can issue binding decisions ordering agencies to release records. The office also maintains a directory of Agency Open Records Officers across all county departments.
For historical land records predating county-level recording, the Pennsylvania State Archives holds original warrants, surveys, and patents from the William Penn era and early Commonwealth. These records are particularly relevant for Berks County, which has roots going back to the earliest English colonial settlement in the region.
Berks County Property Assessment Records
The Berks County assessment system maintains property valuation records for every taxable parcel. Assessment data includes land value, building value, total assessed value, ownership information, and property class. The GIS mapping system ties this assessment data to a visual map interface, making it easy to locate and review parcels by address, name, or parcel number.
Berks County property assessment records are available online through the county's GIS portal, which provides free access to basic property data. Sales history, property characteristics, and zoning information are available through this system. Assessment values may differ from current market values depending on when the county last conducted a countywide reassessment.
The Pennsylvania Department of Revenue oversees property tax programs at the state level, including delinquency records that may affect property title. The Pennsylvania Local Government Commission provides guidance on assessment appeals and property tax administration across all Pennsylvania counties.
How to Request Berks County Records
Berks County property records can be requested online through the statewide portal, by visiting the Recorder of Deeds in person, or by submitting a written mail request. Online access via pa.uslandrecords.com provides deed and mortgage images for most recorded documents. Copy fees are $0.50 per page. Certified copies carry an additional $1.50 charge. Recording fees vary by document type.
Mail requests should be sent to the Berks County Recorder of Deeds at 633 Court Street, 3rd Floor, Reading, PA 19601. Include the property address or owner name, the type of document, the approximate recording date, and a self-addressed stamped envelope for return of copies. The Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission holds historical records for genealogical and historical research into early Berks County land ownership. The Pennsylvania Department of State maintains statewide UCC filings for fixture-related property encumbrances.
Nearby Counties
Property searches near Berks County borders may require checking records in these adjacent county offices as well.