Delaware County Property Records Online

Delaware County property records date back to 1770, making them among the oldest county records in Pennsylvania. The Recorder of Deeds office in Media maintains deeds, mortgages, liens, easements, and subdivision plans for every parcel in the county. Delaware County launched a modern GovOS Cloud Search system in March 2024, placing more than 240 years of records and over 35 million document images online. You can search these records by keyword, name, address, or parcel number from any device.

Delaware County Recorder of Deeds

The Delaware County Recorder of Deeds is located at the Government Center Building, 201 West Front Street, Media, PA 19063. The office records all documents related to real property in the county, including deeds, mortgages, and liens. Recording hours run from 8:30 AM to 3:30 PM, which is earlier than the general office closing time of 4:30 PM. Plan your visit accordingly if you need to submit a document for recording on the same day.

In March 2024, Delaware County became the third Pennsylvania county to adopt the GovOS Cloud Search platform. This upgrade moved more than 240 years of historical data and over 35 million document images to an online, searchable system. The Cloud Search works like a standard web search, allowing keyword queries without needing to know parcel numbers or document types in advance. You can search by name, address, tax parcel number, or instrument number. The system also lets you purchase certified copies and set up a free property fraud alert.

The Delaware County Cloud Search is the primary portal for searching recorded property documents in the county. A free account lets you set up property alerts and access document images.

Note: Delaware County's assessment search does not allow name searches due to privacy policy; use address or parcel ID to find records.

How to Search Delaware County Property Records

Start with the GovOS Cloud Search at delcopa.gov/publicaccess. Register for a free account and then search by any keyword, including the owner name, address, or parcel number. The keyword approach is useful when you are not sure of the exact document type or date range. Results show all matching documents and allow you to view images directly online.

For assessment data and parcel mapping, the Delaware County Public Access System at delcorealestate.co.delaware.pa.us covers property valuation records. You can search by address or parcel ID. Note that name searches are not available in this system because the county removed them for privacy reasons. The assessment system shows appraised values, tax data, and property characteristics without requiring a login.

The statewide PA USLandRecords portal also covers Delaware County deed records and provides an alternative search path for grantor-grantee index lookups.

The GovOS property alert feature is free to set up. After finding your parcel in the Cloud Search, click "Property Alert" and select your parcel ID. The system will email you the next business day after any document is recorded against your property. This is a useful fraud prevention tool that private services charge monthly fees to replicate.

Property Documents in Delaware County

Delaware County records go back to 1770, giving this office one of the longest continuous deed histories in Pennsylvania. Early records from 1770 through 1914 are also available on FamilySearch for genealogical and historical research. Mortgage records from 1789 through 1912 appear on FamilySearch as well. For more recent records, the GovOS Cloud Search covers 1982 to the present with full image access.

The Recorder's office holds all standard property document types. Warranty deeds and quit claim deeds show the transfer of ownership. Mortgages record the lender's security interest in the property. Mortgage satisfactions document when a loan is paid off and the lien is released. Easements and rights-of-way affect how land may be used by neighbors or utilities. Subdivision plans show how large tracts were split into lots.

• Deeds from 1770 to present
• Mortgages and mortgage satisfactions
• Liens and judgments
• Easements and rights-of-way
• Subdivision plans
• UCC filings affecting real property

Court-filed property records such as foreclosure dockets and judgment liens appear in the Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System portal.

Public Access to Pennsylvania Property Records

Pennsylvania's Right-to-Know Law (RTKL), found at 65 P.S. § 67.301, presumes all records held by public agencies are accessible to the public. You do not need to explain why you want property records or prove any ownership interest. The Recorder of Deeds and Assessment offices hold public records that any person can request and receive.

If your records request is denied by any county office, the Pennsylvania Office of Open Records handles appeals. You have 15 business days after a denial to file an appeal. The OOR issues binding decisions that can compel agencies to release records. As of November 2025, the OOR's mailing address is 555 Walnut Street, Suite 605, Harrisburg, PA 17101.

Section 708 of the RTKL lists exemptions that agencies may use to withhold certain data. Personal security details and some personal identification numbers are exempt. The core property data in a deed, including parties, legal description, and sale price, is fully public. Pennsylvania places no residency restriction on records access.

Note: The Pennsylvania Land Title Association provides guides on how title searches use public property records to verify ownership.

Delaware County Transfer Tax and Assessment Records

Delaware County collects a real estate transfer tax on property sales. The standard rate is 1% to the state and 1% to the local municipality. Several municipalities have adopted higher local rates. Radnor Township charges 1.5%. Upper Darby Township charges 1.5% effective January 1, 2022. Upper Providence Township charges 2%. Chester City charges 1.5% effective September 1, 2023. Confirm the rate for the specific municipality before closing any property transaction in the county.

The Delaware County Public Access System provides the property assessment database. Each parcel has a land value and building value recorded separately. These figures drive local property tax calculations. Assessed values reflect the county's most recent reassessment cycle and are updated when new assessments are completed. You can search assessment records by address or parcel ID at no cost through the county's online portal.

The Pennsylvania Department of Revenue oversees state tax compliance for property transactions. State transfer tax receipts and tax lien information are tracked at the state level, while county records hold the local transaction detail.

Requesting Copies in Delaware County

Copies of Delaware County property records are available online through the GovOS Cloud Search, in person at the Media office, or by mail. Online document access through Cloud Search provides images you can view and download. Certified copies and official prints can be purchased directly through the Cloud Search system.

Copy fees for online documents are $0.50 per page. In-person copies cost $1.00 per page. Certified copies carry additional fees. E-recording is available through authorized vendors for submitting new documents. To request records by mail, write to the Recorder of Deeds at 201 West Front Street, Media, PA 19063. Include the property address, parcel ID, and approximate document date with your request.

For historical research reaching back before Delaware County records began, the Pennsylvania State Archives holds land warrant and patent records from the colonial era. FamilySearch also holds digitized early Delaware County deed and mortgage records covering the 1770 to 1914 period.

Nearby Counties

Properties near Delaware County borders may have records in these neighboring county offices.

View All 67 Counties