Lehigh County Property Records and Assessments

Lehigh County property records are maintained at the Government Center in Allentown, Pennsylvania. The county Assessor provides a free property search by address or parcel ID number, giving open access to ownership data, assessed values, and property details. The Recorder of Deeds holds recorded land instruments including deeds and mortgages. You can search Lehigh County property records online through the county assessor portal and the Pennsylvania statewide land records system. Both tools provide fast access to current and historical property information for Lehigh County parcels.

Lehigh County Assessor and Recorder of Deeds

The Lehigh County Assessor is located at the Government Center, Room 517, 17 South 7th Street, Allentown, PA 18101. The phone number is (610) 782-3038, and the fax is (610) 871-1442. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. The Government Center houses multiple county offices, making it a central hub for property record research in Lehigh County.

The Assessor maintains property tax and ownership records for all taxable parcels in Lehigh County. The office offers a free property search by address or parcel ID number. This tool requires no registration and is open to any member of the public. Search results include property ownership, assessment values, property characteristics, and current tax information. This free access makes Lehigh County one of the more open counties for basic property research in Pennsylvania.

Note: The Recorder of Deeds is also located at the Lehigh County Government Center. Check the county website for the specific room number and direct phone number for the Recorder's office.

Searching Lehigh County Property Records Online

Lehigh County's free assessment search at lehighcounty.org is a strong starting point for any property research. The tool lets you search by address or parcel ID number without registering for an account. Results show current ownership, assessed values, land and building values, and basic property characteristics. This is ideal for verifying who owns a property or checking tax assessment data in Lehigh County.

For recorded land instruments, the Pennsylvania statewide portal at pa.uslandrecords.com provides access to deeds, mortgages, and other documents filed with the Lehigh County Recorder of Deeds. You can search by grantor and grantee name, document type, and date range. Some records are available at no cost. Image downloads may require a subscription or per-image fee. This portal is widely used by title companies and real estate attorneys working in Lehigh County.

GIS mapping tools for Lehigh County allow users to view parcel boundaries on an interactive map. Parcels can be clicked to bring up ownership and assessment data linked from the assessor database. This visual approach is useful for understanding property boundaries and identifying neighboring parcels in the densely developed areas around Allentown. The Pennsylvania State Archives land records guide helps researchers trace older Lehigh County records back to the county's formation in 1812.

Note: The free assessor search covers current assessment data. Historical deed research typically requires using the PA Land Records portal or visiting the Government Center in Allentown.

Property Documents in Lehigh County

The Lehigh County Recorder of Deeds holds the official set of recorded land and legal documents. Deeds are the most searched records. They transfer ownership of real property and form the chain of title for each parcel in Lehigh County. Mortgage records document loans secured by real property. Mortgage satisfactions confirm that liens have been cleared when loans are repaid. Together, deed and mortgage records tell the ownership and lending history of any property in the county.

Additional Lehigh County recorded documents include easements, rights-of-way, subdivision plans, mechanics' liens, UCC filings, and powers of attorney affecting real property. Each serves a specific legal purpose and becomes part of the permanent public record when filed. Researchers conducting title searches in Lehigh County must review all of these document types to identify any encumbrances on a property.

Judgment liens from civil court actions appear in the Unified Judicial System portal. State-level UCC searches are available through the Pennsylvania Department of State. The PA Department of Revenue handles property-related state tax records.

Pennsylvania Right-to-Know Law and Open Records Access

Pennsylvania's Right-to-Know Law, codified at 65 P.S. § 67.301, gives the public a right to access government records. Lehigh County property records are presumed public under this law. Deeds, mortgage records, and assessment data can be viewed during regular office hours at the Government Center in Allentown. No formal written request is needed for routine record access.

If access is denied, you may appeal to the Pennsylvania Office of Open Records. The OOR is the statewide body that handles Right-to-Know appeals and issues binding decisions for local and state agencies. The Pennsylvania Local Government Commission provides guidance on how county offices throughout Pennsylvania must comply with open records requirements.

Lehigh County GIS and Online Parcel Data

Lehigh County's GIS system provides interactive mapping of all parcels within the county. Users can view parcel boundaries, ownership, and zoning data on a map of the Allentown area and surrounding municipalities. The GIS tools are accessible through the county website and link to the assessor database. This allows you to identify a property visually and then pull up its detailed tax and ownership records in one step.

The free assessor search by address or parcel ID makes Lehigh County a leader in public property record access. You can look up any parcel in the county without an account or a fee for the basic assessment data. For document images and recorded instrument searches, the PA Land Records portal supplements the local tools. Together, these systems cover most property research tasks for Lehigh County without requiring a visit to Allentown.

Note: GIS data is updated on a schedule set by the county. Recent sales or recording activity may not appear immediately. Verify the latest data with the assessor or recorder for time-sensitive needs.

Getting Copies of Lehigh County Property Records

Copies of Lehigh County property records are available through the Government Center in Allentown, online portals, or by mail. In-person visits are the fastest way to get copies of recorded documents. The Government Center at 17 South 7th Street, Allentown is open Monday through Friday. Bring the parcel ID, owner name, or document details to help staff locate the record.

Online copies are available through the PA Land Records portal at pa.uslandrecords.com. Registered users can view and download document images. The free assessor search at lehighcounty.org lets you print assessment data directly from the browser. The Pennsylvania Land Title Association can connect you with licensed title professionals who perform full property searches and certified title reports in Lehigh County.

Mail requests to the Recorder of Deeds should include the document details, your return address, and a check for fees. Call (610) 782-3038 to confirm the current fee schedule and get the mailing address for the specific recorder's office room before sending your request.

Nearby Counties

Lehigh County is surrounded by several other Pennsylvania counties, each with their own property records offices.

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