Lancaster County Property Search
Lancaster County property records are official documents that contain detailed information about property ownership, location, value, and transactions involving real estate in the county. These records are filed by county residents to verify legal ownership for tax and settlement reasons, and the custodian is the Lancaster County Office of the Recorder of Deeds.
The Recorder of Deeds office records documents, such as mortgages, deeds, leases, real estate agreements, notary commissions, and non-profit organization charters for accuracy and safekeeping. The Lancaster County Property Assessment Office's main role is to assess properties and real estate within the county for accurate property tax levy. Real estate tax levy is a major revenue resource in Lancaster County, so it is important that property records are recorded and maintained properly.
A Lancaster County property search is important for verifying ownership information and property value in real estate transactions, as well as settling property-related disputes. The public can access copies of property records and related Lancaster County Public Records because they are deemed public under the Pennsylvania Right to Know Law.
Are Lancaster County Property Records Public?
In Lancaster County, property records are generally made public information in accordance with the Pennsylvania Right to Know Law. This statute provides the public with entitled access to any information recorded by an open records office in any county.
However, a record may be exempt from public disclosure under certain circumstances. Such records typically contain sensitive information that may compromise the safety or identity of the persons involved. Restricted property records typically contain the information outlined below.
- Personal Identification: Information such as social security numbers, personal finances, driver’s license numbers, phone numbers, email addresses, and similar information are omitted from being made public.
- Victim/Witness Information: Information that would endanger the life and safety of a victim or witness of a particular crime, whether past or ongoing, is exempt from disclosure.
- Law Enforcement Investigation: Records that are part of ongoing law enforcement investigations are exempt from public access typically until the investigation is fully concluded.
- Confidential Proprietary Information: Information that is deemed to be trade secrets or confidential proprietary is excluded from disclosure to protect the interests of the involved parties.
- Social Services History: If an individual applies for or receives social services within the state, then any information that identifies said individual is exempt.
- Archaeological Site Information: Records that identify the locations of sites deemed archaeological are not disclosed to the public by state or county agencies if not already known.
- Information about Endangered Species: If an endangered or threatened animal or plant species is found in a particular location or property, these records will be exempt from public disclosure.
What Do Lancaster County Property Records Contain?
Property records found in the custody of the Lancaster County Recorder of Deeds Office often include documents outlined below.
- Deeds: These are documents that show the transfer of ownership. They include information about the grantor, grantee, date of transfer, price, and legal description of the property.
- Mortgages and Mortgage Satisfactions: Mortgages detail a property’s secured loan and repayment terms, and mortgage satisfactions show confirmation that a mortgage has been repaid fully. In these records, one would find information on the borrower, lender, mortgage amount, mortgage terms, and date of satisfaction.
- Mortgage Assignments: These are records of a mortgage transfer from one lender to another and include components detailing the assignor, assignee, and borrower involved.
- Powers of Attorney: These are records created when an agent has been granted authority to act on behalf of the principal regarding a property. They include information about the principal, agent, powers granted, and duration of the authority.
- Leases: These records occur when personal property has been used as collateral to secure a loan. Their components include the debtor, secured party, and collateral description.
- Real Estate Agreements: These are documented to show a real estate transaction that has occurred and the terms agreed upon. The information under these includes the buyer, seller, property description, purchase price, and terms and conditions.
Other information typically documented includes tax records, plat maps, assessment records, liens and judgments, building and construction permits, land history, and zoning records.
Where to Perform a Lancaster County Property Lookup
A person can perform a property lookup in Lancaster County online, in person, or by phone.
Online: The Recorder of Deeds office website provides an accessible and centralized way for inquirers to access public property records. The following online options are available:
- Property Assessment search website
- LanCo View portal
- The Online Infodex system (for property records created between 1729 and 1980).
In-person: Inquirers can visit the Recorder of Deeds office and the Property Assessment Office to request for property records.
By phone: People can also make phone calls to these offices during working hours and request information concerning a property they are interested in. The individual will then need to visit the office or search via the online portals.
How to Perform a Property Owner Lookup in Lancaster County
Using the available Recorder of Deeds search portal, it is quite straightforward for inquirers to obtain property information. Individuals can visit the portal and search by providing the required information, such as the owner’s name, property address, etc.
People can also visit the property assessment search portal and search under the parcel criteria, which requires them to provide the property owner’s name. The Online Infodex System allows users to search by grantor name, grantee name, or mortgagor name for records dated from 1729 to 1980.
Inquirers can visit the Recorder of Deeds Office or Property Assessment Office and request property records by specifically providing the owner’s name.
How to Find Lancaster County Property Records Online
Inquirers can find property records on the Lancaster County Property Assessment Website and following these steps:
- Go to the Property Assessment Homepage
- Scroll down and click on “View Property Assessment Website”, this will lead to the search site.
- Use the search tool to find a property by parcel number, owner name, or address.
- To narrow the search, include township, property class, sales price, and more.
- The property records and information will be displayed after choosing the right property based on the results.
Alternatively, to use the Lancaster County Online Services:
- Visit the Recorder of Deeds Office Website
- Click on “Search Public Records”, which will open the online portal
- Either create an account or simply log in as a guest
- Search by different criteria such as owner name or address to get results
- Click on the desired result to see the property records
Meanwhile, LanCo View is a map search tool that allows users to find property records online by accessing them using a map view of the county. The steps for using LanCo are outlined below.
- Go to the LanCo View website
- In the search bar, provide the parcel address, account number, or sub-plan to request records and get search results
- Alternatively, one can zoom in on the map and click on a property plot. The address of the plot will be shown, and users can proceed to get more information on that property.
To find Lancaster County property records via the Online Infodex System, follow the steps below.
- Visit the Infodex System Site
- Choose to search by name by providing the record year range and the full name of either the grantor, grantee, or mortgagor.
- Based on the search, the system will display an index book
- Click on “Go to Section” to go to the specific section where the requested property is to get information about the property location, grantee, etc
- Click on “Go to Document” and use the dropdown menu to specify which document is required.
Third-party databases: There are several third-party tools that provide property records. Users can search for property in Lancaster country by providing relevant information. These typically include the name of the owner, property description, document type, record, and record year. Inquirers would need to pay a fee for their request to be processed, and this depends on the document type, the number of pages required to print, and how many copies.
How to Find Property Owner by Address for Free
The Lancaster County official online search tools allow inquirers to access the property owner by providing the property’s address for free. People can use the Lancaster County Property Search Website, Lancaster County Online Services, and LanCo View to obtain ownership information by address. Alternatively, interested persons may visit the Recorder of Deeds Office or Property Assessment Office and request by providing the necessary information to facilitate the search, such as the property address or the property owner’s name.
Lancaster County Property Tax Lookup
Individuals can access a property’s tax assessment details using the online search options made available by Lancaster County. These provide information on a property’s tax assessment, exemption status, and delinquent taxes.
People can also contact the Lancaster County Tax Claim Bureau for details on property tax sales, unpaid taxes, and tax liens.
A tax lookup is necessary for various situations, including:
- Tax Payment: A property owner can look up their property’s tax when they need to verify the amount to be paid and make payment.
- Purchase: Potential buyers may seek to review tax information to understand the tax liability.
- Legal proceedings and dispute resolution: Individuals may need to access tax records to determine the property’s value and tax obligations during legal proceedings or to resolve a dispute.
- Investors can obtain tax information to analyze if a property is profitable. Individuals can determine tax delinquency to resolve it and pay off tax liens.
How to Find Lancaster County Property Appraiser
Individuals can find property appraisers by contacting the Lancaster County Property Assessment Office, searching online, and checking their local estate agency or appraisal organizations that operate in Lancaster County. Appraisers typically offer property evaluations, real estate appraisals, property tax assessments, divorce, commercial, relocation, and foreclosure appraisals.
Lancaster County Property Assessor
The Lancaster County Property Assessor office offers several services, including:
- Assess property value for local property tax levy,
- Manage tax assessment appeals,
- Conduct Mass Appraisal for real estate properties in the county
- Apply legal exemptions on eligible properties
- Disseminate property tax information.
The contact information of the Lancaster County Property Assessor can be found below:
Office Address
150 North Queen Street
Suite 310
Lancaster, PA 17603
Phone: (717) 299-8381
