Erie County PA Recorder of Deeds: Search, Fees & Office Guide

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Erie County, Pennsylvania · Deeds, mortgages, land records, copies and recording

Erie County PA Recorder of Deeds: Search Records and Use the Correct Office

The Erie County Recorder of Deeds is the land-records division of the Erie County Clerk of Records. Use it when you need a recorded deed, mortgage, satisfaction, assignment, easement, lease, subdivision plan or another document affecting real estate in Erie County, Pennsylvania.

If you only know a street address, start with Erie County’s property search to identify the parcel and useful ownership or deed clues. If you already know a grantor, grantee, recording reference or approximate recording date, move directly to the Recorder’s county-designated INFOCON land-record system.

Open official Recorder page Open INFOCON land records Search by property address
Grantor or grantee name Property address Parcel number Approximate recording year Deed or mortgage reference
ERIE COUNTY LAND RECORD DESK PA · ROOM 121
Recorded deed Grantor · Grantee · Legal description · Recording reference
Mortgage record Mortgagor · Mortgagee · Assignment · Satisfaction
Plans and other land records Maps · Easements · Rights-of-way · Leases · Agreements
Correct jurisdiction: this guide covers Erie County, Pennsylvania—not Erie County, New York.
A deed search and a property assessment search are not the same thing. The Recorder of Deeds maintains recorded real-estate instruments. Erie County Assessment maintains parcel and assessment information. Civil judgments and many court liens are handled through the Prothonotary rather than the Recorder.
Office

Erie County Courthouse, Room 121.

Public hours

Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM–4:30 PM.

Phone

814-451-6246.

Online records

County-designated INFOCON index and images.

Current deed fee

$87 base fee on the county schedule effective Dec. 1, 2025.

Start with the right system

Which Erie County office or website should you use?

Most search problems happen because the user starts in the wrong database. Match the task to the record custodian before paying for access or ordering a copy.

Deed, mortgage or easement

Use the Recorder of Deeds and its INFOCON land-record index.

Search walkthrough
Only have an address

Use Erie County’s property search first to identify the parcel and useful record clues.

Address-first method
Assessment or parcel data

Use Erie County Assessment rather than assuming the Recorder maintains tax-assessment data.

Official property search
Civil case or judgment

Use the Erie County Prothonotary case-search system for civil-court records.

Official case search

Erie County Recorder of Deeds guide

Use these links to jump directly to the task that brought you here.

Official search walkthrough

How to search Erie County PA Recorder of Deeds records online

Erie County’s official Recorder page directs online land-record users to INFOCON Online Index and Images. INFOCON is a county-designated outside system rather than a free Erie County webpage, so understand its access model before creating an account.

Begin on the official Erie County Recorder page Confirm that the page says Recorder of Deeds (Land Records) and that you are on the Erie County, Pennsylvania court website.
Open Erie County Recorder of Deeds
Choose “Infocon Online Index and Images” The Recorder lists INFOCON as its internet-access resource for recorded land records. You can also open the service directly, but starting from the county page helps confirm that you are using the correct system.
Open INFOCON County Access
Read the subscriber terms before paying INFOCON currently describes County Access as a fee-based subscriber service. Its published terms list a $25 nonrefundable account activation fee, an access rate of $1.10 per minute and a $25 minimum monthly usage invoice when search activity occurs. Verify the current terms on the service before subscribing.
Review INFOCON terms and fees
Select Pennsylvania, Erie County and the correct Recorder database INFOCON lists several Erie County Recorder datasets for different periods. For newer recorded documents, choose the current Recorder of Deeds database; older deeds, mortgages, maps and index books may require a historical database.
Check available Erie County databases
Search the party name with a broad first attempt For a deed, search the grantor—the person or entity transferring property—or the grantee receiving it. For a mortgage, search the mortgagor or mortgagee. Try the surname or business name first and narrow with dates or document type after you see how the index formats results.
Open the index result and verify the document Compare the recording date, document type, parties, book/page or instrument reference, parcel clues and property description. Do not assume the first matching surname belongs to your property.
View the recorded image when available INFOCON lists images for Erie County’s Recorder databases. Review the actual recorded document when you need the legal description, deed language, signatures, acknowledgment, mortgage details or recording stamp.
Use the Recorder directly when the online index is not enough For an unclear historical reference, certified copy, recording question or document that cannot be located online, contact Room 121 at 814-451-6246 or recorder@eriecountypa.gov.
Email the Recorder of Deeds
Cost-saving search tip: because INFOCON charges based on access time, prepare the owner names, approximate recording year, parcel information and any prior deed reference before opening a paid search session.
When you only know the property

How to find an Erie County deed when you only have an address

A Recorder index is usually organized around recorded parties and instruments rather than a consumer-style street-address search. Erie County’s property portal can therefore be a useful first step.

Open Erie County’s official Property and Tax Records Search Use the county address search rather than a commercial deed site.
Open Erie County property search
Enter the house number and street name carefully The county instructs users to enter the street name without suffixes such as Street, St., Road or Rd. Use the separate direction control when the address includes East, West, North or South.
Record the parcel number and useful transfer clues A parcel number can help distinguish similar properties and can be valuable when discussing the property with county staff or matching land-record references.
Move to INFOCON with the strongest name or reference Use the Recorder’s land-record system to retrieve the deed or other recorded instrument rather than treating the tax/assessment page as the deed itself.
Confirm the legal description in the recorded document A mailing or situs address is useful for discovery, but the deed’s recorded legal description and recording reference are more important for title research.
Owner-information access has a separate county rule. Erie County’s current property-search page says registration is not required to search property records, but access to the dedicated owner-information feature requires a registered account and a $100 Professional Membership payment. This is separate from INFOCON’s Recorder-record subscription fees.
Historical coverage

Which Erie County Recorder database covers your year?

INFOCON’s participating-office list separates Erie County land records by era and record type. Choosing the right dataset can save search time, especially for records before 1996.

Erie County Recorder databases listed by INFOCON
Database Coverage shown Best use
Recorder of Deeds R1 1996 to current Modern deeds and other Recorder instruments.
Recorder History R2 1976–1995, grantor/grantee Party-name deed and land-record searches for this period.
Recorder History R3 1976–1995, mortgagor only Historical mortgage searching.
ROD Deed Books R6 Prior to 1976, Books 1–1191 Older deed-book research.
ROD Mortgage Books R5 Prior to 1976, Books 1–1052 Older mortgage-book research.
ROD Maps R4 1976–1995 Recorded map and plan research.
ROD Contract Books R7 Books 1–181 Recorded contract-book research.
ROD Right of Way Maps R8 Historical collection Right-of-way map research.
ROD Misc. Books R9 Historical collection Miscellaneous recorded instruments.
ROD Russell Index RX Index inquiry Older index research when a direct modern search is insufficient.
Older record strategy: if you know a deed book and page from a later deed, mortgage, abstract or title report, use that reference directly instead of beginning with a broad surname search.
Ownership-history workflow

How to trace an Erie County property’s deed history

A useful deed-history search works backward from a verified current or recent instrument. The goal is to follow recorded references rather than simply collecting documents with a similar owner name.

1. Identify the correct parcel Use the county property search, address, legal description and parcel number to avoid confusing neighboring or similarly named properties.
2. Find the newest reliable deed Search the grantee or grantor in the applicable Recorder database and open the recorded deed image.
3. Read prior-deed references Deeds often refer to an earlier source of title. Follow the cited book/page or recording reference backward.
4. Compare legal descriptions Confirm that acreage, lot number, subdivision, municipality and boundary language continue to describe the same property interest.
5. Watch for partial interests Estate transfers, quitclaim deeds, corrective deeds, subdivisions and family conveyances may transfer less than the entire interest.
6. Expand beyond deeds when needed Mortgages, satisfactions, easements, agreements and plans can explain interests that a simple owner list does not reveal.
A web search is not a professional title examination. Recorder staff preserve and provide records but are not permitted to give legal advice. If title ownership, liens, easements, boundary rights or a real-estate transaction depend on the result, use an attorney, title professional or other qualified real-estate professional.
What the Recorder maintains

What records can you find through the Erie County Recorder of Deeds?

Common Erie County land-record documents
Document What it can help establish Useful search terms
Deed Recorded transfer of a real-property interest, including grantor, grantee and legal description. Grantor, grantee, date, prior deed reference.
Mortgage Recorded security interest associated with real estate. Mortgagor, mortgagee, recording date.
Mortgage satisfaction / release Evidence that a recorded mortgage obligation has been satisfied or released from the public record. Borrower, lender, original mortgage reference.
Mortgage assignment Transfer of a recorded mortgage interest to another party. Assignor, assignee, original mortgage.
Easement / right of way Recorded rights affecting access, utilities or use of land. Property owner, utility, municipality, recording reference.
Lease / land contract Certain recordable leasehold or installment-sale interests. Landlord/tenant or seller/buyer names.
Subdivision / condominium plan Recorded plan information involving lots, units and development layouts. Plan name, municipality, developer, recording date.
UCC filing Certain Uniform Commercial Code filings handled by the Recorder. Debtor, secured party, filing reference.
Copies and certified records

How to get a copy of an Erie County deed

If you only need to read a deed, an online document image may be sufficient for research. If a bank, court, title company, estate, government office or legal transaction specifically requires a certified record, ask the Recorder for a certified copy rather than printing an ordinary online image.

Locate the document first Write down the grantor/grantee names, recording date, document type and book/page or instrument reference if available.
Decide whether you need plain or certified Do not pay for certification unless the organization receiving the document actually requires it.
Contact the Recorder for the current ordering method Call 814-451-6246 or email recorder@eriecountypa.gov when you need office-assisted copying, certification, pickup, email or fax service.
Email Room 121
Quote the exact recording reference A precise reference reduces the risk of receiving a different document for a person with the same or similar name.
The current Recorder fee schedule lists $0.25 per page for pickup, email or fax copies and $1 per document for certification. Confirm the total with the office before ordering because fees can change.
Current county fee schedule

Erie County Recorder of Deeds recording fees

Erie County’s posted Recorder fee schedule is effective December 1, 2025. Recording fees are separate from Pennsylvania and local realty transfer tax, vendor charges and other transaction costs.

Selected Recorder fees currently posted by Erie County
Instrument Base fee Important additions
Deed $87.00 Extra names, pages and parcels can increase the total.
Mortgage $87.00 Extra names, pages and parcels can apply.
Excerpt of Adjudication / Decree $87.00 Confirm document-specific total.
Declaration of Acquisition $87.00 Confirm document-specific total.
Mortgage Satisfaction $59.75 Additional-item charges may apply.
Mortgage Assignment $59.75 Confirm names, parcels and pages.
Mortgage Release $59.75 Confirm document-specific total.
Mortgage Subordination $18.50 Additional items can change total.
Assignments of Rents & Leases $18.50 Additional-item charges may apply.
Land Contract / Installment Sale Agreement $59.75 Confirm transfer-tax treatment if applicable.
Easement / Right of Way $59.75 Confirm pages, names and parcels.
Agreement exempt from transfer tax $18.50 Tax exemption and document classification must be correct.
Agreement subject to transfer tax $59.75 Transfer tax is separate.
Lease — 30 years or more $59.75 Confirm tax treatment and pages.
Lease — under 30 years $18.50 Additional-item charges may apply.
Subdivision / land development / similar plan $30.00 Confirm plan type before submission.
UCC-1 / UCC-3 filing $100.00 Confirm the correct filing office for the transaction.
All other instruments $18.50 Only when the instrument properly falls into this category.
Names over 4 $0.50 per additional indexed name.
Pages over 4 $2.00 per additional page.
Additional parcels $0.50 per additional parcel.
A Statement of Value is listed at $2.00 on the county fee schedule. Never calculate a recording check from the base fee alone when a document has extra pages, names, parcels, transfer tax or another required charge.
Open official Recorder fee schedule Call 814-451-6246 to verify total
Pennsylvania deed tax

Realty transfer tax and the Statement of Value

Pennsylvania imposes a 1% state realty transfer tax on the value of real estate transferred by taxable deed or other qualifying instrument. An additional local realty transfer tax commonly applies, and the Recorder of Deeds collects the applicable state and local amounts when a taxable document is recorded.

Do not assume that every deed owes tax or that every transaction uses the sale price. Certain family, estate, government, organizational and other transactions may qualify for an exemption or require a different valuation method.

When REV-183 may be required

Pennsylvania’s instructions for the Realty Transfer Tax Statement of Value (REV-183) say the form is generally filed in duplicate with the Recorder when:

The full value or consideration is not stated in the deed.
The transfer is without consideration or is a gift.
A realty transfer tax exemption is being claimed.
The transaction needs the assessed value and applicable CLR factor for valuation.
Pennsylvania’s instructions state that a Statement of Value is not required when a transfer is wholly exempt based on certain family relationships or a public-utility easement, although the Department recommends a Statement of Value accompany recorded documents. Confirm your transaction before filing.

Current Erie County CLR factor

For Pennsylvania realty transfer tax valuation, the published Erie County Common Level Ratio factor is 1.99 for documents accepted from July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027. The factor changes periodically, so use the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue’s current list rather than copying an older value from a prior fee sheet.

Open official REV-183 PA Realty Transfer Tax guide Check current CLR factors
Before submitting a deed or instrument

How to prepare to record a document in Erie County

Recording a legal instrument is different from searching for an existing one. A document can be rejected when required information, execution, acknowledgment, tax material or payment is incomplete. Because Recorder employees cannot provide legal advice, document preparation should be handled carefully.

Identify the exact instrument you are recording Determine whether the submission is a deed, mortgage, satisfaction, assignment, easement, agreement, plan or another instrument. The classification affects fees and tax treatment.
Use the current Recorder fee schedule Count pages, indexed names and parcels before calculating the recording fee.
Open Erie County’s current fee PDF
Determine whether realty transfer tax or REV-183 applies Use Pennsylvania Department of Revenue guidance rather than guessing from the nominal consideration shown on the deed.
Review official transfer-tax guidance
Confirm execution and acknowledgment requirements Make sure signatures, notarial acknowledgment and other legally required elements are complete before presenting the document.
Verify the property and parcel information Compare the legal description, parcel data and prior recorded reference against the intended property.
Call Room 121 when the fee or filing route is uncertain The Recorder can explain office procedures and fee handling even though staff cannot draft the document or give legal advice.
Call the Recorder: 814-451-6246
Choose counter, mail or eligible eRecording submission Erie County’s official Recorder page lists Simplifile and CSC as eRecording resources. Vendor enrollment and service charges are separate from county recording fees.
Simplifile eRecording  ·  CSC eRecording
Do not ask Recorder staff to choose a deed type or draft legal language. Erie County specifically warns that Recorder employees cannot provide legal advice regarding real estate transactions. A deed changes legal rights; use a Pennsylvania attorney or qualified real-estate professional when document choice or wording matters.
Visit or contact the land-record office

Erie County Recorder of Deeds office address, phone and hours

Recorder of Deeds — Land Records
Erie County Courthouse
140 West Sixth Street
Room 121
Erie, PA 16501

Phone: 814-451-6246
TDD: 814-451-6237
Fax: 814-451-6213
Email: recorder@eriecountypa.gov

Administrative hours

Monday: 8:00 AM–4:30 PM
Tuesday: 8:00 AM–4:30 PM
Wednesday: 8:00 AM–4:30 PM
Thursday: 8:00 AM–4:30 PM
Friday: 8:00 AM–4:30 PM
Saturday–Sunday: Closed

Verify office details in Erie County’s directory
Before making a courthouse trip: call first if you need a certified copy, unusual historical record, same-day recording, transfer-tax calculation or a specific recording procedure. Office availability and filing procedures can change even when normal administrative hours remain the same.
Search troubleshooting

Why can’t you find the Erie County deed?

Common land-record search problems and what to try next
Problem Likely reason Next action
Address search finds property but not deed Recorder indexes commonly rely on parties and recording references rather than the consumer street address. Use parcel/transfer clues to identify a party name, then search INFOCON.
Owner surname has too many matches Common names, family transfers or multiple properties. Add a recording-date range, first name, document type or legal-description clue.
Nothing appears in the 1996-current database The document may predate the current index. Use R2/R3 for 1976–1995 or older deed/mortgage book databases.
Current owner does not appear as expected Recent deed, estate transfer, trust, entity ownership or indexing variation. Search both sides of the transaction and confirm the latest recording with Room 121.
You found a mortgage but no satisfaction Different indexing, assignment history, release under another lender name or no recorded satisfaction yet. Search the original parties, assignees and mortgage reference; contact a title professional when lien status matters.
Search result is Erie County, New York Search engines mix the two jurisdictions. Confirm the government URL contains eriecountypa.gov or courts.eriecountypa.gov.
Need a civil judgment instead of a deed Not all liens and court matters are Recorder records. Use the Erie County Prothonotary case search.
Search Prothonotary records Search official parcel number
Before relying on a record

Five checks that prevent the most common deed-search mistakes

Jurisdiction: verify Erie County, Pennsylvania.
Parties: confirm both grantor and grantee, not surname alone.
Property: compare parcel and legal-description information.
Date: make sure you are searching the correct historical database.
Instrument: distinguish deed, mortgage, assignment, release and court record.
Authority: use the actual recorded image when the wording matters.
Frequently asked questions

Erie County Recorder of Deeds FAQs

Where is the Erie County PA Recorder of Deeds office?

The Recorder of Deeds is in Room 121 of the Erie County Courthouse, 140 West Sixth Street, Erie, Pennsylvania 16501. The office phone is 814-451-6246.

Can I search Erie County deeds online?

Yes. Erie County’s official Recorder page points users to INFOCON Online Index and Images for internet access to land records. INFOCON is a fee-based subscriber service, so review its current pricing before creating an account.

Can I search an Erie County deed by street address?

If you only have an address, begin with Erie County’s official Property and Tax Records Search. Use the parcel and available property clues to identify the correct land record, then search the Recorder index by party name or recording reference.

How far back do Erie County online deed records go?

INFOCON lists a current Recorder database from 1996 forward, grantor/grantee history for 1976–1995, deed books prior to 1976 and several additional historical Recorder databases. Use the database matching the document year and type.

How much does Erie County charge to record a deed?

The Erie County fee schedule effective December 1, 2025 lists an $87 base deed recording fee. Additional names over four, pages over four, additional parcels, a Statement of Value, transfer taxes or other charges can increase the total.

How much is a copy of an Erie County recorded document?

The current county fee schedule lists pickup, email or fax copies at $0.25 per page and certification at $1 per document. Contact the Recorder to confirm the total and ordering procedure for the document you need.

Does the Recorder of Deeds collect property taxes?

No. The Recorder records real-estate instruments and collects recording-related charges and applicable realty transfer tax. Assessment and property-tax functions are separate county or local government functions.

What is Pennsylvania’s realty transfer tax?

Pennsylvania generally imposes a 1% state realty transfer tax on taxable real-estate transfers, with additional local realty transfer tax commonly applicable. Certain transactions qualify for exemptions. The Recorder collects applicable transfer taxes when documents are recorded.

What is the current Erie County common level ratio factor for transfer-tax purposes?

The Pennsylvania Department of Revenue lists an Erie County real-estate valuation factor of 1.99 for documents accepted from July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027. Check the Department’s current factor list because it changes periodically.

Can the Erie County Recorder help me prepare a deed?

No. Recorder staff can explain office procedures and public-record access, but Erie County states that staff cannot give legal advice about real estate or prepare legal documents for you. Consult a lawyer or qualified real-estate professional when legal rights or deed language are involved.

Bottom line

Use the Recorder when you need the recorded land document—not just property information

For an Erie County Recorder of Deeds search, the fastest route depends on what you already know. If you have a grantor, grantee or recording reference, begin with the Recorder’s INFOCON system. If all you have is a street address, identify the property through Erie County’s official parcel search first and then move to the recorded land document.

Use Room 121 for deeds, mortgages, satisfactions, assignments, easements, plans and other recorded real-estate instruments. Use Assessment for parcel and assessment information, and use the Prothonotary for civil cases and judgments. When recording a new document, verify the current fee, transfer-tax treatment and filing requirements before submitting it.

Official Recorder of Deeds INFOCON records access Official property search
Information reviewed October 20, 2026.

Office details, public-record routes, record coverage and recording fees can change. For a transaction, certified record, unusual historical search or legal question, verify current procedure directly with the Erie County Recorder of Deeds and applicable Pennsylvania agency.

This guide is an independent informational resource and is not the Erie County government, the Erie County Clerk of Records, INFOCON or the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue.

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