York County PA Recorder: Deeds, Records, Landex Search, Recording Fees & UPI Rules
The York County Recorder of Deeds is the office to use when you need a recorded deed, mortgage, satisfaction piece, easement, real-estate transfer document, military discharge recording, notary bond recording, or a York County deed search. The office is not the same as the Assessment Office, Tax Claim Bureau, Clerk of Courts, Register of Wills, or Prothonotary.
This guide explains how to search York County recorded land records, how to request a deed copy, how to avoid a recording rejection, when a Pennsylvania Statement of Value is needed, how UPI certification affects recording, and which York County office handles assessment and tax questions after a deed is recorded.
What Does the York County PA Recorder of Deeds Do?
The York County Recorder of Deeds records and maintains real estate documents for York County, Pennsylvania. Use this office for recorded deeds, mortgages, quitclaim deeds, easements, satisfactions, releases, UCC documents, recorded plans, notary bond filings, and military discharge recording. Use the county Assessment Office for property valuation, parcel assessment records, tax maps, Clean and Green, and homestead/farmstead assessment matters.
Use the Recorder For
- Recorded deed and mortgage copies.
- Recording a new deed, mortgage, easement, release, or satisfaction.
- Landex / online recorded-document search.
- Records Alert Service for newly recorded documents.
- Military discharge and notary bond/commission recording.
Use Assessment For
- Parcel assessment records and tax-map questions.
- Market-value assessment questions.
- Homestead/Farmstead exclusion.
- Clean and Green assessment program.
- UPI help when the parcel identifier or owner match needs review.
Use Other Offices For
- Clerk of Courts: criminal/court case records.
- Prothonotary: civil judgments and court filings.
- Register of Wills: probate and estate records.
- Local tax collector or Tax Claim: tax payment and delinquent-tax issues.
How to Search York County Deeds and Recorded Documents
York County provides online access to recorded-document index and document information, but the online system includes an accuracy disclaimer and may not show records that are still being processed. For the most official status, compare online results with the Recorder’s in-office records or contact the office.
Start With the Official Recorder Page
Open the York County Recorder of Deeds page and use the county’s own “Landex Records Online User Access” button or linked records system. This reduces the chance of landing on a third-party site that charges extra or does not explain York County’s current records-alert and copy options.
Search by Name, Book/Page, Instrument, or Property Clues
For recent deeds, search by grantor, grantee, document type, recording date, instrument number, or book and page if you already have it. If you only know the property address, use the York County Assessment public search first to find owner names, parcel number, and deed references.
Use Owner Names Carefully
Search current and prior owner names when a property recently sold. Try surname-only searches, business names, trustee names, and spelling variations. Remember that York County’s fee page says name variations such as AKA, FKA, DBA, trustees and partners may be indexed.
Check the Document Image and Index Fields
After you find a result, compare the grantor, grantee, recording date, document type, municipality, parcel/UPI, legal description, and book/page or instrument number. Save the book/page or instrument number because the Recorder’s staff may ask for it when you request a copy.
Get a Copy the Right Way
York County’s deed-copy page explains that recorded documents are public records except military discharge papers. You can search on public computers in the Recorder’s office during open hours, or use the county’s online records access if you need remote access.
How to Record a Deed or Real Estate Document in York County PA
York County accepts recordings by mail, in person, and e-recording, but the document must meet county recording requirements. The county’s requirements page is especially important because small errors—wrong name format, missing UPI, missing municipality, wrong date, or incorrect payment—can delay recording.
Recording Must-Haves
- Document must pertain to real estate.
- Original signatures must be properly notarized.
- Document must be in English or include an English translation.
- UPI must appear before recording.
- Property location should be listed under the UPI at the top left of the document.
- Document date must be the same as or before the acknowledgement date.
Common Rejection Triggers
- Grantor name, signature, and notary acknowledgement do not match exactly.
- New grantor name does not match prior deed grantee without explanation.
- Municipality is missing above the metes-and-bounds description.
- Precise property address is missing.
- Statement of Value is missing when transfer tax is not based on full market value.
- Payment is not for the correct amount.
Confirm the Deed Is Ready to Record
The Recorder records documents; it does not draft deeds for you. If you are transferring property, correcting a deed, adding/removing an owner, transferring into a trust, or handling an estate transfer, have the document prepared by a qualified professional before submission.
Get the UPI Right Before Submission
York County’s recording requirements state that a Uniform Parcel Identifier is required on all documents before recording. If the UPI or tax assessment information is unclear, contact the Assessment Office at 717-771-3253 or 717-771-4656 before you submit.
Check Whether a Statement of Value Is Required
York County says a Pennsylvania Statement of Value is required any time you are not paying the full market value for realty transfer tax, and easements require a Statement of Value unless they are a public utility. The county fee page lists a $2 charge for the Statement of Value.
Calculate Recording Fees and Transfer Tax
Add the base recording fee, extra page fee, extra name fee, UPI/parcel fee, Statement of Value fee when applicable, and Pennsylvania/local realty transfer tax when the transaction is taxable. Pennsylvania imposes a 1% state realty transfer tax, and local transfer tax may also apply.
Submit by Mail, In Person, or E-Recording
York County’s requirements page says the county accepts recordings through mail, in person at the office, and e-recording. Use the county’s approved e-recording partners if your title company, law office, or settlement office is recording electronically.
York County Recorder Fees: Deeds, Mortgages, Copies and Extra Charges
The fee calculator below is only a planning tool. The official York County fee schedule and the Pennsylvania deed-fee calculator control the final amount. Any overage under $10 may not be returned, and the county says overages above $10 will cause the check to be returned for the proper amount.
| Item | York County Listed Amount | When It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| Deed, Mortgage, Quitclaim Deed | $86.25 base fee | Common base fee for many property-transfer and mortgage recordings before add-ons. |
| Deed of Dedication / Transferable Development Rights | $71.25 base fee | Use only when the document type matches York County’s listed category. |
| Assignment, Easement, Lease, Release, Satisfaction Piece and similar documents | $59.75 base fee | Applies to the listed document group on the county fee page. |
| Affidavits, restrictions, POA, plain releases, memorandums and misc. real estate documents | $18.50 base fee | Applies to the listed miscellaneous real-estate document group. |
| Additional pages | $2 per page over 4 pages | Base fees include 4 pages unless the county fee page says otherwise. |
| Additional names | $0.50 per name over 4 names | Grantor/grantee/name indexing can increase the fee. |
| Parcel Identification Number / UPI | $20 for each parcel identification number represented on the document as of 1/1/2025 | Important for deeds covering more than one parcel. |
| Statement of Value | $2 | Required in specific transfer-tax situations, including when not paying full market value for transfer-tax purposes. |
| Copies | $0.50 per standard page; certification $1.50 | Useful when requesting a deed copy for closing, refinance, estate, or personal records. |
| DD-214 military discharge recording | Free | Military discharge papers are not treated like ordinary public deed records. |
York County Recording Fee Planning Estimator
This estimator uses York County’s published base amounts and common add-ons. It does not include Pennsylvania/local realty transfer tax, unusual documents, rejected-document corrections, e-recording vendor charges, or legal drafting fees.
York County Recorder of Deeds Address, Phone, Hours & Map
The Recorder of Deeds is located inside the York County Administrative Center area at 28 East Market Street. For deeds and recorded land documents, use Suite 122. For assessment and tax-map questions, confirm the correct Assessment Office contact before visiting.
York County Recorder of Deeds
Recorder: Laura J. Shue
Address:
28 East Market Street, Suite 122
York, PA 17401-1590
Phone: 717-771-9295
Fax: 717-771-9582
Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:15 PM
Open Recorder Map ↗Recorder vs Assessment vs Tax Claim vs Courts: Which York County Office Should You Use?
York County land-record problems often involve more than one office. A deed can be recorded correctly but still require assessment updates, tax-bill routing, estate work, or a court filing.
| Your Task | Best Starting Office | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Find a recorded deed, mortgage, easement, satisfaction, or release. | Recorder of Deeds | The Recorder maintains recorded real estate documents and related index information. |
| Record a new deed or mortgage. | Recorder of Deeds | The Recorder accepts documents for recording when they meet fee, notarization, UPI, and formatting requirements. |
| Confirm parcel number, assessed value, tax map, Clean and Green, or Homestead/Farmstead status. | Assessment Office | The Assessment Office maintains property assessment records and public terminals for assessment information. |
| Fix a legal title problem or draft a corrective deed. | Attorney or title professional | The Recorder records documents but does not give legal advice or decide whether a deed fixes title. |
| Ask about delinquent taxes or tax-claim collection. | Tax Claim Bureau | York County says the Tax Claim Bureau handles delinquent real estate tax collection and rollback taxes for Clean and Green issues. |
| Search criminal, civil, probate, or judgment court records. | Clerk of Courts, Prothonotary, or Register of Wills | Court and estate records are not the same as recorded deed documents. |
York County Records Alert Service: What Homeowners Should Know
York County links a Records Alert Service from the Recorder page. The county notice says homeowners who signed up for the fraud/records alert before May 1, 2026 must create a new subscription in the new system because the prior subscription is no longer effective.
Why Sign Up?
A records alert can notify you when a document is recorded against a property or name you monitor. It does not prevent recording by itself, but it may help you discover a suspicious filing faster.
- Use your property owner name and property details consistently.
- Monitor spelling variations if your name is often misspelled.
- Keep your subscription email current.
What It Does Not Do
A records alert is not title insurance, not a fraud guarantee, not legal advice, and not a deed lock. If a suspicious document appears, contact the Recorder, a title professional, law enforcement if appropriate, and a Pennsylvania real-estate attorney.
- Do not ignore a suspicious alert.
- Do not assume the Recorder can erase a document without legal authority.
- Do not use an alert as a substitute for checking title before closing.
Common York County Deed and Records Mistakes
Mistakes That Delay Recording
- Submitting a deed without the required UPI.
- Using initials or name variations that do not match the prior deed and acknowledgement.
- Leaving out the municipality above the metes-and-bounds legal description.
- Forgetting the precise address needed for tax-bill routing.
- Missing the Statement of Value when the transfer is not based on full market value.
- Including Social Security numbers, bank account numbers, or loan numbers on recordable documents.
Better York County Workflow
- Use the county fee calculator or York fee page before writing a check.
- Verify parcel/UPI and owner-name matching with Assessment if needed.
- Use Landex or in-office public terminals to confirm prior deed book/page.
- Keep the recording receipt and instrument number after recording.
- Check assessment records later to confirm the ownership update moved to the tax/assessment side.
Official York County Recorder Links and What to Do After Opening Them
Use these official links for live records, current fees, recording requirements, transfer-tax forms, and office contact details. Each link includes a short “after opening” guide.
York County Recorder of Deeds
Main official page for the Recorder, Landex access, Records Alert Service, fee links, recording requirements, and office contact information.
- Use the top buttons for Landex Records Online User Access or Records Alert Service.
- Scroll to Recording Information before mailing or visiting with a document.
- Confirm the Recorder address, hours, and phone number before visiting.
- Do not rely on third-party record sites if the official page provides the same path.
York County Online Record System / Land Records Search
Official online search environment for York County property-record index and document information.
- Read the disclaimer before searching.
- Search by owner/grantor/grantee, instrument, book/page, or available index fields.
- Try prior owner names if the current owner record does not appear.
- Compare the online result with official office records if accuracy matters for closing or litigation.
York County Recording Fees
Official fee page for base recording amounts, extra pages, extra names, parcel ID/UPI charges, copies, certifications, and accepted payment notes.
- Choose the document type first.
- Add extra-page charges if the document is over 4 pages.
- Add extra-name charges if the document lists more than 4 names.
- Add $20 for each parcel identification number represented on the document.
- Add Statement of Value and transfer-tax amounts when applicable.
York County Recording Requirements PDF
Official requirements checklist for notarization, UPI, municipality, precise address, Statement of Value, dates, name consistency, and payment rules.
- Check that the document pertains to real estate.
- Confirm original signatures and proper notarization.
- Confirm UPI and property location are placed correctly.
- Check grantor names against the prior deed and acknowledgement.
- Confirm the Statement of Value rule before assuming no transfer tax is due.
How Do I Get a Copy of My Deed?
York County’s guide for finding and obtaining copies of recorded deeds.
- Read the public-records note and military discharge exception.
- Use any listed instructions to find the book/page or document information.
- Search in office for free on public computers during open hours if you are local.
- Use the official remote records link when you cannot visit the Recorder’s office.
Pennsylvania Realty Transfer Tax
State Department of Revenue page explaining the 1% Pennsylvania realty transfer tax and county Recorder collection role.
- Read the overview before deciding whether a transfer is taxable.
- Check whether a listed exemption may apply.
- Use the Realty Transfer Tax Statement of Value form when required.
- Ask a title professional or tax professional before treating a transfer as exempt.
York County Assessment Public Search
Useful when you know the property address but need owner, parcel, UPI, assessment, or deed-reference clues before searching recorded documents.
- Search by address, owner, or parcel when available.
- Confirm the property is in York County.
- Copy the parcel number/UPI and current owner name.
- Use those details in Landex or when speaking with Recorder staff.
What Should You Do Next?
| Your Situation | Best Next Step | Office / Tool |
|---|---|---|
| You need a copy of a recorded deed. | Search Landex or visit the Recorder’s office public terminals, then request copies using book/page or instrument details. | Recorder of Deeds / Landex |
| You need to record a new deed. | Have the deed prepared, notarized, UPI-checked, fee-calculated, and submitted by mail, in person, or e-recording. | Recorder of Deeds |
| You only know the street address. | Use York County Assessment public search first to identify owner, parcel/UPI, and deed-reference clues. | Assessment Office / Assessment Search |
| The owner on tax records is wrong after a deed was recorded. | Check whether the deed has finished processing, then contact Assessment if the tax/assessment record needs an update. | Recorder + Assessment Office |
| You believe a deed is fraudulent or suspicious. | Save the document number, contact the Recorder, consider Records Alert, and consult legal counsel or law enforcement if appropriate. | Recorder / Attorney / Law Enforcement |
| You are unsure whether transfer tax applies. | Review PA DOR realty transfer tax rules and ask a title company, attorney, or tax professional before recording. | PA DOR / Recorder / Professional advisor |
York County Recorder FAQs
Where is the York County PA Recorder of Deeds located?
The York County Recorder of Deeds is located at 28 East Market Street, Suite 122, York, PA 17401-1590. The Recorder’s phone number is 717-771-9295, and the office hours listed by the county are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:15 PM.
How do I search York County deeds online?
Start from the official York County Recorder of Deeds page and open the Landex Records Online User Access link or the official York County online record system. Search by grantor, grantee, document type, date, instrument number, book/page, or use Assessment records first if you only know the property address.
Are York County deeds public records?
Recorded documents in the Recorder’s office are generally public records, but military discharge papers are an exception. For sensitive records, confirm access rules directly with the Recorder’s office.
Can I photograph deed books or computer screens in the Recorder’s office?
No. York County states that the use of a camera, cell phone, or image-capturing equipment to take pictures or scan books or computer screens in the Recorder of Deeds office is prohibited under the office policy instituted November 25, 2008.
What is the base fee to record a deed in York County?
York County’s recording-fee page lists $86.25 as the base fee for a deed, mortgage, or quitclaim deed. Extra charges may apply for pages over four, names over four, parcel IDs/UPIs, Statement of Value, transfer tax, plans, copies, certifications, and other document-specific items.
Does York County require a UPI on deeds?
Yes. York County’s recording requirements say a Uniform Parcel Identifier is required on all documents before recording, and the property location should be listed under the UPI at the top left side of the document.
When is a Pennsylvania Statement of Value needed?
York County says a Pennsylvania Statement of Value is required by the state any time the transfer is not paying full market value for realty transfer tax. The county also notes that easements require a Statement of Value unless they are for a public utility.
Does the Recorder collect Pennsylvania realty transfer tax?
County Recorders of Deeds collect Pennsylvania realty transfer tax, often along with local realty transfer tax. Pennsylvania DOR states that the state realty transfer tax is imposed at 1% on the value of real estate transferred by deed, instrument, long-term lease, or other writing.
Is the Recorder the same as the Assessment Office?
No. The Recorder maintains recorded real-estate documents. The Assessment Office handles assessment records, property values, tax maps, Clean and Green, and Homestead/Farmstead exclusion matters. Some property tasks require both offices.
Is this website the official York County Recorder website?
No. County-Appraisal-District.org is an independent informational resource. It is not York County Government, the York County Recorder of Deeds, the York County Assessment Office, the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue, a title company, a law firm, or a consumer reporting agency.
Independent Educational Guide
County-Appraisal-District.org is an independent informational website. It is not affiliated with York County Government, the York County Recorder of Deeds, the York County Assessment Office, the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue, Landex, any court office, or any title company.
Recording acceptance, fee calculation, transfer-tax treatment, UPI certification, deed validity, title status, and legal ownership are controlled by the responsible government office, Pennsylvania law, and private legal/title review where applicable. Always verify current requirements with the official office before recording or relying on a document.
Property-owner and recorded-document data should not be used for employment screening, tenant screening, credit eligibility, insurance underwriting, or other regulated consumer-reporting purposes. This website is not a Consumer Reporting Agency.