York County Public Records
How to Find Public Records in York County in 2026
Members of the public seeking government documents in Pennsylvania will find that YorkCountyRecords.us aggregates publicly available information related to records maintained by York County agencies. The site may provide access to data associated with property assessments, court filings, and other government-generated documents, though completeness and currency of records may vary. York County maintains official records across multiple departments, and the categories of documents accessible to the public include:
- Court records (civil, criminal, family, and probate)
- Property deeds, mortgages, and assessment records
- Vital records (birth, death, marriage, and divorce)
- Business licenses and fictitious name registrations
- Tax and land records
- Voting and election records
- County commission meeting minutes and agendas
- Law enforcement incident reports (where permitted)
Records can be searched through official court resources, clerk offices, public access terminals, and online tools.
Online Access: The York County Assessment Office property records database provides online access to property assessment data searchable by owner name, parcel number, or address. The York County Prothonotary case search portal allows members of the public to search civil court filings, judgments, and federal tax liens without prior registration. The York County government website hosts additional departmental portals for deeds, elections, and other record categories.
In-Person Requests: Members of the public may inspect records in person at the relevant county office. The York County Prothonotary Office, located at 28 East Market Street, York, PA 17401, accepts walk-in requests during regular business hours, Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. Staff at the public counter assist requestors in identifying and retrieving responsive documents.
Written/Mail Requests: Written requests should be directed to the appropriate office by mail, identifying the record type, date range, and any known identifying information such as a case number or parcel ID. Under Pennsylvania's Right-to-Know Law, 65 P.S. § 67.901, agencies are required to respond to written requests within five business days of receipt.
Phone/Email: The York County Prothonotary Office may be reached by phone at (717) 771-9611. The York County Assessment Office can be contacted at (717) 771-9232. Email contact information for individual offices is available through the York County official website.
What Are Public Records in York County?
Public records in York County are defined under Pennsylvania law as any document, paper, letter, map, book, tape, photograph, film, sound recording, or other material, regardless of physical form or characteristics, created or received by a Commonwealth agency or local agency in connection with a transaction of public business. This definition is established under 65 P.S. § 67.102, the Pennsylvania Right-to-Know Law.
The following record types are maintained by York County agencies and are accessible to the public, subject to applicable exemptions:
| Record Type | Maintaining Office |
|---|---|
| Civil and criminal court records | Prothonotary / Clerk of Courts |
| Property deeds and mortgages | Recorder of Deeds |
| Property assessments | Assessment Office |
| Vital records (birth, death, marriage) | Pennsylvania Department of Health / Register of Wills |
| Probate and estate records | Register of Wills |
| Business/fictitious name filings | Prothonotary |
| Tax records | Tax Claim Bureau |
| Election and voter records | York County Election Office |
| Meeting minutes and agendas | County Commissioner's Office |
| Zoning and land use records | Planning Commission |
The York County Assessment Office property database provides direct online access to parcel-level assessment data. Civil case filings and judgment records are searchable through the Prothonotary's online case search system.
Is York County an Open Records County?
York County operates in full compliance with Pennsylvania's statewide open records framework. Under the Pennsylvania Right-to-Know Law (65 P.S. § 67.301), all records of a local agency are presumed to be public records unless they fall within a specific statutory exemption. The law, enacted in 2008 and substantially strengthened from its predecessor, places the burden of proof on the agency to demonstrate that a record is exempt from disclosure rather than on the requestor to justify access.
As stated by the Pennsylvania Office of Open Records, "The Right-to-Know Law presumes that government records are public. An agency that wants to withhold a record must prove that the record is exempt." This presumption of openness applies to all York County departments, including the Prothonotary, Recorder of Deeds, Assessment Office, and the Board of County Commissioners.
York County does not maintain a separate county-level open records ordinance that supersedes state law. All public records requests submitted to county agencies are processed in accordance with the procedures and timelines established by the Pennsylvania Right-to-Know Law. The Pennsylvania Office of Open Records serves as the oversight body for appeals and compliance matters statewide.
How Much Does It Cost to Get Public Records in York County?
The cost to obtain public records in York County depends on the record type, the format requested, and the office responsible for maintaining the document. Under Pennsylvania's Right-to-Know Law, agencies may charge fees for duplication but may not charge for the time spent searching for or retrieving records.
Current standard fees applicable to most York County offices include:
| Fee Type | Standard Amount |
|---|---|
| Black-and-white paper copies (letter/legal) | $0.25 per page |
| Certification of a record | Varies by office |
| Electronic copies (where available) | No charge in many cases |
| Postage for mailed copies | Actual cost |
| Inspection of records | No charge |
The Pennsylvania Office of Open Records has established that "an agency may charge the fee for duplication established by the agency's fee schedule, provided the fee does not exceed the cost of duplication." Certification fees at the Recorder of Deeds and Prothonotary offices may differ from standard copy fees and are set by individual office fee schedules. Accepted payment methods at York County offices include cash, check, and money order; credit card acceptance varies by department. Fee waivers are not broadly mandated under state law but may be granted at agency discretion in limited circumstances.
Does York County Have Free Public Records?
Free inspection of public records is available at York County government offices during regular business hours. Under Pennsylvania law, agencies are not permitted to charge a fee for the inspection of public records; fees apply only when copies are requested. Members of the public may review documents at the public counter of the relevant office at no cost.
Several online resources provide free access to York County records without requiring registration or payment:
- The York County property assessment database provides free online access to parcel data, ownership information, and assessed values.
- The York County Prothonotary case search portal allows free online searches of civil court filings, judgments, and related case information.
- The York County government website provides free access to meeting minutes, agendas, budgets, and other administrative documents.
- The Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System Web Portal offers free statewide court docket searches, including York County cases.
Free inspection differs from free copies. While viewing a record in person or online carries no charge, obtaining a printed or certified copy is subject to the fee schedule described above.
Who Can Request Public Records in York County?
Any person may submit a public records request to a York County agency under the Pennsylvania Right-to-Know Law. The law does not restrict access to Pennsylvania residents; non-residents retain the same right to request records as residents of the Commonwealth. Requestors are not required to provide identification or state the purpose of their request when seeking access to public records.
Specific conditions that apply to public records requests in York County include:
- Identification: Not required for standard public records requests, though some offices may ask for identification when processing requests for sensitive record categories.
- Residency: Not required. Any individual, regardless of state of residence, may submit a request.
- Purpose: Not required to be stated for most record types.
- Restrictions by record type: Certain records, such as juvenile court files, adoption records, and sealed court documents, are subject to access restrictions regardless of the requestor's identity.
Individuals requesting their own records, such as personal court filings or property records, follow the same process as any other requestor. Requests for records pertaining to another individual are subject to the same statutory framework, with exemptions applying where personal privacy interests are protected under 65 P.S. § 67.708.
What Records Are Confidential in York County?
Not all government records in York County are available for public inspection. Pennsylvania law identifies specific categories of records that are exempt from disclosure. The following record types are withheld from public access under applicable state and federal law:
- Sealed court records: Records sealed by judicial order are not accessible to the general public.
- Juvenile records: Records pertaining to juvenile proceedings are confidential under Pennsylvania law.
- Ongoing criminal investigation records: Records compiled in connection with a criminal investigation are exempt while the investigation is active.
- Personal identifying information: Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, and similar data are redacted or withheld.
- Medical and health records: Protected under both state law and the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).
- Adoption records: Sealed by statute and accessible only under specific legal circumstances.
- Child welfare and protective services records: Confidential under Pennsylvania child protective services law.
- Personnel records: Employee records are exempt with limited exceptions for salary and position information.
- Trade secrets and proprietary business information: Exempt where disclosure would cause competitive harm.
- Security plans and infrastructure details: Withheld to protect public safety.
These exemptions are codified under 65 P.S. § 67.708, which enumerates the categories of records that agencies may withhold. When an agency denies a request, the requestor has the right to appeal to the Pennsylvania Office of Open Records within 15 business days of the denial.
York County Recorder's Office: Contact Information and Hours
The following offices maintain the principal categories of public records in York County, Pennsylvania.
York County Recorder of Deeds
28 East Market Street, Room 105
York, PA 17401
(717) 771-9514
York County Recorder of Deeds
Office Hours: Monday – Friday, 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM
York County Prothonotary Office
28 East Market Street
York, PA 17401
(717) 771-9611
York County Prothonotary Office
Office Hours: Monday – Friday, 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM
York County Assessment Office
28 East Market Street
York, PA 17401
(717) 771-9232
York County Assessment Office
Office Hours: Monday – Friday, 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM
York County Register of Wills
28 East Market Street
York, PA 17401
(717) 771-9606
York County Register of Wills
Office Hours: Monday – Friday, 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM
York County Tax Claim Bureau
28 East Market Street
York, PA 17401
(717) 771-9205
York County Tax Claim Bureau
Office Hours: Monday – Friday, 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM
York County Election Office
28 East Market Street
York, PA 17401
(717) 771-9604
York County Election Office
Office Hours: Monday – Friday, 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM