Philadelphia Deed Records
Philadelphia deed records are maintained by the Philadelphia Department of Records, which serves as the city's recording office for all real property documents. Philadelphia is a consolidated city-county, meaning one office handles what other counties divide between separate agencies. Property buyers, title researchers, and homeowners can search Philadelphia deed records online through the PhilaDox portal or visit City Hall in person. Records go back to the late 17th century, making Philadelphia one of the richest sources of historic land data in Pennsylvania.
Philadelphia Quick Facts
Deed Records in Philadelphia
Philadelphia deed records cover all real property transfers within the city limits. Because Philadelphia is a consolidated city-county, the Department of Records handles both the city and county recording functions in one place. Every deed, mortgage, satisfaction, easement, and related instrument is filed and indexed here. The department assigns each document a sequential book and page number, which becomes the permanent reference for that record.
The collection includes documents from the late 17th century to the present day. Records range from colonial-era land grants to modern-day real estate closings. Pre-1973 documents may require a visit to the City Archives, which holds the oldest materials. Documents from 1973 forward are available through PhilaDox. Under 21 P.S. § 351, deeds must be recorded to be valid against third-party purchasers in Pennsylvania, which is why Philadelphia's recording volume is so large.
Types of documents recorded in Philadelphia include deeds, mortgages, assignments, releases, satisfactions, easements, notary commissions, and military discharge papers. Each creates a permanent public record tied to the property address and the names of the parties involved.
Note: Military discharge records copied at the Philadelphia Department of Records are provided at no cost to veterans under Pennsylvania law.
Philadelphia Deed Record Search Options
The primary online tool for searching Philadelphia deed records is PhilaDox. The PhilaDox portal at epay.phila-records.com/phillyepay/web/login.jsp covers deeds recorded from 1974 to present. You can search by grantor name, grantee name, property address, or book and page number. The free public search option shows indexed data and watermarked document images. A subscription gives you full access to clean copies without watermarks.
The PhilaDox portal at epay.phila-records.com provides online access to Philadelphia deed records with multiple subscription tiers to fit different research needs.
The PhilaDox system covers the tabbed categories of Deeds, Mortgages, Assignments, Miscellaneous, and UCC filings, giving researchers a complete picture of Philadelphia property history.
For records before 1974, the Philadelphia deed copy request service at phila.gov can point you to the right resource. You can also search the Historical Index online or visit the City Archives for older materials. To search, you need a property address, grantor or grantee name, deed date, or document ID for records from 1973 forward.
The statewide portal at pa.uslandrecords.com also provides access to Philadelphia County records for researchers who prefer one interface across multiple Pennsylvania counties. PRODA, the Pennsylvania Association of Recorders of Deeds at padeeds.com, offers a fee calculator and links to all 67 county recorder offices.
Philadelphia Department of Records
The Philadelphia Department of Records serves as the official recording office for all real property documents in the city. The main recording office is in City Hall, Room 156. The public research room where you can view deed records in person is in Room 154. Staff can assist with name and address lookups and provide copies of recorded documents.
The department's website at phila.gov/departments/department-of-records/ provides full information on services, fees, and procedures for obtaining Philadelphia deed records.
The Department of Records manages one of the largest urban property record collections in Pennsylvania, covering the full history of land ownership in Philadelphia going back centuries.
| Office | Philadelphia Department of Records |
|---|---|
| Recording Address | City Hall, Room 156, Philadelphia, PA 19107 |
| Research Room | City Hall, Room 154 |
| Phone | (215) 686-2260 / (215) 686-2261 |
| records.info@phila.gov | |
| In-Person Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 3:30 PM |
| In-Person Copy Fee | $2.00 per page |
No personal checks are accepted. Credit and debit card payments carry a 3.5% convenience fee. Arrive before 3:30 PM to ensure staff can assist you with your deed records request that day.
Recording Requirements and Transfer Tax
Philadelphia has one of the highest real estate transfer tax rates in Pennsylvania. The local transfer tax rate is 3.278%, which adds to the Pennsylvania state rate of 1%, bringing the combined total to 4.278% of the property value. This applies to most deed transfers in Philadelphia. Certain family transfers, trust arrangements, and other specific transactions may qualify for exemptions under state law at 72 P.S. § 8102-C.
To record a deed in Philadelphia, the document must meet Pennsylvania's requirements for form and content. The deed must include the full legal names of the grantor and grantee, a complete legal description of the property, and the consideration paid or a statement that the transfer is exempt. Form REV-183, the Realty Transfer Tax Statement of Value, must accompany most deed transfers. The recorder cross-references this form with the deed book volume and page number as required by state regulation.
Under 16 P.S. § 9781, Pennsylvania law sets specific requirements for what a Recorder of Deeds must accept and maintain. Philadelphia follows these standards for all recorded documents.
Note: A correctional deed made without consideration to fix an error in a prior deed is not subject to transfer tax in Pennsylvania, as long as the property interest in the corrected deed matches the original.
Philadelphia Property Search Tools
Beyond deed records, Philadelphia offers several tools for researching property ownership and history. The Philadelphia property search application at property.phila.gov lets you look up a property by address to see the current owner, assessed value, and tax status. This is a good starting point before pulling the full deed record through PhilaDox.
The Philadelphia property app at property.phila.gov connects current assessment data to the deed records system, giving researchers a full picture of any Philadelphia property.
The property search tool shows current ownership, which you can then verify by pulling the actual deed through PhilaDox or by requesting a copy from the Department of Records. This two-step process is common in title research for Philadelphia properties.
Philadelphia also maintains a Historical Land and Vital Records database for older property research. This resource covers colonial-era records and early deed indexes not available through PhilaDox. The PhilaDox subscription tiers are: $15.00 per 24-hour day, $60.00 per 7-day week, $125.00 per month, and $750.00 per year. Payment is accepted by Visa or Mastercard.