Erie County Public Records

What Are Public Records in Erie County?

Public records in Erie County, Pennsylvania, are defined under the Pennsylvania Right-to-Know Law, 65 P.S. § 67.102, as any record, document, or information created or received by a Commonwealth agency or local agency in connection with the transaction of public business. Members of the public may inspect a broad range of record categories maintained by various county offices, including those accessible through the Erie County, PA official government portal.

The following record types are currently available through Erie County's custodial offices:

Court records (civil, criminal, probate, and family matters) — maintained by the Clerk of Records, which encompasses the Prothonotary, Recorder of Deeds, and Register of Wills
Property records (deeds, mortgages, liens, and assessments) — recorded and indexed by the Recorder of Deeds division within the Clerk of Records office
Vital records (birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates) — administered at the state level through the Pennsylvania Department of Health, with local filings processed through the Register of Wills
Business records (licenses, permits, and fictitious name registrations) — maintained by the Erie County Department of Planning and the Pennsylvania Department of State
Tax records (property tax assessments and payment histories) — searchable through the county's property and tax records search portal
Voting and election records — maintained by the Erie County Board of Elections
Meeting minutes and agendas (County Council, boards, and commissions) — available through the Erie County government website
Budget and financial documents — published by the Erie County Office of Budget and Management
Law enforcement records (arrest logs and incident reports, where permitted by law) — maintained by the Erie County Sheriff's Office and local municipal police departments
Land use and zoning records — administered by the Erie County Department of Planning

Is Erie County an Open Records County?

Erie County fully complies with Pennsylvania's statewide open records framework, which governs all local agencies within the Commonwealth. Under 65 P.S. § 67.301, a public record shall be accessible for inspection and duplication by a requester, and a local agency is required to respond to a written request within five business days of receipt. The law establishes a presumption of openness, meaning that any record not specifically exempted is considered a public record subject to disclosure.

Erie County's open records policy is administered in accordance with the Pennsylvania Right-to-Know Law (RTKL), Act 3 of 2008. The county has designated an Open Records Officer responsible for receiving, tracking, and responding to all formal requests. Members of the public may submit a Right-to-Know request directly through the county's official online portal. Erie County additionally adheres to Pennsylvania's Sunshine Act, which requires that meetings of government agencies be open to the public and that official actions be taken at open meetings.

How to Find Public Records in Erie County in 2026

Members of the public may access Erie County public records through several official channels, depending on the record type sought. The following steps outline the standard process:

Identify the custodial office. Determine which county department maintains the record in question. Civil court filings are held by the Prothonotary; real estate documents are held by the Recorder of Deeds; and tax records are maintained by the Assessment Office.
Search online portals first. The county provides several self-service databases. Civil court records dating from 1992 to the present are searchable through the Erie County Prothonotary viewer. Property and tax assessment data are available via the county's online property search tool.
Visit the office in person. Members of the public may inspect records at the relevant office during regular business hours. No appointment is required for general inspection of open records.
Submit a formal Right-to-Know request. When records are not available online or in person without a formal process, requesters may submit a written request using the county's official form, available at the Right-to-Know Requests page. Requests may be submitted in person, by mail, or electronically.
Await the agency response. Under current law, the agency must respond within five business days, either granting access, denying the request with written justification, or issuing a notice of extension not to exceed thirty additional calendar days.

How Much Does It Cost to Get Public Records in Erie County?

Standard fees apply to the duplication of public records in Erie County, consistent with the fee schedule established under 65 P.S. § 67.1307, which authorizes agencies to charge reasonable fees for copying, conversion, and postage. Current fees applicable to Erie County records requests include:

Standard paper copies: $0.25 per page (black and white, letter or legal size)
Certified copies: Fees vary by record type; the Recorder of Deeds and Register of Wills each maintain separate certified copy fee schedules
Electronic records: Provided at no charge when already maintained in electronic format, unless conversion costs apply
Postage and shipping: Charged at actual cost when records are mailed to the requester
Research or retrieval fees: May apply when extensive staff time is required to locate records

Accepted payment methods at county offices generally include cash, check, and money order made payable to the relevant office. Fee waivers are available under limited circumstances, including when the requester demonstrates that disclosure is primarily in the public interest and that the requester is not able to pay. Fees vary by record type and the office processing the request.

Does Erie County Have Free Public Records?

Free inspection of public records is available to all members of the public at Erie County's custodial offices during regular business hours, consistent with the requirements of the Pennsylvania Right-to-Know Law. No fee is charged solely for the act of inspecting a record; fees apply only when copies or certified documents are requested.

Several categories of records are currently accessible at no cost through official online platforms:

Civil court records from 1992 to the present are searchable at no charge through the county's Prothonotary online viewer
Property and tax assessment records are available without cost through the county's property tax search portal
General county government information, including meeting minutes, budgets, and agendas, is published on the Erie County government website at no charge
Erie County Clerk records in New York (for Erie County, NY residents) are searchable through the Erie County Clerk's Online Public Record Search at no cost

Who Can Request Public Records in Erie County?

Any person may request access to public records maintained by Erie County agencies, regardless of residency, citizenship, or stated purpose. Under the Pennsylvania Right-to-Know Law, a "requester" is defined as any person requesting access to a public record, and the law does not require that the requester be a Pennsylvania resident or provide justification for the request.

Specific eligibility provisions include:

Residency: Not required. Non-residents of Erie County and Pennsylvania retain full rights to request public records.
Identification: Requesters are not required to provide identification for standard public records requests, though identification may be required for certain sensitive record categories.
Statement of purpose: Not required for most records. Requesters are not obligated to explain why they seek a particular document.
Restrictions by record type: Certain records, such as those involving juvenile proceedings, adoption files, or sealed court matters, are restricted regardless of the requester's identity.
Requesting one's own records: Individuals seeking their own records, such as personal court filings or tax records, follow the same process as any other requester, though additional verification may be required for records containing sensitive personal data.

What Records Are Confidential in Erie County?

Not all government-held documents are subject to public disclosure. Pennsylvania law enumerates specific categories of exempt records under 65 P.S. § 67.708, which identifies information that agencies are not required — and in some cases are prohibited — from releasing. The following categories are currently exempt from disclosure in Erie County:

Sealed court records — including records sealed by judicial order
Juvenile records — protected under the Pennsylvania Juvenile Act
Ongoing criminal investigation records — withheld to protect the integrity of active law enforcement proceedings
Personal identifying information — including Social Security numbers, financial account data, and home addresses of protected individuals
Medical and health records — protected under both state law and the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)
Adoption records — sealed pursuant to Pennsylvania adoption statutes
Child welfare and protective services records — confidential under the Child Protective Services Law
Personnel records — exempt with limited exceptions for salary and position information of public employees
Trade secrets and proprietary business information — submitted to agencies in confidence
Security plans and critical infrastructure details — withheld to protect public safety

When an agency denies a request, it must provide written notice citing the specific exemption relied upon. Pennsylvania law applies a balancing test in certain circumstances, weighing the public interest in disclosure against the potential harm of release.

Erie County Recorder's Office: Contact Information and Hours

The Erie County Clerk of Records serves as the principal custodian of court, real estate, and probate records for Erie County, Pennsylvania. The office encompasses the Prothonotary, Recorder of Deeds, and Register of Wills divisions, all located within the Erie County Courthouse complex.

Erie County Clerk of Records 140 West Sixth Street, Erie, PA 16501 (814) 451-6000 Clerk of Records | Erie County Courts

Public counter hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., excluding official county holidays. Members of the public may inspect records in person during these hours without a prior appointment for standard open records.

Erie County Assessment and Tax Claim Bureau 814 French Street, Erie, PA 16501 (814) 451-6225 Erie County, PA

Erie County Board of Elections 814 French Street, Suite 100, Erie, PA 16501 (814) 451-6340 Erie County, PA

Erie County Open Records Officer Erie County Courthouse, 140 West Sixth Street, Erie, PA 16501 (814) 451-6000 Right-to-Know Requests | Erie County, PA