Search Cumberland County, PA Property Records

Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, administers property records mainly through its county offices. These departments handle deed recordings, assessments, and tax administration. While the county has a role in planning and land use oversight, individual municipalities may also maintain their own zoning records and issue building permits at the local level.

Several key housing benchmarks characterize the local market. The median home value in Cumberland County stands at $228,800.00, while the median rent is approximately $1,038.00. Residents earn a median household income of $80,221.00, and property owners pay a median real estate tax rate of 1.32%.

Cumberland County, PA, makes real estate research accessible through a range of tools and channels suited to different levels of technical familiarity.

For most users, starting online is the most practical path. The county's Real Estate Search offers property record cards, ownership history, and sales comparables. For recorded instruments such as deeds, mortgages, and liens, the county's Online Deeds Record Access platform provides around-the-clock access to documents indexed back to 1750.

Beyond county-operated portals, PropertyChecker draws on sourced data to compile property profiles that may include ownership records, deed references, tax history, loan information, lien filings, and prior sales. It can benefit users who need to cross-reference multiple properties without toggling between separate county portals.

Those who prefer non-digital channels have several options. In-person research may be conducted at custodian offices. Mail requests may also be submitted, provided that identifying information is included. General inquiries may also be submitted by email or phone, depending on the office.

When searching, the full property address, the uniform parcel identifier (UPI), or the current or prior owner's name can help refine searches. Recording dates, legal description, and document type may also narrow down results for recorded instrument lookups.

Users searching for recently recorded documents should allow a processing window, as same-day or next-day indexing is not always guaranteed. Some documents, including sealed orders, certain foreclosure proceedings, or instruments under active litigation, may be withheld or partially redacted from public access.

Property Ownership and Title Information

Access to property ownership and title records in Cumberland County runs through the Recorder of Deeds, whose holdings extend back to the county's establishment. Its Online Deeds Record Access offers online access to documents, with searches available by name, document type, recording date, and instrument number.

The instrument types indexed under this office span every dimension of property ownership. Deeds, whether warranty, special warranty, quitclaim, gift, or correction, establish and transfer title between parties. Meanwhile, mortgage instruments and their associated assignments, modifications, and satisfactions document the financing history tied to a parcel.

Property Sales and Transaction History

Sales and transaction records for Cumberland County properties can be explored through the Real Estate Search. With this tool, users can pull up a property's sale date, recorded consideration amount, and the corresponding deed book reference tied to each transaction.

Recorded deeds at the Recorder of Deeds complement the Real Estate Search portal by supplying the actual instrument behind each transaction.

For a broader historical view, PropertyChecker compiles sales data and may reflect a property's transfer history across multiple prior ownerships. It can include sale dates, consideration amounts, and the parties named in each transaction, which offers a longitudinal view of how a parcel's ownership and market value have shifted over time.

Property Tax Assessment and Payment Records

Assessment records for Cumberland County parcels, including taxable valuations, exemption designations, and property class codes, are held by the County Property Assessment Office. Property tax assessors update these figures periodically, and current data is searchable anytime through the county's Real Estate Search.

Owners disputing a valuation may initiate a formal challenge by submitting the Assessment Appeal Form (Residential or Land) to the office.

To obtain information about tax payment history, delinquent balances, active liens, and properties entering the tax sale pipeline, contact the Tax Claim Bureau.

Property Characteristics and Parcel Details

Physical and parcel-level details for Cumberland County properties are accessible through the Real Estate Search tool. Each record card may show a parcel's lot size, building square footage, year of construction, number of bedrooms and bathrooms, structural type, exterior finish, outbuilding improvements, and land use classification.

The tool accepts a uniform parcel identifier (UPI) and physical or mailing address as search inputs.

Zoning, Land Use, and Planning Records

Local governments are the primary custodians of zoning, land use, and planning records in Cumberland County.

For instance, in Lower Allen Township, the Community and Economic Development Department handles key documents, including zoning maps, permits, and land development filings. These records can usually be reviewed online, requested by email, or obtained in person at the municipal office.

At the county level, the Cumberland County Planning Department provides guidance and coordination to local agencies. It also maintains important planning tools such as the comprehensive plan and future land use map, which help guide growth and development across the county.

Legal Documents Affecting Property

The Recorder of Deeds maintains Cumberland County's official index of property-related legal instruments. These encompass warranty and quitclaim deeds, mortgage documents, easement agreements, mechanics' lien filings, mineral deeds, rights-of-way, and installment land contracts. All are searchable through the Online Deeds Record Access or reviewable in person.

Judgment liens, lis pendens notices, and sheriff's sale instruments originating from court proceedings are held by the Cumberland County Court of Common Pleas.

Building Permits, Inspections, and Construction Records

Local governments primarily manage building permits, inspections, and construction records in Cumberland County. These municipal offices issue permits, conduct inspections, enforce building codes, and maintain construction-related files. Records are typically accessible through municipal websites, by submitting requests, or by visiting the local agency in person.

For example, in Silver Spring Township, the Community Development Department provides access to permit and construction records through its BS&A online portal. This system allows users to search for permits, review inspection statuses, and view project details remotely. Additional records or assistance can be obtained by contacting the department directly.

Maps and Visual Property Data

Visual parcel data for nearly 105,000 properties in Cumberland County is available through the County Property Mapper. Searches for specific parcels run by address, parcel identifier, or deed number and return tax parcel boundaries, linked assessment figures, deed book references, and neighborhood sales data.

The application defaults to 2024 aerial imagery, with eight years of basemap photography available for year-over-year comparison. It also features EagleView imagery, which provides finer visual coverage than standard aerial basemaps. A print widget allows users to export a formatted document that pairs the map view with the selected parcel's assessment details.

The Cumberland County Parcel Viewer, known as the Property Mapper, is a tool developed to provide greater access to property records. To get started, visit the Property Mapper website and click "OK" to acknowledge the disclaimer.

Once inside, use the search bar at the top to locate a property. Click the dropdown arrow next to the search bar to filter searches by category. Available search options include All, Property Search (Parcel Information), PIN, Deed Book and Page, and Street Address (Point Location).

Tax parcel lines and property labels are updated every Tuesday, while property information is updated at the end of every month. The Map Gallery and Change Log are also accessible from the top navigation bar.

Displayed here are charts summarizing the county's tax rates, accompanied by insights into median home values, income figures, and rent rates.

Median Rent

$1,038.00

Pennsylvania	$839.00
National	$840.25

• +23.7 %
  vs Pennsylvania
• +23.5 %
  vs National

Median Home Value

$228,800.00

Pennsylvania	$168,550.00
National	$173,750.00

• +35.7 %
  vs Pennsylvania
• +31.7 %
  vs National

Median Household Income

$80,221.00

Pennsylvania	$63,611.00
National	$65,108.00

• +26.1 %
  vs Pennsylvania
• +23.2 %
  vs National

Median Property Tax Rate

1.32%

Pennsylvania	1.3%
National	0.74%

• +1.5%
  vs Pennsylvania
• +78.4 %
  vs National

Unemployment Rate

2.18%

Pennsylvania	2.84%
National	2.87%

• -23.2 %
  vs Pennsylvania
• -24.0 %
  vs National

Renter Occupied Housing

24.71%

Pennsylvania	19.64%
National	21.81%

• +25.8 %
  vs Pennsylvania
• +13.3 %
  vs National

The Recorder of Deeds has preserved Cumberland County's real property instruments without interruption since 1750, placing it among Pennsylvania's longest-standing deed archives. Its holdings span deeds, mortgages, assignments, easements, leases, subdivision plans, and related conveyance records.

These instruments carry operational significance well beyond the Recorder's own office. The Assessment Office relies on newly filed deeds to refresh ownership data and calculate transfer tax obligations. At the same time, zoning administrators consult recorded easements and protective covenants when evaluating pending land use applications.

Online access to recorded instruments is available through the Online Deeds Record Access platform, where documents are indexed by owner name, instrument type, and recording date. In-person research is conducted at 1 Courthouse Square, Carlisle, by appointment. Mail requests are also accepted.

Standard copy fees are $0.50 per page for documents sized 8.5" x 11" and $1 per page for those sized 11" x 17". Certification adds $1.50 per document. Mail copy requests are charged $5 for the first four pages and $0.50 per additional page thereafter.

There are 33 municipalities in Cumberland County, and each is responsible for certain property records, such as zoning documents, building permits, and code enforcement files, within its respective area. The full list of municipalities, including links to their official websites, is outlined below.

• Upper Frankford Township (No official website)

• Camp Hill Borough
• Carlisle Borough
• Cooke Township
• Dickinson Township
• East Pennsboro Township
• Hampden Township
• Hopewell Township
• Lemoyne Borough
• Lower Allen Township
• Lower Frankford Township
• Lower Mifflin Township
• Mechanicsburg Borough
• Middlesex Township
• Monroe Township
• Mt. Holly Springs Borough
• New Cumberland Borough
• Newburg Borough
• Newville Borough
• North Middleton Township
• North Newton Township
• Penn Township
• Shippensburg Borough
• Shippensburg Township
• Shiremanstown Borough
• Silver Spring Township
• South Middleton Township
• South Newton Township
• Southampton Township
• Upper Allen Township
• Upper Mifflin Township
• West Pennsboro Township
• Wormleysburg Borough