Search Northampton County, PA Property Records

Property records in Northampton County, Pennsylvania, are mainly kept by county offices. These instruments provide information about property ownership, assessments, sales history, and tax obligations for real estate within the county. Some related records and permits may also be available at the city, borough, or township level, but availability varies by municipality.

While specific data points fluctuate with the market, recent figures indicate a median home value of $242,050.00 and a median rent of $1,232.00. The county’s median household income is at $79,963.50, while property owners typically pay a median real estate tax rate of 1.81%.

In Northampton County, PA, finding property records requires navigating a mix of online and offline departmental databases. One route for digital access is the Northampton County Property (Parcel) Information Portal, which provides public read access to tax record information and property characteristics.

Individuals may also conduct searches in person at the Northampton County Courthouse in Easton, where public access terminals are available during standard business hours. For those unable to visit or navigate online systems, written requests can be submitted via mail.

For a convenient starting point, PropertyChecker can aggregate publicly available property data into a single searchable interface, which helps streamline the initial search before using county-specific systems.

When running a property search, the most common search criteria include the physical property address, the owner’s full name, or the Uniform Parcel Identifier (UPI), also known as the parcel number. Having the parcel number is particularly advantageous, as it remains consistent even if ownership or street names change.

Access to records is not entirely without restriction. Sensitive data may be redacted, and there is a distinct difference between "viewing" and "obtaining" records. Viewing data on public terminals is typically free, but downloading, printing, or requesting certified copies incurs specific costs. Furthermore, older historical records may not be fully digitized.

Property Ownership and Title Information

The office of the Northampton County Recorder of Deeds maintains records that can confirm property ownership and title records in the county.

To access these recorded documents, the public can visit the Northampton County Courthouse, where microfilm records are also available. Visitors can use public access during business hours without a connection fee.

The grantor-grantee indexes are the standard method for locating specific volume and page numbers within the county's recording system. Requests for certified copies can be made in person or by mail.

Property Sales and Transaction History

Transaction history and historical sales data for Northampton County are accessible through the Property (Parcel) Information Portal. The database often lists past transfer dates and sale prices for a parcel, which presents a clear history of the property’s market activity.

The Assessment Office maintains these records to establish fair market value. As such, the portal serves as a primary resource for property appraisers and real estate professionals conducting comparable sales analysis.

For a consolidated view of these transactions alongside broader market trends, PropertyChecker offers an integrated platform that simplifies retrieving sales history.

Beyond standard market sales, the county also provides information on non-traditional transactions, such as foreclosure auctions. Current and historical data regarding properties sold through the judicial process can be found on the Sheriff’s Sale page.

Property Tax Assessment and Payment Records

The Northampton County Assessment Office manages property valuations, where property tax assessors establish the fair market value used for taxation. Residents can view assessment records and property characteristics via the Property (Parcel) Information Portal.

Meanwhile, the County Revenue Office facilitates tax bill viewing and payments. Current tax status and payment history are available through the Online Payment Portal.

If an owner disagrees with a valuation, they may file a formal grievance through the Assessment Appeals process. Appeals must generally be submitted by August 1st to affect the following tax year.

Property Characteristics and Parcel Details

Detailed building and land information in Northampton County is accessible through two main tools. The Northampton County Tax Parcel Viewer is an interactive mapping tool that allows users to explore parcel boundaries alongside available data such as acreage, land use codes, and structural footprints.

For additional parcel details, including square footage, room count, year built, and construction materials, the Property (Parcel) Information Portal may offer more records.

Zoning, Land Use, and Planning Records

Zoning and land use regulations in Northampton County are governed at the municipal level, so specific records must be accessed through the city, borough, or township office where the property is located. For property-specific zoning designations and permit history, the local zoning officer is the primary point of contact.

For those requiring formal documentation, such as zoning certificates or land development applications, inquiries should be directed to the municipal planning office.

These local offices maintain the official zoning maps and code ordinances that dictate setback requirements, allowable uses, and high-density restrictions.

Legal Documents Affecting Property

The Northampton County Recorder of Deeds is the primary office for recording and accessing legal instruments that impact real estate titles. The most common documents found here include mortgages, assignments, easements, and condominium declarations. The public may search and request copies of these records by visiting the Recorder of Deeds' office in Easton.

Beyond the Recorder of Deeds, other critical legal encumbrances are managed by the Northampton County Prothonotary. This office maintains records of judgments, federal and state tax liens, and mechanics' liens, all of which can cloud a property title. These civil legal documents can be searched online through the County Suite Portal.

Building Permits, Inspections, and Construction Records

In Northampton County, building permits and construction records are maintained at the municipal level rather than through a centralized county office. Property owners and developers must contact the building department of the specific city, borough, or township to access these recorded files.

For smaller municipalities that do not host proprietary online portals, records are often available via a formal Right-to-Know request submitted to the local municipal secretary or open records officer.

Maps and Visual Property Data

The Northampton County Tax Parcel Viewer is the main tool for exploring property data spatially across the county's approximately 376.7 square miles and approximately 122,900 tax parcels. The interactive map lets users look up specific properties to view parcel boundaries and geographic features, including hydrography and FEMA flood zones.

Basic access is free, but those needing custom map prints, subdivision plan copies, or digital shapefile exports for engineering or planning work should consult the fee schedule for applicable costs.

The Northampton County Tax Parcel Viewer provides interactive access to parcel data across the county. A welcome splash screen appears upon opening, with tips for using the site. Click "OK" to dismiss it and begin searching.

Three search panels are displayed on the left side of the screen:

• Search by Parcel Map, Block, and Lot – uses dropdown menus for Map and Block selections, and includes a Lot input field for more precise parcel searches

• Search by Property Location – allows searches by house number or property address information

• Search by Property Owner – accepts searches using the owner’s last name

After entering the required criteria, users can select “Apply” within the corresponding panel to display matching results on the map.

Additional search functions are available through the upper-right search bar, which supports address and place lookups with filter options such as All, Parcels, Address Points, ArcGIS World Geocoding, and Service. The top navigation bar also provides access to tools such as Property Record Search and Buffer Search for more advanced mapping and parcel analysis.

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

Median Rent

$1,232.00

Pennsylvania	$839.00
National	$840.25

• +46.8 %
  vs Pennsylvania
• +46.6 %
  vs National

Median Home Value

$242,050.00

Pennsylvania	$168,550.00
National	$173,750.00

• +43.6 %
  vs Pennsylvania
• +39.3 %
  vs National

Median Household Income

$79,963.50

Pennsylvania	$63,611.00
National	$65,108.00

• +25.7 %
  vs Pennsylvania
• +22.8 %
  vs National

Median Property Tax Rate

1.81%

Pennsylvania	1.3%
National	0.74%

• +39.2%
  vs Pennsylvania
• +144.6 %
  vs National

Unemployment Rate

3.05%

Pennsylvania	2.84%
National	2.87%

• +7.4 %
  vs Pennsylvania
• +6.3 %
  vs National

Renter Occupied Housing

24.19%

Pennsylvania	19.64%
National	21.81%

• +23.2 %
  vs Pennsylvania
• +10.9 %
  vs National

In Northampton County, property documents are recorded and maintained by the Recorder of Deeds Division. This office is responsible for recording, filing, imaging, and preserving documents related to real estate transactions within the county.

Instruments under the office include deeds, mortgages, easements, and other legal documents affecting property ownership. After recording, documents are assigned a volume and page reference number, digitized, and microfilmed for long-term preservation and public access.

These records form the legal foundation for other property information systems in the county. Recorded documents verify ownership and transfers, which helps other departments maintain more accurate property values, parcel data, and development records.

Residents may review documents in person at the Recorder of Deeds office during business hours. Microfilmed and digital records can also be viewed through county research systems. Copy requests may cost around $0.50 per page, and certified copies typically include an additional fee. Users must consult the Recorder of Deeds fee schedule for more information.

While Northampton County centralizes land ownership and tax assessment data, a significant portion of property-related documentation is managed at the local level.

The county comprises the following 38 distinct municipalities:

For questions about how a specific property can be used, local offices are the right point of contact rather than the county. Building permits and certificates of occupancy are strictly local records, typically managed by a municipal building official.

Tax records also vary across jurisdictions. The county sets the assessed value, but each municipality and school district sets its own millage rate. How to access these records varies, too. Some municipalities offer digital portals for permit tracking and local tax payments, while smaller boroughs may still require an in-person visit or mailed request.

• Bethlehem
• Easton
• Bangor
• Bath
• Chapman
• East Bangor
• Freemansburg
• Glendon
• Hellertown
• Nazareth
• Northampton
• North Catasauqua
• Pen Argyl
• Portland
• Roseto
• Stockertown
• Tatamy
• Walnutport
• West Easton
• Wilson
• Wind Gap
• Allen
• Bethlehem Township
• Bushkill
• East Allen
• Forks
• Hanover
• Lehigh
• Lower Mount Bethel
• Lower Nazareth
• Lower Saucon
• Moore
• Palmer
• Plainfield
• Upper Mount Bethel
• Upper Nazareth
• Washington
• Williams