Delaware County Public Records
How to Find Public Records in Delaware County in 2026
Members of the public seeking government documents in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, may access a broad range of publicly available information through official county offices, online portals, and authorized request channels. DelawarePARecords.us provides a directory of resources that may assist individuals in locating relevant record categories. Delaware County maintains records across multiple departments, and the availability of specific documents depends on the custodial office and applicable state law.
Records that members of the public may locate through official channels include:
- Court records (civil, criminal, probate, and family court)
- Property deeds, mortgages, and liens
- Vital records (birth, death, and marriage certificates)
- Tax assessment and property tax records
- Business licenses and fictitious name registrations
- Voting and election records
- County meeting minutes, agendas, and budget documents
- Law enforcement incident reports (where permitted by law)
- Land use, zoning, and planning records
Online Access: Members of the public may search property and deed records through the Delaware County Recorder of Deeds public access portal, which currently offers two online search tools: Recorder of Deeds Online Records and Recorder of Deeds Cloud Search. No registration is required to conduct basic searches. The county's government open records portal also provides an online submission form for formal Right-to-Know requests.
In-Person Requests: Members of the public may visit the Delaware County Government Center to inspect records in person. The Recorder of Deeds office and the Open Records Officer are located at:
Delaware County Government Center
201 W. Front Street
Media, PA 19063
(610) 891-4000
Delaware County Official Website
Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. Requestors should bring a valid photo identification and a written description of the records sought.
Written/Mail Requests: Written requests may be submitted by mail to the Open Records Officer at 201 W. Front Street, Media, PA 19063. Under Pennsylvania's Right-to-Know Law (65 P.S. § 67.901), the agency must respond within five business days of receiving a written request.
Phone/Email: The Delaware County Open Records Office may be reached by phone at (610) 891-4000. Requestors may also submit inquiries through the online form available on the county open records page.
What Are Public Records in Delaware County?
Public records in Delaware County are defined under Pennsylvania's Right-to-Know Law, 65 P.S. § 67.102, as any record of a Commonwealth agency, local agency, judicial agency, or legislative agency that documents a transaction or activity of the agency and is created, received, or retained pursuant to law or in connection with a transaction, business, or activity of the agency.
The following record types are maintained by Delaware County departments:
| Record Type | Custodial Office |
|---|---|
| Property deeds, mortgages, liens | Recorder of Deeds |
| Birth, death, marriage certificates | PA Department of Health / County |
| Civil and criminal court records | Court of Common Pleas |
| Tax assessment records | Office of Assessment |
| Business licenses and permits | Various municipal offices |
| Voting and election records | Delaware County Bureau of Elections |
| Meeting minutes and budgets | County Council / Clerk's Office |
| Zoning and land use records | Planning Department |
Vital records, including birth and death certificates, are administered at the state level through the Pennsylvania Department of Health Vital Records program. As the department notes, "Records marking a birth, death or fetal death are known as vital records. Certificates issued from the official records are used for everything from applying for a passport to settling an estate."
Is Delaware County an Open Records County?
Delaware County fully complies with Pennsylvania's statewide open records framework. Under the Pennsylvania Right-to-Know Law (65 P.S. § 67.301), all local agencies, including county governments, are presumed to hold records that are public unless a specific exemption applies. The burden of proof rests with the agency to demonstrate that a record is exempt from disclosure.
The county's public access information page outlines the resources available to residents and non-residents alike. The Pennsylvania Office of Open Records, established under the Right-to-Know Law, serves as the appellate body for disputes arising from denied requests. According to the Office of Open Records, "The Right-to-Know Law presumes that all records of Commonwealth and local agencies are public records."
Delaware County does not maintain a separate county-level open records ordinance; the state statute governs all access procedures. The county has designated an Open Records Officer as required by law to receive, process, and respond to all formal requests.
How Much Does It Cost to Get Public Records in Delaware County?
The current fee structure for public records in Delaware County is governed by the Pennsylvania Right-to-Know Law and the fee schedule established by the Office of Open Records.
| Fee Type | Standard Amount |
|---|---|
| Black-and-white paper copies (letter/legal) | $0.25 per page |
| Certification of a record | $1.00 per record |
| Electronic duplication (CD/DVD) | Actual cost of media |
| Postage and mailing | Actual cost |
| Inspection of records | No charge |
- Fees for duplication are set pursuant to 65 P.S. § 67.1307, which limits agencies to charging only the direct cost of duplication.
- Search fees are not permitted under Pennsylvania law.
- Agencies may not charge for the time spent reviewing records for exemptions.
- Payment is accepted by check, money order, or cash at the counter; specific offices may also accept credit cards.
- Fee waivers are not expressly mandated by the Right-to-Know Law, though agencies retain discretion to waive fees in certain circumstances.
Fees for recorded documents obtained through the Recorder of Deeds office may differ and are set by the Pennsylvania Recorder of Deeds Fee Act.
Does Delaware County Have Free Public Records?
Free inspection of public records is available to any member of the public under Pennsylvania law. Requestors are not charged to view records in person at the custodial office; fees apply only when copies or certified documents are requested.
The following free access options are currently available:
- Online deed and property searches: The Recorder of Deeds public access sites provide free online searching of recorded land records through both the Recorder of Deeds Online Records system and the Recorder of Deeds Cloud Search tool.
- In-person inspection: Members of the public may inspect records at no cost at the Delaware County Government Center during regular business hours.
- County open records portal: The Delaware County open records submission form is available at no charge for submitting Right-to-Know requests.
- Pennsylvania vital records information: General information about obtaining birth, death, and marriage certificates is available through the Pennsylvania Department of Health vital records program at no cost to review.
The distinction between free inspection and free copies is significant: while viewing records carries no fee, obtaining physical or electronic copies is subject to the standard duplication fees described above.
Who Can Request Public Records in Delaware County?
Any person may submit a Right-to-Know request for public records in Delaware County. Under Pennsylvania law, requestors are not required to be residents of the Commonwealth, to provide identification, or to state the purpose of their request. The Right-to-Know Law extends access rights to individuals, corporations, partnerships, and other legal entities.
Specific provisions include:
- Residency: Not required. Non-residents of Pennsylvania retain full access rights under state law.
- Identification: Not required for most requests, though in-person inspection at certain offices may require a visitor sign-in.
- Purpose: Requestors are not obligated to explain why they are seeking a record.
- Requesting your own records: Individuals seeking records about themselves follow the same process as any other requestor, though certain records (such as criminal history) may require identity verification through separate channels such as the Pennsylvania State Police.
- Restrictions by record type: Certain categories of records, including juvenile court files, adoption records, and sealed court documents, are restricted regardless of who is requesting them.
Members of the public may submit requests through the county's open records portal or in writing to the Open Records Officer.
What Records Are Confidential in Delaware County?
Not all government records are subject to public disclosure. Pennsylvania law enumerates specific categories of exempt records, and Delaware County agencies apply these exemptions when responding to requests. The following records are currently withheld from public access under applicable state and federal law:
- Sealed court records: Records sealed by judicial order are not accessible to the public.
- Juvenile records: Records pertaining to juvenile proceedings are confidential under Pennsylvania law.
- Ongoing criminal investigation records: Records that would compromise an active law enforcement investigation are exempt.
- Personal identifying information: Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, and similar data are redacted from disclosed records.
- Medical and health records: Protected under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and state health privacy statutes.
- Adoption records: Sealed by statute and accessible only under specific legal circumstances.
- Child welfare and protective services records: Confidential under the 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 critical infrastructure details: Withheld to protect public safety.
The exemptions applicable to local agencies are codified at 65 P.S. § 67.708, which enumerates the categories of records that agencies may withhold. When an agency denies a request, it must cite the specific exemption relied upon, and the requestor retains the right to appeal to the Pennsylvania Office of Open Records.
Delaware County Recorder's Office: Contact Information and Hours
Office Name: Delaware County Recorder of Deeds
Physical Address:
201 W. Front Street
Media, PA 19063
Phone: (610) 891-4152
Website: Delaware County Recorder of Deeds
Office Hours:
Monday – Friday: 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM
Closed on federal and state holidays.
Additional Offices:
Delaware County Open Records Office
201 W. Front Street
Media, PA 19063
(610) 891-4000
Delaware County Government Open Records
Delaware County Office of Assessment
201 W. Front Street
Media, PA 19063
(610) 891-4893
Delaware County Official Website
Delaware County Bureau of Elections
201 W. Front Street
Media, PA 19063
(610) 891-4673
Delaware County Official Website
Pennsylvania Department of Health – Division of Vital Records
P.O. Box 1528
New Castle, PA 16103
(724) 656-3100
Pennsylvania Vital Records