Lehigh County Residents Directory
Lehigh County is in eastern Pennsylvania. About 370,000 people call it home. The county seat is Allentown, the third-largest city in the state. Lehigh County runs under a home rule charter with a county executive form of government. The residents directory for Lehigh County holds property data, land records, court files, voter rolls, and more. All main offices are at the Lehigh County Government Center in Allentown. This page covers how to search the Lehigh County residents directory for public records.
Lehigh County Quick Facts
Lehigh County Property Assessment
The Lehigh County Assessment Office sets values for all real estate in the county. The base year for assessments is 2013. The ratio is set at 100 percent of fair market value. Each assessment shows what the county thinks a property was worth as of that base year date. The office is at the Government Center, Room 517, 17 South Seventh Street, Allentown, PA 18101. You can call 610-782-3038 for help.
The Lehigh County Assessment Office page shows how property values are set and how to file an appeal.
Residents can use this page to learn about the appeal process and access assessment forms.
Property owners can file an appeal with the Board of Assessment Appeals. The deadline is August 1 of each year. You must send the original signed form. Postmarks and faxed copies are not accepted. Filing fees apply under County Ordinance 2023-101. Interim appeals are also accepted when you get a change of assessment notice. The board reviews each case and issues a decision.
Lehigh County runs the Clean and Green program. This gives lower tax values to farmland, forest, and open spaces. You need at least ten acres to qualify. If the land is under ten acres, it must earn at least $2,000 per year in farm income. Forms for the 319 application and other documents are at the Assessment Office.
Note: The Lehigh County Assessment Office also manages the Taxpayer Relief Act and the American Heroes Grant program.
Lehigh County Deed and Land Records
The Lehigh County Recorder of Deeds keeps all land records for the county. This includes deeds, mortgages, and other real estate files. All of these documents are public records and open for viewing. You can search them online through the Online Records Access system at the ORA property search. Enter at least four characters and pick a search type to get started.
The Recorder of Deeds page for Lehigh County gives details on accessing land records online and in person.
This office is a key part of the Lehigh County residents directory for anyone who needs deed or mortgage data.
The Recorder of Deeds office also stores military discharges. These DD214 forms are not public records. Only the veteran or their authorized agent can get copies. All other documents at the Recorder are public and can be viewed or printed. In-person access is at the Government Center in Allentown. The Lehigh County Parcel Viewer is also on hand for map-based searches of land data.
Searching Lehigh County Court Records
The Lehigh County Clerk of Judicial Records manages court files for the county. This office covers both civil and criminal dockets. Court records are part of the Lehigh County residents directory and are open to the public under state law.
The Clerk of Judicial Records page shows how to access court data for Lehigh County cases.
Visit this page or the courthouse in Allentown to search civil and criminal case records.
You can also look up court dockets through the UJS Web Portal. This free state tool covers all 67 counties. Search by name or case number to find basic details for Lehigh County cases. For full copies or certified documents, contact the Clerk of Judicial Records at the Government Center. The portal does not charge for basic searches.
Federal court cases for Lehigh County go through the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. The Allentown courthouse is at the Edward N. Cahn Courthouse, 504 West Hamilton Street, Room 1601, Allentown, PA 18101. You can reach them at 610-434-3896. Federal records are on the PACER system at pacer.gov.
Note: Pennsylvania's Right-to-Know Law at 65 P.S. section 67.101 makes most Lehigh County government records available to any person who asks.
Lehigh County Voter Registration Directory
The Lehigh County Board of Elections maintains voter rolls and runs all elections. Voter data is a public part of the Lehigh County residents directory. Each record shows the voter's name, address, party, and voting history.
The Lehigh County Board of Elections page explains how to register and view election details.
You can also check your own voter status at pavoterservices.pa.gov for quick results.
The Board of Elections processes new registrations all year. After each election, the staff updates the rolls. You can find past results and upcoming election dates through the county website. Lehigh County also provides information on absentee and mail-in ballots through this office.
Public Records Access in Lehigh County
Pennsylvania's Right-to-Know Law gives everyone the right to ask for government records. Lehigh County follows this law. You can submit a formal request to the county's open records officer. If your request is denied, you can appeal to the Office of Open Records in Harrisburg. The full text of the law is at palegis.us/statutes.
The Lehigh County residents directory brings together records from many offices. Property data comes from the Assessment Office. Deeds are at the Recorder. Court files are with the Clerk of Judicial Records. Voter records are at the Board of Elections. Vital records like birth and death files from 1906 onward are held by the state at the PA Division of Vital Records. Marriage licenses are issued at the county level.
- Property records from the Assessment Office
- Land records from the Recorder of Deeds
- Court records from the Clerk of Judicial Records
- Voter data from the Board of Elections
- Vital records from the state
The Pennsylvania State Archives also holds historical files tied to Lehigh County. Genealogy work often requires both county and state resources. The Lehigh County residents directory is a good starting point for most public records searches in this part of the state.
Cities in Lehigh County
Lehigh County has Allentown as its county seat. The county also includes a number of boroughs and townships. All county-level records are held at the Government Center in Allentown.
County records for all Lehigh County municipalities are managed from the Allentown offices.
Nearby Counties
Lehigh County borders three other major counties. Each county keeps its own records, so be sure to search the right one for the person or property you need.