Allegheny County Public Records

What Are Public Records in Allegheny County?

Public records in Allegheny County are defined according to the Pennsylvania Right-to-Know Law (RTKL), specifically under 65 P.S. § 67.102, as information, regardless of form, that documents a transaction or activity of an agency, and that is created, received, or retained pursuant to law or in connection with a transaction, business, or activity of the agency. Allegheny County maintains numerous types of public records, including:

Court Records: Civil, criminal, family court, and probate records maintained by the Department of Court Records
Property Records: Deeds, mortgages, liens, and property assessments
Vital Records: Birth and death certificates (1893-present), marriage licenses (1885-present)
Business Records: Business licenses, permits, and fictitious name registrations
Tax Records: Property tax information and assessment records
Voting and Election Records: Voter registration data and election results
Meeting Minutes and Agendas: County Council and various boards and authorities
Budget and Financial Documents: County financial reports and budgets
Law Enforcement Records: Certain police reports and incident logs (with restrictions)
Land Use and Zoning Records: Planning documents, zoning decisions, and maps

The Allegheny County Department of Real Estate maintains property records, while the Department of Court Records handles court-related documents. Vital records are maintained by the Allegheny County Health Department. The County Controller's Office oversees financial records, and the County Elections Division manages voting records.

Is Allegheny County an Open Records County?

Allegheny County adheres to Pennsylvania's Right-to-Know Law (65 P.S. § 67.101 et seq.), which establishes the presumption that all records in possession of local and state government agencies are public unless specifically exempt by law, protected by privilege, or exempt from disclosure under any other federal or state law or regulation or judicial order.

Under 65 P.S. § 67.302(a), "A local agency shall provide public records in accordance with this act." This provision establishes the fundamental obligation of Allegheny County to provide access to public records.

Allegheny County has established an Open Records Office to process requests and ensure compliance with state law. The county has adopted specific procedures for handling public records requests in accordance with the RTKL.

Additionally, Allegheny County complies with Pennsylvania's Sunshine Act (65 Pa.C.S. §§ 701-716), which requires public meetings to be open to the public with proper notice. The County Council and other public bodies must conduct their business in public, with limited exceptions for executive sessions.

How to Find Public Records in Allegheny County in 2026

Members of the public seeking records in Allegheny County may utilize several methods to locate and obtain the information they require:

Submit a Right-to-Know Request: Individuals may submit formal requests to the Allegheny County Open Records Officer:

Allegheny County Open Records Office
County Office Building
542 Forbes Avenue, Room 206
Pittsburgh, PA 15219
412-350-1376
Allegheny County Open Records Office

Requests may be submitted in person, by mail, by email, or through the county's online portal.
Access Online Databases: Many records are available through the county's online systems:
- Property records through the Real Estate Portal
- Court records via the Department of Court Records
- County financial information
- Voter registration verification
Visit Records Offices in Person: For direct access to records, visit the appropriate department:
- For property records: Department of Real Estate
- For court records: Department of Court Records
- For vital records: Allegheny County Health Department
Review County Council Records: Meeting minutes, agendas, and legislation are available through the County Council website.
Contact Specific Departments: For specialized records, contact the relevant department directly:
- For police reports: Contact the appropriate police department
- For building permits: Department of Permits, Licenses and Inspections
- For tax records: County Treasurer's Office

When submitting a formal request, requestors should be as specific as possible about the records sought. The county must respond to requests within five business days, though extensions may apply for complex requests.

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

Allegheny County assesses fees for public records in accordance with the fee schedule established under the Pennsylvania Right-to-Know Law. Current standard fees include:

Photocopies: $0.25 per page (black and white, 8.5 x 11)
Certified Copies: Additional $5.00 per document
Specialized Documents: Actual cost of reproduction
Electronic Records: No charge for electronic records that exist in that format
Conversion to Paper: $0.25 per page when electronic records must be printed
Media Storage Devices: Actual cost of the media
Postage: Actual cost of mailing

For specific record types, specialized fee schedules apply:

Vital Records:
- Birth Certificates: $20.00 per copy
- Death Certificates: $20.00 per copy
- Marriage Licenses: $80.00 application fee
Court Records:
- Civil Case Files: $0.25 per page for copies
- Criminal Records: $0.25 per page for copies
- Certified Court Documents: $10.00 per document
Property Records:
- Deed Copies: $0.25 per page
- Recording Fees: Vary based on document type and length

Pursuant to 65 P.S. § 67.1307, fees must be reasonable and based on the prevailing fees for comparable services provided by local agencies. The county accepts payment by cash, check, money order, and credit card (in most offices). Some departments may have different payment options.

Fee waivers may be granted at the discretion of the agency if the agency determines that the request is in the public interest. Additionally, no fee may be imposed for review of a record to determine if it is subject to access under the RTKL.

Does Allegheny County Have Free Public Records?

Allegheny County provides free access to certain public records through various channels. Members of the public may inspect records at no cost at the appropriate county office during normal business hours, as guaranteed under 65 P.S. § 67.701, which states that "a public record shall be accessible for inspection and duplication."

Free public records resources include:

Online Property Information: The Allegheny County Real Estate Portal provides free access to basic property information, assessment values, and sales data.
Court Docket Information: Basic case information is available at no charge through the Department of Court Records online portal.
County Budget Documents: Financial reports and budget information are freely accessible on the County Controller's website.
Voter Registration Verification: Voters can check their registration status at no cost through the PA Voter Services Portal.
County Council Records: Meeting agendas, minutes, and legislation are freely available on the County Council website.
GIS Mapping Data: Basic geographic information system (GIS) data is available through the county's GIS Portal.
Mortgage Foreclosure Records: Basic information about mortgage foreclosure proceedings is available through public data portals.

While inspection of records is free, fees may still apply for copies, certification, or specialized searches as detailed in the county's fee schedule.

Who Can Request Public Records in Allegheny County?

Under the Pennsylvania Right-to-Know Law, any person, regardless of citizenship or residency status, may request public records from Allegheny County agencies. As specified in 65 P.S. § 67.102, a "requester" is defined as "a person that is a legal resident of the United States and requests a record pursuant to this act." This includes:

Pennsylvania residents
Residents of other states
Legal residents of the United States
Business entities registered in the United States
Non-profit organizations
Media organizations

Requestors are not required to:

Explain why they want the records
Disclose their intended use of the records
Provide identification for most record types

However, certain exceptions apply:

For vital records (birth and death certificates), requestors must demonstrate a direct interest or relationship to the person named in the record, as required by the Vital Statistics Law of 1953.
For certain court records, access may be restricted based on case type or sealing orders.
For records containing personal information protected under federal or state law, identification may be required to verify eligibility to access the information.

When requesting records about oneself, identification may be required to verify identity and prevent unauthorized disclosure of personal information. For requests concerning another individual's records, additional documentation may be necessary to demonstrate legal authority to access those records.

What Records Are Confidential in Allegheny County?

While Allegheny County operates under the presumption of openness established by the Pennsylvania Right-to-Know Law, certain records are exempt from public disclosure. Pursuant to 65 P.S. § 67.708, the following records are generally considered confidential:

Personal Identification Information: Social Security numbers, driver's license numbers, personal financial information, home addresses of law enforcement officers and judges
Medical Records: Health records protected under HIPAA and other medical privacy laws
Juvenile Records: Court records and law enforcement records involving minors, except in limited circumstances
Sealed Court Records: Records sealed by court order, including expunged criminal records and certain family court matters
Ongoing Investigation Records: Criminal investigative records, noncriminal investigative records, and records relating to ongoing agency investigations
Child Welfare Records: Reports and investigations related to child abuse and neglect
Adoption Records: Adoption proceedings and related documents
Personnel Records: Employee performance evaluations, disciplinary actions, and other personnel information (with exceptions for certain basic employment information)
Attorney-Client Communications: Records subject to attorney-client privilege
Deliberative Process Materials: Pre-decisional deliberations of agencies, including draft documents and internal memoranda
Security Information: Building plans, infrastructure details, emergency response plans, and security procedures that could jeopardize public safety if disclosed
Trade Secrets and Confidential Proprietary Information: Business information that would cause competitive harm if released
Donor Information: Records identifying individual donors to public agencies (with exceptions)

The county must apply a balancing test when determining whether to release records that contain both public and exempt information. When possible, the county will redact exempt information and release the remainder of the record.

Allegheny County Recorder's Office: Contact Information and Hours

Allegheny County Department of Real Estate
County Office Building
542 Forbes Avenue, Room 101
Pittsburgh, PA 15219
412-350-4226
Allegheny County Department of Real Estate

Hours of Operation:
Monday through Friday: 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM
Closed on weekends and county holidays

Allegheny County Department of Court Records
City-County Building
414 Grant Street, 1st Floor
Pittsburgh, PA 15219
412-350-5727
Allegheny County Department of Court Records

Hours of Operation:
Monday through Friday: 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM
Closed on weekends and county holidays

Allegheny County Health Department - Vital Records
Clack Health Center
501 Stanwix Street, Suite 520
Pittsburgh, PA 15222
412-687-2243
Allegheny County Health Department

Hours of Operation:
Monday through Friday: 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM
Closed on weekends and county holidays

Allegheny County Elections Division
County Office Building
542 Forbes Avenue, Room 604
Pittsburgh, PA 15219
412-350-4500
Allegheny County Elections Division

Hours of Operation:
Monday through Friday: 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM
Extended hours during election periods
Closed on weekends and county holidays

Lookup Public Records in Allegheny County

Allegheny County Department of Court Records Civil/Family Division

Allegheny County Mortgage Foreclosure Records

Western District of Pennsylvania United States District Court