Northampton County Public Records

What Are Public Records in Northampton County?

Public records in Northampton County are official documents and information created, received, or maintained by government agencies that are accessible to the public pursuant to the Pennsylvania Right-to-Know Law, 65 P.S. § 67.101 et seq. These records document government activities, transactions, and decisions, serving as a foundation for governmental transparency and accountability.

Northampton County maintains numerous types of public records across various departments and offices, including:

Court Records: Civil, criminal, family, and probate case files maintained by the Northampton County Court of Common Pleas. Criminal records specifically are managed by the Criminal Court Division, which maintains accurate documentation of criminal proceedings.
Property Records: Deeds, mortgages, liens, and property transfers recorded by the Recorder of Deeds Office. Property assessment records are maintained by the Assessment Office, which determines property values for tax purposes.
Vital Records: Birth and death certificates (from 1893), marriage licenses (from 1885), and divorce decrees. The Register of Wills maintains many of these documents.
Business Records: Business licenses, permits, and fictitious name registrations that document commercial entities operating within the county.
Tax Records: Property tax information, assessment records, and tax claim data maintained by the Tax Assessment Office and Tax Claim Bureau.
Voting and Election Records: Voter registration data, election results, and campaign finance reports maintained by the Election Division.
Meeting Minutes and Agendas: Official proceedings of the County Council, boards, and commissions that document governmental decision-making processes.
Budget and Financial Documents: County financial records, budgets, expenditures, and audit reports that detail the use of public funds.
Law Enforcement Records: Certain police reports, arrest logs, and incident reports that are not exempt under privacy laws or ongoing investigation exemptions.
Land Use and Zoning Records: Planning documents, zoning decisions, building permits, and code enforcement records maintained by the Planning and Zoning Department.
Probate Records: Wills, estate inventories, and related documents maintained by the Register of Wills and Orphans' Court.

Each record type is maintained by specific county departments, with the Northampton County Government serving as the central authority overseeing these various offices and their record-keeping responsibilities.

Is Northampton County an Open Records County?

Northampton County adheres to Pennsylvania's open records laws, primarily operating under the Pennsylvania Right-to-Know Law (RTKL), 65 P.S. § 67.101 et seq. This comprehensive statute, which underwent significant revision in 2008, establishes the presumption that all government records are public and accessible to citizens unless specifically exempted by law.

Under Section 65 P.S. § 67.301 of the RTKL, "a public record, legislative record or financial record shall be accessible for inspection and duplication in accordance with this act." This provision establishes the fundamental right of access that guides Northampton County's records policies.

Northampton County has implemented this state mandate through its own records policies, designating Open Records Officers in various departments who are responsible for receiving and processing public records requests. The county maintains compliance with both the RTKL and Pennsylvania's Sunshine Act (65 Pa.C.S. §§ 701-716), which governs public meetings and ensures that governmental deliberations occur in an open forum.

The county's commitment to transparency is further demonstrated through its online records portal, which provides digital access to many commonly requested documents. For records not available online, the county has established procedures for submitting formal requests in accordance with state law.

Northampton County's implementation of these open records laws reflects the legislative intent expressed in the RTKL, which states that the law is "designed to promote access to official government information in order to prohibit secrets, scrutinize the actions of public officials, and make public officials accountable for their actions."

How to Find Public Records in Northampton County in 2026

Members of the public seeking access to Northampton County records may utilize several methods to locate and obtain these documents. The county provides multiple pathways for records access, accommodating both digital and in-person research needs.

For online access to public records, individuals may:

Visit the Northampton County official website to access digital records portals for various departments.
Search court records through the Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania web portal, which provides free access to docket sheets and case information.
Access property records through the Recorder of Deeds online search system, which contains property transfers, mortgages, and related documents.
Review County Council meeting minutes, agendas, and videos through the county's legislative information center.

For in-person records requests, requestors may:

Submit a written Right-to-Know request form to the appropriate department's Open Records Officer. Standard request forms are available at county offices and on the county website.
Visit the specific department that maintains the desired records during regular business hours:
- For court records: Criminal Division, Civil Division, or Orphans' Court
- For property records: Recorder of Deeds Office
- For tax information: Assessment Office
- For vital records: Register of Wills
Utilize public access terminals available at certain county offices for self-directed research.

When submitting formal records requests, individuals should:

Clearly identify the specific records sought with reasonable particularity
Provide contact information for response delivery
Specify the preferred format for receiving records (paper copies, digital files, inspection only)
Allow up to five business days for a response, as stipulated by the RTKL (extensions may apply for certain complex requests)

The county's Open Records Officers are legally required to respond to all requests within the timeframes established by state law, either by providing the requested records, denying the request with specific legal justification, or requesting additional time for processing.

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

Northampton County assesses fees for public records in accordance with the fee schedule established under the Pennsylvania Right-to-Know Law and county ordinances. These fees are designed to recover reasonable costs associated with record reproduction and delivery.

The current standard fees for public records in Northampton County include:

Paper copies: $0.25 per page for standard 8.5" x 11" black and white copies
Certified copies: $5.00 per document plus copy fees
Large format documents (maps, plans): Actual cost of reproduction
Digital media (CD/DVD): $1.00 per disc
Electronic records emailed: No charge for electronic transmission
Postage: Actual cost when mailing is requested

Specialized records may carry different fee structures as established by state law:

Criminal history records: $10.00 per search
Deed recordings: $63.50 for the first four pages, $2.00 each additional page
Marriage license: $80.00
Certified copies of birth or death certificates: $10.00 per copy

Payment methods accepted by Northampton County offices typically include:

Cash (in-person only)
Personal checks
Money orders
Credit cards (in some departments, with processing fees)

Pursuant to 65 P.S. § 67.1307 of the RTKL, fees must represent the actual cost of record duplication, and agencies are prohibited from charging for staff time spent searching for or retrieving records. However, complex or voluminous requests that require extensive redaction or compilation may incur additional fees based on actual costs.

Fee waivers may be available in certain circumstances where the request is made in the public interest by non-commercial entities, though such determinations are made on a case-by-case basis by the Open Records Officer.

Requestors should note that prepayment may be required if fees are expected to exceed $100, or if the requestor has previously failed to pay fees in a timely manner.

Does Northampton County Have Free Public Records?

Northampton County provides several avenues for accessing public records at no cost to requestors. In accordance with Pennsylvania's Right-to-Know Law, the county allows free inspection of public records during normal business hours at the appropriate county offices.

Free public records access options in Northampton County include:

In-person inspection of non-exempt public records at county offices during regular business hours
Online access to court docket information through the Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania web portal
Digital access to County Council meeting minutes, agendas, and videos through the county website
Online property assessment information through the Assessment Office portal
Public access terminals at certain county offices for self-directed research
Electronic records delivered via email when requested in this format

The county's Criminal Court Division provides public access terminals for reviewing criminal case information without charge, though printing from these terminals may incur standard copy fees.

Additionally, certain public notices, ordinances, and county budgets are freely available on the Northampton County website as part of the county's commitment to governmental transparency.

While inspection is free, requestors should note that reproduction costs apply when copies are requested, as outlined in the county's fee schedule. These fees are limited by law to the actual cost of duplication and are not intended to create barriers to access.

Who Can Request Public Records in Northampton County?

Under Pennsylvania's Right-to-Know Law, any person, regardless of citizenship or residency status, may request access to public records maintained by Northampton County. The law defines "person" broadly to include individuals, corporations, partnerships, associations, and governmental entities.

Key eligibility considerations for public records requestors include:

Residency: Non-residents of Pennsylvania have the same right to access public records as residents. The county cannot deny a request based solely on the requestor's place of residence.
Identification: While basic contact information is required on request forms, requestors are generally not required to provide identification to access most public records. However, certain sensitive records may require identity verification.
Purpose: For most records, requestors are not required to state the reason for their request or intended use of the records. As established in 65 P.S. § 67.301(b), "A local agency may not deny a requester access to a public record due to the intended use of the public record."
Commercial use: Records may be requested for commercial purposes, though certain specialized records (such as voter registration data) may have restrictions on commercial use.

Special considerations apply when requesting records containing personal information:

Requestors seeking their own records may need to provide identification to verify their identity.
Access to another individual's personal information may be restricted under privacy exemptions in 65 P.S. § 67.708.
Certain professional licensees may restrict access to their home addresses under the RTKL.

Criminal justice records have specific access provisions under the Criminal History Record Information Act, 18 Pa.C.S. § 9101 et seq., which governs who may access complete criminal history information and for what purposes.

Foreign nationals, out-of-state residents, and corporate entities all maintain the same fundamental right to access public records as Pennsylvania citizens, reflecting the law's emphasis on governmental transparency regardless of requestor status.

What Records Are Confidential in Northampton County?

While Pennsylvania law establishes a presumption of openness for government records, certain categories of information are exempt from public disclosure to protect privacy, security, and other compelling interests. Northampton County maintains confidentiality for these exempt records in accordance with state law.

Pursuant to 65 P.S. § 67.708 of the Pennsylvania Right-to-Know Law, the following record types are generally considered confidential in Northampton County:

Records that would threaten personal security or public safety if disclosed
Medical, psychiatric, and psychological records
Personal identification information including Social Security numbers, driver's license numbers, financial account numbers, and personal phone numbers
Home addresses of judges, law enforcement officers, and certain other officials
Records protected by attorney-client privilege or attorney work product doctrine
Trade secrets and confidential proprietary information
Records relating to predecisional deliberations of agencies
Draft documents and internal communications not presented for public action
Criminal investigative records and materials from ongoing investigations
Emergency response plans and infrastructure security information

Additional confidentiality protections apply to specific record types under various state laws:

Juvenile records are generally confidential under the Juvenile Act, 42 Pa.C.S. § 6301 et seq., with limited exceptions
Child welfare records are protected under the Child Protective Services Law
Adoption records are sealed pursuant to the Adoption Act
Mental health records are confidential under the Mental Health Procedures Act
Records related to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking

The Orphans' Court Division maintains confidentiality for sensitive family matters including adoption proceedings, guardianship cases, and certain estate matters as required by law.

When records contain both public and confidential information, Northampton County will redact the protected information and release the remainder of the record, as required by 65 P.S. § 67.706.

Confidentiality determinations are subject to the balancing test established in Pennsylvania jurisprudence, weighing the public interest in disclosure against privacy interests and potential harms from release.

Northampton County Recorder's Office: Contact Information and Hours

Northampton County Recorder of Deeds
669 Washington Street, Room 122
Easton, PA 18042
Phone: 610-559-3077
Northampton County Recorder of Deeds