Pike County Public Records

What Are Public Records in Pike County?

Public records in Pike County, Pennsylvania, are defined as any document, paper, letter, map, book, tape, photograph, film, sound recording, or other material, regardless of physical form or characteristics, created or received by a Commonwealth agency or local agency in connection with a transaction of public business. Under Pennsylvania's Right-to-Know Law (65 P.S. § 67.101 et seq.), all records held by government agencies are presumed to be public unless a specific exemption applies.

The following categories of records are currently available through various Pike County offices:

Court records — Civil, criminal, probate, and family court records are maintained by the Clerk of Courts and Clerk of Orphans Court, which handles motions, pleadings, and all associated criminal and civil filings. Civil court filings, judgments, and dockets are additionally maintained by the Pike County Prothonotary.
Property records — Deeds, mortgages, liens, and related instruments are recorded and maintained by the Recorder of Deeds office. Members of the public may search Pike County land records through the county's online portal.
Vital records — Birth and death certificates are issued by the Pennsylvania Department of Health; marriage licenses are issued through the Pike County Register of Wills.
Business records — Fictitious name registrations, business licenses, and permits are maintained by the Pennsylvania Department of State and applicable county offices.
Tax records — Property tax and assessment records are maintained by the Pike County Assessment Office and Tax Claim Bureau.
Voting and election records — Voter registration data and election results are maintained by the Pike County Election Bureau.
Meeting minutes and agendas — Records of Pike County Commissioner meetings, board proceedings, and public hearings are available through the county's administrative offices.
Budget and financial documents — Annual budgets, audits, and financial reports are public records maintained by the Pike County Finance Office.
Law enforcement records — Arrest logs and incident reports, where permitted by law, may be obtained through the Pike County Sheriff's Office or the Pennsylvania State Police.
Land use and zoning records — Zoning permits, subdivision plans, and land use applications are maintained by the Pike County Planning Commission.

Is Pike County an Open Records County?

Pike County fully complies with Pennsylvania's statewide open records framework, which establishes a presumption of openness for all government-held records. Under 65 P.S. § 67.301, a Commonwealth agency or local agency shall provide public records in accordance with the Right-to-Know Law, and the burden of proving that a record is exempt from disclosure rests with the agency, not the requester.

Key provisions of the law currently in effect include the following:

Agencies must respond to a written request within five business days of receipt, with the possibility of a 30-day extension under specified circumstances.
If an agency fails to respond within the required timeframe, the request is deemed denied, and the requester may appeal to the Pennsylvania Office of Open Records.
Pike County agencies are also subject to Pennsylvania's Sunshine Act (65 Pa.C.S. § 701 et seq.), which requires that deliberations and official actions of government agencies be conducted at open, public meetings.

Members of the public seeking county-specific open records policies may submit inquiries directly to the designated Open Records Officer for each Pike County agency.

How to Find Public Records in Pike County in 2026

Locating public records in Pike County involves identifying the appropriate custodial office and submitting a request through the proper channel. The following steps outline the standard process:

Identify the record type and custodial office. Determine which county office maintains the record being sought. Court records are held by the Pike County Courts system, civil dockets by the Prothonotary, and property instruments by the Recorder of Deeds.
Submit a Right-to-Know request. For records not available online, members of the public must submit a written request to the agency's designated Open Records Officer. The Pike County online services portal provides access to the Open Records Right to Know Request Form.
Search online databases. Many records are currently accessible without a formal request through the county's digital platforms, including property record searches and court docket lookups.
Visit the office in person. Members of the public may inspect records in person at the relevant county office during regular business hours.
Await agency response. Agencies are required by law to respond within five business days, or notify the requester of a lawful extension.
Appeal if denied. If a request is denied or deemed denied, the requester may appeal to the Pennsylvania Office of Open Records within 15 business days of the denial.

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

Current fees for public records in Pike County are governed by the Pennsylvania Right-to-Know Law and applicable agency fee schedules. Standard fees currently in effect include the following:

Paper copies: Agencies may charge no more than $0.25 per page for standard black-and-white copies, as established under state fee regulations.
Certification fees: Certified copies of court documents and recorded instruments carry additional fees set by the individual office.
Electronic records: Duplication fees for electronic records are limited to the actual cost of the electronic medium used.
Postage and mailing: Agencies may charge actual postage costs when records are mailed at the requester's request.
Recorder of Deeds fees: Recording fees for deeds, mortgages, and other instruments are established by Pennsylvania statute and vary by document type and number of pages.

Accepted payment methods vary by office and may include cash, check, money order, or credit card. Fee waivers are not broadly mandated under current Pennsylvania law, though agencies retain discretion to waive fees in certain circumstances, such as when disclosure is determined to be in the public interest.

Does Pike County Have Free Public Records?

Free inspection of public records is available to members of the public under Pennsylvania law, which does not permit agencies to charge for the mere review of records on-site. The following resources are currently available at no cost:

In-person inspection: Members of the public may inspect any non-exempt public record at the custodial office during regular business hours without charge.
Online court records: Criminal and civil court records may be viewed at no cost through the Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania's web portal, accessible via the Clerk of Courts office page.
Property record searches: Members of the public may conduct free property record searches through the county's online land records system.
Online services portal: The county's public records request form and property search tools are available at no cost through the official Pike County website.

Who Can Request Public Records in Pike County?

Any person may request public records from Pike County agencies under current Pennsylvania law, regardless of residency, citizenship, or stated purpose. The Right-to-Know Law does not require requesters to be Pennsylvania residents or to explain why they are seeking a record.

Specific eligibility provisions currently in effect include the following:

Identification: Requesters are not required to provide identification when submitting a Right-to-Know request, though some offices may request it for administrative purposes.
Purpose: Agencies may not require a requester to state the reason for the request as a condition of access, except in limited circumstances involving certain sensitive record categories.
Non-residents: Non-residents of Pennsylvania retain the same rights of access as residents under the Right-to-Know Law.
Requesting your own records: Individuals seeking their own records, such as personal court filings or property documents, follow the same process as any other requester, though additional verification may be required for records containing sensitive personal information.
Restrictions by record type: Certain categories of records, such as juvenile court files or adoption records, are subject to additional access restrictions regardless of the requester's identity.

What Records Are Confidential in Pike County?

Certain records held by Pike County agencies are exempt from public disclosure under Pennsylvania law. 65 P.S. § 67.708 enumerates the categories of records that agencies are not required to disclose, including but not limited to the following:

Sealed court records — Records sealed by judicial order are not subject to public access.
Juvenile records — Records pertaining to juvenile proceedings are confidential under Pennsylvania law.
Ongoing investigation records — Records compiled in connection with a criminal investigation or prosecution that could reasonably be expected to interfere with enforcement proceedings are exempt.
Personal identifying information — Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, and similar data are redacted or withheld from disclosed records.
Medical records — Records protected under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and applicable state law are not subject to disclosure.
Adoption records — Records relating to adoption proceedings are sealed and accessible only under specific court order.
Child welfare and protective services records — Records maintained by child protective services agencies are confidential under state and federal law.
Personnel records — Employee personnel files are generally exempt, with limited exceptions for certain categories of public employees.
Trade secrets and proprietary business information — Confidential commercial or financial information submitted to an agency is exempt from disclosure.
Security plans and infrastructure details — Records relating to the security of public buildings, infrastructure, or emergency response plans are withheld to protect public safety.

Where a record contains both exempt and non-exempt information, agencies are required to redact the exempt portions and provide access to the remainder, consistent with the balancing framework established under the Right-to-Know Law.

Pike County Recorder's Office: Contact Information and Hours

The Pike County Recorder of Deeds maintains all land records, including deeds, mortgages, and related instruments, and provides both in-person and online access to those records.

Pike County Recorder of Deeds 506 Broad Street, Milford, PA 18337 (570) 296-3413 Recorder of Deeds – Pike County, PA

Public counter hours are currently Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., excluding official county holidays.

Pike County Prothonotary 506 Broad Street, Milford, PA 18337 (570) 296-7231 Prothonotary – Pike County, PA

The Prothonotary's office is responsible for maintaining civil court records, signing and sealing writs, and processing documents of the Court of Common Pleas. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Pike County Clerk of Courts / Clerk of Orphans Court 506 Broad Street, Milford, PA 18337 (570) 296-7231 Clerk of Courts – Pike County, PA

Pike County Courts – Court of Common Pleas, 60th Judicial District 506 Broad Street, Milford, PA 18337 (570) 296-7231 Pike County Courts