Lehigh County Public Records

What Are Public Records in Lehigh County?

Public records in Lehigh County are defined according to Pennsylvania's Right-to-Know Law (RTKL), specifically under 65 P.S. § 67.102, as any information, regardless of physical 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. Lehigh County maintains numerous categories of public records accessible to citizens, including:

Court Records: Civil, criminal, family court, and probate records maintained by the Lehigh County Clerk of Judicial Records
Property Records: Deeds, mortgages, liens, and property assessments
Vital Records: Birth certificates, death certificates, marriage licenses, and divorce decrees
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 Commission meetings, board proceedings, and public hearings
Budget and Financial Documents: County budgets, expenditure reports, and financial audits
Law Enforcement Records: Arrest logs and incident reports (with statutory limitations)
Land Use and Zoning Records: Planning documents, zoning permits, and land development plans

The Lehigh County Clerk of Judicial Records maintains court-related documents, while the Lehigh County Recorder of Deeds manages property records. Vital records are primarily handled by the Lehigh County Register of Wills, and the Lehigh County Assessment Office maintains property assessment information.

Is Lehigh County an Open Records County?

Lehigh County fully complies with Pennsylvania's Right-to-Know Law (RTKL), enacted under Act 3 of 2008, which governs public access to government records throughout the Commonwealth. Under 65 P.S. § 67.301, the law establishes a presumption of openness, stating: "A Commonwealth agency shall provide public records in accordance with this act."

This presumption means that all records are considered public unless they fall under specific exemptions outlined in the law, or are protected by other state or federal statutes, regulations, court orders, or privileges. Lehigh County has implemented this law through its own Right to Know policies, which establish procedures for requesting and accessing public records.

Additionally, Lehigh County adheres to 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 has designated Open Records Officers in each department to facilitate public access to government information, demonstrating its commitment to transparency and open governance.

How to Find Public Records in Lehigh County in 2026

Members of the public seeking records in Lehigh County may follow these procedures to access various types of public information:

Identify the Appropriate Department: Determine which county department maintains the records you seek. The Lehigh County website provides a comprehensive directory of departments and their record holdings.
Submit a Right-to-Know Request: Complete the county's standard Right-to-Know request form, which can be obtained from the Lehigh County Administration Office or downloaded from the county website. Pursuant to the RTKL, requests may be submitted in person, by mail, by email, or by fax.
For Court Records: Visit the Lehigh County Clerk of Judicial Records at the Lehigh County Courthouse. Many court records are also available through the Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania Web Portal.
For Property Records: Access property records through the Lehigh County Recorder of Deeds. Many property records are available online through the county's property records database.
For Vital Records: Contact the Lehigh County Register of Wills for marriage licenses and the Pennsylvania Department of Health for birth and death certificates.
For Criminal Records: Search the Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System or utilize the Pennsylvania inmate locator system for information about individuals in custody.
For Municipal Records: Contact the specific municipality within Lehigh County. For example, Salisbury Township has designated Cathy Gorman, Township Manager as its Open Records Officer.

The county is required to respond to Right-to-Know requests within five business days, though complex requests may require an additional 30-day extension with written notification to the requestor.

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

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

Photocopies: $0.25 per page for standard 8.5" x 11" black and white copies
Certified Copies: Additional $1.00-$5.00 per document, depending on record type
Specialized Documents: Variable fees for maps, plans, and non-standard sized documents
Digital Media: Actual cost of media (CD/DVD/flash drive) when records are provided electronically
Postage: Actual cost when records are mailed

The Lehigh County Clerk of Judicial Records maintains a specific fee schedule for court documents. Under 65 P.S. § 67.1307, fees must be reasonable and based on prevailing fees for comparable services.

Payment methods accepted include cash, check, and money order. Some departments may accept credit cards for in-person transactions. The county may require prepayment if fees are expected to exceed $100.

Fee waivers may be granted at the discretion of the Open Records Officer when the request is made in the public interest. Additionally, indigent individuals may request a fee waiver for certain records if they can demonstrate financial hardship.

Does Lehigh County Have Free Public Records?

Lehigh County provides several avenues for accessing public records at no cost:

In-Person Inspection: Pursuant to 65 P.S. § 67.701, members of the public may inspect public records free of charge during normal business hours at the appropriate county office. No fee may be charged for viewing records unless redaction is required.
Online Resources: The county provides free access to numerous records through its online portals, including:
Public Access Terminals: Computer terminals are available at the Lehigh County Courthouse for searching court records without charge, though printing fees may apply.
Public Libraries: The Allentown Public Library and other branches within the Lehigh County library system provide free access to certain county records and resources.

The Pennsylvania Office of Open Records also maintains resources to help citizens understand their rights to access government records without charge.

Who Can Request Public Records in Lehigh County?

Under Pennsylvania's Right-to-Know Law, specifically 65 P.S. § 67.102, any person, regardless of citizenship or residency status, may request public records from Lehigh County agencies. The law defines a "requester" as "a person that is a legal resident of the United States and requests a record pursuant to this act."

Key provisions regarding eligibility include:

Identification Requirements: While requesters must provide their name and address, they are not required to provide identification or state the purpose of their request for most records.
Legal Entities: Corporations, associations, and other legal entities registered to do business in Pennsylvania may request records.
Inmates: Under 65 P.S. § 67.708(b)(1)(ii), inmates have limited access to certain records.
Non-Residents: While the RTKL technically limits requests to U.S. legal residents, in practice, Lehigh County generally processes requests without verifying residency status.
Commercial Requesters: Those seeking records for commercial purposes have the same rights of access, though fees may be assessed differently.

For certain specialized records, such as vital records or confidential court documents, additional eligibility requirements may apply. For example, birth certificates may only be requested by the individual named on the certificate, immediate family members, or legal representatives with proper authorization.

The Right to Know Officer for each municipality within Lehigh County can provide guidance on specific eligibility requirements for particular record types.

What Records Are Confidential in Lehigh County?

Certain records in Lehigh County are exempt from public disclosure pursuant to 65 P.S. § 67.708 of Pennsylvania's Right-to-Know Law and other applicable statutes. These confidential records include:

Personal Identifying Information: Social Security numbers, driver's license numbers, financial account numbers, and home addresses of judges, law enforcement officers, and certain other officials
Medical Records: Health information protected under HIPAA and other medical privacy laws
Juvenile Records: Court records involving minors, except in limited circumstances as provided by law
Ongoing Criminal Investigations: Records that, if disclosed, would impair an active investigation or deprive a person of a fair trial
Personnel Records: Employee performance evaluations, disciplinary actions, and other personnel file contents (with exceptions for certain basic employment information)
Attorney-Client Communications: Records protected by attorney-client privilege or attorney work product doctrine
Trade Secrets and Confidential Proprietary Information: Business records that would cause competitive harm if disclosed
Predecisional Deliberations: Internal communications reflecting the deliberative process prior to agency decisions
Sealed Court Records: Records sealed by court order
Adoption Records: Information about adoptions, except as authorized by court order
Child Welfare Records: Reports and investigations related to child abuse
Certain Tax Records: Individual tax return information
Infrastructure Security Information: Records that would jeopardize public safety if disclosed

The county applies a balancing test when determining whether to release records that may contain both public and exempt information. In such cases, the county will redact exempt information while releasing the remainder of the record, as required by 65 P.S. § 67.706.

Lehigh County Recorder's Office: Contact Information and Hours

Lehigh County Recorder of Deeds
Lehigh County Government Center
17 South 7th Street, Suite 210
Allentown, PA 18101
(610) 782-3162
Lehigh County Recorder of Deeds

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

Lehigh County Clerk of Judicial Records
Lehigh County Courthouse
455 West Hamilton Street
Allentown, PA 18101
(610) 782-3150
Lehigh County Clerk of Judicial Records

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

Lehigh County Register of Wills
Lehigh County Courthouse
455 West Hamilton Street, Room 123
Allentown, PA 18101
(610) 782-3170
Lehigh County Register of Wills

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

Lookup Public Records in Lehigh County

Record Alert From the Clerk of Judicial Records

Right To Know Information for Salisbury Township

Pennsylvania Inmate Locator System

Allentown Right-to-Know Request Information

Lehigh County Clerk of Judicial Records Audit Report