Chemung County, NY Property Records

    Chemung County, NY Property Records

    Chemung County has an estimated population of 84,000, according to the recent U.S. Census data. The typical home value in Chemung County is $147,685, up 0.8% from the previous year and well below the statewide average of $498,438. This affordability makes the county especially attractive to first-time buyers, families, and retirees seeking more value for their money.

    Property listings in Chemung County often remain on the market for about 44 days before going under contract, reflecting a steady pace of buyer activity without extreme competition. Despite the relatively affordable home values, about 28.1% of households in Chemung County spend 30% or more of their income on housing. This means nearly three in ten residents still face a significant housing cost burden.

    Detailed property assessments and parcel-level data in Chemung County are typically maintained by municipal assessors rather than the county government. To access information such as parcel boundaries, tax maps, and assessed values, you should visit the website or office of the city, town, or village where the property is located. These municipal databases provide the most accurate and up-to-date property details.

    Who Keeps the Official Land Records?

    The Chemung County Clerk's Office records and manages official land documents, including deeds, mortgages, lis pendens, judgments, and tax liens. This office processes over 1,000 pages of documents daily and also makes the documents available for public use both electronically and on-site. Contact information, online records search, and coverage area for the county clerk are as follows:

    • Chemung County Clerk's Office: 210 Lake Street, Elmira, NY 14901

    • Phone: (607) 737-2920, Records Search

    • Coverage: All municipalities in Chemung County

    What Chemung County Property Records Include

    Property records in Chemung County are publicly accessible documents that contain information about ownership, financial data, and other transactions related to real estate in the county. These records include the following:

    • Deeds

    • Mortgages

    • Mortgage Discharges

    • Lis Pendens

    • Judgments

    • Liens

    Documents from 1967 to the present can be accessed online through the Chemung County Clerk's records search portal. You can also visit the Clerk's Office in person to obtain copies of your property documents.

    How to Access Chemung County Property Records

    Property documents in Chemung County can be accessed through the clerk's office. The office provides several ways to obtain these records, including online portals, mail-in requests, and in-person visits to the courthouse.

    Online Access (Free)

    You can access both historical and current property documents online through the records search portal provided by the Chemung County Clerk's Office. Records can be searched on this portal in two different ways, which are Landex Remote and Landex Webstore. Landex Remote can be used by individuals or companies who conduct frequent searches of records. Searches on Landex Remote cost $0.15 per minute and $0.10 per page loaded.

    On the other hand, the Landex Webstore is designed for infrequent searchers or those conducting basic searches. Searching for records on this portal is free, but there is a minimal fee to view, print, or download documents.

    In Person

    Copies of property documents in the county can be obtained on-site at the Chemung County Clerk's Office at:

    • Chemung County Clerk's Office: 210 Lake Street, Elmira, NY 14901

    The clerk's office is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., excluding holidays. Fees are charged for obtaining copies of property documents. You can also retrieve property documents using the public access computers located at the Chemung County Clerk's Office.

    By Phone

    For more information related to property records in Chemung County, contact the clerk's office by phone at (607) 737-2920.

    By Mail/Overnight

    You can request copies of property documents by mail from the Chemung County Clerk's Office. Include property details such as the owner's name, document type, parcel ID, or property address. Be sure to include the required copy fees and a self-addressed, stamped envelope. Mail the complete request to the clerk's office at:

    • Chemung County Clerk's Office: P.O. Box 588, Elmira, NY 14902.

    E-Recording (Professionals)

    The Chemung County Clerk allows law firms, financial institutions, and other authorized entities to file and record documents electronically through the county's authorized vendors. A list of authorized vendors is available on the County Clerk's webpage. On this webpage, you can get the vendors' direct links, contact details, and more information related to e-recording.

    What's Not at the Registry (But Matters for Property Research)?

    The Chemung County Clerk's Office manages official public records, including property records. However, there are certain property-related documents that are maintained by other government agencies. These offices include:

    Step-by-Step: How to Pull a Deed Online

    You can pull up a deed online in Chemung County by following the guidelines below:

    • Visit the Chemung County Clerk official portal and select Online Records Search to proceed.

    • A notification will appear that you are leaving the county site and will be redirected to an external portal.

    • If you are a frequent user, click on Landex Remote, while basic searchers should click on Landex Webstore to proceed.

    • Create an account and follow the necessary procedures to obtain your recorded deed.

    • Documents can be printed or downloaded from the portal for a minimal fee.

    Cities & Towns in Chemung County (and Their Registry Districts)

    The Chemung County Clerk's Office is the record custodian of all official property documents in the county. It handles filings for every municipality and ensures public access to these records. The municipalities served by the county clerk include:

    • City of Elmira, Town of Ashland, Town of Baldwin, Town of Big Flats, Town of Catlin, Town of Chemung, Town of Elmira, Town of Erin, Town of Horseheads, Town of Southport, Town of Veteran, Village of Elmira Heights, Village of Horseheads, and Village of Wellsburg

    City/Town Resources for Assessments & Taxes

    In Chemung County, property assessments and tax information are primarily maintained by municipal assessors. The Chemung County Real Property Tax Services provides assessment rolls, property maps, and tax search tools that help identify legal parcel boundaries and property tax information. It serves as a resource for both town assessors and individual property owners.

    Municipal assessors in the City of Elmira, towns, and villages maintain parcel inventories, assessed values, and exemptions for properties in their jurisdiction. Assessor offices provide detailed information on property class, assessed value, exemptions, abatement programs, and assessment appeals. The Chemung County Treasurer's Office manages the collection of property taxes, enforces delinquent taxes, and maintains financial records to ensure tax obligations are properly applied and collected.

    For broader comparisons and municipal-level data, the New York State Office of Real Property Tax Services (ORPTS) offers a Municipal Data Portal with sales data, assessment roll dates, and equalization rates.

    Chemung County-Specific Nuances

    Chemung County has several distinctive features that may influence property research:

    • Chemung County has a single, consolidated official records system.

    • The county does not use a Registered Land (Torrens) system.

    • The clerk's office has a long historical archive, with deeds from July 31, 1967, and mortgages from 1970 onward.

    • Some older documents may exist only in paper format at the clerk's office.

    • Municipal assessors in the City of Elmira, towns, or villages maintain parcel-level data, tax maps, and assessed values.

    • Chemung County operates a recorded land system.

    • Chemung County complies with New York's FOIL law, making most property records accessible to the public.

    • Online research is available via the Landex system, which allows free searching by name or document type.

    • Online tools make basic record retrieval easier without visiting offices in person.

    • Public access terminals are available at the clerk's office for in-person research.

    Typical Contents of a Chemung County Property Record

    Chemung County property records constitute the official public record of real property ownership and any legally recorded interests affecting title. The contents of a typical property record include the following:

    • Deed

      • Grantor and grantee names

      • Legal description of the property

      • Prior deed reference

      • Consideration (sale price)

      • Homestead or ownership declaration

    • Plans and Survey Maps

      • Subdivision references

      • Parcel boundaries and dimensions

      • Survey or plan number

    • Mortgages and Mortgage Discharges

      • Lender and borrower names

      • Loan amount and terms

      • Property reference

      • Recording information

    • Encumbrances and Restrictions

      • Easements

      • Restrictive covenants

      • Lis pendens

      • Judgments or liens

    Recording Changes to Property Titles

    In Chemung County, any update to a property title must be recorded with the County Clerk's Office. The office maintains the county's official land records and ensures changes to property ownership are properly documented and available for public review. New conveyances, such as quitclaim deeds, warranty deeds, and other transfer documents, must be filed with the clerk's official records department. Once recorded, the document becomes part of the public record and legally shows who owns the property.

    Supporting documents are usually required when recording a deed in New York. These typically include the Real Property Transfer Report and the Real Estate Transfer Tax Return. The forms provide transaction details and allow the state and local governments to track property transfers and collect applicable taxes. Ownership records may also change when financial or legal claims are recorded against a property. Mortgages, assignments of mortgage, mechanic's liens, tax liens, and notices of pending legal actions are all filed with the county clerk and become part of the property's recorded history. These filings help show whether a property has debts or legal claims attached to it.

    Chemung County uses New York's traditional recording system, where ownership is established through the chain of recorded deeds rather than a single state-issued title certificate. The Chemung County Clerk's Office provides official guidelines for recording documents, including formatting standards, recording fees, and submission procedures.

    Documents are typically recorded in person at the clerk's office at 210 Lake Street in Elmira during normal business hours from Monday through Friday. For convenience, the county also allows electronic recording of land records through approved e-recording vendors used by attorneys, lenders, and title companies.

    Practical Research Flow (Checklist)

    You can use this checklist as a guide for effective property research in Chemung County:

    • Identify the right county office - In Chemung County, deeds, mortgages, liens, and other real estate documents are recorded and maintained by the County Clerk's Office.

    • Search the records and note reference numbers - Once a document is located, note the reference details listed on the record. These usually include the book and page number, the instrument number, and the recording date.

    • Trace the chain of title - Follow the ownership history by reviewing earlier deeds referenced in the document. Most deeds include a citation to a prior deed that shows how the seller obtained ownership. Continue checking each earlier reference to trace the chain of title through previous owners.

    • Review related plans, maps, and encumbrances - After confirming the ownership history, review related documents connected to the property. These may include survey maps or subdivision plans, easements or rights-of-way, and liens or lis pendens notices.

    • Verify parcel information through the local assessor - Once the ownership history is confirmed, check the parcel's details with the local municipal assessor. Assessor records typically include the parcel identification number, property boundaries and tax maps, as well as the assessed value and property classification.

    Appendix A - Municipalities in Chemung County

    Chemung County includes one city, eleven towns, and three villages, all of which rely on the County Clerk's Office for property records, deeds, and official filings. The municipalities in the county include:

    • City: Elmira.

    • Towns: Ashland, Baldwin, Big Flats, Catlin, Chemung, Elmira, Erin, Horseheads, Southport, and Veteran.

    • Villages: Elmira Heights, Horseheads, and Wellsburg.

    Appendix B - Key Contacts & Portals