Clinton County, NY Property Records

    Clinton County, home to over 79,000 residents according to a recent U.S. Census, ranks 33rd in population among New York counties. The average home value in the county is approximately $212,612, up 3.3% from the previous year and about 57% below the statewide average of $498,438. Homes in the county typically go under contract in about 49 days, with roughly 17% selling above the listing price.

    With a median household income of $69,302, Clinton County still faces housing affordability pressures. Federal Reserve Economic Data indicates that 25.6% of households spend at least 30% of their income on housing, meaning about one-quarter of residents are cost-burdened.

    In Clinton County, property assessments and parcel records are administered by municipal assessors. Each city and town assessor maintains its own database and determines the assessed and market values of real and personal property within its jurisdiction.

    Who Keeps the Official Land Records?

    The Clinton County Clerk's Office manages the recording and preservation of official property documents. The office verifies and records real estate filings and maintains a centralized archive of deeds, mortgages, leases, liens, discharges, and related records. Contact information and a link to the property records search portal are provided below.

    • Clinton County Clerk's Office - Clinton County Government Center, 137 Margaret Street, First Floor, Plattsburgh, NY 12901

    • Phone: (518) 565-4700, Records Search

    • Coverage: All municipalities in Clinton County.

    What Clinton County Property Records Include

    The Clinton County Clerk's Office verifies, records, indexes, and maintains real estate documents for the county. These records preserve a complete history of property ownership, transfers, and related information. Property records in the county include:

    • Assignments

    • Deeds

    • Lis pendens filings

    • Mortgages

    • Releases or discharges

    • Liens and Judgments

    • Covenants and Easements

    • Agreements

    • Restrictions

    • Subdivisions

    • Plat maps

    • Surveys

    Clinton County runs a unified registering system for all property and real estate records in the county. The Clerk's Office records all property title papers, including mortgages, liens, and deeds, into the county's official records. Property records are available from the late 18th century to the present and may be accessed in person at their office. Records from 1972 have been digitized and are available online.

    How to Access Clinton County Property Records

    You can access Clinton County property records remotely through their online portal, in-person visits, or by mail.

    Online Access

    You can access Clinton County property records online through the eSearch portal. The portal is a subscription-based service that grants access to detailed land ownership information in the county from 1972 to the present. The subscription rates are $10.00 for 24 hours, $100.00 for a month, and $500.00 for 6 months. Once your account is active, you can search the platform by party name, book and page number, address, and record date. You can view or print records at $0.65 per page.

    Alternatively, you can access property records in the county at no cost through the Clinton County Real Property Office's Online Parcel Information platform. You can search by owner's name, address, or tax number. From the result, you can access the property's total acreage, assessed value, market value, book and page number, utilities, and features. You can view, download, and print the records.

    In Person

    You can obtain copies of property records or record documents by visiting the Clerk's Office at the Clinton County Government Center, 137 Margaret Street, First Floor, Plattsburgh, NY 12901. The office is open from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding county holidays.

    To record property documents at the office, make sure the documents meet the county's recording requirements and contain the original notarized signatures of all involved parties. The clerk's staff will assist people with the necessary forms and guide them through the submission process. However, they are prohibited from giving any legal advice on the appropriateness of the document; users may need to consult an attorney for guidance. Documents for recording must be submitted before 3:45 p.m.

    In addition, to access property records in person, you must provide the property's details, such as the owner's name, book/lot number, date range, or property address. You can use public access computers on the premises to search for the records. Relevant records can be printed at a cost of $0.65 per page, with a minimum of two pages required per print request. Certified copies are available for $1.25 per page, with a minimum order of four pages.

    By Phone or Email

    The Clinton County Clerk's Office can be contacted at (518) 565-4700 for information about recording property documents or accessing property records in the county. Additionally, you can fill out their “Contact County Clerk' form to request information about property records.

    By Mail/Overnight

    You may submit property documents for recording by mail in the county. Ensure that all documents are original, prepared according to county recording requirements, and notarized. Include the applicable fees, completed RP-5217 and TP-584 forms, and a self-addressed, stamped envelope for the return of the original documents.

    To obtain property records by mail from Clinton County, send a request to the County Clerk's Office with identifying details about the property, such as the owner's name, book/lot number, or address. Include the appropriate fees and a self-addressed stamped envelope so the office can send the records back to you.

    The complete package should be sent to the Clinton County Clerk's Office, 137 Margaret Street, First Floor, Plattsburgh, NY 12901. Visit the Document Recording webpage for more information about recording documents and obtaining copies of recorded documents.

    E-Recording (Professionals)

    E-recording in Clinton County offers a faster, more convenient, and cost-effective way to submit property documents. The County Clerk's Office accepts electronic recording of real estate documents through approved third-party vendors. The following vendors are authorized for e-recording services in the county:

    These vendors ensure documents are properly formatted and transmitted for recording by the clerk's office. The clerk's staff verifies and records submissions in the order received. Additional guidance and resources are available on the county's e-Recording webpage.

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

    Although the County Clerk's Office maintains official property records, other documents necessary for property research are managed by other county and municipal departments.

    Property assessments and taxes are administered at the local level by local assessors and tax collectors. The Clinton County Real Property Office provides resources for accessing municipal assessment details. You can review municipal assessment rolls, parcel counts, and assessor listings on the Real Property Assessment Information webpage. The office also maintains county tax maps, municipal tax collector information, property tax rates, and the Online Parcel Information platform for accessing detailed property records in the county.

    The Clinton County Treasurer's Office collects delinquent property taxes and provides tax information for the entire county. You can also access official property tax rates for New York municipalities on the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance website.

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

    You can pull up Clinton County deeds online by taking the following steps:

    • Visit the Clerk's Office's eSearch platform.

    • Create an account to access the service.

    • Provide the search criteria. These include party names, addresses, book and page numbers, or record dates.

    • Review the search results and confirm the correct deed by checking the index information.

    • Open the documents to view the deed. Ensure that the information matches the property you intended to view.

    • Add the deed to the cart and proceed to pay for the deed.

    • You can then print a clear copy of the deed. You can reprint the purchased deed for up to 7 days after the purchase.

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

    The Clinton County Clerk's Office maintains property records for all municipalities in the county. The municipalities served by the office include:

    • Plattsburgh, Altona, AuSable, Beekmantown, Black Brook, Champlain, Chazy, Clinton, Dannemora, Ellenburg, Mooers, Peru, Plattsburgh, Saranac, Schuyler Falls, Champlain, Dannemora, and Rouses Point.

    City/Town Resources for Assessments & Taxes

    Property assessments and property tax collection in Clinton County, NY, are managed by the assessor and tax collector offices within each city or town. Their respective websites provide access to their assessment and tax information. Local tax collectors are primarily responsible for billing and collecting property taxes, while the county treasurer's office oversees delinquent tax collection.

    If you disagree with your property assessment, you may file a grievance with your municipality's Board of Assessment Review (BAR) or directly with the assessor if the board is not active. The grievance must be submitted using Form RP-524 (Complaint on Real Property Assessment) and filed no later than your municipality's Grievance Day. Visit the Clinton County Real Property Office website for your municipality's Grievance Day.

    Clinton County-Specific Nuances

    Clinton County, New York, has some distinctive features that may influence property research:

    • Clinton County maintains a unified land recording system, where recording a property document serves as the official registration of the property.

    • The county maintains a single registry for all municipalities, with the County Clerk's Office recording property documents at the county level.

    • Property records are available to the public in both digital and physical formats.

    • Property assessments and tax matters are managed locally by each municipality's assessor and tax collector.

    • Delinquent property taxes in the county are handled by the Clinton County Treasurer's Office.

    • The county also supports electronic recording of land documents through authorized vendors.

    • Clinton County operates a unified recorded land system. Recording a property in the county is the same as registering the property.

    Typical Contents of a Clinton County Property Record

    A Clinton County property record typically contains information that shows the owner of a specific property, the property's financing, characteristics of the property, and legal conditions that may affect it. The following information and documents can be found in a typical property record maintained by the county:

    • Deeds (evidence of ownership transfer)

      • Grantor and grantee names

      • Mailing address

      • Property address

      • Legal description of the property

      • Date of conveyance and execution

      • Property boundaries and lines

      • Sale consideration (the transfer value or purchase price)

      • Prior deed book and page references

      • Homestead declarations (if applicable)

      • Notary acknowledgement and recording stamp

    • Mortgages and Discharges

      • Lender's name

      • Borrower's name

      • Trustee information

      • Recording date and document number

      • Loan amount, repayment terms, and interest rate

      • Discharge, satisfaction, or release details

    • Plans (maps, surveys)

      • Subdivision plats

      • Survey or plan number

      • Endorsement references

      • Acreage and parcel size

      • Lot layout, boundaries, and measurements

    • Encumbrances (claims and restrictions affecting the property)

      • Rights of way and any shared agreements

      • Lis pendens notices

      • Restrictions or covenants

      • Liens or judgments recorded against the property

      • Easements for access, utilities, or shared driveways

    • Other Document

      • Power of attorney filings

      • Declarations of trusts

      • History of sales

      • Cross-references

      • Corrective or confirmatory deeds

    Recording Changes to Property Titles

    Recording changes to a property title in Clinton County requires submitting a new deed to the Clerk's Office. Such changes may involve transferring ownership, adding or removing parties from the title, modifying easements, releasing liens, or filing for homestead exemptions.

    To record any change to the property title in the county, follow the steps below:

    • Prepare a new deed appropriate for the situation, such as a quitclaim deed, warranty deed, corrective deed, or affidavit. Ensure the document complies with the state's recording requirements before submission.

    • All parties associated with the deed are required to sign the document in the presence of a notary public.

    • Applicable recording fees and appropriate taxes must be paid.

    • Include completed TP-584 and RP-5217 forms.

    • Submit the complete package by mail, in person, or through approved electronic recording vendors to the clerk's office. The office accepts documents for recording from 8:00 a.m. to 3:45 p.m., Mondays through Fridays, excluding public holidays.

    Practical Research Flow (Checklist)

    This practical checklist can help you perform effective property research in Clinton County, NY:

    • Use the eSearch platform to locate the property and examine any liens, encumbrances, or potential ownership conflicts. Review the ownership history and chain of title to verify that all transfers were legally completed and properly recorded.

    • Record unique reference numbers and identifiers, such as the book and page number or tax number.

    • Check the property's tax status through the Clinton County Real Property Tax Office portal and confirm that taxes are paid. Review the property's tax history for the past 10 years.

    • Contact the Clinton County Planning Department to confirm the property's current zoning and whether your intended use is permitted. For additional restrictions, consult the municipality's zoning department.

    • Consider any ongoing or proposed developments in the vicinity that may influence property values, such as road improvements, rezoning requests, commercial construction, or new subdivisions.

    • Examine the property's location in relation to wetlands, flood zones, hazard areas, and other potential risks to determine appropriate insurance coverage.

    • Confirm that water, sewer, electricity, and gas services are readily accessible to the property.

    • Compare property details obtained from the clerk's office with those from the County Real Property Tax Office. Confirm that the physical boundary lines match the legal description and recorded title documents.

    • Preserve copies of all records and correspondence. Note discrepancies, summarize your findings, and store them safely for future reference or legal use.

    Appendix A - Municipalities in Clinton County

    Clinton County comprises one city, 14 towns, and three villages. Each municipality has its own assessor and tax collector, but they are all under the county clerk's jurisdiction for land records. The municipalities include the following:

    • Cities: Plattsburgh

    • Towns: Altona, AuSable, Beekmantown, Black Brook, Champlain, Chazy, Clinton, Dannemora, Ellenburg, Mooers, Peru, Plattsburgh, Saranac, and Schuyler Falls

    • Villages: Champlain, Dannemora, and Rouses Point

    Appendix B - Key Contacts & Portals