Erie County, NY Property Records

    Erie County, NY, is the eighth-most populous county in the state, with a population of over 950,000 residents, according to recent U.S. Census estimates. The average home value in Erie County is $283,843, up 3.3% over the past year, but still more affordable than the statewide average of $505,608.

    Property listings typically receive purchase offers in about 12 days, indicating a competitive, high-demand real estate market, which is attributed to its strategic location in New York State. However, Federal Reserve Economic Data shows that approximately 28.3% of Erie County households are cost-burdened (spending 30% or more of their income on housing costs), indicating rising affordability pressures.

    Local municipal assessors in Erie County handle property assessments and manage parcel data within their own databases. These databases serve as the official sources for detailed parcel inventories, including tax data, ownership history, and assessed values. You can also access this information at the county level through the Erie County Department of Real Property Tax Services.

    Who Keeps the Official Land Records?

    The Clerk's Office in Erie County and other counties across New York indexes and preserves official land records, such as deeds, mortgages, and liens. You can contact the Erie County Clerk's Office to access comprehensive land records and information regarding properties located in the county.

    The Clerk's Office provides access to official land documents in the county online, and you can also visit the office location to obtain copies of these records. Below is the contact information, office address, and online portal link for the Clerk's Office:

    • Erie County Clerk's Office: 92 Franklin Street, Buffalo, NY 14202

    • Phone: (716) 858-8785, Records Search

    • Coverage: All Municipalities

    What Erie County Property Records Include

    Erie County property records include a comprehensive set of official documents that provide information on real estate across the county, including ownership history, property characteristics, legal status, and encumbrances. These documents typically include deeds, mortgages, maps and surveys, homestead declarations, lawsuit notices, easements, and covenants.

    The Clerk's Office maintains official land records that date back to the 1800s in both electronic and physical formats. You can obtain land documents online using the Clerk's Office Public Search portal.

    How to Access Erie County Property Records

    You can access official property records in Erie County in multiple ways, including online portals, in-person visits, mail requests, and other methods accepted by the Clerk's Office.

    Online Access (Free)

    You can access Erie County property records online by visiting the County Clerk's Official Records Public Search page and using any of the available search criteria. Typically, you can search by party name, document type and group, date range, book/page, clerk's file number, or consideration search.

    The Clerk's Office provides the following search applications to access property records:

    • Basic Search/Browser-Based Search: This allows you to search for property records by inputting a name and other basic information. While searching the index is free, you cannot view the images of property documents.

    • Advanced Search: You can use the advanced search tool to narrow down your property records research for accuracy. It has multiple search criteria to find records, including document type, reference details, serial number, lien SBL, and case type.

    • Registered User Search: As a registered user, you can view, save, and print images directly on your browser, with access to the same search functionality as the advanced search application.

    In Person

    You can request and obtain property records in person by visiting the Erie County Clerk's Office at:

    • Erie County Clerk's Office: 92 Franklin Street, 1st Floor, Buffalo, NY 14202.

    • Office Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Mondays through Fridays (excluding legal holidays)

    The office provides staff assistance and public access terminals for independent records searches. You can also complete and submit request forms found on the Clerk's Office land records forms page in person to obtain certified copies of property documents upon paying the required fees.

    By Phone or Email

    You can make inquiries and get general information about Erie County property records over the phone or by email using the following contact details:

    • Erie County Clerk's Office: (716) 858-8785,

    ErieCountyClerkOffice@erie.gov

    By Mail/Overnight

    You can submit written requests or completed request forms for property records to the Erie County Clerk's Office, along with the necessary fees (payable in check or money order). The clerk requires that users mail their request in a postage-paid, self-addressed envelope. If you need assistance to calculate the fees or prefer to pay by credit card, people can contact the office by phone at (716) 858-8785.

    E-Recording (Professionals)

    The Erie County Clerk's Office supports the electronic recording (e-recording) of property documents through several approved vendors. You can find the list of registered e-recording facilitators in the county by visiting the Clerk's Office e-recording page - Erie County e-Recording Approved Vendors.

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

    You can obtain essential land documents from the clerk's office, including deeds, mortgages, and discharges. However, the clerk does not maintain certain records that are vital to comprehensive property research. These include property assessments, detailed parcel cards, and property tax information.

    These records are under the jurisdiction of the local assessor's office in the town/city/village where the property is located. You can also access statewide tax data and real property assessment information using searchable databases offered by the New York Department of Taxation and Finance.

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

    You can look up Erie County deeds online by taking the following steps:

    • Visit the Clerk's Office Online Public Record Search webpage.

    • Select a search application based on your browser requirements (Internet Explorer or Microsoft Edge is required for Basic, Advanced, and Registered User Search, while Chrome, Firefox, and Safari users must use Browser View Search).

    • Search for deeds by party name, address, and other available search criteria, depending on the search application you select.

    • The search application will return a list of deeds that match your search entry. You can click on each document to view the deed information.

    • If you are a registered user, you can open, view, and print deed images directly from your browser. Free searches are only available for viewing limited information on deeds.

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

    The Erie County Clerk serves as the register of deeds for all municipalities in the county:

    • Erie County Municipalities: Buffalo, Lackawanna, Tonawanda, Alden, Amherst, Aurora, Boston, Brant, Cheektowaga, Clarence, Colden, Collins, Concord, Eden, Elma, Evans, Grand Island, Hamburg, Holland, Lancaster, Marilla, Newstead, North Collins, Orchard Park, Sardinia, Tonawanda, Wales, West Seneca, Akron, Alden, Angola, Blasdell, Depew, East Aurora, Farnham, Gowanda, Hamburg, Kenmore, Lancaster, North Collins, Orchard Park, Sloan, Springville, and Williamsville.

    City/Town Resources for Assessments & Taxes

    Property assessments and tax data in Erie County, including payment histories and parcel cards, are locally maintained by municipal assessors. Depending on the municipality, an assessor may offer searchable online databases or provide guidelines for accessing such information on their websites.

    You can also find public information for properties across the cities and towns in Erie County using resources provided on the Department of Real Property Tax Services website. Additionally, you can check for official tax-rate data and finance data in New York on the state's Department of Taxation and Finance website.

    Erie County-Specific Nuances

    You should note the following distinctive features that may influence your property search in Erie County, NY:

    • Official land documents, such as deeds and mortgages, can be requested from the Clerk's Office, while the local assessor of the municipality where the property is located manages assessments and tax records.

    • Property records kept by the county clerk generally date back to the 1800s. You can obtain digitized or paper copies of these documents.

    • Property information is accessible online for free through search applications offered by the Clerk's Office. However, you must register and subscribe to view and print images of documents, including deeds and mortgages.

    • Erie County operates a recorded land system in which essential property records are under a single jurisdiction.

    Typical Contents of an Erie County Property Record

    An Erie County property record refers to official land documents that are indexed and maintained by the county's Clerk's Office and local assessors to provide property-related information such as ownership details and property characteristics. You can review these records to access the following information:

    • Deeds (proof of ownership transfer):

      • Party names (grantor and grantee)

      • Legal description

      • Instrument number

      • Sale consideration (the purchase price of the property)

      • Date of recording

      • Reference details (book/page, book type, pages)

    • Mortgages and Discharges (evidence of debt):

      • Party names (Mortgagor and Mortgagee)

      • Loan amount and repayment terms

      • Recording date

      • Discharge or release details

    • Plans (visual maps):

      • Survey or plan number

      • Property location details

      • Subdivision references

      • Lot dimensions and layout

      • Registered land plans

    • Encumbrances (claims and restrictions)

      • Easements

      • Leases

      • Restrictive covenants

      • Lis pendens notices

      • Rights of way or shared access agreements

    You may also obtain more information on other property documents, such as declarations of trust, affidavits of address or identity, corrective deeds, and power-of-attorney filings.

    Recording Changes to Property Titles

    You can record changes to property titles in Erie County, including new conveyances, liens, easements, mortgages, and other instruments, with the Erie County Clerk's Office.

    The Clerk's Office accepts in-person visits to record documents from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Mondays through Fridays. You must prepare the documents in a recordable format in line with the clerk's recording standards and submit any necessary forms. Documents can also be recorded via e-recording through approved vendors.

    You can get detailed information on official recording guidelines, fees, approved e-recording vendors, and formatting requirements on the Erie County Clerk's website.

    Practical Research Flow (Checklist)

    Here is a practical checklist that you can use for effective property research in Erie County, NY:

    • Contact/Visit the Clerk's Office - The Erie County Clerk serves as the register of deeds for the county and is responsible for providing official property documents like deeds and mortgages.

    • Use the Clerk's online portal to search for the property records - You can choose a search application and find a property by party name, document type, map number, date range, or other criteria.

    • Record reference numbers - Take note of the property references, such as the book/page and book type.

    • Trace the chain of title - Use the property information listed on the deed to search and find more results on the property's ownership history.

    • Review plans and encumbrances - Search the property details on the deed against other document types to check for recorded plans, easements, restrictions, or liens associated with the property.

    • Verify parcel data with the Assessor's office/Department of Real Property Tax Services - Confirm your findings with the local assessor of the municipality where the property is located and review details like parcel data, tax payment history, and assessed value. The Department of Real Property Tax Services provides a searchable database to access such information.

    Appendix A - Municipalities in Erie County

    Erie County, NY, has 44 municipalities: 3 cities, 25 towns, and 16 villages*.

    • Cities: Buffalo, Lackawanna, Tonawanda.

    • Towns: Alden, Amherst, Aurora, Boston, Brant, Cheektowaga, Clarence, Colden, Collins, Concord, Eden, Elma, Evans, Grand Island, Hamburg, Holland, Lancaster, Marilla, Newstead, North Collins, Orchard Park, Sardinia, Tonawanda, Wales, West Seneca.

    • Villages: (Located within towns) Akron, Alden, Angola, Blasdell, Depew, East Aurora, Farnham, Hamburg, Kenmore, Lancaster, North Collins, Orchard Park, Sloan, Springville, Williamsville, and Gowanda.

    *Erie County also has several hamlets and two Indian reservations (Wikipedia).

    Appendix B - Key Contacts & Portals