Richmond County, NY Property Records

    Richmond County (Staten Island) is home to some 498,200 people. It is the least populous of the five boroughs in New York and ranks as the third-largest in area. The average home value in Richmond County, NY, is $701,776; this is up by 4.2% from previous years but significantly higher than the New York State average of $502,000 by 40%.

    In Richmond County, homes typically go from listed to pending sale in fewer than 48 days, indicating strong demand as sellers benefit from shorter listing periods. This indicates a moderate sales pace, suggesting sellers often have some pricing leverage and buyers need to be prepared to make competitive offers.

    It also offers an opportunity to negotiate a price or make concessions. Roughly 25% of homes in the county sell above the listing price. According to Federal Reserve Economic Data, about 46% of renters and 30% of owner-occupied households with a mortgage in Richmond County spend ≥30% of their income on housing costs, indicating they are cost-burdened.

    In Richmond County, property records are officially maintained by the Office of the Richmond County Clerk. Individuals can also obtain lien, deed, mortgage, and other land records from the clerk. Property assessments, parcel maps, ownership details, valuation, and property tax data are handled by the New York City Department of Finance's Assessment Division. Richmond County is one of NYC's five boroughs; therefore, assessment functions are centralized at the city level.

    Who Keeps the Official Land Records

    The county government of Richmond County was effectively abolished and reorganized when it was consolidated into the government of New York City in 1898. It now exists as the Borough of Staten Island. As a result, Richmond County operates an independent recording system for property records, which is managed by the Richmond County Clerk.

    The clerk's office operates a county-administered system that meets state-level standards. The office serves all areas within Richmond County. To find property records, including those dating back to 1966, individuals may visit the website of the Richmond County Clerk.

    Alternatively, they may visit the Office of the Richmond County Clerk (ORCC) in person at 130 Stuyvesant Place, 2nd Floor, Staten Island, New York 10301 during regular business hours or call (718) 675-7700.

    What Richmond County Property Records Include

    Richmond County property records are official public documents that track ownership, transfers, taxes, encumbrances, and legal details of real estate in the county. They include deeds, mortgages, liens, assessments, permits, contracts, maps, and other official filings.

    Richmond County (Staten Island) maintains its own land recording and indexing system. Documents such as deeds, mortgages, liens, satisfactions, easements, and plats are recorded chronologically by the County Clerk's Office. Each document is assigned a unique recording reference (often a book and page number or an instrument number).

    Richmond County (Staten Island), NY, property records are available online from 1966 to the present. Older records, dating back to the 17th century, are preserved in physical archives at the Richmond County Clerk's Office. It is indexed by grantor, grantee, document type, and property description. Anyone can view and request copies of recorded documents under New York's Freedom of Information Law.

    How to Access Richmond County Property Records

    Property records are accessible via several methods in Richmond County.

    Online Access

    Only Richmond County exempts itself from the ACRIS portal, where individuals may search property records for all boroughs. The Richmond County Clerk's website serves as the online repository for sourcing property records in the county.

    Richmond County maintains a Clerk's Land Document Search portal that allows individuals to search property records online. Anyone may search by party (grantor/grantee) or company name, book and page, block and lot, document number, and date range. Digital images of recorded documents are available online free of charge. Viewing and downloading unofficial digital copies is generally free. Print and downloadable copies typically cost between $0.25 and $0.50 per page. Official certified copies of land documents cost $4.00 per page.

    In Person

    Property records are available at the County Clerk's Office located at 130 Stuyvesant Place, 2nd Floor, Staten Island, NY 10301. Individuals can walk in Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., except on holidays. While searching and viewing records on the public terminals are generally free, fees apply for obtaining copies. Uncertified copies are $0.25 per page, and certified copies involve a $4.00 fee per page.

    By Phone or Email

    Individuals may get assistance with searching property records by phone through NYC's 311 service. For general information regarding property records, they may also contact the Richmond County Clerk's office directly at (718) 675-7700 for assistance. Interested persons must note that official record requests are only accepted via online, in-person, or by mail.

    By Mail

    For mail-in submissions, the Richmond County Clerk's office is located at 130 Stuyvesant Place, 2nd Floor, Staten Island, NY 10301. Individuals must include a self-addressed stamped envelope (SASE) with their submission. The original official record is mailed back to the "Return To" address specified on the stamped envelope. Note that NYC maintains a Notice of Property Recording system that sends an automated alert (via mail or email) to property owners within 30 days of any new recording event to prevent fraud.

    E-Recording (Professionals)

    Richmond County does not support electronic recording for land records; due to this, there is no official vendor information listed on the Richmond County Clerk's website.

    What's Not at the Recorder's Office (But Matters for Property Research)

    Although the Richmond County Clerk is responsible for maintaining official land records, on the other hand, it does not retain all land-related records available in the county. The available records with the clerk include deeds, mortgages, liens, judgments, survey maps, and subdivision plats. Every other record, such as property tax information, assessed values, and land use data, is available with the assessor and tax officer in Richmond County.

    The NYS Department of Taxation and Finance (NYS DTF) also provides a municipal data portal and broader access to tax data across New York State. Certified statewide tax data can be obtained from the (NYS DTF).

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

    To pull up a deed online in Richmond County, NY, you may follow these steps:

    • Visit the Richmond County Clerk's Website

    • Locate the “Land Documents Search” Tool

    • Specify your search criteria by entering the block and lot number (most accurate method), party/company name (grantor or grantee), date range, document number, and book and page number

    • View results and document images, as the system provides a list of recorded documents, and the images may be viewed for free

    • Print uncertified copies at no charge

    Cities & Towns in Richmond County (and Their Record Custodians)

    The Richmond County Clerk serves as the Chief Recording Officer and official repository for the entire county concerning land records. It serves the entire borough of Staten Island. Including the following neighborhoods:

    • North Shore: St. George, New Brighton, West Brighton, Port Richmond, Mariners Harbor, Tompkinsville, Stapleton, Clifton, Rosebank, Grymes Hill, Silver Lake, Randall Manor, Westerleigh, and Castleton Corners.

    • Mid Island: New Springville, Heartland Village, Bulls Head, Willowbrook, Todt Hill, Emerson Hill, Manor Heights, Lighthouse Hill, Egbertville, and Richmondtown.

    • South Shore: Tottenville, Richmond Valley, Pleasant Plains, Prince's Bay, Huguenot, Annadale, Eltingville, Great Kills, Arden Heights, Woodrow, Rossville, and Charleston.

    • East Shore: South Beach, Midland Beach, New Dorp, Oakwood, Bay Terrace, Arrochar, Grasmere, Dongan Hills, Grant City, Old Town, and Fort Wadsworth.

    • West Shore: Travis, Chelsea, Bloomfield, Graniteville, Bulls Head (part), and New Springville (part).

    Through the NYCityMap Tool, individuals can find information on tax districts, assessed values, and exemptions. A property's exact Borough, Block, and Lot (BBL) and associated tax lot information are available on the site.

    City/Town Resources for Assessments & Taxes

    Property assessments, tax data, and abatement in Richmond County are managed by the NYC Department of Finance. The Richmond County Clerk (RCC) handles property cards, valuations, and parcel maps. The NYC Department of City Planning's Zoning and Land Use Application (ZoLa) can be used to find zoning and land use information by entering the property's address, street, and borough.

    All property assessments and tax data are centralized under the city government. Therefore, information about property assessments and tax data is available on the NYC Department of Finance (DOF) Property website. Anyone may use the Digital Tax Map to find specific parcel data or search the Property Assessment Roll for valuations.

    The NYC Department of Finance (DOF) manages online resources where you can find property class, assessed value, exemptions, and abatement information for properties in Richmond County. The New York State Department of Taxation and Finance's Office of Real Property Tax Services (ORPTS) provides access to municipal tax and finance data. Individuals can access real property tax levies, full-value tax rates, and sales tax data on the website of the Office of the New York State Comptroller. General tax data and reports are also available via the main NYS Tax Department website.

    Richmond County-Specific Nuances

    Many complex factors influence property searches in Richmond County. This is largely due to its unique administrative separation from the rest of New York City:

    • Richmond County operates as a single registration district under the Richmond County Clerk; as a result, all property records for the borough are centralized in a single office. This simplifies the search process compared to divided districts.

    • New York uses a "recorded land" system, in which property ownership is established by the public recording of deeds and mortgages. Richmond County does not operate a "registered land" system, though properties are indexed by a specific Borough, Block, and Lot (BBL) number to ensure precise identification.

    • The Richmond County Clerk maintains extensive historical archives, including property records, maps, and census data dating back to the late 1600s. While basic index searches can be conducted via the Richmond County Clerk Online Search portal, viewing or downloading full-digitized images often requires a fee when done through the clerk's specific land record portal. Access is free when obtained through the city's Property Information Portal.

    • Richmond County is a borough of New York City; local governance is centralized rather than dissolved. While the County Clerk handles document recording, all assessment and tax functions are managed by the NYC Department of Finance, and planning or zoning data is managed by the NYC Department of City Planning. A comprehensive property data search can be performed from ZOLA databases, a land document search from the County Clerk, and resources available with the Department of Finance.

    Typical Contents of a Richmond County Property Record

    Richmond property records include public legal documents such as deeds, liens, plats, and mortgages that establish real estate ownership and land boundaries. These records usually contain the following information:

    • Maps and Surveys: These contain plats and property surveys that define the physical boundaries and dimensions of the land.

    • Ownership Documents (Deeds): The names of the grantor (seller) and grantee (buyer), the legal description of the property, and the sale date are contained on the deeds.

    • Financial Encumbrances (Mortgages & Liens): These include records of loans secured by the property and any legal claims (liens) filed against it for unpaid debts or taxes.

    • Identification Data: This includes the Borough-Block-Lot (BBL). It is a unique identifier used by NYC to track every parcel of land.

    • Book and Page Number: Historical references used to locate physical or digitized copies of recorded documents.

    • Non-financial Encumbrances: Encumbrances are claims or restrictions that affect a property's ownership, use, or value. They include easements, covenants, lis pendens notices, and rights of way or shared access agreements that limit or define property rights.

    • Tax & Assessment Records: Managed by the NYC Department of Finance, these include the property's assessed value, tax bills, and any exemptions or abatements.

    Recording Changes to Property Titles

    All changes to property titles in Richmond County (Staten Island), including new conveyances, mortgages, lien discharges, assignments, and satisfactions, are recorded with the Office of the Richmond County Clerk. Richmond County maintains its own independent land records separate from the primary NYC ACRIS system, although certain tax forms must still be initiated through ACRIS.

    Property documents in Richmond County must comply with the New York Real Property Law and the NYC Administrative Code, including proper formatting, notarization, and tax forms such as TP-584 and NYC-RPT. They can be recorded in person during weekday business hours or electronically through the County Clerk's online portal.

    All filings require a Richmond County Cover Page, along with applicable fees and transfer taxes; full guidelines are available on the Clerk's website. Comprehensive information on recording guidelines, fee schedules, and e-recording procedures is available through the Richmond County Clerk website.

    Practical Research Flow (Checklist)

    Individuals may follow these steps to conduct a standard title search in Richmond County:

    • Identify the parcel. Start by finding the property's Borough-Block-Lot (BBL) number using the NYC Property Information Portal (PIP).

    • Chain of Title. Use the Richmond County Clerk's Land Documents Search to trace ownership from the most recent deed backward.

    • Financial Encumbrances. Search the portal for records of mortgages, assignments, and satisfactions to verify that no liens remain open.

    • Tax Status. Verify the BBL through the NYC Department of Finance website to identify any unpaid property taxes or liens.

    • Zoning & Use. Individuals may use the NYC Department of City Planning's ZoLa map to confirm zoning details and any special district rules.

    Appendix A—Municipalities in Richmond County

    Richmond County is both a county and a borough and does not have a separate municipality. It is integrated into the City of New York. The county is divided into many neighborhoods and localities that function as communities, including:

    • Annadale

    • Arrochar

    • Bay Terrace

    • Bloomfield

    • Bulls Head

    • Castleton Corners

    • Charleston

    • Clifton

    • Concord

    • Dongan Hills

    • Eltingville

    • Emerson Hill

    • Fort Wadsworth

    • Great Kills

    • Graniteville

    • Grymes Hill

    • Mariners Harbor

    • New Dorp

    • Port Richmond

    • St. George

    • Tottenville

    • Westerleigh

    Richmond County land and property records are searchable via the County Clerk's dedicated database.

    Appendix B—Key Contacts & Portals

    NYC Department of Finance

    Property Records Division

    66 John Street, 2nd Floor

    New York, NY 10038

    Phone Number: (212) 639-9675

    Email/Online Contact: The Department of Finance does not provide a public email address for property records; inquiries must be submitted through their NYC DOF Contact Form.

    New York State Office of General Services

    Bureau of Land Management

    Corning Tower, Empire State Plaza

    Albany, NY 12242

    NYS Office of Information Technology Services

    Geospatial Services

    1220 Washington Avenue, Building 7A

    Albany, NY 12226

    • Phone: (518) 242-5029

    New York State Division of Local Services (Tax Rates & Finance Data)