Westchester County, NY Property Records

    Westchester County has a population of over 1 million residents, according to recent U.S. Census Bureau estimates, making it the seventh most populous county in the State of New York. Compared to the 2020 official census count, the county's population increased by 0.2%. The county has an average home value of $824,579, which represents a 3.7% increase from the previous year and is 3.86% higher than the state average of $793,963.

    Property listings in Westchester County typically go to pending in around 31 days, indicating a moderately paced real estate market. Reports from the Federal Reserve Economic Data indicate rising affordability pressures in the county, with around 39% of households in Westchester County spending 30% or more of their income on housing.

    Municipalities in Westchester County have assessors who are responsible for handling real property assessments within their respective jurisdictions. As such, you can access assessment-related information of a property, including its size, ownership details, assessed value, and applicable exemptions, through the assessment roll maintained by the assessor in the municipality where the property is located.

    Who Keeps the Official Land Records?

    The Office of the Westchester County Clerk maintains deeds, mortgages, maps, and other materials that contain official information on real property ownership and rights in Westchester County. Land records maintained by the office are available online through the Westchester Records Online portal. You can also obtain these records in person or via mail at the County Clerk's office at the location below.

    • Office of the Westchester County Clerk, 110 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Room 345, White Plains, NY 10601, Phone: (914) 995-3080.

    • Coverage: All municipalities in Westchester County.

    What Westchester County Property Records Include

    Westchester County land records refer to deeds, mortgages, discharges, liens, easements, covenants, plans, and other documents that relate to real estate ownership, interests, and restrictions. Once recorded with the County Clerk's Office, these documents become sources of official information on real property rights in Westchester County. The Clerk's Office provides public access to Westchester County land records dating back to the late 1600s.

    How to Access Westchester County Property Records

    can access Westchester County land records through any of the following channels.

    Online Access (Free)

    The Westchester County Clerk's Office provides online access to land records through the Westchester Records Online portal. The portal allows to search for land records using various criteria, including parties' names, document numbers, addresses, and date ranges. Although the portal allows users to find details of land records to view images, you have to create an account and log the portal. Nevertheless, images are available to registered users free of charge.

    In Person

    You can access Westchester County land records in person from Mondays to Fridays between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. at the County Clerk's office located at:

    • Office of the Westchester County Clerk, 110 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Room 345, White Plains, NY 10601, Phone: (914) 995-3080.

    The County Clerk's Office operates public viewing terminals where can search and access land records for free. However, to obtain copies, you have to submit a request containing details of the record you need and the applicable fees.

    By Phone or Email

    can contact the County Clerk's office for general inquiries or to track requests for land records by calling (914) 995-3094 or sending an e-mail to CC-Land@Westchestercountyny.gov.

    By Mail/Overnight

    The County Clerk's office accepts requests for land records by email. You can obtain records through this medium by mailing a letter containing details of the record, including the document type, parties' names, property address, date range, and page number. application should also include the applicable fees and a self-addressed stamped envelope for the return of the documents.

    E-Recording (Professionals)

    In Westchester County, the county clerk supports e-recording, which allows you to file land records electronically. can submit records electronically through the county's Property Records Electronic Portal (PREP) system. To utilize the portal, you have to submit a completed Registered Submitter Agreement and create a pre-authorized debit account. Following this, you would be assigned a PREP User ID that allows you to log into the PREP system.

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

    Although the Office of the Westchester County Clerk maintains various records real property rights, including deeds, mortgages, liens, and easements, certain property-related records are not within its authority. For example, tax rates, tax map parcel numbers, assessed values, exemptions, tax descriptions, and other information relating to property assessment and taxation are maintained by each municipality's respective property assessors and tax collectors. Similarly, the New York State Office of Real Property Tax Services (ORPTS) maintains and provides public access to official information on statewide tax rates.

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

    You can take the following steps to access a deed online in Westchester County.

    • Visit the Westchester Records Online portal provided by the County Clerk's office and select the Land Records Search option.

    • Select the name, number, or index book search and enter the requested details.

    • can streamline a name search using additional criteria, such as location, document type, and document group.

    • Select the record you need from the search results provided. You have the option to expand the result to view more details and print the search result.

    • Select the image icon at the search result to view or download the deed related to a record for free.

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

    All 48 municipalities in Westchester County are within the jurisdiction of the County Clerk's office. The county consists of 6 cities, 19 towns, and 23 villages listed below:

    • Mount Vernon, New Rochelle, Peekskill, Rye, White Plains, Yonkers, Bedford, Cortlandt, Eastchester, Greenburgh, Harrison, Lewisboro, Mamaroneck, Mount Kisco, Mount Pleasant, New Castle, North Castle, North Salem, Ossining, Pound Ridge, Rye (town), Scarsdale, Somers, Yorktown, Ardsley, Briarcliff Manor, Bronxville, Buchanan, Croton-on-Hudson, Dobbs Ferry, Elmsford, Hastings-on-Hudson, Irvington, Larchmont, Mamaroneck (village), Ossining (village), Pelham, Pelham Manor, Pleasantville, Port Chester, Rye Brook, Sleepy Hollow, Tarrytown, and Tuckahoe.

    City/Town Resources for Assessments & Taxes

    In Westchester County, you can access information on a property's assessment through the local assessor within the municipality where the property is located. Assessment records reveal various important details of a property, including its assessed value, exemptions, property class and size, parcel number, and full market value. Municipalities also have tax collectors responsible for collecting and maintaining records of property taxes.

    The county's website contains links to the assessment webpages of each municipality. You can access information on a municipality's assessor and tax collector through the Municipal Data Portal provided by the Office of Real Property Tax Services (ORPTS). Statewide tax rate and finance data are also available through the ORPTS's website.

    Westchester County-Specific Nuances

    When preparing to research a property in Westchester County, it is important to take note of the following features of the county's real estate system.

    • Property rights within all municipalities across Westchester County are determined by official details contained in land records maintained by the County Clerk's office.

    • The County Clerk's office provides online access to Westchester County land records dating back to the late 1600s. These records can be viewed and downloaded for free through the Westchester Records Online portal.

    • Westchester County supports e-recording and provides e-recording services through its PREP system.

    • Records of property assessment and taxation are maintained at the municipal level by assessors and collectors appointed by municipal authorities. Municipal assessors provide public access to assessment records through periodically published assessment rolls.

    Typical Contents of a Westchester County Property Record

    The contents of land records in Westchester County property records vary by document type. The following are typical contents of Westchester County land records.

    • Deeds - They prove ownership and transfer and contain:

      • Names of the grantor (seller) and grantee (buyer)

      • Legal description of the property

      • Date of conveyance and recording information (book and page or instrument number)

      • Consideration amount (purchase price or nominal value)

      • Prior deed references establishing the chain of title

      • Homestead declaration, if applicable

    • Mortgages - They record debt transactions related to the property and contain:

      • Name of the lender or mortgagee and borrower

      • Principal amount, interest rate, and loan terms

      • Recording details of the mortgage instrument

      • Satisfaction or release documents (discharges) confirming repayment

    • Plans and surveys: They identify property boundaries and layout and contain:

      • Plan or subdivision name and number

      • Lot dimensions, easements, and adjoining parcel references

    • Encumbrances and restrictions within property records - They contain details such as:

      • Easements and rights-of-way for utilities or access

      • Restrictive covenants governing land use or development

      • Lis Pendens notices indicating pending legal action

      • Liens or judgments recorded against the property

    In addition to the typical content above, some land records may reflect supplementary filings such as lis pendens, trusts, foreclosure notices, and powers of attorney filings.

    Recording Changes to Property Titles

    In Westchester County, recording changes to property title with the County Clerk's office is required for the legal recognition of such transactions. To record a document with the County Clerk's office, you have to log into the PREP system and create the applicable forms. can either submit the document electronically through the PREP system or send it along with the applicable fees to the County Clerk's office.

    To ensure the office accepts the document for records, it is important to ensure the document complies with the indexing requirements and format specifications provided by the County Clerk's Office. You can access official information on document recording, including recording options, hours, and requirements, through the County Clerk's website.

    Practical Research Flow (Checklist)

    Below is a guide on how you can conduct a comprehensive property record search in Westchester County:

    • Identify the correct registry district or county office - The County Clerk's office maintains documents relating to land rights, including mortgages, plans, deeds, and liens, across municipalities in Westchester County.

    • Use the registry's online portal to search for the property records - You can search land records online through the Westchester Records Online portal provided by the County Clerk's office. The portal also allows you to find records by name, document number, and index book. Users can also view and download documents for free.

    • Record reference numbers - Look out for document numbers and other indexing details used to identify land records in the county. These details are important for tracking references to a document in related records.

    • Trace the Chain of Title - review the property's ownership history through older instruments referenced in records relating to the property.

    • Review plans and encumbrances - Consider other records that indicate restrictions or third-party rights on the property, including encumbrances, easements, and covenants.

    • Verify parcel data with the Appraiser's and Collector's office - Review the property's assessment and tax-related records by contacting the assessor's and collector's office within the municipality where the property is situated.

    • Confirm registered land status, where applicable - Westchester County operates a unified system of land records overseen by the County Clerk's office. You can contact the office for any further inquiries about land records within the county.

    Appendix A - Municipalities in Westchester County

    Westchester County is made up of 48 municipalities, including 6 cities, 19 towns, and 23 villages.

    • Cities: Mount Vernon, New Rochelle, Peekskill, Rye, White Plains, and Yonkers.

    • Towns: Bedford, Cortlandt, Eastchester, Greenburgh, Harrison, Lewisboro, Mamaroneck, Mount Kisco, Mount Pleasant, New Castle, North Castle, North Salem, Ossining, Pound Ridge, Rye (town), Scarsdale, Somers, and Yorktown.

    • Villages: Ardsley, Briarcliff Manor, Bronxville, Buchanan, Croton-on-Hudson, Dobbs Ferry, Elmsford, Hastings-on-Hudson, Irvington, Larchmont, Mamaroneck (village), Ossining (village), Pelham, Pelham Manor, Pleasantville, Port Chester, Rye Brook, Sleepy Hollow, Tarrytown, and Tuckahoe.

    *The county also has some hamlets or unincorporated communities without a separate municipal government (Wikipedia).

    All municipalities in Westchester County fall within the jurisdiction of the County Clerk's office for the purpose of land records.

    Appendix B - Key Contacts & Portals