Northumberland County Public Records

What Are Public Records in Northumberland County?

Public records in Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, are defined under the Pennsylvania Right-to-Know Law as any information, regardless of physical form or characteristics, created or received by a Commonwealth agency, local agency, or other covered entity in connection with a transaction of public business. Under 65 P.S. § 67.102, a "record" includes documents, papers, letters, maps, books, tapes, photographs, films, sound recordings, and other data or data compilations in any form.

Members of the public may access the following categories of records maintained by Northumberland County agencies:

Court records — Civil, criminal, probate, and family court filings are maintained by the Northumberland County Court of Common Pleas and the Clerk of Courts
Property records — Deeds, mortgages, liens, and property assessments are recorded and maintained by the Register & Recorder's Office
Vital records — Birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates are held by the Register & Recorder and the Pennsylvania Department of Health
Business records — Fictitious name registrations, business licenses, and permits are filed with the Register & Recorder and the Pennsylvania Department of State
Tax records — Property tax and assessment records are maintained by the Northumberland County Assessment Office and Tax Claim Bureau
Voting and election records — Voter registration data and election results are held by the Northumberland County Election Bureau
Meeting minutes and agendas — Records of county commissioner meetings, board sessions, and public hearings are maintained by the County Commissioners' Office
Budget and financial documents — Annual budgets, audits, and expenditure reports are available through the County Controller's Office
Law enforcement records — Arrest logs and incident reports, where permitted by law, are available through the Pennsylvania State Police via Public Information Release Reports
Land use and zoning records — Zoning permits, subdivision plans, and land development records are maintained by the Northumberland County Planning Commission

Is Northumberland County an Open Records County?

Northumberland County fully complies with the Pennsylvania Right-to-Know Law, which governs public access to government records throughout the Commonwealth. Under 65 P.S. § 67.301, a local agency is required to provide access to public records in accordance with the provisions of the statute. The law establishes a presumption of openness, meaning that all records of a local agency are presumed to be public unless specifically exempted by law, regulation, judicial order, or decree.

Key provisions of the Pennsylvania Right-to-Know Law applicable to Northumberland County include:

Agencies must respond to written records requests within five business days of receipt
Agencies may invoke a 30-calendar-day extension under specified circumstances, provided written notice is given to the requester
Requesters who are denied access may appeal to the Pennsylvania Office of Open Records

Northumberland County also operates in compliance with Pennsylvania's Sunshine Act, which requires that deliberations and official actions of government agencies be conducted at open and public meetings. No county-specific ordinance currently supersedes or restricts the rights established under state law.

How to Find Public Records in Northumberland County

Members of the public may obtain Northumberland County records through several official channels, depending on the record type sought.

In Person: Requesters may visit the relevant county office during public counter hours and submit a written request or inspect records on-site. The Register & Recorder's Office, located at 201 Market Street, Sunbury, PA 17801, accepts walk-in requests Monday through Friday.

By Mail: Written requests may be mailed directly to the open records officer of the applicable county department. Requests should identify the record sought with sufficient specificity to allow the agency to locate it.

Online: The Pennsylvania Office of Open Records provides a standardized right-to-know request form that members of the public may use to submit requests electronically to state and local agencies, including Northumberland County offices.

Historical and Digitized Records: Researchers seeking historical county records may consult the Pennsylvania State Archives' digitized county records guide, which provides access to select Northumberland County records available for online review or in-person inspection at the Archives' public search room.

Each request should include the requester's name, mailing address or email address, and a clear description of the records sought. Requesters are not required to state the purpose of their request for most record types.

How Much Does It Cost to Get Public Records in Northumberland County?

Current fees for public records in Northumberland County are governed by the Pennsylvania Right-to-Know Law and the fee schedule established by the Pennsylvania Office of Open Records. Under 65 P.S. § 67.1307, agencies may charge the following standard fees:

Photocopies: $0.25 per page (black and white, letter or legal size)
Certification of records: An additional fee may apply for certified copies, varying by office
Duplication to electronic media: Actual cost of the media used
Postage: Actual cost of mailing, if delivery by mail is requested
Conversion fees: If a record exists only in paper form and must be converted to electronic format, the agency may charge the actual cost of conversion

Fees for certified vital records, such as birth and death certificates, are set separately by the Pennsylvania Department of Health and the Register & Recorder's Office and are subject to change. Accepted payment methods at county offices generally include cash, check, and money order; individual offices may also accept credit or debit cards.

Fee waivers are available under limited circumstances. Pursuant to state law, an agency may reduce or waive fees if the requester demonstrates that the information is primarily of interest to the general public and that disclosure is likely to contribute significantly to public understanding of the operations or activities of the government.

Does Northumberland County Have Free Public Records?

Free inspection of public records is available to members of the public under Pennsylvania law. Agencies are not permitted to charge a fee solely for inspecting records in person; fees apply only when copies or certified documents are requested.

The following free resources are currently available:

In-person inspection at the Register & Recorder's Office, the Clerk of Courts, and other county offices during regular business hours, at no charge
Pennsylvania State Police Public Information Release Reports, which provide free access to incident and arrest summaries for Northumberland County through the statewide PIRR portal
Digitized historical records accessible through the Pennsylvania State Archives' online research tools, including select Northumberland County deed books, tax records, and other historical documents
Court docket searches available at no cost through the Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System's web portal for civil and criminal case information

Who Can Request Public Records in Northumberland County?

Any person may submit a public records request in Northumberland County, regardless of residency, citizenship, or stated purpose. The Pennsylvania Right-to-Know Law does not restrict access to residents of the Commonwealth; non-residents retain equal rights to request and receive public records.

Specific eligibility provisions include:

Identification: Requesters are not required to provide identification when submitting a standard public records request, though identification may be required for certain sensitive record types or certified copies
Purpose: Requesters are not required to state the reason for their request for most public records; however, certain law enforcement or restricted records may require a demonstrated legal interest
Requesting your own records: Individuals seeking records pertaining to themselves, such as criminal history or personal vital records, may be subject to additional identity verification requirements to protect personal privacy
Requesting records about others: Access to records containing personal identifying information about third parties may be subject to redaction of exempt information prior to release

Minors, legal entities, corporations, and organizations may also submit public records requests under current Pennsylvania law.

What Records Are Confidential in Northumberland County?

Certain categories of records are exempt from public disclosure under Pennsylvania law and are not available for inspection or copying. The Pennsylvania Right-to-Know Law, at 65 P.S. § 67.708, enumerates specific exemptions applicable to all local agencies, including those in Northumberland County.

Records currently exempt from disclosure include:

Sealed court records — Records sealed by judicial order are not accessible to the general public
Juvenile records — Records pertaining to juvenile offenders are confidential under the Pennsylvania Juvenile Act
Ongoing investigation records — Records compiled in connection with a criminal investigation or prosecution that would interfere with law enforcement proceedings are exempt
Personal identifying information — Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, and similar data are redacted prior to release
Medical and health records — Records protected under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and state health privacy laws are not subject to disclosure
Adoption records — Adoption proceedings and related documents are sealed under Pennsylvania law
Child welfare and protective services records — Records maintained by child protective services agencies are confidential
Personnel records — Employee home addresses, personal telephone numbers, and similar information are exempt, though certain employment-related records may be disclosed
Trade secrets and proprietary business information — Confidential commercial or financial information submitted to an agency is exempt from disclosure
Security plans and infrastructure details — Records relating to the security of public buildings, infrastructure, or emergency response plans are withheld to protect public safety

Where a record contains both exempt and non-exempt information, the agency is required to redact the exempt portions and release the remainder, consistent with the balancing provisions of the Right-to-Know Law.

Northumberland County Recorder's Office: Contact Information and Hours

The Register & Recorder's Office serves as the primary repository for property records, vital records, and related documents in Northumberland County.

Northumberland County Register & Recorder's Office 201 Market Street, 1st Floor, Sunbury, PA 17801 (570) 988-4148 Register & Recorder – County of Northumberland

Public counter hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., excluding official county holidays. Members of the public may inspect records, request certified copies, and submit right-to-know requests in person during these hours.

Northumberland County Courthouse (Clerk of Courts) 201 Market Street, Sunbury, PA 17801 (570) 988-4100 Northumberland County, Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania Office of Open Records 333 Market Street, 16th Floor, Harrisburg, PA 17101 (717) 346-9903 PA Office of Open Records

Pennsylvania State Archives 350 North Street, Harrisburg, PA 17120 (717) 783-3281 Pennsylvania State Archives