Mercer County Public Records

What Are Public Records in Mercer County?

Public records in Mercer County, Pennsylvania, are defined under the Pennsylvania Right-to-Know Law (65 P.S. § 67.102) as any record, document, or information created or received by a Commonwealth agency, local agency, or judicial agency in connection with the transaction of public business. Under current law, records are presumed public unless a specific exemption applies.

The following categories of public records are currently maintained by various Mercer County offices:

Court records — civil, criminal, probate, and family court documents are maintained by the Mercer County Clerk of Courts, located at 125 South Diamond Street, Mercer, PA 16137
Property records — deeds, mortgages, liens, easements, and powers of attorney are recorded and maintained by the Mercer County Recorders Office
Property assessment records — parcel data and assessed values are searchable through the county's assessment database
Vital records — birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates are issued through the Pennsylvania Department of Health and the Register of Wills
Business records — fictitious name registrations, business licenses, and permits are filed with the Pennsylvania Department of State and local municipal offices
Tax records — property tax and assessment records are maintained by the Mercer County Assessment Office
Voting and election records — voter registration data and election results are maintained by the Mercer County Bureau of Elections
Meeting minutes and agendas — records of county commissioner meetings, board proceedings, and public hearings are available through the county's administrative offices
Budget and financial documents — annual budgets, audits, and expenditure reports are public records maintained by the county controller's office
Law enforcement records — arrest logs and incident reports, where permitted by law, are available through the Mercer County Sheriff's Office and municipal police departments
Land use and zoning records — zoning maps, permits, and variance decisions are maintained by municipal planning offices throughout the county

Is Mercer County an Open Records County?

Mercer 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 shall provide public records in accordance with the provisions of the Act, and the burden of proving that a record is exempt from disclosure rests with the agency — not the requester.

The Right to Know / Open Records Office of Mercer County administers public records requests at the county level. This office serves as the designated Open Records Officer for county government agencies and ensures that requests are processed within the statutory timeframes established by state law. Pursuant to the Right-to-Know Law, agencies are generally required to respond to a written request within five business days of receipt. Pennsylvania's Sunshine Act (65 Pa. C.S. § 701 et seq.) further requires that deliberations and official actions of government agencies be conducted at open public meetings, with advance notice provided to the public.

How to Find Public Records in Mercer County in 2026

Members of the public may obtain Mercer County public records through several channels, depending on the record type sought. The following steps outline the standard process:

Identify the custodial office. Determine which county office maintains the record in question. Court records are held by the Clerk of Courts; property records by the Recorder of Deeds; assessment data by the Assessment Office; and vital records by the Register of Wills or the Pennsylvania Department of Health.
Submit a written Right-to-Know request. For county agency records, members of the public must submit a written request to the Mercer County Open Records Office. Request forms are available through the Right to Know / Open Records Office. Requests may be submitted in person, by mail, or electronically.
Search online databases. Property assessment records are currently accessible through the county's online portal. Deed and mortgage records may be searched through the Recorder of Deeds' public access system.
Visit the appropriate office in person. Members of the public may inspect records during regular business hours at the relevant county office. In-person inspection does not require a formal written request for records that are routinely available at the public counter.
Await the agency response. Under current law, the agency must respond within five business days, either granting access, denying the request with written justification, or invoking a 30-day extension for complex requests.

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

Standard fees for public records in Mercer County are governed by the Pennsylvania Right-to-Know Law and the fee schedule established by the Office of Open Records. Under 65 P.S. § 67.1307, agencies may charge fees for duplication, but may not charge for the time spent searching for or retrieving records unless the request requires an extraordinary amount of time.

Current standard fees applicable to Mercer County public records include:

Paper copies: $0.25 per page (standard 8.5" x 11" black-and-white)
Certification of records: An additional fee applies for certified copies, which varies by office
Recorder of Deeds copies: Recording fees and copy fees for deeds, mortgages, and related instruments are set pursuant to state statute and the county fee schedule
Vital records: Certified copies of birth and death certificates carry fees established by the Pennsylvania Department of Health
Electronic records: Agencies may provide electronic copies at no charge or at a reduced rate when no duplication cost is incurred

Accepted payment methods vary by office but generally include cash, check, and money order payable to the respective county office. Fee waivers may be available for indigent requesters or nonprofit organizations upon written application, subject to agency discretion.

Does Mercer County Have Free Public Records?

Free inspection of public records is available to all members of the public at the offices that maintain those records, without charge, during regular business hours. Under current Pennsylvania law, agencies may not charge a fee solely for inspecting a record in person.

The following free resources are currently available:

Online property assessment search — The county's assessment database allows members of the public to search parcel records, ownership information, and assessed values at no cost through the Mercer County property records search portal
Recorder of Deeds public access — Deed and instrument indexes are searchable online through the Mercer County, Pennsylvania Recorder of Deeds public records search at no charge
In-person inspection — Members of the public may inspect court records, property records, and other public documents at the relevant county office without incurring a fee, provided no copies are requested
County website resources — Meeting minutes, agendas, budgets, and other administrative documents are frequently posted on the Mercer County government website at no cost

Who Can Request Public Records in Mercer County?

Any person may submit a public records request in Mercer County, regardless of residency, citizenship, or stated purpose. Under the Pennsylvania Right-to-Know Law, requesters are not required to:

Be a resident of Pennsylvania or Mercer County
Provide government-issued identification
State the reason or purpose for the request
Demonstrate a personal interest in the records sought

These provisions apply to the general public, including individuals, businesses, journalists, researchers, and advocacy organizations. Non-residents retain the same rights of access as Pennsylvania residents under current law. Certain record types — such as criminal history background checks — may require the requester to identify themselves and demonstrate a permissible purpose pursuant to separate state and federal statutes. Members of the public seeking their own records, such as personal court filings or assessment records, follow the same request process as any other requester, though additional verification may be required for records containing sensitive personal information.

What Records Are Confidential in Mercer County?

Not all government records in Mercer County are subject to public disclosure. The Pennsylvania Right-to-Know Law enumerates specific categories of exempt records, and agencies are required to withhold information that falls within those exemptions. The following categories are currently exempt from public disclosure under 65 P.S. § 67.708:

Sealed court records — records sealed by judicial order are not accessible to the general public
Juvenile records — records pertaining to juvenile proceedings are confidential under the Juvenile Act, 42 Pa. C.S. § 6307
Ongoing criminal investigation records — records that would compromise an active law enforcement investigation are exempt
Personal identifying information — Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, and similar data are redacted prior to disclosure
Medical and health records — protected under both state law and the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)
Adoption records — sealed pursuant to Pennsylvania adoption statutes
Child welfare and protective services records — confidential under the Child Protective Services Law
Personnel records — employee home addresses, personal telephone numbers, and performance evaluations are generally exempt, with limited exceptions for public officials
Trade secrets and proprietary business information — submitted to government agencies in confidence
Security plans and critical infrastructure details — exempt to protect public safety

Where a record contains both exempt and non-exempt information, the agency is required to redact the exempt portions and provide the remainder of the record to the requester. A balancing test may apply in certain circumstances where the public interest in disclosure is weighed against the potential harm of release.

Mercer County Recorder's Office: Contact Information and Hours

The Mercer County Recorder of Deeds maintains official records of real estate transactions, including deeds, mortgages, agreements, leases, powers of attorney, financing statements (UCC), easements, and rights of way. Members of the public may access these records in person or through the office's online search system.

Mercer County Recorder of Deeds Mercer County Courthouse, 125 South Diamond Street, Mercer, PA 16137 (724) 662-3800 Mercer County Recorders Office

Public counter hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., excluding official county holidays. Online deed and instrument records are searchable at any time through the Mercer County, Pennsylvania Recorder of Deeds public access portal. Members of the public should note that effective December 1, 2025, changes pursuant to Act 45 of 2025, signed by Governor Shapiro, are currently in effect and may affect recording procedures and fee schedules.

Mercer County Clerk of Courts 125 South Diamond Street, Mercer, PA 16137 (724) 662-3800 Mercer County Clerk of Courts

Mercer County Open Records Office Mercer County Courthouse, 125 South Diamond Street, Mercer, PA 16137 (724) 662-3800 Right to Know / Open Records Office