Lebanon County Public Records
What Are Public Records in Lebanon County?
Public records in Lebanon County are defined according to the Pennsylvania Right-to-Know Law, specifically under 65 P.S. § 67.102, as information, regardless of form, that documents a transaction or activity of an agency, and that is created, received, or retained pursuant to law or in connection with a transaction, business, or activity of the agency.
Lebanon County maintains numerous types of public records, including:
- Court Records: Civil, criminal, family court, and probate records maintained by the Lebanon County Court of Common Pleas
- Property Records: Deeds, mortgages, liens, and property assessments maintained by the Recorder of Deeds Office
- Vital Records: Birth certificates (1893-1905), death certificates (1893-1905), marriage licenses, and divorce decrees
- Business Records: Business licenses, permits, and fictitious name registrations
- Tax Records: Property tax information, assessment records, and tax claim data
- Voting and Election Records: Voter registration information and election results maintained by the Bureau of Elections
- Meeting Minutes and Agendas: Records of County Commissioners meetings and other county boards
- Budget and Financial Documents: County budgets, financial statements, and audit reports
- Law Enforcement Records: Certain police reports, arrest logs, and incident reports where permitted by law
- Land Use and Zoning Records: Planning commission documents, zoning permits, and subdivision plans
The Lebanon County government website serves as the primary portal for accessing many of these records, with specific departments maintaining their respective record types. The Lebanon County Prothonotary's Office maintains civil court records, while the Recorder of Deeds Office maintains property records and the Register of Wills maintains probate records.
Is Lebanon County an Open Records County?
Lebanon County adheres to Pennsylvania's open records laws, primarily the Pennsylvania Right-to-Know Law (RTKL), enacted under 65 P.S. § 67.101 et seq. This law establishes the presumption that all records in possession of state and local agencies, including Lebanon County, are public records unless:
- Disclosure is prohibited by law, regulation, or court order
- The record is protected by a privilege
- The record is specifically exempt under Section 708 of the RTKL
As stated in 65 P.S. § 67.301: "A Commonwealth agency shall provide public records in accordance with this act." This provision establishes the fundamental right of access to public records.
Lebanon County also complies with Pennsylvania's Sunshine Act (65 Pa.C.S. §§ 701-716), which requires public meetings to be open to the public with proper notice. The county has designated Right-to-Know Officers in each department who are responsible for responding to public records requests.
The county maintains an official public records policy that outlines procedures for requesting records, applicable fees, and the appeals process. This policy is consistent with state law and provides clear guidance for members of the public seeking access to county records.
How to Find Public Records in Lebanon County in 2026
Members of the public may access Lebanon County public records through several methods, depending on the type of record sought:
In-Person Requests:
- Identify the appropriate county office that maintains the desired records
- Visit the office during regular business hours
- Complete any required request forms
- Present identification if required for specific record types
- Pay any applicable fees
Online Access:
- Visit the Lebanon County government website
- Navigate to the appropriate department page
- Access available online record systems
- For court records, use the Unified Judicial System Web Portal to search case information
- Property records may be searched through the county's online property viewer
Written Requests:
- Download the county's Right-to-Know request form from the county website
- Complete the form with specific details about the requested records
- Submit the form to the appropriate department's Right-to-Know Officer
- Requests may be submitted via mail, email, or fax
- The county must respond within 5 business days, with possible extension to 30 days
For judicial records specifically, the Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania provides access to docket sheets and other court documents. Criminal history information may be obtained through the Pennsylvania State Police through their Access to Criminal History (PATCH) system.
Vital records from 1906 to present must be requested from the Pennsylvania Department of Health, while older vital records (1893-1905) may be available through the county.
How Much Does It Cost to Get Public Records in Lebanon County?
Lebanon County assesses fees for public records in accordance with the fee schedule established under the Pennsylvania Right-to-Know Law. Current standard fees include:
- Photocopies: $0.25 per page (black and white, 8.5" x 11")
- Certified Copies: Additional $1.00-$5.00 per document, depending on record type
- Specialized Documents: Actual cost of reproduction
- Electronic Records: No charge for electronic records emailed to requestor; fees apply for storage media
- Postage: Actual cost when mailing is requested
Specific record types may have statutorily mandated fees that differ from the standard RTKL fee schedule:
- Deed Recordings: $86.50 for first 4 pages, $2.00 each additional page
- Marriage License: $80.00
- Certified Copy of Marriage Record: $10.00
- Criminal Background Check: $22.00
- Court Docket Printouts: $10.00 per case
Payment methods accepted include cash, check, money order, and credit cards (in select offices). All checks should be made payable to "Lebanon County Treasurer" unless otherwise specified.
Under 65 P.S. § 67.1307, fees must be reasonable and based on prevailing fees for comparable services. The law also provides that fee waivers may be granted at the discretion of the agency when the agency determines that the request is in the public interest.
Prepayment may be required if fees are expected to exceed $100. Requestors will be notified of the estimated cost before records are produced.
Does Lebanon County Have Free Public Records?
Lebanon County provides free access to certain public records as required by Pennsylvania law. Under the Right-to-Know Law, all records must be available for inspection at no cost during regular business hours. The following records are available without charge:
- In-person inspection of any public record during normal business hours
- County Commissioner meeting minutes and agendas available on the county website
- County budget documents posted online annually
- Election results published on the county's Bureau of Elections webpage
- Public notices and announcements
- Basic property ownership information through the online property viewer
- Court docket sheets available through the Unified Judicial System Web Portal
The Lebanon County Court of Common Pleas provides free access to basic case information through the state's unified court system. Additionally, the Public Records portal of the Unified Judicial System offers free access to docket sheets and other court information.
While inspection is free, fees apply when copies (physical or electronic) are requested or when certification of records is needed. Additionally, specialized searches requiring significant staff time may incur research fees as permitted by law.
Who Can Request Public Records in Lebanon County?
Under the Pennsylvania Right-to-Know Law, any person, regardless of citizenship or residency status, may request public records from Lebanon County agencies. As specified in 65 P.S. § 67.102, a "requester" is defined as "a person that is a legal resident of the United States and requests a record pursuant to this act."
Key provisions regarding eligibility to request records include:
- Requestors do not need to be Lebanon County or Pennsylvania residents
- Requestors are not required to state the purpose or reason for their request, except in limited circumstances
- Requestors may remain anonymous for most record types, though certain records may require identification
- Commercial use of records is permitted, though agencies may charge additional fees for commercial requests
- Inmates have limited rights to access certain records under 65 P.S. § 67.708(b)(16)
For requests involving personal records, additional identification may be required to protect privacy:
- Vital records requests typically require proof of identity and, in some cases, proof of relationship
- Criminal history information requests require proper identification
- Property records related to one's own property do not require special identification beyond standard request procedures
Legal representatives may request records on behalf of clients, and parents/guardians may request records on behalf of minor children, subject to applicable privacy laws and regulations.
What Records Are Confidential in Lebanon County?
Lebanon County maintains certain records as confidential in accordance with exemptions provided under the Pennsylvania Right-to-Know Law, specifically 65 P.S. § 67.708, which exempts the following from public disclosure:
- Personal Identifying Information: Social Security numbers, driver's license numbers, personal financial information, home addresses of law enforcement officers and judges
- Medical Records: Health records protected under HIPAA and other medical privacy laws
- Juvenile Records: Records related to juvenile delinquency proceedings, except in limited circumstances
- Criminal Investigative Records: Information related to ongoing criminal investigations
- Grand Jury Materials: Testimony and evidence presented to grand juries
- Child Welfare Records: Reports and investigations related to child abuse
- Adoption Records: Court records related to adoption proceedings
- Mental Health Records: Information related to mental health treatment and commitment
- Personnel Records: Employee performance evaluations, disciplinary actions, and other personnel matters
- Attorney-Client Communications: Privileged communications between county agencies and their legal counsel
- Trade Secrets: Proprietary business information submitted to county agencies
- Infrastructure Security Information: Records that would jeopardize public safety if disclosed
- Predecisional Deliberations: Internal discussions prior to agency decisions
Additionally, records sealed by court order are not accessible to the public. The Criminal History Record Information Act (18 Pa.C.S. § 9101 et seq.) governs the dissemination of criminal history information and places restrictions on access to certain criminal records.
When a record contains both public and confidential information, the county will redact the confidential portions and release the remainder, as required by 65 P.S. § 67.706.
Lebanon County Recorder's Office: Contact Information and Hours
Lebanon County Recorder of Deeds
400 S. 8th Street, Room 103
Lebanon, PA 17042
(717) 228-4420
Lebanon County Recorder of Deeds
Hours of Operation:
Monday through Friday: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Closed on weekends and county-observed holidays
Lebanon County Prothonotary
400 S. 8th Street, Room 104
Lebanon, PA 17042
(717) 228-4434
Lebanon County Prothonotary
Hours of Operation:
Monday through Friday: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Closed on weekends and county-observed holidays
Lebanon County Register of Wills
400 S. 8th Street, Room 102
Lebanon, PA 17042
(717) 228-4415
Lebanon County Register of Wills
Hours of Operation:
Monday through Friday: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Closed on weekends and county-observed holidays
Lebanon County Clerk of Courts
400 S. 8th Street, Room 106
Lebanon, PA 17042
(717) 228-4440
Lebanon County Clerk of Courts
Hours of Operation:
Monday through Friday: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Closed on weekends and county-observed holidays
Lookup Public Records in Lebanon County
Lebanon County Government Website
Unified Judicial System Case Search
Lebanon County Court of Common Pleas