Recording a deed in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania
Everything you need to get a deed on file in Philadelphia County. The office that records it, the formatting it checks, what it costs, and the three ways to submit.
- Recording office
- Recorder of Deeds
- Witnesses
- Notary only
- Transfer tax
- 1% state
- First-page margin
- 3″ top
- Recording fee
- ~$278.75 per document
- E-recording
- Approved submitters
Recording a deed in Philadelphia County
Deeds affecting property in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania are recorded with the Department of Records. Recording is what puts the world on notice of your ownership and fixes the priority date. An unrecorded deed can still transfer title between the parties, but it leaves you exposed to anyone who records first.
The recording rules the office applies come from 21 Pa. Stat. § 351. Deeds themselves are governed by 21 Pa. Stat. § 1.
Worth knowing
Philadelphia's recorder of deeds is the Department of Records, City Hall, Room 111, 1400 John F. Kennedy Blvd. In-person recording is by appointment only (email appointments.records@phila.gov). By mail, include a stamped, self-addressed envelope. E-recording through Simplifile, CSC or ePN is open to businesses only.
Worth knowing
Philadelphia requires its own Real Estate Transfer Tax Certificate (Deeds), form 82-127, filled out in duplicate, with every deed, along with the Pennsylvania Statement of Value (REV-183). The form is at phila.gov/documents/real-estate-transfer-tax-certificate.
Worth knowing
Philadelphia's realty transfer tax is 4.578% (3.578% City plus 1% Commonwealth, since July 1, 2025), and recording a deed costs $278.75. Pay the State tax to "Commonwealth of Pennsylvania" and the City tax and recording fee to "City of Philadelphia", on separate checks. Personal checks are not accepted.
Worth knowing
Philadelphia requires the "Prepared by" and "Return to" blocks on page one to give each party's phone number as well as the name and address. Deedly prints the names and addresses; add the phone numbers before recording.
Worth knowing
Philadelphia deeds need a metes-and-bounds legal description and the property's street address.
What to bring
- The original signed and notarized deed. Recorders do not record photocopies handed over the counter.
- A completed notarial acknowledgment, with the date, the place where you signed, and the commission expiry all filled in.
- Realty Transfer Tax Statement of Value (Form REV-183, filed in duplicate for a gift, an exempt transfer, or a deed that does not state the full price), which Pennsylvania requires alongside the deed.
- Payment for the recording fee, about $278.75 per document. Many offices do not take personal checks.
Formatting
- Deedly's layout, which suits this office: 8.5 × 11 inch paper, a 3-inch clear space at the top of page one for the recording stamp, 1-inch margins on the other edges, and type no smaller than 10 point. Deedly formats every document this way automatically.
- A legal description. A street address alone is not enough.
- A 'when recorded, return to' block so the stamped original comes back to you.
How to file
- In personTake the original to the Department of Records in Philadelphia. This is the fastest route. You usually walk out with the recording information the same day.
- By mailSend the original with a check or money order for the fee and a self-addressed stamped envelope. Allow one to three weeks for the stamped original to come back.
- E-recordingTitle companies, attorneys, and other approved submitters file electronically through services such as Simplifile, CSC, or ePN. Some offices accept filings from the public through those services; check the office's website. If you prepared the deed yourself, in person or by mail is usually simpler.
Confirm the address before you post anything
Offices move and hours change. Search for "Philadelphia County Pennsylvania Department of Records" and use the official county website, not a directory listing, which is often years out of date.
Formatted to Pennsylvania requirements, with Philadelphia County filing instructions included.
Common questions
With the Department of Records, located in Philadelphia. Deeds are always recorded in the county where the property sits, not where the owner lives.
Around $278.75 per document. Pennsylvania also charges realty transfer tax at 1% state, plus local (typically 1%, but Philadelphia's combined rate is 4.578% and Pittsburgh's is 5%), though transfers between spouses, parents and children, grandparents and grandchildren, and siblings are excluded, and a gift to anyone else is taxed on the property's computed value. Confirm current fees with the office before you mail anything; they change.
Usually only through an approved e-recording submitter, such as a title company or attorney, using a service like Simplifile, CSC, or ePN. Some offices accept filings from the public through those services; check the office's website. Otherwise, record in person or by mail.
Keep reading
Deedly is not a law firm
Its software and documents are not a substitute for the advice of an attorney. We provide self-help software and state-specific deed forms; you make your own decisions about your property. Using Deedly does not create an attorney-client relationship, and nothing here is legal advice. If your situation is complex or contested, talk to a licensed attorney in your state.