Beaver County Public Records

What Are Public Records in Beaver County?

Public records in Beaver 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. Members of the public may inspect or obtain copies of these records subject to the provisions of state law and applicable county procedures.

Beaver County maintains a broad range of public records across multiple offices and departments. The following record types are currently available to the public:

Court records (civil, criminal, probate, and family matters) — maintained by the Clerk of Courts at the Beaver County Courthouse
Property records (deeds, mortgages, liens, and recorded instruments) — maintained by the Recorder of Deeds Office; members of the public may conduct an online search of Recorder of Deeds records dating from 1800 to present
Property assessment records — accessible through the Beaver County property records portal, administered by the Assessment Office
Vital records (birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates) — birth and death records are maintained by the Pennsylvania Department of Health; marriage licenses are issued and recorded by the Beaver County Register of Wills
Business records (fictitious name registrations, business licenses, and permits) — maintained by the Prothonotary's Office and the Pennsylvania Department of State
Tax records (property tax assessments and payment histories) — maintained by the Beaver County Assessment Office and the Tax Claim Bureau
Voting and election records — maintained by the Beaver County Elections Division
Meeting minutes and agendas (Board of Commissioners, county boards, and authorities) — available through the Beaver County Commissioner's Office
Budget and financial documents — maintained by the Beaver County Controller's Office
Law enforcement records (arrest logs and incident reports, where permitted by law) — maintained by the Beaver County Sheriff's Office and individual municipal police departments
Land use and zoning records — maintained by the Beaver County Planning Commission

Is Beaver County an Open Records County?

Beaver 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 Act, and a record in the possession of a local agency is presumed to be a public record unless it is exempt under the law, protected by a privilege, or required to be kept confidential by another statute. This presumption of openness places the burden on the agency — not the requester — to justify any denial of access.

The Pennsylvania Right-to-Know Law further requires that agencies designate an Open Records Officer to receive and respond to requests. Beaver County has designated Open Records Officers within its principal departments to process requests in a timely manner. Agencies are generally required to respond to requests within five business days of receipt, with the possibility of a 30-day extension under specified circumstances.

Pennsylvania's Sunshine Act, 65 Pa. C.S. § 701 et seq., further ensures that deliberations and official actions of Beaver County's governing bodies — including the Board of Commissioners — are conducted at open, publicly noticed meetings. Meeting minutes and agendas are public records subject to inspection and copying. The PA Office of Open Records provides oversight, guidance, and an appeals process for requesters who believe their requests have been improperly denied.

How to Find Public Records in Beaver County in 2026

Members of the public may access Beaver County public records through several channels, depending on the record type sought. The following steps outline the standard process currently in effect:

Identify the custodial office. Determine which county department or agency maintains the record being sought. Property records are held by the Recorder of Deeds; court records are held by the Clerk of Courts or Prothonotary; vital records are held by the Register of Wills or the Pennsylvania Department of Health.
Submit a written Right-to-Know request. Requests must be submitted in writing to the designated Open Records Officer of the relevant agency. Requests may be submitted in person, by mail, by fax, or by email, depending on the agency's accepted methods.
Use online portals where available. Beaver County currently provides online access to property assessment data through the Beaver County Assessment Office portal and deed records through the Recorder of Deeds online records search. Court case information may be searched through the UJS Web Portal case search maintained by the Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania.
Visit the office in person. Members of the public may inspect records in person during regular business hours at the relevant county office. No appointment is required for general inspection at most offices, though scheduling in advance is advisable for large record requests.
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.
Appeal a denial if necessary. If a request is denied, the requester may appeal to the PA Office of Open Records within 15 business days of the denial.

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

Standard fees for public records in Beaver County are governed by the Pennsylvania Right-to-Know Law and the fee schedule established by the Pennsylvania Office of Open Records. Current fees applicable to most county offices are as follows:

Paper copies: $0.25 per page (standard 8.5" x 11" black-and-white)
Larger format copies: Actual cost of duplication
Electronic records: No charge for records transmitted electronically, unless conversion from paper requires duplication costs
Certification of records: Additional fees may apply for certified copies, particularly for vital records and recorded instruments; the Recorder of Deeds and Register of Wills maintain their own certified copy fee schedules
Postage and mailing: Actual postage costs may be charged when records are mailed to the requester

Accepted payment methods vary by office but generally include cash, check, and money order payable to the relevant county office. Fees for certified copies of deeds, mortgages, and other recorded instruments are set by the Recorder of Deeds and may differ from standard duplication fees. Fees for court records, including certified copies of judgments and case documents, are set by the Clerk of Courts. Under current law, agencies may not charge fees for time spent searching for or retrieving records, only for actual duplication costs. Fee waivers are not broadly available under Pennsylvania law, though agencies retain discretion to waive fees in limited circumstances.

Does Beaver County Have Free Public Records?

Free inspection of public records is available at Beaver County government offices during regular business hours, and no fee is charged solely for viewing records in person. Members of the public may inspect records without charge; fees apply only when copies are requested. Several categories of records are also accessible at no cost through official online portals:

Property assessment records are freely searchable through the Beaver County Assessment Office
Deed and recorded instrument records dating from 1800 to present are searchable at no cost through the Recorder of Deeds online search portal
Court case information is available without charge through the Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania's case search tool
County meeting minutes, agendas, and budget documents are posted on the Beaver County official website at no cost

Who Can Request Public Records in Beaver County?

Any person may submit a Right-to-Know request for public records maintained by Beaver County agencies. Under the Pennsylvania Right-to-Know Law, requesters are not required to be Pennsylvania residents, and agencies may not require a requester to state the purpose for which records are being sought. Specifically:

Residency: No residency requirement applies; non-residents of Beaver County and Pennsylvania may submit requests on equal terms with residents
Identification: Requesters are not required to provide identification for most public record requests, though identification may be required for certain sensitive records or for in-person inspection of restricted materials
Purpose: Agencies may not require requesters to explain why they are seeking records, with limited exceptions for certain categories of records
Requesting your own records: Individuals seeking records pertaining to themselves — such as their own court filings, tax records, or assessment information — follow the same process as any other requester, though additional verification may be required for records containing sensitive personal information
Restrictions for specific record types: Certain records, such as juvenile court records, adoption records, and sealed court files, are subject to additional access restrictions regardless of the requester's identity

What Records Are Confidential in Beaver County?

Not all government records in Beaver County are open to public inspection. The Pennsylvania Right-to-Know Law, at 65 P.S. § 67.708, enumerates specific categories of records that are exempt from public disclosure. The following records are currently exempt or confidential under state law and applicable federal statutes:

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 Pennsylvania law
Ongoing criminal investigation records — records that would compromise an active law enforcement investigation are exempt from disclosure
Personal identifying information — Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, and similar data are redacted or withheld
Medical and health records — protected under both state law and the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)
Adoption records — sealed by statute and accessible only through court order or specific statutory procedures
Child welfare and protective services records — confidential under Pennsylvania child protective services law
Personnel records — employee records are generally exempt, with limited exceptions for salary and certain disciplinary information
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 disclosable and exempt information, agencies are required to redact the exempt portions and provide access to the remainder. Pennsylvania law applies a balancing standard in certain circumstances, weighing the public interest in disclosure against the potential harm of release.

Beaver County Recorder's Office: Contact Information and Hours

The principal offices responsible for maintaining and providing access to public records in Beaver County are listed below with current contact information and public counter hours.

Beaver County Recorder of Deeds 810 Third Street, Beaver, PA 15009 (724) 770-4570 Beaver County Recorder of Deeds Public Counter Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Beaver County Clerk of Courts 810 Third Street, Beaver, PA 15009 (724) 770-4340 Beaver County Clerk of Courts Public Counter Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Beaver County Prothonotary 810 Third Street, Beaver, PA 15009 (724) 770-4420 Beaver County Prothonotary Public Counter Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Beaver County Register of Wills 810 Third Street, Beaver, PA 15009 (724) 770-4490 Beaver County Register of Wills Public Counter Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Beaver County Assessment Office 810 Third Street, Beaver, PA 15009 (724) 770-4480 Beaver County Assessment Office Public Counter Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Pennsylvania Office of Open Records 333 Market Street, 16th Floor, Harrisburg, PA 17101 (717) 346-9903 PA Office of Open Records Public Counter Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.