Search Clarkstown Property Records
Clarkstown property records are managed through the Rockland County Clerk's Office and the Town of Clarkstown Assessor. Located in Rockland County in the Hudson Valley, Clarkstown is the largest town in the county and includes the hamlet of New City, which serves as the county seat. The Rockland County Clerk records deeds, mortgages, liens, and all other instruments affecting real property in the town. The local Assessor sets property values and administers exemptions for homes and businesses across Clarkstown.
Clarkstown Property Records Overview
Rockland County Clerk Property Records
All property records for Clarkstown are filed with the Rockland County Clerk's Office at 11 New Hempstead Road, New City, NY 10956. Phone: (845) 638-5070. The Clerk records deeds, mortgages, liens, satisfactions, assignments, and other instruments that affect real property in every town and village within Rockland County. Since New City is in Clarkstown, the County Clerk's Office is right in town, making it convenient for local property owners.
Recording fees start at $45 base plus $5 per page. Transfer tax is $4 per $1,000 of consideration. The TP-584 form costs $5 to file, and the RP-5217 fee is $125 for qualifying residential or farm property and $250 for all other types. Residential deeds also carry an additional $10 fee. Public access to land records is available in the office. eRecording through authorized vendors allows electronic submission at any time.
The Rockland County Real Property Tax Department maintains tax maps and assessment rolls for all municipalities in the county. This department provides oversight for local assessors, calculates equalization rates, and tracks sales data used for assessment ratio studies.
How to Search Property Records in Clarkstown
The Rockland County Clerk's Office provides access to recorded land documents through its office. In-person visitors can search the grantor and grantee indexes to find deeds, mortgages, and other recorded instruments. The indexes cover all documents filed with the Clerk. Copy fees are $1 per page for regular copies. Certified copies cost additional. Some online access may also be available through the county website.
For property assessment data, the Rockland County Real Property Tax Department offers online search capabilities. You can look up parcels by address, owner name, or parcel number. Results include assessed value, property class, building details, lot size, and any exemptions on file. The system is free to use and runs 24/7. Assessment data is updated annually after the final roll is completed.
The Town of Clarkstown Assessor's Office manages local property valuations. The Town Assessor determines market values using sales comparison, cost approach, and income analysis methods. The tentative roll is published each year, and the Board of Assessment Review meets to hear grievances from property owners who dispute their assessments. Property inventory cards showing building details and lot measurements are available for inspection at the Assessor's office.
Recording Fees for Clarkstown Property Records
Rockland County falls within the Metropolitan Commuter Transportation District (MCTD). This means an additional mortgage recording tax applies on top of the base state rate of $0.50 per $100 of mortgage debt. The MCTD surcharge affects all mortgage recordings in the county, making the effective rate higher than in non-MCTD counties. Form MT-15 must accompany every recorded mortgage.
All documents must meet New York State formatting requirements. Pages need to be 8.5 by 11 inches or 8.5 by 14 inches with legible text. Original signatures and notary acknowledgments are required under Real Property Law Section 294. The County Clerk stamps each recorded document with the date, time, and book and page where it is filed, as required by Section 319.
Under Real Property Law Section 292, conveyances not recorded are void against subsequent good faith purchasers who record first. Section 293 makes recording an instrument the legal equivalent of notice to all persons. These provisions mean that recording your deed with the Rockland County Clerk is critical for protecting your ownership rights in Clarkstown.
Clarkstown Property Assessments and Tax Maps
The Town of Clarkstown Assessor publishes a tentative assessment roll each year. Property owners can file grievances during the review period. The Board of Assessment Review meets to hear these complaints. After the grievance process, the final roll is adopted and used for tax billing by the town, county, and school district. The Assessor uses the state's Real Property System (RPS) software for managing assessment data.
Exemption applications for STAR, veterans, senior citizens, and disability must be filed with the Clarkstown Assessor by March 1st each year. The STAR program provides Basic STAR for primary residences with owner income of $500,000 or less. Enhanced STAR is available for homeowners age 65 and older with income below $92,000. Property owners turning 65 who already receive Basic STAR are now automatically upgraded without needing a separate application.
Tax maps maintained by the Rockland County Real Property Tax Department show lot lines, parcel numbers, and property dimensions for all of Clarkstown. Maps are updated yearly for new subdivisions and boundary changes. The New York State GIS Clearinghouse provides standardized parcel data that supplements county records.
Legal Framework for Property Records
Property records in Clarkstown are governed by the Real Property Tax Law and the Real Property Law. Article 5 of the Real Property Tax Law lays out the assessment procedure, the preparation of tentative and final rolls, and grievance rights. Article 7 provides for judicial review of assessments in Supreme Court. The 9th Judicial District handles such cases for Rockland County.
The Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) guarantees public access to government records, including property assessment data and tax maps. Under FOIL, agencies must respond to requests within five business days. Copy fees are capped at 25 cents per page. All property records are subject to FOIL disclosure.
The eCourts system can be used to search for property-related court cases. Foreclosure proceedings, partition actions, and judgment liens involving Clarkstown properties are handled through Supreme Court in the 9th Judicial District.
County Property Records
Clarkstown is in Rockland County. All land records are filed with the Rockland County Clerk at 11 New Hempstead Road in New City. The county operates the Real Property Tax Department that oversees assessment rolls, tax maps, and equalization rates. Visit the Rockland County property records page for full county-level information.