Search New York County Property Records

Property records in New York County cover all of Manhattan, one of the five boroughs of New York City. The NYC Department of Finance maintains recorded land documents through the Automated City Register Information System, known as ACRIS. Deeds, mortgages, liens, and other instruments filed since 1966 are available online at no charge. The Borough-Block-Lot system is the standard way to identify parcels in Manhattan. The New York County Clerk handles Supreme Court civil records and judgment liens at 60 Centre Street. Assessment data, tax maps, and property values fall under the Department of Finance and can be searched through the NYC Property Information Portal.

ACRIS Property Records Search

ACRIS is the primary tool for searching property records in New York County. It covers Manhattan along with the Bronx, Brooklyn, and Queens. Staten Island uses a separate system through the Richmond County Clerk. ACRIS lets you search by address, owner name, or Borough-Block-Lot number. Manhattan uses borough code 1 for all BBL lookups.

No registration is needed for basic searches. You can view deeds, mortgages, satisfactions, assignments, and other recorded instruments going back to 1966. Document images can be downloaded for free when printed from your own computer. If you need certified copies, those cost $4 per page and must be requested in person at a City Register office or by mail. The system also lets you create cover pages, file tax forms like the TP-584 and RP-5217, and calculate transfer taxes and mortgage recording taxes before a closing.

Documents recorded before 1966 are not in ACRIS. You need to visit the Manhattan City Register office at 66 John Street, 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10038 to access older records. The office is open Monday through Friday from 9 AM to 4:30 PM. Appointments are required for in-person visits. Payments can be made by check to "NYC Department of Finance" or by credit card with a 2% surcharge.

The Notice of Recorded Document Program is worth knowing about. Property owners can sign up for free alerts by email, text, or mail whenever a new document gets recorded against their property. This helps protect against deed fraud, which can be a concern in high-value Manhattan real estate.

Borough-Block-Lot System for Property Records

Every parcel in Manhattan has a unique BBL number. The borough code is always 1 for New York County. Block numbers identify a section of land bounded by streets. Lot numbers identify individual parcels within each block. You will need the BBL to do precise searches in ACRIS and other city databases. If you only know the address, ACRIS has a lookup tool that converts street addresses to BBL numbers.

The NYC Property Information Portal provides an interactive GIS map that shows lot lines, block and lot numbers, street names, lot dimensions, and easements. You can search by address, intersection, or common place name. Certified tax map copies cost $10 per map through this portal. Uncertified copies are $1 per page at the Tax Map Office, also located at 66 John Street. The digital tax map should not be used as a substitute for a survey or engineering drawing for legal purposes.

New York County Clerk Property Records

The New York County Clerk's Office is at 60 Centre Street, New York, NY 10007. The phone number is (646) 386-3725. This office serves as the clerk for both Supreme Court and County Court in the 1st Judicial District. It handles judgment liens, lis pendens filings, mechanics' liens, and other court-related property documents.

All search requests must be in writing. Copying fees are 65 cents per page with a $1.50 minimum charge. Exemplified copies cost $25 plus certification and copying fees. Allow 48 to 72 hours for exemplification requests. Fees are payable by money order or certified check only. The Docket Department handles foreclosure and lien information requests.

Supreme Court in New York County handles foreclosure actions, partition proceedings, quiet title actions, and other real property litigation. You can track these cases through the eCourts system, which provides online access to case status, upcoming court dates, and case history. E-filed cases can be searched through NYSCEF without needing an e-filing account.

Recording Fees and Transfer Taxes

Recording fees in New York County follow the standard state structure. The base fee is $45 plus $5 per page. Additional charges apply for cover pages and cross-references. The TP-584 filing fee is $5, and the RP-5217 fee is $125 for qualifying residential or farm property or $250 for all other types.

New York County is part of the Metropolitan Commuter Transportation District, so special additional taxes apply. The state real estate transfer tax rate is $2 per $500 of consideration for sales over $500. New York City adds its own Real Property Transfer Tax ranging from 1% to 2.625% depending on property type and sale price. The Mansion Tax adds another 1% on residential sales of $1 million or more, paid by the buyer. These rates are set by Tax Law Article 31 at the state level.

Mortgage recording tax in Manhattan includes the state base rate of $0.50 per $100 of mortgage debt plus New York City's additional rate. For 1-3 family homes and individual condo units with mortgages under $500,000, the combined city rate is 1.0%. All other properties pay 1.125%. The MCTD surcharge also applies. Form MT-15 must be filed with every recorded mortgage showing how the tax was calculated. Mortgage recording tax information is available from the Department of Taxation and Finance.

Property Assessment and Tax Data

The NYC Department of Finance handles property assessment for all five boroughs, including Manhattan. Properties are classified into four tax classes. Class 1 covers 1-3 family homes. Class 2 includes residential properties with more than three units. Class 3 is for utility property. Class 4 covers all commercial and industrial property. Under Real Property Tax Law Article 18, New York City preserves the class share of taxes, maintaining a set ratio between what each class pays.

Assessment rolls are published each year as tentative rolls in January, with a public comment period before the final roll is adopted. Property owners who disagree with their assessed value can file a challenge with the Tax Commission. For larger disputes, Article 7 proceedings in Supreme Court provide judicial review. The Office of Real Property Tax Services publishes equalization rates and municipal profiles that show how Manhattan assessments compare to market values.

The STAR program applies to owner-occupied residential properties in Manhattan, though relatively few Manhattan residents own single-family homes. Basic STAR is for primary residences. Enhanced STAR serves homeowners 65 and older with income under statutory limits. New homeowners register with the Tax Department to get credits. The Statewide Parcel Map Program also provides parcel data that can be useful for research across county lines.

Public Access to Property Records

Property records in New York County are public under the Freedom of Information Law. FOIL gives anyone the right to request government records, including assessment rolls, tax maps, and recorded land documents. Agencies must respond within five business days. Copy fees under FOIL cannot go above 25 cents per page for photocopies.

For most Manhattan property research, ACRIS is the fastest route. It runs around the clock and costs nothing to use for basic searches. The Property Information Portal adds map-based research tools. Between these two systems, you can find ownership history, recorded liens, assessment data, and parcel boundaries without leaving your desk. For records that are not online, FOIL requests can be submitted in writing to the appropriate agency. Denials must cite a specific exemption and can be appealed.

Cities in New York County

New York County is coextensive with the Borough of Manhattan, which is part of New York City. All property records for Manhattan are handled through the NYC systems described above.

Nearby Counties

These counties border New York County or are nearby within New York City. Each has its own County Clerk office that records property documents.