Find Property Records in Richmond County

Property records in Richmond County are handled differently from the other New York City boroughs. While Manhattan, the Bronx, Brooklyn, and Queens use ACRIS as their primary recording system, Richmond County (Staten Island) maintains its own land records through the Richmond County Clerk. ACRIS provides limited access to some Staten Island records, but the County Clerk's office is the main source for deeds, mortgages, and other recorded instruments. The Borough-Block-Lot system still applies, with Staten Island using borough code 5 for BBL searches.

Richmond County Clerk Property Records

The Richmond County Clerk's office is at 130 Stuyvesant Place, Staten Island, NY 10301. Phone is (718) 675-7700. The office is part of the 13th Judicial District and handles all land record filings for Staten Island. This is where deeds, mortgages, satisfaction pieces, assignments, and liens are recorded and indexed.

Recording fees start at $45 base plus $5 per page, along with applicable taxes. The transfer tax rate is $4 per $1,000 of consideration. The TP-584 form carries a $5 filing fee. The RP-5217 fee is $125 for qualifying residential or farm property and $250 for all other types. Documents must be properly acknowledged before a notary public under Real Property Law Section 294. The office is open Monday through Friday during regular business hours.

Unlike the other four boroughs, Richmond County does not use ACRIS as its primary recording system. Property documents for Staten Island are recorded directly with the County Clerk. ACRIS does provide some limited access to Staten Island records, including certain UCC filings and document searches. But for complete and current records, the County Clerk's office is the right place. This distinction catches some people off guard, especially those used to searching ACRIS for records in other boroughs.

NYC Property Records Systems for Staten Island

ACRIS offers limited coverage of Staten Island property records. You can search by address or BBL number using borough code 5. Some document types are accessible, and UCC financing statements can be found through the system. The Notice of Recorded Document Program is available for Staten Island. This free service alerts owners when documents are recorded against their property. Sign up through ACRIS or the City Register office.

The NYC Property Information Portal provides the interactive tax map for Staten Island with lot lines, block and lot numbers, street names, and easements. It works the same way as it does for the other boroughs. Certified tax map copies cost $10. The portal is free to use for basic searches. Property tax data, assessment information, and zoning details are all available through this tool.

NYC 311 provides guidance on property records for all boroughs, including Staten Island. The service explains how to search for, obtain copies of, and update ownership records. Rolling Sales data shows recent sales information for city properties with details covering the previous 12-month period. This data is helpful for market analysis and comparable sales research.

Recording and Transfer Taxes

Richmond County falls within the Metropolitan Commuter Transportation District. This means additional mortgage recording tax surcharges apply on top of the base state rate. The state mortgage recording tax is $0.50 per $100 of mortgage debt. New York City adds 1% for mortgages under $500,000 on one-to-three family homes and individual condo units. For all other properties, the city rate is 1.125%. The MCTD surcharge is on top of these rates.

The real estate transfer tax structure for Staten Island follows the same rules as the rest of New York City. The state rate is $2 per $500 of consideration. NYC adds its own transfer tax ranging from 1% to 2.625%. The Mansion Tax of 1% applies to residential sales of $1 million or more. Form MT-15, the Mortgage Recording Tax Return, must be filed with the recorded mortgage. All of these calculations can be done through ACRIS even though the actual recording goes through the County Clerk for Staten Island.

Property Records and Assessment in Richmond County

The NYC Department of Finance handles property assessment for Staten Island under the same classified system used across all five boroughs. Real Property Tax Law Article 18 governs how tax burdens are distributed among property classes. The Tax Commission hears assessment challenges each year. Property owners may file Article 7 proceedings in Supreme Court if the Tax Commission does not grant relief.

The STAR program applies to Staten Island homeowners. Basic STAR covers primary residences with combined income of $500,000 or less. Enhanced STAR is for homeowners age 65 and older. New applicants register with the Department of Taxation and Finance. The Tax Department issues STAR credit payments before school tax bills are due.

Property tax exemptions under Real Property Tax Law Article 4 apply to qualifying properties in Richmond County. These include exemptions for veterans, senior citizens, persons with disabilities, and religious or charitable organizations. The assessment roll shows which exemptions apply to each parcel. Property owners can check their assessment and exemption status through the Department of Finance's online tools.

Public Access to Property Records

Property records in Richmond County are public under the Freedom of Information Law. FOIL gives the public a right to access government records including assessment data, tax maps, and recorded land documents. The eCourts system provides access to court records related to property, including foreclosure proceedings filed in Supreme Court. Surrogate's Court in Richmond County handles probate matters that often involve property transfers.

Cities in Richmond County

Richmond County is coextensive with the borough of Staten Island within New York City. All property records are handled through the Richmond County Clerk and NYC Department of Finance.

Nearby Counties

Property records in neighboring counties are maintained by their own County Clerks and recording offices.