Find Deed Records in Bronx County
Bronx County deed records are managed through the New York City Department of Finance, Office of the City Register. Unlike most New York counties, the Bronx does not use a traditional County Clerk for land records. Instead, all property documents are filed and searched through the ACRIS system. This online platform gives you access to deeds, mortgages, liens, and other recorded instruments for Bronx properties dating back to 1966.
Bronx County Overview
ACRIS: The Bronx County Deed Records System
The Automated City Register Information System (ACRIS) is where you search for deed records in the Bronx. This free online tool covers all five boroughs of New York City. You can look up property records by address, borough/block/lot number, party name, document type, or document ID. The system shows recorded documents from 1966 to the present and provides digitized images of deeds, mortgages, and other filed instruments at no cost.
To trace property ownership in the Bronx, go to the ACRIS website and select the Property Records search option. Enter the borough (Bronx), block number, and lot number to pull up every document recorded against that parcel. You can view and download PDF copies of each deed directly from the search results. This makes ACRIS one of the most accessible land records systems in New York State.
How to Search Bronx Deed Records Online
ACRIS offers several ways to find deed records. The most common method is a property search using the borough, block, and lot (BBL) number. Every parcel in New York City has a unique BBL identifier. If you don't know the BBL for a Bronx property, ACRIS includes a BBL finder tool that lets you look it up by address.
You can also run a party name search to find all documents filed by or against a specific person or entity. This is helpful when you need to find deeds for someone who may own multiple properties in the Bronx. Date range filters let you narrow results to a specific time period. Document type filters let you limit your search to just deeds, just mortgages, or any other category of recorded instrument. If you need help using the system, call the ACRIS Help Line at (212) 487-6300 or send an email to acrishelp@finance.nyc.gov.
Recording Property Documents in the Bronx
Property documents in the Bronx are recorded through the NYC Department of Finance e-Recording system. To file a deed electronically, you first register for an e-Record account. Then you prepare your documents as PDFs along with the required tax forms and a cover page. Upload everything, review it, and submit. You pay any taxes or fees by eCheck or credit card at the time of submission.
ACRIS has strict formatting rules for uploaded documents. Pages cannot be larger than 11 by 17 inches. PDFs must be black and white with no layers. The recommended resolution is 300 DPI. ACRIS converts all uploaded files to images for archival purposes, so poorly formatted documents may lose clarity or get rejected. Make sure your PDF meets these specifications before you upload it.
Transfer Taxes and Recording Fees
Bronx County deed recordings are subject to both New York State and New York City transfer taxes. The state real estate transfer tax is $2 per $500 of consideration. New York City imposes its own Real Property Transfer Tax (RPTT) on top of the state tax. The city rate is 1% for residential properties under $500,000 and 1.425% for residential properties at $500,000 or above. Commercial properties have higher city rates. A 1% mansion tax applies to residential sales of $1 million or more.
For NYC properties (except Staten Island), you do not file the standard Form RP-5217. Instead, the transfer tax information is captured through the ACRIS system during the e-Recording process. Staten Island uses a separate form, RP-5217-NYC, but that does not apply to Bronx recordings.
Mortgage Recording Tax in the Bronx
The mortgage recording tax in the Bronx reflects both state and city rates. New York City imposes its own mortgage tax on top of the state portion, making the total rate higher than in most other counties. The basic state rate is 50 cents per $100 of mortgage debt. The city adds its own component, and the combined rate can be substantial on large mortgage amounts. For residential properties, the first $10,000 of debt is exempt from the additional tax portion.
Online payments through ACRIS cannot be split across multiple checking accounts. Plan ahead so you can pay the full mortgage recording tax from a single account at the time of filing.
Pre-1966 Bronx Deed Records
ACRIS covers records from 1966 to the present. For Bronx deed records before 1966, you will need to visit in person. Call the ACRIS Help Line at (212) 487-6300 to ask where older records are stored and what you need to bring for your visit. Some historical records may also be available through the New York State Archives, which preserves government records from all three branches of state government. The New York State Library Digital Collections includes some scanned historical documents that may be useful for early property research.
Property Fraud Protection
The City Register offers a Notice of Recorded Document Program that sends automatic notifications when a new document is recorded against your Bronx property. This service helps protect against deed fraud and unauthorized recordings. You can also designate a trusted person, such as a family member or attorney, to receive alerts on your behalf. Sign up through the ACRIS website to start monitoring your property records.
Legal Resources for Bronx Property Owners
New York Real Property Law governs how deeds must be prepared and recorded across the state, including in the Bronx. The Cornell Legal Information Institute provides free access to these statutes. You can look up sections on deed requirements, recording rules, and transfer tax obligations. The New York State Senate website lets you track proposed changes to property law. Bronx residents can also reach out to local legal aid organizations for help with deed disputes or title issues.
Bronx County and New York City
The Bronx is one of the five boroughs of New York City. All property in the Bronx falls under the NYC recording system. There is no separate county clerk for land records. The City Register's ACRIS platform handles recordings for the Bronx along with Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens. Staten Island has a separate process.
Nearby Counties
Deed records in these neighboring counties are maintained by separate offices: