Search Rockland County Deed Records
Rockland County deed records are maintained by the County Clerk's Office in New City. The office records deeds, mortgages, liens, and all other land documents for properties in the county. Free online viewing is available through the Cott Hosting E-Search portal, and the office keeps some of the longest hours in the region, opening at 7:00 AM and closing at 6:00 PM on weekdays. Historical deed records go back to 1798 and are preserved in the Rockland County Archives.
Rockland County Quick Facts
Rockland County Clerk's Office
The Rockland County Clerk's Office is at the Rockland County Courthouse, 1 South Main Street, Suite 100, in New City. The main phone number is (845) 638-5070 and the fax is (845) 638-5647. Office hours run from 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM, Monday through Friday. Those are longer hours than most county clerk offices in the state.
The office handles all land document recording for the county. Deeds, mortgages, assignments, satisfactions, and other instruments affecting real property get filed here. Walk-in service is available during office hours. Bring your documents with all required forms and fees ready so the staff can process your filing quickly.
How to Search Rockland County Deed Records Online
Rockland County uses the Cott Hosting E-Search system for online record access. Viewing is free. Click "Sign in as a Guest" to search and view documents at no cost. You can search by party name, date, document type, or book and page number. The system covers recorded land documents and lets you view images right on your screen.
If you need to print documents, you must create an account. Registered users pay $0.50 per page to print. This is a low cost compared to what some other counties charge. The system is used by title searchers, attorneys, and the general public.
Recording Fees for Deed Documents
Rockland County charges a standard recording fee of $45.00 plus $5.00 per page. The cover sheet that the County Clerk's Office creates counts as a page. Each cross-reference costs $0.50. These fees apply to deeds, mortgages, and other land documents.
For copies of recorded documents, uncertified copies cost a $5.00 search fee plus $0.50 per page. Certified copies cost $5.00 search fee plus $1.25 per page. Registered E-Search users get electronic copies at $0.50 per page, which is the cheapest option if you have an account set up.
The TP-584 form costs $5.00 to file. Form RP-5217 must also be filed with every deed. The real estate transfer tax is $2 per $500 of consideration, and the 1% mansion tax applies to residential sales of $1 million or more.
Rockland County Archives and Historical Deed Records
The Rockland County Archives holds historical land records going back to the county's early days. The archives are at Building S, 50 Sanatorium Road, Pomona, NY 10970. You can reach them at (845) 364-3670.
The collection includes Rockland County deeds from 1798 to 1921, though the original deed books are kept at the County Clerk's Office in New City. Mortgages from 1798 to 1931 are also in the archive. Tax and assessment rolls for Ramapo from 1855 to 1964 are available as well. Researchers and genealogists use the archives for tracing property ownership through the 19th and early 20th centuries.
Deed Recording Requirements
New York Real Property Law sets the rules for what a deed must contain. Each deed needs the grantor's notarized signature, the names of all parties, a legal description, and the tax map parcel number. Documents must be on white 8.5 by 11 inch paper in clear black ink with at least 8-point font.
The RP-5217 form is a barcoded PDF that captures details about the sale. It must be completed using Adobe Acrobat. Handwritten forms are not accepted. The four-part paper version has not been valid since 2015. Make sure all forms are filled out correctly before you come to the office, since incomplete filings will be rejected.
Mortgage Recording Tax
Rockland County is in the Metropolitan Commuter Transportation District. The mortgage recording tax here includes the MCTD surcharge. The basic state rate is 50 cents per $100 of debt, plus the additional tax and the MCTD portion. For residential mortgages, the first $10,000 is exempt from the additional tax.
Form MT-15 breaks down the exact rates by jurisdiction. Check the most recent version before your closing. The full tax amount must be paid to the County Clerk at recording.
Property Assessment Data
Assessment records and tax maps for Rockland County are maintained by the Real Property Tax Service. You can use this data to look up assessed values, property classes, and owners of record. While these are not deed records, they help you identify the right parcel when searching for property documents at the Clerk's Office.
The Municipal Data Portal shows 10 years of property sales for Rockland County. Sales data comes from RP-5217 forms filed with each deed.
Legal Resources
The Cornell Legal Information Institute offers free access to New York Real Property Law and related statutes. You can look up the specific sections that set the rules for deed format, recording requirements, and constructive notice. The New York State Senate legislation page tracks bills that could change property recording rules. Both sites are free and open to the public. They are good resources if you want to read the actual law before you file a deed in Rockland County.
Cities and Towns in Rockland County
Rockland County includes the towns of Ramapo, Clarkstown, Orangetown, Haverstraw, and Stony Point. All deed records for properties in these communities are filed with the Rockland County Clerk's Office at 1 South Main Street in New City.
Villages within these towns, like Spring Valley, Nyack, and Suffern, also file their land records through the same County Clerk's Office.
Nearby Counties
Need deed records from a county next to Rockland? These offices are nearby: