When you buy or sell property in Philadelphia, you pay a deed recording fee of $277.75. We know that is a lot of money, but this fee does important work for our city and residents. Let us explain where your money goes and how it helps make Philadelphia better.
What is a deed recording fee?
Every time someone buys or sells property, we need to record that transaction in our official records. This creates a permanent, public record of who owns what property in Philadelphia. The deed recording fee covers the cost of this important service and funds several programs that benefit our community.
Where does your $277.75 go?
Your deed recording fee is divided into six parts, each serving a specific purpose:
Recording fee: $110.00
This portion pays for the actual work of recording your deed. Our staff reviews each document, checks that it meets legal requirements, and ensures it is properly stored in our electronic records system. We index the documents which makes them searchable by the public as part of title searches. We also make sure that the property boundaries described in deeds are accurate and update official city maps when there are changes. This ensures your property ownership is protected and accurate and creates a permanent record that anyone can access.
Philadelphia Housing Trust Fund: $110.00
This portion, equal to the recording fee itself, goes directly toward creating affordable housing in our city. The Housing Trust Fund helps build new affordable homes, fixes up existing housing, and helps families who are struggling to find a place they can afford. Every deed recording helps create more housing opportunities for Philadelphia families.
Access to Justice Fee: $40.25
This fee goes to the state government to support multiple important functions across Pennsylvania’s justice system. It funds legal aid services for low-income individuals, court technology improvements, criminal justice enhancements, and general judicial administration throughout Pennsylvania. When you record your deed, you are helping ensure that Pennsylvania’s entire court system works effectively and that all residents can access justice when they need it.
Philadelphia County Demolition Fund: $15.00
This fee helps the city demolish blighted property. Removing unsafe and deteriorated structures makes our neighborhoods safer and more attractive. It also helps prevent problems like fires and crime that can happen around abandoned buildings.
State Writ Tax: $0.50
This portion goes to the state government to support court operations and legal processes throughout Pennsylvania.
County Fee: $2.00
This small fee helps cover general administrative costs for county government operations.
Why these fees matter
Each part of your deed recording fee serves an important public purpose:
- Housing: With housing costs rising, the Housing Trust Fund helps ensure that working families can still afford to live in Philadelphia. This keeps our city diverse and helps local businesses find workers.
- Legal Help: Not everyone can afford a lawyer when they face legal problems. The Access to Justice fee helps level the playing field by funding free legal services throughout Pennsylvania for people who need them most.
- Safe Neighborhoods: The Demolition Fund helps remove dangerous buildings that can hurt property values and neighborhood safety. Clean, safe neighborhoods benefit everyone.
- Reliable Records: The recording fee ensures we can maintain accurate, accessible property records. This protects your investment and makes it easier to buy and sell property in the future.
Your investment in Philadelphia’s future
When you pay the deed recording fee, you are not just completing a real estate transaction. You are investing in Philadelphia’s future. Your fee helps create affordable housing, supports legal services for those in need, improves neighborhood safety, and maintains the reliable record-keeping system that protects property rights.
We understand that buying or selling property involves many costs. But we want you to know that your deed recording fee is working hard for our community. Every dollar helps make Philadelphia a better place to live, work, and raise a family.
Questions?
If you have questions about deed recording or our fees, please contact the Philadelphia Department of Records. We are here to help you understand the process and ensure your property transaction goes smoothly.
Thank you for contributing to Philadelphia’s continued growth and improvement through your deed recording fee.
The Philadelphia Department of Records serves as the Recorder of Deeds for the City of Philadelphia, maintaining official records of property ownership and real estate transactions.
