Franklin County Public Records

How to Find Public Records in Franklin County in 2026

Members of the public seeking government documents in Franklin County, Pennsylvania may access a broad range of publicly available information through official county offices, online portals, and written request procedures. FranklinPARecords.org serves as a supplementary directory resource, while the authoritative source for all official records remains the county government and its designated custodial offices. Records that may be available include court filings, property documents, land records, vital statistics, tax assessments, and archived historical materials. Availability and completeness of individual records may vary depending on the record type, the custodial office, and applicable legal restrictions.

Records in Franklin County, Pennsylvania can be searched through official court resources, clerk offices, public access terminals, and online tools.

Online Access:

The Franklin County government portal provides departmental links and online access to select records, including property and land information.
The Franklin County Tax Parcel Viewer allows members of the public to search property parcel data without registration.
The Franklin County GIS Mapping Portal offers interactive mapping applications for public services and geographic data.
The Register & Recorder's office maintains land records, deeds, mortgages, and estate documents, some of which are accessible online.
No account registration is required to use the county's public parcel viewer or GIS portal.

In-Person Requests: Members of the public may inspect records in person at the relevant county office. The Franklin County Courthouse is located at 157 Lincoln Way East, Chambersburg, PA 17201. Requestors should identify the specific record type and the appropriate custodial office before visiting. Staff at each office can assist in locating records and explaining the inspection process.

Written/Mail Requests: Written requests should be submitted to the Open Records Officer of the relevant department. Requests must include sufficient identifying information to locate the record, the requestor's name and contact information, and a description of the record sought. Under the Pennsylvania Right-to-Know Law, agencies are required to respond within five business days of receipt of a written request.

Phone/Email:

Franklin County main line: (717) 261-3810
Individual department contacts are listed on the Franklin County departments page.

What Are Public Records in Franklin County?

Public records in Franklin County are defined under Pennsylvania's Right-to-Know Law, 65 P.S. § 67.102, as any information, regardless of physical form or characteristics, created or received by a Commonwealth agency or local agency that documents a transaction or activity of the agency. The following record types are maintained by county offices and are subject to public access:

Court records (civil, criminal, probate, and family court filings) — maintained by the Franklin County Clerk of Courts
Property records (deeds, mortgages, liens, and assessments) — maintained by the Register & Recorder
Vital records (birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates) — birth and death certificates are issued by the Pennsylvania Department of Health; marriage licenses are maintained by the Register & Recorder
Business records (fictitious name registrations, business licenses) — filed with the Pennsylvania Department of State
Tax records (property tax and assessment records) — maintained by the Franklin County Assessment Office
Voting and election records — maintained by the Franklin County Election Services office
Meeting minutes and agendas — available through the Franklin County government website
Budget and financial documents — available through the county commissioners' office
Law enforcement records (arrest logs and incident reports, where permitted) — maintained by the Franklin County Sheriff's Office and municipal police departments
Land use and zoning records — maintained by the Franklin County Planning Department
Archived historical records — preserved by Franklin County Archives & Records Management in accordance with guidelines set forth by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission

Is Franklin County an Open Records County?

Franklin County operates in full compliance with Pennsylvania's statewide open records framework. Under the Pennsylvania Right-to-Know Law, 65 P.S. § 67.301, a record in the possession of a local agency is presumed to be a public record unless it is exempt under the law, protected by a privilege, or required to be kept confidential by another statute. This presumption places the burden on the agency to justify any denial of access, rather than on the requestor to justify the request.

The Pennsylvania Office of Open Records administers the Right-to-Know Law statewide and provides guidance to both agencies and requestors. As stated by the Office of Open Records, "The Right-to-Know Law provides citizens with the right to access public records of Commonwealth and local agencies." Franklin County maintains an Open Records Policy, accessible through the county's official website, which designates an Open Records Officer for each department to receive and process written requests. The county's policy aligns with the requirements of the Right-to-Know Law and the Pennsylvania Sunshine Act, which governs public access to governmental meetings and deliberations.

How Much Does It Cost to Get Public Records in Franklin County?

The current fee structure for public records in Franklin County is governed by the Pennsylvania Right-to-Know Law and the fee schedule established by the Office of Open Records. Standard fees applicable to most requests are as follows:

Record Type	Standard Fee
Black-and-white paper copies (letter/legal)	$0.25 per page
Certification of a record	$1.00 per record
Electronic duplication (CD/DVD)	$1.00 per disc
Conversion to paper from electronic format	$0.25 per page
Postage	Actual cost

Inspection of records at a public office is available at no charge.
Search fees are not permitted under the Right-to-Know Law unless the agency can demonstrate that the request requires an extraordinary amount of time.
Fees for certified copies of vital records (birth, death, marriage) are set separately by the Pennsylvania Department of Health and the Register & Recorder's office; the current fee for a certified copy of a marriage license from the Register & Recorder is $10.00.
Accepted payment methods vary by office and may include cash, check, or money order payable to the relevant county office.
Fee waivers may be available in limited circumstances; requestors seeking a waiver must demonstrate that the primary interest served by the disclosure is the public interest.

Does Franklin County Have Free Public Records?

Free inspection of public records is available at county offices during regular business hours. Under Pennsylvania law, no fee may be charged for the inspection of a public record at the agency's location. Members of the public may review records in person without incurring any cost, provided the records are not exempt from disclosure.

The following free online resources are currently available:

The Franklin County Tax Parcel Viewer provides free access to property parcel data, ownership information, and assessment details without registration.
The Franklin County GIS Mapping Portal offers free interactive mapping tools for public services, zoning, and geographic data.
The Franklin County government website provides free access to meeting minutes, agendas, budget documents, and departmental information.
The PA Office of Open Records provides free guidance on the Right-to-Know Law, including commonly requested records and appeal procedures.

The distinction between free inspection and free copies is significant: while inspection carries no charge, obtaining physical or electronic copies of records is subject to the fee schedule described above.

Who Can Request Public Records in Franklin County?

Any person may submit a public records request in Franklin County. Under the Pennsylvania Right-to-Know Law, the right to access public records is not limited to Pennsylvania residents; non-residents retain the same rights of access as residents of the Commonwealth. Requestors are not required to state the purpose of their request, and agencies may not condition access on the disclosure of the requestor's reason for seeking the record.

Requestors are required to provide their name and a mailing address or email address to receive a response. Identification is not required for in-person inspection of records that are available for public review. For certain record types — such as criminal history records maintained by the Pennsylvania State Police — additional requirements, including identification and applicable fees, may apply under separate statutory authority.

Individuals seeking their own records, such as personal criminal history or vital records, may be subject to identity verification requirements to protect against unauthorized disclosure of personal information. Requests for records pertaining to other individuals are subject to the same access rights, except where specific exemptions apply.

What Records Are Confidential in Franklin County?

Not all government records are subject to public disclosure. The Pennsylvania Right-to-Know Law, at 65 P.S. § 67.708, enumerates categories of records that are exempt from mandatory disclosure. The following record types are currently withheld from public access in Franklin County:

Juvenile records — As noted by the Franklin County Clerk of Courts, "all records, with the exception of records involving juveniles, are open for public review," confirming that juvenile records are not accessible to the general public.
Sealed court records — Records sealed by judicial order are not available for public inspection.
Ongoing criminal investigation records — Records that would compromise an active law enforcement investigation are exempt.
Personal identifying information — Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, and similar data are redacted from disclosed records.
Medical and health records — Protected under both state exemptions and the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).
Adoption records — Sealed under Pennsylvania law and accessible only under specific statutory conditions.
Child welfare and protective services records — Confidential under the Child Protective Services Law.
Personnel records — Employee home addresses, personal telephone numbers, and similar information are exempt, with limited exceptions for public officials.
Trade secrets and proprietary business information — Exempt where disclosure would cause competitive harm.
Security plans and infrastructure details — Records relating to the security of public buildings or critical infrastructure are withheld.

Where a record contains both exempt and non-exempt information, the agency is required to redact the exempt portions and provide access to the remainder.

Franklin County Recorder's Office: Contact Information and Hours

Franklin County Register & Recorder
157 Lincoln Way East, Suite 101
Chambersburg, PA 17201
(717) 261-3872
Register & Recorder – Franklin County

Office Hours:
Monday – Friday: 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM
Closed on federal and state holidays.

Franklin County Clerk of Courts
157 Lincoln Way East
Chambersburg, PA 17201
(717) 261-3858
Clerk of Courts – Franklin County

Office Hours:
Monday – Friday: 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM

Franklin County Archives & Records Management
157 Lincoln Way East
Chambersburg, PA 17201
(717) 261-3810
Archives & Records Management – Franklin County

Pennsylvania Office of Open Records
333 Market Street, 16th Floor
Harrisburg, PA 17101
(717) 346-9903
Pennsylvania Office of Open Records

Office Hours:
Monday – Friday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM