Dauphin County, Pennsylvania Public Records

Mugshots or booking photos in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, can be obtained through the Dauphin County Sheriff's Office. They maintain records of arrests and booking photos. You may need to visit their office or check if they have an online portal for public access to these records.

To obtain a criminal background check in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, you should contact the Pennsylvania State Police, who manage the Pennsylvania Access To Criminal History (PATCH) system. You can submit a request online through the PATCH portal or visit a local state police barracks for assistance.

You can look up sex offenders in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, by accessing the Pennsylvania Megan's Law website. This registry provides information on registered sex offenders throughout the state, including Dauphin County. You can search by name, location, or proximity to a specific address to find detailed information about offenders in the area.

You can register to vote in Dauphin County through the Pennsylvania Department of State's online portal at register.votespa.com, by mail using a voter registration form, or in person at the Dauphin County Bureau of Elections, 2 South Second Street, Harrisburg, PA 17101 (phone: 717-780-6360). The registration deadline is 15 days before any election, so for the November 2026 elections, you must register by October 19, 2026. You must be a U.S. Citizen, a Pennsylvania resident for at least 30 days, and at least 18 years old by the next election. Once registered, you can apply for mail-in ballots for any election without providing a reason through the online absentee application system.

Property records in Dauphin County can be searched through the Dauphin Recorder of Deeds office at 2 South Second Street, Harrisburg, PA 17101 (phone: 717-780-6380), which offers a free online search system accessible through dauphincounty.gov. You can search and view recorded deeds, mortgages, liens, easements, and other land documents by name, document type, or parcel number. For property assessment information, tax amounts, and GIS parcel maps, visit the Dauphin County Assessment Office's online database, also available through the county website, which provides free access to assessed values, ownership information, and property characteristics. Certified copies can be obtained in person or by mail for $10.25 for the first page and $0.25 per additional page.

Birth and death certificates for events occurring in Dauphin County can be requested from the Dauphin County Register of Wills and Clerk of Orphans' Court, 101 Market Street, Room 103, Harrisburg, PA 17101 (phone: 717-780-6535). Birth certificates cost $10 for the first copy and $7 for additional copies; death certificates cost $9 for the first copy and $4 for additional copies. You must provide valid photo identification and demonstrate direct and tangible interest (such as being the person named, a parent, spouse, or legal representative). Processing is typically immediate for in-person requests or 2-4 weeks by mail. You can also order Pennsylvania vital records through the state Division of Vital Records or online via VitalChek at pa.vitalchek.com with additional service fees.

Business entity registrations in Pennsylvania are maintained at the state level, not the county level. You can search for corporations, LLCs, partnerships, and other business entities free of charge through the Pennsylvania Department of State's online database at file.dos.pa.gov/CorporationsSearch.aspx. For fictitious name registrations (DBAs) filed by businesses operating in Dauphin County, contact the Dauphin County Prothonotary's Office at the Courthouse, 101 Market Street, Harrisburg (phone: 717-780-6600). Building permits and local business licenses are issued by individual municipalities; contact the specific city or township where the business operates, such as the City of Harrisburg Department of Building and Housing (717) 255-6472) for businesses within Harrisburg.