Lebanon County

Lebanon County is located in south-central Pennsylvania, approximately 26 miles east of Harrisburg and 85 miles northwest of Philadelphia. Lebanon County seat is the City of Lebanon, which is the administrative and commercial center. Lebanon County was formed in 1813 from portions of Dauphin and Lancaster Counties and includes approximately 362 square miles. As of the 2020 Census, Lebanon County's population was 143,257, making it a moderately sized Pennsylvania county with a blend of urban, suburban, and rural communities. Lebanon County is named after the Biblical cedars of Lebanon, reflecting the Pennsylvania German heritage that remains strong in Lebanon County. Major municipalities include Lebanon County City, Palmyra, Cornwall, Myerstown, and numerous townships. Lebanon County is known for the Lebanon area Bologna, a distinctive smoked meat product that has been produced locally since the 19th century. Historic landmarks include the Union Canal Tunnel, built in 1827 as the first tunnel in the United States designed for transportation purposes, and Cornwall Iron Furnace, which operated from 1742 to 1883 and is now a National Historic Landmark. Lebanon County Recorder of Deeds office, located at 400 South 8th Street, Lebanon, PA 17042, maintains all land records. The Prothonotary and Clerk of Courts office handles court document filings, while the Assessment Office at the same Government Center complex manages property valuations and tax assessments. Lebanon County's economy historically centered on agriculture and manufacturing, with significant Pennsylvania Dutch cultural influences visible throughout Lebanon County.

The Lebanon County Court serves Lebanon County and is located at 400 South 8th Street. The court handles civil, criminal, family, and probate cases for this county. Court records and case filings can be requested in person or through the Pennsylvania online court portal.

The Lebanon County Court of Common Pleas, located at 400 South 8th Street, is the main court handling civil, criminal, family, and probate cases. The Lebanon County Court also processes requests for court records, case filings, and legal documents under Pennsylvania public records law.

Law Enforcement & Arrests

• The Pennsylvania State Police Jonestown Station provides coverage for areas without local police departments.
• Requests for arrest records should be directed to the specific police agency that made the arrest.

Jail & Inmate Records

• The bond and bail process follows Pennsylvania state laws, allowing for the posting of bail to secure the release of an inmate pending trial.

• Copies of court documents typically cost $0.25 per page for uncertified copies and additional fees for certified copies.

• Lebanon County offers a free online property document search through its website at https://www.lebanoncountypa.gov, allowing users to search recorded documents by name, book and page, document type, and date range.
• Certified copies of recorded documents cost $7.00 for the first page and $2.00 for each additional page, plus any applicable postage.
• Lebanon County Assessment Office, located at 400 South 8th Street, Room 207, Lebanon, PA 17042 (phone: 717-228-4360), maintains property assessment records, tax maps, and property characteristics data.
• Property assessment information is accessible through Lebanon County's online parcel search system, which provides owner names, assessed values, property characteristics, and tax information.
• All property records are public under Pennsylvania's Right-to-Know Law unless specifically exempted, and requests for specialized searches or bulk data may require written Right-to-Know requests.

Vital records for this county include birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates issued under state vital statistics law.

• Processing time for in-person requests is typically immediate if records are readily available; mail requests generally take 2-4 weeks.
• Online ordering is available through the state's vendor VitalChek at https://www.health.pa.gov/topics/certificates/Pages/Certificates.aspx, with additional service fees.
• Code Chapter 11, governs access to and confidentiality of vital records, restricting access to protect privacy while allowing authorized persons to obtain necessary documentation.

Business records, licenses, and permits for this county are processed by the County Clerk and local government offices.

• Professional licenses are issued by the Pennsylvania Department of State's Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs, searchable online at https://www.pals.pa.gov.
• Lebanon Valley Chamber of Commerce, Lebanon County, PA 17046 (website: https://www.lvchamber.org), provides business resources and networking opportunities for Lebanon County's business community.