Lehigh County

Lehigh County is located in eastern Pennsylvania's Lehigh Valley region, including approximately 348 square miles with a population of over 374,000 residents as of recent census estimates. Lehigh County Seat is Allentown, Pennsylvania's third-largest city, situated at 455 Hamilton Street. Established in 1812 from portions of Northampton County, Lehigh County was named after the Allentown area River, which flows through Lehigh County.

Sheriff & Law Enforcement

Lehigh County Sheriff's Office is responsible for maintaining law and order in Lehigh County. It provides law enforcement services to unincorporated areas and supports local police departments in incorporated areas. The office also offers community programs such as crime prevention workshops and a K-9 unit, which are tailored to meet the needs of Lehigh County residents.

Police Departments

Lehigh County is served by several law enforcement agencies, including Lehigh County Sheriff's Office and municipal police departments such as the Allentown Police Department, Bethlehem Police Department, and Whitehall Township Police Department. Each department operates within its jurisdiction, handling local law enforcement duties, while the Sheriff's Office provides county-wide support and manages the jail. These agencies collaborate on major crimes and participate in joint task forces to enhance public safety.

Law Enforcement & Arrests

Lehigh County Sheriff's Office, headquartered at Lehigh County Government Center, 17 South Seventh Street, Allentown, PA 18101, provides law enforcement services including court security, warrant service, and civil process execution. Inmate information for Lehigh County Jail and Central Booking facility is accessible through Lehigh County website's inmate lookup portal, providing booking information, charges, bail amounts, and housing location for current detainees.

• Requests for arrest records can be submitted to individual police departments or Lehigh County District Attorney's Office.

Criminal Records

Criminal records in Lehigh County cover felony, misdemeanor, traffic violations, and sex offender registry information. Residents can request a criminal background check through the Pennsylvania Access To Criminal History (PATCH) system. The Pennsylvania State Police offers additional resources for residents seeking full criminal history information.

Arrest Records

Arrest records in Lehigh County are maintained by Lehigh County Sheriff's Office and local police departments. These records can be requested by residents and attorneys through formal applications, often requiring identification and a fee. Arrest records typically include the individual's name, the nature of the charges, and the arresting agency. Pennsylvania's Right-to-Know Law governs public access to these records, for public access while protecting sensitive information.

Jail & Inmate Records

Lehigh County Jail, located in Allentown, is the primary detention facility for Lehigh County. The booking process involves fingerprinting, photographing, and recording personal information of the arrestees. Inmate information can be accessed through Lehigh County's online inmate lookup tool. Visitation is allowed under specific rules, and visitors must adhere to a schedule and dress code. The bond or bail process follows Pennsylvania state guidelines, allowing for cash or surety bonds.

Mugshots & Booking Photos

Mugshots in Lehigh County are taken and retained by Lehigh County Sheriff's Office during the booking process. These images are part of the public record and can be accessed through the sheriff's website or by submitting a request to the office. Pennsylvania does not have specific laws for the removal of mugshots from public records, but individuals can seek legal advice if they believe their rights have been violated.

Lehigh County's judicial system operates under Pennsylvania's unified judicial system. The Court of Common Pleas of Lehigh County, located at 455 Hamilton Street, Allentown, PA 18101 (phone: 610-782-3000), is the trial court of general jurisdiction handling civil, criminal, family, and orphans' court (probate) matters. The court maintains an online docket search system through the Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania web portal at ujsportal.pacourts.us, providing free public access to case information, docket entries, and filing dates.

• Lehigh County has eight district courts (magisterial district judges) handling summary offenses, traffic violations, preliminary hearings, landlord-tenant disputes, and civil cases up to $12,000.
• Lehigh County Clerk of Judicial Records, located at the courthouse at 455 Hamilton Street, maintains official court records, accepts new filings, and provides certified copies of court documents.
• Fees for certified copies are established by Pennsylvania statute at $7.00 for the first two pages and $2.00 for each additional page.
• Remote access via the web portal requires acceptance of terms and conditions but does not require registration fees for basic docket searches.
• Copies of documents can be ordered online with associated retrieval fees.

Lehigh Recorder of Deeds of Deeds, located at 17 South Seventh Street, First Floor, Allentown, PA 18101 (phone: 610-782-3057), maintains all real property records for Lehigh County, including deeds, mortgages, mortgage satisfactions, liens, easements, rights-of-way, and subdivision plans. The office provides public access to records dating back to Lehigh County's formation in 1812.

• The Recorder of Deeds charges $5.00 per page for recording documents, with additional fees for documents exceeding four pages.
• Certified copies cost $5.00 for the first page and $2.00 for each additional page.
• Property tax assessment information is maintained by Lehigh County Assessment Office at 17 South Seventh Street, Allentown, PA 18101 (phone: 610-782-3001).

Vital records for Lehigh County are maintained by Lehigh County Register of Wills and Clerk of Orphans' Court at 455 Hamilton Street, Room 301, Allentown, PA 18101 (phone: 610-782-3025) for death certificates only. Birth certificates for events occurring in Lehigh County are available through the Pennsylvania Department of Health, Division of Vital Records, P.O. Box 1528, New Castle, PA 16103 (phone: 724-656-3100). Birth certificates cost $20.00 for the first copy and $8.00 for each additional copy ordered simultaneously.

• Death certificates can be obtained from Lehigh County Register of Wills for deaths occurring in Lehigh County at a cost of $9.00 per copy, or from the state vital records office at the same pricing as birth certificates.
• Marriage licenses are issued by Lehigh County Register of Wills office at 455 Hamilton Street; couples must apply in person with identification and pay a $60.00 fee, with a three-day waiting period unless waived.
• Marriage certificates documenting completed marriages are available from the same office for $9.00 per copy.
• Divorce records are maintained by Lehigh County Prothonotary at 455 Hamilton Street (phone: 610-782-3138) as part of civil court proceedings.
• Pennsylvania vital records are also available through VitalChek online ordering service at health.pa.gov/topics/certificates, though additional processing fees apply.

Business records and licensing in Lehigh County are managed through multiple agencies depending on the business type and activity. The Pennsylvania Department of State, Corporation Bureau maintains the official registry of all business entities registered in Pennsylvania, including corporations, limited liability companies, limited partnerships, and fictitious names. The online business entity search is available free at https://www.corporations.pa.gov/search/corpsearch, allowing searches by entity name or registration number.

• Trade name (DBA - Doing Business As) registrations are filed with Lehigh County Prothonotary at 455 Hamilton Street, Allentown, PA 18101, at a cost of approximately $70.00 for initial filing.
• Lehigh County Department of Community and Economic Development at 17 South Seventh Street provides information on zoning, land development, and economic incentive programs.

Elections in Lehigh County are administered by Lehigh County Board of Elections, located at Lehigh County Government Center, 17 South Seventh Street, Room 210, Allentown, PA 18101 (phone: 610-782-3194, website: lehighcounty.org/departments/voter-registration). The office handles voter registration, maintains voter rolls, coordinates polling place operations across Lehigh County's 130+ precincts, and certifies election results.

• Registered voters can verify their registration status, find their assigned polling place, and view sample ballots at the Pennsylvania Voter Services website (pavoterservices.pa.gov).
• In the November 2024 general election, Lehigh County recorded approximately 68% voter turnout among registered voters, reflecting strong civic engagement in presidential election years.
• Poll watchers authorized by candidates and political parties may observe voting and counting processes.

Lehigh County's economy has successfully transitioned from heavy manufacturing to a diverse mix of healthcare, distribution, logistics, and service industries. Lehigh County is part of the Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton metropolitan statistical area, which has become one of the nation's premier distribution hubs due to its location within overnight shipping distance of one-third of the U.S. Population. Major employers include Lehigh Valley Health Network (Lehigh County's largest employer with over 17,000 employees), St.

• The median household income in Lehigh County is approximately $68,000, slightly above the Pennsylvania state median.
• Lehigh County benefits from proximity to Philadelphia and New York City while offering lower operating costs.

Court Records: Yes: Online | Property: Yes: Free Search | Arrest/Jail: Yes: Online | Vital Records: Limited: In-Person/Mail | Business: Yes: Online (State) | Elections: Yes: Online | Overall Score: 8.5/10, Lehigh County provides excellent digital access to most public records with online portals for property searches, court dockets, and inmate information. Vital records require traditional requests.

Explore public records for 26 cities and communities in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania.