Allegheny County Recorder Mechanics Lien Filing

You can file your mechanic liens in person at the Allegheny County
Department of Court Records, Civil/Family Division’s Office located at:

City-County Building
414 Grant Street, First Floor
Pittsburgh, PA 15219-2469

Phone: 412-350-5729

Office Hours: Monday thru Friday 8:30 am – 4:30 pm

The Allegheny County Department of Court Records, Civil/Family Division’s Office does not publicly disclose information on recording backlog.

If your construction project is located in Allegheny County, then yes, you should file your lien here.

The recording requirements for Allegheny County are as follows:

1. Documents must be typed in black ink.
2. Handwriting is not permitted for any information to be recorded. (excludes signatures, acknowledgements, etc.)
3. Margins for deeds and deed-related documents must be a minimum on 1 inch on the top.
4. Include full names and addresses for all parties involved.
5. No tape, glue, staples, correctional fluid, tape, or use of highlighters.

Follow the general lien laws in Pennsylvania. Include information like:

1. You and your attorney’s information.
2. The property owner’s information.
3. The hiring party’s information.
4. The first and last dates that work on the project was done. This is otherwise known as the first and last dates of performance.
5. Notices of Intent to Lien are required in Pennsylvania, so include the dates that notices were sent.
6. Include a statement of labor and materials furnished for the job.
7. Use that statement to calculate your amount for the claim.
8. Include the legal description of the property, which can be found at the Allegheny County Prothonotary’s Office.

To file a mechanics lien in Montgomery County, simply fill out the standard form for the State of Pennsylvania. The margin and page size is as follows:

1. All liens should be legible and typed.
2. Each page must be 8.5 x 11 in size.
3. Pages must be printed on one side only, the first page with a .5 inch margin on top,
and all subsequent pages with a .5 inch margin at the top and a .5 inch margin all the sides and bottom.
4. All pages, attachments included, must be numbered.
5. All information to be recorded must be written in 10 point font, black ink typeface.
No handwritten material will be accepted.
6. Paper stock must be 20-pound opaque stock in white or off-white.

The Allegheny County Department of Court Records, Civil/Family Division accepts check payments. Note that there will be a $30.00 charge for NSF checks. No personal checks will be accepted. There will be no refund for over-payments of $10.00 or less. Refunds will be made for all amounts over $10.00.

The Allegheny County Department of Court Records, Civil/Family Division’s recording fees are as follows:

Lien Fees

Mechanics’ Lien Claim: $98.25
Municipal Lien: $78.00
No Lien Agreement: $58.00
Commercial Broker Lien: $98.25
Condominium Lien: $98.25
Foreign State Tax Lien: $98.25

Copy Fees

Certified Copy: $20.00
No Lien Letter: $20.00

You can obtain a recorded copy of your lien in person at the Allegheny County Department of Court Records, Civil/Family Division’s Office located at:

City-County Building
414 Grant Street, First Floor
Pittsburgh, PA 15219-2469

Phone: 412-350-5729

Office Hours: Monday thru Friday 8:30 am – 4:30 pm

All records maintained by the Department of Court Records, Civil/Family Division are available to the public unless they are sealed by the Court.

Many of the records can be viewed by use of the public access terminals throughout the various offices or over the internet via the Civil Docket Access web site. You can access the web site here: https://dcr.alleghenycounty.us/Civil/LoginSearch.aspx

Older records are still retrievable through the various Civil Docket Access Indices and written docket files maintained in the office or in the court’s storage facilities. You can access the indices online at: https://dcr.alleghenycounty.us/indices/indices.html

Access to a copy of a lien may require paying a fee.

You can get the property’s legal description from the Allegheny County Department of Real Estate Office in person located at:

County Office Building
542 Forbes Avenue, Room 101
Pittsburgh, PA 15219

General Queries: 412-350-4226

You can search for the Allegheny County Department of Real Estate Office documents online at: https://pa_allegheny.uslandrecords.com/palr/

You can also search for property legal descriptions online with the
Allegheny County Department of Real Estate Office at:
http://www2.alleghenycounty.us/RealEstate/Search.aspx