Clinton County Public Records /Clinton County Property Records

Clinton County Property Records

What Is Clinton County Property Records

Property records in Clinton County, New York, are official documents that capture the legal history of real property — including land parcels and the structures affixed to them — within the county's jurisdiction. These records document ownership transfers, mortgage instruments, liens, easements, subdivision plats, deeds, and other encumbrances that affect title to real estate. The primary purpose of maintaining such records is to establish a clear chain of title, provide constructive public notice of all interests in a given parcel, protect the rights of property owners and lienholders, and facilitate orderly real estate transactions throughout the county.

Under New York Real Property Law § 291, every conveyance of real property must be recorded in the office of the county clerk of the county in which the property is situated. Recording an instrument gives constructive notice to all subsequent purchasers and encumbrancers, thereby protecting the interests of the recording party. The Clinton County Real Property Office works in coordination with the County Clerk to maintain assessment rolls and support local assessment administrators in preparing fair and equitable valuations of all taxable real property within the county.

Clinton County Real Property Office 137 Margaret Street, Suite 209, Plattsburgh, NY 12901 (518) 565-4760 Clinton County Real Property Office

Are Property Records Public Information In Clinton County?

Property records in Clinton County are public information under New York State law, and members of the public may inspect them without demonstrating a specific legal interest or providing a reason for the request. New York's Freedom of Information Law (Public Officers Law § 84–90) establishes the general right of public access to government records, and New York Real Property Law § 291 further mandates that recorded instruments be available for public inspection. The rationale underlying this framework is that transparency in land ownership serves the public interest by preventing fraudulent conveyances, enabling informed real estate transactions, and ensuring accountability in property taxation. Any individual — regardless of residency, citizenship, or stated purpose — may access property records maintained by the Clinton County Clerk's Office and the Real Property Office.

How To Search Property Records in Clinton County in 2026

Members of the public may search Clinton County property records through several official channels. The following steps outline the standard process:

Identify the correct office. Deeds, mortgages, liens, and other recorded instruments are maintained by the Clinton County Clerk's Office. Assessment data and property valuation records are maintained by the Clinton County Real Property Office.
Gather identifying information. Searches are most efficiently conducted using the property owner's full legal name, the parcel's tax map identification number (SBL number), or the property's street address.
Visit in person. Members of the public may visit the County Clerk's Office during public counter hours to search the index of recorded instruments and request certified or uncertified copies of documents.
Search online. The county provides online access to certain property data through its official web portal (see the section below for details).
Submit a written request. Requests for copies of specific recorded instruments may be submitted in writing to the County Clerk. Fees for copies are established pursuant to county schedule and New York County Law.
Contact the Real Property Office. For assessment rolls, exemption data, and parcel-level valuation information, members of the public may contact the Real Property Office directly.

Clinton County Clerk's Office 137 Margaret Street, Plattsburgh, NY 12901 (518) 565-4700 Public Counter Hours: Monday–Friday, 9:00 AM–5:00 PM Clinton County Clerk's Office

How To Find Property Records in Clinton County Online?

Clinton County currently provides online access to property assessment and parcel data through its official government web infrastructure. Members of the public seeking property records online may use the following resources:

Clinton County Real Property Office portal: The county's real property assessment information page provides access to parcel data, assessed values, exemption information, and tax map data for properties located throughout the county.
New York State's ORPS data: The New York State Office of Real Property Tax Services (ORPTS) maintains statewide assessment data that includes Clinton County parcels, accessible through the NYS Open Data portal at data.ny.gov.
City of Plattsburgh assessments: Effective November 13, 2017, the City Assessor's functions were consolidated with the Clinton County Real Property Office, meaning that Plattsburgh city parcel data is now accessible through the county's unified system.
Recorded instruments: Deeds, mortgages, and other instruments recorded with the County Clerk may be searchable through the Clerk's online index, where available. Members of the public should access the County Clerk's official website for the most current search interface.

How To Look Up Clinton County Property Records for Free?

Several no-cost methods are available for members of the public to access Clinton County property records without incurring fees:

In-person inspection at the County Clerk's Office: Under New York Public Officers Law § 87, agencies must make records available for in-person inspection at no charge. Members of the public may review the index of recorded instruments and examine documents on-site during regular business hours without paying a fee; charges apply only when copies are requested.
Clinton County Real Property Office online portal: The county's official real property assessment data is accessible online at no cost and provides parcel-level information including ownership, assessed value, and exemption status.
Assessment rolls: Annual assessment rolls, which list all taxable parcels and their assessed values, are public documents available for free inspection at the Real Property Office and at each municipality's assessor's office.
NYS Open Data: The New York State Open Data portal (data.ny.gov) provides free downloadable assessment data for all counties, including Clinton County, updated annually by ORPTS.

What's Included in a Clinton County Property Record?

A Clinton County property record encompasses a broad range of documents and data fields maintained across multiple county offices. Property records in New York are governed by New York Real Property Law and New York Real Property Tax Law, which together define what information must be recorded and retained.

Typical property records include the following categories of information:

Ownership data: Current and historical owner names, mailing addresses, and ownership type (individual, corporate, trust, etc.)
Legal description: Metes-and-bounds description, lot and block references, and tax map parcel number (SBL)
Deed information: Grantor and grantee names, deed type (warranty, quitclaim, executor's deed), recording date, liber and page reference, and consideration amount
Mortgage and lien instruments: Lender name, original principal amount, recording date, and satisfaction or discharge status
Assessment data: Land value, total assessed value, full market value estimate, and applicable exemptions (STAR, veterans, agricultural, etc.) — all of which are described in detail on the county's assessment information page
Tax information: Current and delinquent tax status, maintained in coordination with the Clinton County Treasurer's Office
Easements and covenants: Recorded rights-of-way, utility easements, and deed restrictions
Subdivision plats and survey maps: Filed maps depicting lot configurations and boundary lines

Real property records are distinct from personal property records; the former pertain to land and permanently affixed structures, while the latter concern movable assets and are generally not recorded with the County Clerk.

How Long Does Clinton County Keep Property Records?

Clinton County retains property records in accordance with the New York State Archives Records Retention and Disposition Schedule MU-1 (for local governments) and CO-2 (for counties), issued pursuant to New York Arts and Cultural Affairs Law § 57.25. These schedules establish minimum retention periods for various classes of records.

Key retention periods applicable to property records include:

Deeds and recorded instruments: Permanent retention; recorded instruments affecting title to real property are maintained indefinitely
Assessment rolls: Permanent retention for final assessment rolls; working papers are retained for a minimum of six years
Tax maps: Permanent retention
Mortgage instruments and satisfactions: Permanent retention once recorded
Tax payment records: Minimum retention of six years after the fiscal year in which the transaction occurred
Correspondence and administrative files related to property: Generally retained for six years

Members of the public seeking historical records predating current electronic systems may need to request access to physical index books and microfilm maintained at the County Clerk's Office.

How To Find Liens on Property In Clinton County?

Liens on real property in Clinton County are recorded instruments and are therefore part of the public record maintained by the County Clerk. Members of the public may identify liens affecting a specific parcel through the following methods:

Search the County Clerk's index: The County Clerk maintains a grantor-grantee index of all recorded instruments, including tax liens, mechanic's liens, judgment liens, and mortgage liens. An in-person search of this index at the County Clerk's Office is the most comprehensive method.
Review tax lien records: Delinquent real property tax information, including properties subject to tax enforcement proceedings, is maintained by the Clinton County Treasurer's Office. The Treasurer's Office is responsible for collecting real property taxes and initiating in-rem tax foreclosure proceedings on delinquent parcels.
Federal tax liens: Liens filed by the Internal Revenue Service are recorded with the County Clerk pursuant to New York Lien Law and are searchable through the same index used for other recorded instruments.
Judgment liens: Judgments docketed in New York State Supreme Court or County Court become liens on real property located in the county where docketed and are indexed by the County Clerk.
UCC filings: Uniform Commercial Code financing statements affecting fixtures (items attached to real property) are filed with the New York Secretary of State and may also appear in county records.

Clinton County Treasurer's Office 137 Margaret Street, Suite 210, Plattsburgh, NY 12901 (518) 565-4730 Clinton County Treasurer's Office

What Is Property Owner Rule In Clinton County?

The property owner rule in Clinton County refers to the body of New York State law and local regulations governing who may own real property, what rights attach to ownership, and what obligations property owners bear with respect to assessment, taxation, and public disclosure. Under New York Real Property Law, any natural person, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, trust, or governmental entity may hold title to real property in New York State, subject to applicable federal and state restrictions.

Property owners in Clinton County are subject to the following principal obligations and rights:

Assessment and taxation: All taxable real property must be assessed annually by the local assessor. Pursuant to New York Real Property Tax Law § 300, all real property in the state is subject to taxation unless specifically exempted by law. Owners may apply for exemptions — such as the Basic STAR exemption, veterans' exemptions, or agricultural exemptions — through the local assessor's office.
Disclosure of ownership changes: Whenever title to real property is transferred, the new owner must file a Real Property Transfer Report (Form RP-5217) with the County Clerk at the time of recording, as required by New York Real Property Law.
Grievance rights: Property owners who believe their assessment is incorrect have the right to file a formal grievance with the local Board of Assessment Review during the annual grievance period, and may subsequently seek judicial review through a Small Claims Assessment Review (SCAR) proceeding or an Article 7 proceeding in Supreme Court.
Notification of tax status: The Clinton County Treasurer's Office notifies property owners of delinquent tax status and initiates enforcement proceedings in accordance with New York Real Property Tax Law.
Public record of ownership: All recorded deeds and instruments of conveyance become part of the permanent public record maintained by the County Clerk, ensuring that ownership interests are transparent and enforceable against third parties.