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Pennsylvania · Pennsylvania Dutch Country · South Central PA · #106 Most Populous County in the US
Lancaster County, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania Dutch Country - home to the world's largest Amish community, Lancaster City's vibrant arts scene, and 60 municipalities across rolling farmland and growing suburbs. Property tax, courts, public records, probate, and senior services for Lancaster County residents.
Affiliate disclosure: This page contains affiliate links. We may earn a commission if you use them, at no extra cost to you. Our editorial recommendations are independent of these relationships.
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Lancaster County's assessment ratio means effective tax rates are low — but incorrect appraisals still cost money. Ownwell manages the appeal with no upfront cost.
Services: All-hazards emergency management program (mitigation, preparedness, response, recovery); offers community resilience training including Stop-the-Bleed and CERT programs; traces to the Civil Defense Act of 1950
Roads: US-30, US-222, and US-322 serve Lancaster, the county seat, in south-central Pennsylvania’s Pennsylvania Dutch Country
Transit: Red Rose Transit Authority (RRTA) provides local bus service – confirm current routes directly.
Business & Permits
BUILDING & PERMITS
Office: No countywide building department – permits are issued at the MUNICIPAL level
Services: City of Lancaster Bureau of Building Code Administration – Lancaster City Hall, (717) 684-4171, reviews construction plans and conducts inspections; Lancaster County Planning Department – 150 North Queen Street, Lancaster, PA, (717) 299-8222, provides technical assistance and reviews subdivision/land development plans as an advisory body
Notes: Confirm the correct jurisdiction for your specific township or borough (Lancaster County has numerous individually incorporated municipalities).
Veterans Services
VETERANS SERVICES
County VSO: Lancaster County Veterans Affairs Office – Lancaster, PA
Libraries
LIBRARIES
System: Library System of Lancaster County – multiple independently operated member libraries
Main Branch: Lancaster Public Library – 125 N. Duke Street, Lancaster, PA 17602 | (717) 394-2651 | Hours: Mon–Thu 10 AM–8 PM, Fri–Sat 10 AM–5 PM (closed Sun)
Related: Lancaster City Branch – Ewell Plaza, 151 N. Queen Street, Lancaster, PA 17603, Hours: Mon–Tue 9 AM–7 PM, Wed–Thu 9 AM–8 PM, Fri–Sat 9 AM–5 PM; other county libraries include Manheim Township, Columbia, Ephrata, Elizabethtown, and Adamstown Area libraries.
Services: One of the oldest continuously operating public libraries in the country, tracing its roots to 1759, when the Lancaster Library Company formed with 54 members; served as the Pennsylvania State Treasury and offices of Treasurer David Rittenhouse during the Revolutionary War; merged with the Mechanics Society Library in 1903 to form the Lancaster Free Library; holds over 259,000 volumes and circulates roughly 828,000 items annually; includes an Autism Resource Center, a Duke Street Business Center for entrepreneurs and nonprofits, passport processing, and a World Languages Collection
Parks & Recreation
PARKS & RECREATION
Key Assets: Lancaster genuinely served as the CAPITAL OF THE UNITED STATES for one single day – September 27, 1777 – during one of the most dramatic episodes of the Revolutionary War; following the devastating American defeat at the Battle of Brandywine on September 11, 1777, British forces under General William Howe advanced toward Philadelphia, then the seat of the Continental Congress; as the British closed in, Congress fled the city, first crossing the Delaware into New Jersey before taking a circuitous route west to avoid capture, ultimately arriving in Lancaster – already the largest inland town in colonial America – on September 27, 1777; John Hancock had arrived two days earlier to help prepare the town and its courthouse to receive Congress, and delegates including Samuel Adams and John Adams were present for the single formal session held that day inside the Lancaster County Courthouse at Centre Square; among the notable business conducted during Congress’s brief stay was the decision to send Benjamin Franklin to France to negotiate a critical wartime alliance; however, Lancaster’s lodging was already strained by refugees fleeing occupied Philadelphia, and delegates judged the town still too close to advancing British forces for comfort, so the very next day Congress moved on to York, Pennsylvania, roughly 20 miles farther west across the Susquehanna River, where the government would remain for the next several months until returning to Philadelphia in mid-1778; Lancaster later went on to serve as the official capital of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania itself from 1799 to 1812; today, Lancaster commemorates its unique moment in national history with an annual “Capital Day” festival
Notes: Lancaster’s genuine, well-documented status as the U.S. capital for a single day in 1777 – a direct consequence of the same Brandywine campaign documented in the Chester and Delaware County files – is a distinctive and often-overlooked piece of Revolutionary War history.
GIS & Maps
GIS & MAPS
GIS Portal: Lancaster County GIS – accessible via lancastercountypa.gov
Parcel Search: Lancaster County Assessment Office
Addressing/911: Coordinated through Lancaster County Emergency Management Division
Animal Services
ANIMAL SERVICES
Facility: Humane League of Lancaster County – 2195 Lincoln Highway East, Lancaster, PA 17602 | (717) 393-6551 | Hours: Mon–Sat 10 AM–4:30 PM (closed Sun)
Services: Founded in 1917 as the Woman’s Humane League of Lancaster County by Maud Haldeman and 17 other women, later renamed in 1947; the ONLY facility in Lancaster County that accepts stray pets of all kinds, from cats and dogs to ferrets and chickens; employs two full-time Court-Appointed Humane Society Police Officers who investigate and prosecute animal abuse/neglect cases; adoption fees include spay/neuter, microchipping, and starter supplies
Notes: Does NOT accept stray dogs from Christiana, Conoy, Colerain, Drumore, East Drumore, Fulton, Leacock, Little Britain, or Salisbury townships – strays from East Lampeter must be brought in by a police officer; confirm current intake policy for your specific municipality.
Related: Pennsylvania SPCA Lancaster Center (Mary K. Dano Animal Shelter) – 848 S. Prince Street, Lancaster, PA 17603, (717) 917-6979, Hours: daily 12–6 PM, a separate PSPCA-operated shelter.
Environmental & Waste
ENVIRONMENTAL / WASTE MANAGEMENT
Environmental Complaints: PA Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) – dep.pa.gov
Notes: Contact your specific municipality directly for current refuse collection and recycling program details.
NOTES
Lancaster is genuinely the United States capital for one single day, September 27, 1777, when the Continental Congress fled Philadelphia during the Revolutionary War. All contact information above was sourced from official county, city, library, and shelter pages as of this writing; phone numbers and hours should be reconfirmed directly with the relevant office before a visit.
About Lancaster County
Lancaster County is one of the most historically rich and economically distinctive counties in Pennsylvania – a 949-square-mile county in south-central Pennsylvania known worldwide as the heartland of Pennsylvania Dutch Country and home to the largest Amish community in the world. The Old Order Amish and Old Order Mennonite communities have lived in Lancaster County since the early 1700s, and their distinctive horse-drawn buggies, hand-tilled farms, and plain-dress culture remain an integral part of the county’s landscape and identity. The Amish population has grown significantly in recent decades and Lancaster County now has over 40,000 Amish residents.
Lancaster City itself is a surprise to many visitors – a compact, walkable city of approximately 55,000 residents with a thriving arts and dining scene, Central Market (America’s oldest publicly operated farmers’ market, dating to 1730), and a nationally recognized restaurant culture. Lancaster has ranked among America’s “best small cities” and food destinations repeatedly in national publications.
The county’s agricultural productivity remains exceptional – Lancaster County is consistently one of Pennsylvania’s top agricultural counties by output, with dairy, poultry, and crop production underpinning a multi-billion dollar farm economy. This agricultural identity creates specific property tax considerations (Act 319/Clean and Green preferential assessment for farmland) that are central to the economic lives of many Lancaster County landowners.
County government is a three-member Board of County Commissioners with elected offices for the Register of Wills, Recorder of Deeds, Clerk of Courts, Controller, Sheriff, Coroner, District Attorney, Prothonotary, and Treasurer.
All Services
Browse every category and topic available for this county.
Pennsylvania assesses property at 100% of fair market value. The Lancaster County Assessment Office at 150 N. Queen Street, Lancaster (717-299-8381) assesses all real property and administers the Board of Assessment Appeals. Lancaster County is a Second Class county and the Assessment Office operates under the Pennsylvania Third Class Assessment Law, General County Assessment Law, and Consolidated County Assessment Law. The county maintains over 195,000 parcels across 60 municipalities and 17 school districts.
Reassessment notice: Lancaster County is conducting a county-wide reassessment. Property owners who receive a Reassessment Notice should review the new value carefully and complete the Property Correction Form if data on file is incorrect – corrections are reflected on the reassessment notice.
Annual appeal deadline: August 1. File a yearly appeal with the Lancaster County Board of Assessment Appeals by August 1 of any year to be effective for the subsequent county/municipal tax year. The Board meets the second Wednesday of each month (except December – first Wednesday in December), at 8:30 AM, at the Lancaster County Government Center, Suite 310. Verify hearing dates with the office before attending.
Appeal evidence: a certified appraisal report prepared within the last 18 months; comparable sales data for similar properties in the past 18 months; or for recently purchased property, the Agreement of Sale, deed, and settlement sheet. Market Value Analysis Reports from realtors may be submitted but may not alone be sufficient. If dissatisfied with the Board’s decision, file an appeal in the Court of Common Pleas of Lancaster County within 30 days of the mailing date of the Board’s decision.
Act 319 / Clean and Green: Lancaster County’s agricultural heritage makes this program especially relevant. Under Act 319, farmland actively used for agriculture or forest reserve is assessed at use value (agricultural value) rather than market value – typically producing dramatic tax savings for qualifying farmland. When a parcel is withdrawn from Act 319 (for development), rollback taxes for up to seven prior years apply. This is a critical planning consideration for any Lancaster County landowner with farmland contemplating sale or development.
Pennsylvania inheritance tax: Pennsylvania’s inheritance tax applies at death – 0% for spouses; 4.5% for children, grandchildren, and parents; 12% for siblings; 15% for all others. No PA estate tax since 2001. Lancaster County’s strong multigenerational farming culture makes inheritance tax planning especially significant – farm transfers at death trigger the 4.5% rate on the farm’s value, which can create substantial tax burdens for heirs. Pennsylvania offers an Agricultural Use Exemption from inheritance tax for qualifying farmland transferred to immediate family who will continue agricultural use – a critical benefit for Lancaster County farming families.
OWNWELL CTA: Lancaster County’s reassessment will reset many values significantly. Annual appeal deadline August 1. Board meets monthly – schedule accordingly. Act 319 Clean and Green is essential for farmland owners. Ownwell manages the appeal with no upfront cost.
Recommended
Lancaster County's reassessment will reset many values significantly. Annual appeal deadline August 1. Board meets monthly - schedule accordingly. Act 319 Clean and Green is essential for farmland owners. Ownwell manages the appeal with no upfront cost.
Courts & Legal
Courts & Legal
The Lancaster County Court of Common Pleas at 50 N. Duke Street, Lancaster (717-299-8295) handles all civil, criminal, family, and Orphans’ Court (probate) matters. The Lancaster County Register of Wills at 150 N. Queen Street, Lancaster (717-299-8238) administers probate – wills, estates, and guardianships – and is an elected county officer. The Lancaster County Recorder of Deeds at the same address (717-299-8238) maintains all land records. Land records are searchable online.
Pennsylvania’s Agricultural Use Exemption from inheritance tax is particularly significant in Lancaster County – qualifying farm transfers to direct descendants who continue active agricultural use are exempt from the 4.5% inheritance tax. This exemption requires proactive planning and proper documentation; consult with a Pennsylvania estate planning attorney experienced in agricultural property.
Amish estate planning considerations: The Old Order Amish community in Lancaster County generally does not use wills, trusts, or formal estate planning documents – property transfers within the community rely on oral agreements and community norms. When Amish landowners die without wills, Pennsylvania’s intestacy laws apply, which can create complications. Heirs who wish to access formal legal resources should work with attorneys experienced in both Pennsylvania estate law and plain community customs. Lancaster County’s courts and Register of Wills office are experienced with these issues given the community’s size.
Senior Services: The Lancaster County Office of Aging (717-299-7979) operates multiple senior centers, coordinates home-delivered meals, transportation, APPRISE (Medicare counseling), caregiver support, Adult Protective Services, and connections to Pennsylvania Medicaid long-term care programs including PASSPORT. The county’s large Mennonite and conservative Christian community also has its own extensive social welfare infrastructure through community mutual aid organizations.
Genealogy
County-level record sources
Lancaster County Register of Wills, Lancaster (probate/estate case files – see Probate section above).
Lancaster Mennonite Historical Society and LancasterHistory.org hold extensive Pennsylvania Dutch/Amish genealogical resources.
Local societies
Lancaster Mennonite Historical Society confirmed in available directories.
Probate & Estate
Losing someone and having to deal with courts and paperwork at the same time is hard. This section won’t make that easier, but it should tell you what to expect, what it costs, and where to go – so at least you’re not walking in blind.
Where to go
Register of Wills, Lancaster County Lancaster County Courthouse, 50 North Duke Street, Lancaster, PA 17602 (717) 299-8243
Lancaster County is in southeastern Pennsylvania, seated in Lancaster – home to a large Amish and Pennsylvania Dutch population.
Step 1: figure out which path applies
Pennsylvania has NOT adopted the Uniform Probate Code. Probate runs through its own statute, the Probate, Estates and Fiduciaries (PEF) Code, Title 20 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes. Probate begins at the Register of Wills – an elected county official – in the county where the decedent lived. Routine, uncontested probate happens entirely at the Register of Wills; only disputes escalate to the Orphans’ Court Division of the Court of Common Pleas.
Small Estate Petition (20 Pa.C.S. § 3102) – available when the estate’s personal property (excluding real estate) totals $50,000 or less. This lets an interested party petition the Orphans’ Court directly for approval of a proposed distribution, skipping the need to formally open a full probate estate. Real property is never covered by this simplified process.
Formal Probate – required for estates exceeding $50,000 in personal property, or for any estate involving real property that needs to pass through probate. The Register of Wills validates the will (if any) and issues Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration.
Step 2: filing for administration
The personal representative files with the Register of Wills in Lancaster County, along with the original will if one exists.
The Register of Wills reviews and, if in order, issues Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration.
The personal representative gathers assets, notifies heirs and known creditors, and begins settling the estate.
Pennsylvania has a one-year creditor period running from the date of death, not from any published notice.
A Pennsylvania Inheritance Tax Return (REV-1500) must be filed with the Register of Wills, regardless of estate size.
Once debts, taxes, and expenses are settled, remaining assets are distributed according to the will or Pennsylvania’s intestacy laws, and the estate is closed.
What it costs
Filing fees vary; check with Lancaster County directly for current fees.
Pennsylvania has NO separate state estate tax, but its INHERITANCE TAX applies to virtually every estate: 0% to a surviving spouse (and to a parent inheriting from a child 21 or younger), 4.5% to children and other lineal descendants, 12% to siblings, and 15% to everyone else. No dollar exemption.
A 5% early-payment discount applies if paid within 3 months of death; the return and payment are otherwise due within 9 months.
Probate filings, estate administration, and guardianship matters are handled by the following office(s):
REGISTER OF WILLS
50 North Duke St, Lancaster, PA 17603
(717) 299-8290
Public Safety & Arrests
Arrest records, inmate search, and law enforcement services are handled by the following office(s):
SHERIFF
50 North Duke St, Lancaster, PA 17603
(717) 299-8200
Elections & Voting
Voter registration, polling locations, and elections information are handled by the following office(s):
BOARD OF ELECTIONS
150 North Queen St, Lancaster, PA 17603
(717) 299-8293
Health & Human Services
Offices & Contacts
Health services, social services, and assistance programs are handled by the following office(s):
Department of Community Health
150 North Queen St, Lancaster, PA 17603
(717) 299-8371
Assistance Office (DHS)
542 Village Rd, Lancaster, PA 17601
(717) 299-7411
Public Health Information
PUBLIC HEALTH
Office: Lancaster County Public Health / PA Department of Health regional office – Lancaster, PA
Services: Immunizations, WIC, environmental health, vital records
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