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.
Pennsylvania · Pittsburgh Metro East · Laurel Highlands · #169 Most Populous County in the US
Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh's eastern neighbor - Greensburg, Latrobe, and the rolling Laurel Highlands. The county that gave America Arnold Palmer, Mr. Rogers, and one of Pennsylvania's most beautiful mountain landscapes. Property tax, courts, public records, probate, and senior services for Westmoreland 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.
What do you need to do?
Tell us your goal and we'll guide you step-by-step to the right office, forms, and official resources.
Westmoreland County's assessment ratio means effective tax rates are low — but incorrect appraisals still cost money. Ownwell manages the appeal with no upfront cost.
Office: Westmoreland County Department of Public Safety – 911 Public Safety Road, Greensburg, PA 15601 | (724) 600-7300 | Fax: (724) 600-7388
Services: Countywide emergency management planning and preparedness; Text-to-911 is available across the entire county; runs Project Lifesaver, a tracking program for residents with cognitive conditions prone to wandering
Roads & Utilities
ROADS & TRANSPORTATION
Roads: US-30 and US-119 serve Greensburg, the county seat, in southwestern Pennsylvania
Transit: Westmoreland County Transit Authority (WCTA) – founded 1978, headquartered at 41 Bell Way, Greensburg, operates 17-18 bus routes with 35-42 buses, including the “1F Greensburg-Pittsburgh Flyer” commuter route; began direct self-operation in January 2020.
Business & Permits
BUILDING & PERMITS
Office: No countywide zoning ordinance – Westmoreland County has NOT adopted zoning, and building/zoning permits are handled entirely at the MUNICIPAL level
Services: Westmoreland County Subdivision, Development & Zoning Department – 40 North Pennsylvania Ave, Suite 520, Greensburg, PA 15601, (724) 830-3600, Email: [email protected], handles subdivision review only (not zoning)
Notes: Under PA’s Uniform Construction Code, municipalities choose to review/issue permits in-house, contract with an inspection company, or opt out entirely (leaving review to the PA Department of Labor and Industry) – confirm which applies to your specific municipality.
Veterans Services
VETERANS SERVICES
County VSO: Westmoreland County Veterans Affairs Office – Greensburg, PA
Libraries
LIBRARIES
System: Westmoreland County Libraries (WCL) – a federated system of 23 public libraries, formed in 1993 to consolidate resources and funding
Main Branch: Greensburg Hempfield Area Library (GHAL) – 237 S Pennsylvania Ave, Greensburg, PA 15601 | (724) 837-5620 | Hours: Mon–Thu 10 AM–8 PM, Sat 10 AM–5 PM (closed Fri and Sun)
Related: Additional WCL member libraries serve Avonmore, Belle Vernon, Delmont, Derry, Jeannette, Latrobe, Ligonier, Lower Burrell, Manor, New Florence, Monessen, Mt. Pleasant, Murrysville, New Alexandria, New Kensington, Norwin, Penn, Rostraver, Scottdale, Sewickley, Smithton, Trafford, and West Newton.
Parks & Recreation
PARKS & RECREATION
Key Assets: Westmoreland County’s borough of Latrobe is genuinely and officially recognized as the birthplace of the BANANA SPLIT, one of America’s most iconic desserts; the story begins on a cold day during Christmas break in 1904, when 23-year-old David Evans Strickler, a pharmacy student at the University of Pittsburgh working part-time as a soda jerk at Tassel(l) Pharmacy on Ligonier Street in Latrobe, was approached by a crowd of students from nearby Saint Vincent College who urged him to “make something exciting”; drawing on ideas he’d encountered on a recent trip to Atlantic City, Strickler sliced a banana lengthwise, arranged the halves in a dish, and wedged three scoops of vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry ice cream between them, then drizzled the vanilla with pineapple sauce, the chocolate with raspberry, and the strawberry with crushed pineapple, before finishing with whipped cream, chopped nuts, and a maraschino cherry atop each end; Strickler is also credited with designing the distinctive long, boat-shaped glass dish still used to serve banana splits today, which he commissioned from nearby Jeannette Glassworks – that original order record, dated 1904, became key evidence in later settling a decades-long rivalry with Wilmington, Ohio, which claimed to have invented the dessert in 1907; in 2004, on the split’s centennial, the National Ice Cream Retailers Association formally certified Latrobe, Pennsylvania as the true birthplace of the banana split, predating Ohio’s claim by three years; Strickler went on to purchase the pharmacy where he’d invented the treat and remained a beloved local figure in Latrobe until his death in 1971 at age 90; local Latrobe native and dairy entrepreneur Joseph “Ice Cream Joe” Greubel later spent years championing the town’s dessert legacy, eventually helping secure a Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission historical marker, installed in 2013 at the site of the former Strickler’s/Tassell Pharmacy at 801 Ligonier Street; today, Latrobe celebrates its sweet claim to fame each August with the Great American Banana Split Celebration, featuring a banana-eating competition and the crowning of a “Banana Split Princess”
Notes: Latrobe’s genuine, nationally certified status as the birthplace of the banana split – backed by original historical documentation that settled a long-running rivalry with another town’s claim – is a delightful and well-documented piece of American culinary history.
GIS & Maps
GIS & MAPS
GIS Portal: Westmoreland County GIS – accessible via westmorelandcountypa.gov
Parcel Search: Westmoreland County Assessment Office
Addressing/911: Coordinated through Westmoreland County Department of Public Safety
Animal Services
ANIMAL SERVICES
Facility: Humane Society of Westmoreland County (HSWC) – behind Lynch Field, on Humane Society Road (off Route 119 North), Greensburg, PA | (724) 837-3779 / (724) 689-9468 | Hours: Mon–Sat 10 AM–4 PM (closed Sun)
Services: Founded in 1992 as a grassroots effort by local animal lovers; acquired its Hempfield Township property in 2001 and built the “Donald Mateer Facility” dog kennel in 2006; can shelter 20+ dogs and 60+ cats at any given time, and has rescued and adopted thousands of animals including pocket pets and farm animals; offers affordable veterinary care and spay/neuter services; not affiliated with or funded by any national humane organization
Notes: Report animal cruelty or neglect to the Westmoreland County Humane Agents via HSWC.
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
Westmoreland County’s borough of Latrobe is genuinely and officially certified as the birthplace of the banana split, invented there in 1904. 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 Westmoreland County
Westmoreland County is Pittsburgh’s eastern neighbor – a county of rolling hills, small river valleys, and classic Western Pennsylvania small-city character. It was organized in 1773 as the first county established west of the Allegheny Mountains, predating American independence, making it one of the oldest inland counties in the United States.
Latrobe is Westmoreland County’s most famous small city – not for its size but for the remarkable concentration of American cultural icons it produced. Arnold Palmer – arguably the most beloved and important figure in golf history, the man who popularized the sport on television in the 1950s and 1960s and whose entrepreneurial instincts created the modern sports celebrity model – was born and raised in Latrobe. His father was the greenskeeper at Latrobe Country Club; Arnold grew up on the course and never really left. The Arnold Palmer Regional Airport in Latrobe bears his name.
Fred Rogers – Mister Rogers, the creator and host of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood (PBS, 1968-2001) – was born in Latrobe. His gentle, radical message that children are valuable exactly as they are made the show one of the most influential in the history of American children’s television. The Fred Rogers Center at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe preserves his archive and promotes his legacy through media and education.
Rolling Rock beer was brewed in Latrobe from 1939 until 2006 – its distinctive green bottle and the mysterious “33” on the label (theories abound) made it one of America’s most recognizable regional beers. The original Latrobe Brewing Company facility is no longer active, but Rolling Rock’s Latrobe identity remains deeply felt.
Saint Vincent College (founded 1846, the oldest Benedictine college in the US) and its connected Archabbey occupy a prominent hilltop outside Latrobe – both an academic institution and a working Benedictine monastery.
Greensburg (the county seat, population ~14,000) has a historic courthouse square and the Palace Theatre (a beautifully restored 1926 vaudeville-era performing arts center). The Westmoreland Museum of American Art is one of the finest regional art museums in western Pennsylvania.
The Laurel Highlands – the ridge-and-valley landscape in the county’s eastern portions – contain Fallingwater (Frank Lloyd Wright’s 1935 masterpiece, one of the most important buildings in American architecture, a National Historic Landmark in neighboring Fayette County), Ohiopyle State Park, and the Youghiogheny River gorge, drawing outdoor recreation and heritage tourism.
County government is a three-member Board of Commissioners with separately elected offices for the Sheriff, Clerk of Courts, Coroner, Controller, District Attorney, Prothonotary, Recorder of Deeds, Register of Wills, and Treasurer.
All Services
Browse every category and topic available for this county.
Pennsylvania assesses property at 100% of market value. Westmoreland County’s most recent countywide reassessment was completed in 2013 – now more than a decade old. Over twelve years, significant appreciation has occurred in many parts of the county, particularly in communities with Pittsburgh commuter appeal, while some areas have seen little change or modest decline.
The Westmoreland County Assessment Office (2 N. Main Street, Suite 109, Greensburg, 724-830-3409) maintains all assessment records.
The appeal process:
File an appeal with the Westmoreland County Board of Assessment Appeals at 2 N. Main Street, Suite 109, Greensburg (724-830-3409). The annual filing deadline is August 1 of the tax year. The Board holds hearings and issues written decisions. If unsatisfied, appeal to the Westmoreland County Court of Common Pleas within 30 days, then to the Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court.
Pennsylvania inheritance tax rates:
– 0% – surviving spouse and charitable organizations
No Pennsylvania estate tax (repealed 2001). The inheritance tax return is due within nine months of death. A 5% discount applies if paid within three months. Pennsylvania real property cannot transfer without inheritance tax clearance.
Assessment lag opportunity: Because the 2013 base is now 12 years old, many Westmoreland County properties – particularly in growth areas – are assessed below current market value. However, properties in areas that haven’t appreciated much may be assessed at or above market, making a downward appeal viable. Check recent comparable sales in your specific neighborhood before deciding whether to appeal.
OWNWELL CTA: Westmoreland County’s 2013 reassessment is now 12 years old – values vary significantly by neighborhood. August 1 appeal deadline. PA inheritance tax at 4.5% for children applies regardless of estate size. File by August 1 if your current assessed value exceeds market. Ownwell manages the appeal with no upfront cost.
Recommended
Westmoreland County's 2013 reassessment is now 12 years old - values vary significantly by neighborhood. August 1 appeal deadline. PA inheritance tax at 4.5% for children applies regardless of estate size. File by August 1 if your current assessed value exceeds market. Ownwell manages the appeal with no upfront cost.
Courts & Legal
Courts & Legal
The Westmoreland County Court of Common Pleas at 2 N. Main Street, Greensburg (724-830-3500) handles all civil, criminal, family, and probate matters. The Westmoreland County Prothonotary at 2 N. Main Street (724-830-3734) maintains all civil court records. The Westmoreland County Register of Wills at 2 N. Main Street (724-830-3647) handles all estate administration, orphans’ court, guardianships, and inheritance tax filings. The Westmoreland County Recorder of Deeds at 2 N. Main Street (724-830-3518) maintains all land records – deeds, mortgages, and recorded documents.
Pennsylvania Transfer on Death deeds recognized – useful for passing real property without probate.
Arnold Palmer and celebrity estate legacy: The Arnold Palmer estate – managed through entities in Latrobe and elsewhere – reflects the multi-decade business empire Palmer built: the IMG sports management agency (co-founded with Mark McCormack), Arnold Palmer Enterprises, the Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children in Orlando, the Bay Hill Club and Lodge, and his extensive licensing and endorsement portfolio. While Palmer died in 2016, the ongoing administration of complex celebrity intellectual property estates in Westmoreland County is a distinctive local planning context.
Benedictine and religious community estate planning: Saint Vincent Archabbey and College present specific planned giving dynamics – Benedictine institutions have centuries of experience receiving testamentary gifts and managing endowments. Westmoreland County donors considering bequests to Saint Vincent should engage the college’s advancement office for structured gift planning.
Western Pennsylvania steel legacy: Westmoreland County’s older population includes many former steel, coal, and manufacturing workers with complex pension histories – PBGC (Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation) insured pensions, black lung benefits, and Social Security disability interaction are common planning issues.
Senior Services: The Westmoreland County Area Agency on Aging (724-830-4444) at 100 N. Main Street, Suite 303, Greensburg coordinates senior centers, home-delivered meals, transportation, APPRISE Medicare counseling (Pennsylvania’s SHIP program), caregiver support, Adult Protective Services, and connections to Pennsylvania Medicaid long-term care programs.
Genealogy
County-level record sources
Westmoreland County Register of Wills, Greensburg (probate/estate case files – see Probate section above).
Local societies
No dedicated Westmoreland County genealogical society was 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, Westmoreland County Westmoreland County Courthouse Annex, 2 North Main Street, Suite 301, Greensburg, PA 15601 (724) 830-3177
Westmoreland County is in southwestern Pennsylvania, seated in Greensburg – one of the Commonwealth’s most populous counties.
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 Westmoreland 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 Westmoreland 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
2 North Main St, Greensburg, PA 15601
(724) 830-3518
Public Safety & Arrests
Arrest records, inmate search, and law enforcement services are handled by the following office(s):
SHERIFF
2 North Main St, Greensburg, PA 15601
(724) 830-3800
Elections & Voting
Voter registration, polling locations, and elections information are handled by the following office(s):
BUREAU OF ELECTIONS
2 North Main St, Greensburg, PA 15601
(724) 830-3150
Health & Human Services
Offices & Contacts
Health services, social services, and assistance programs are handled by the following office(s):
Human Services
3 West Otterman St, Greensburg, PA 15601
(724) 830-3617
Assistance Office (DHS)
100 Fairfield Dr, Greensburg, PA 15601
(724) 832-5300
Public Health Information
PUBLIC HEALTH
Office: Westmoreland County Public Health / PA Department of Health regional office – Greensburg, PA
Related: Westmoreland Hospital (Excela Health) – 532 W. Pittsburgh St., Greensburg, PA, 373 beds, opened 1895, offers an interventional heart center.
Services: Immunizations, WIC, environmental health, vital records
Editorial independence: CountyOffices maintains strict editorial independence from our affiliate partners. Our content is researched from official government sources. Affiliate relationships do not influence our recommendations or the information we publish.
Recommended for Pennsylvania
Ownwell
Property tax appeal service. Contingency fee - no savings, no charge.
