Population
951K
County Seat
Buffalo
Libraries
38
Schools
212
Searching Erie County: what to expect
Erie County runs a real online records operation — 9 of the sources below are the county's own, alongside the statewide systems. Court cases are the easy part: New York's statewide search covers Erie County filings, so start at the New York court records page instead of hunting for a local docket. The county's own strong points: erieny.maps.arcgis.com covers parcel and property-tax data, and www2.erie.gov handles the sheriff's side — jail roster and inmate lookups. The county posts nothing for vital records, so that search runs through the statewide sources on our New York vital records page. Anything not online lives with the county offices in Buffalo.
SearchSystems Editorial
Edited by SearchSystems Editorial Team — verified against official government sources. About our editorial process.
Last reviewed: June 04, 2026 · Methodology: all Erie County record-source URLs verified against the official local and New York state publishers on the review date. 5 primary .gov / official sources cited below.
Erie County — Key Numbers (2026)
Population, demographics, and county-seat data for Erie County, New York — verified against U.S. Census 2024 estimates.
950,602
Population
Census estimate
406,547
Households
Census estimate
$68,014
Median income
Annual household
$197,400
Median home value
Census ACS
Buffalo
County seat
In New York
Criminal records
1 source
Court records
2 sources
Wants & warrants
see state portal
Property records
28 sources
Vital records
1 source
Voter records
see state portal
Professional licenses
see state portal
Recorded documents
see state portal
Count of verified official sources per record type. Multiple sources One source Use state portal
Erie County Records at a Glance
| Record type | Erie County verified sources |
|---|---|
| Court records | NY Courts / eCourts NY Courts / eCourts |
| Criminal records | Erie County Sheriff's Office |
| Wants & warrants | |
| Property records | ArcGIS Web Application Real Property Information |
| Vital records | Property Alert Service - Erie County |
| Voter records | Ny |
| Professional licenses | Licensee Name Search - NY.Gov |
Count of officially verified .gov / .us record sources cataloged for Erie County. Sources reviewed June 04, 2026.
What Changed in 2026 — Erie County Records
2026
Erie County official government portal active
The official Erie County government website at www2.erie.gov continues to serve as the canonical local source.
2026
Erie County court records portal verified
State court system links for Erie County verified against the New York judiciary portal in 2026.
2026
Erie County criminal records access
State criminal records repository for Erie County (statewide system, not county-specific) confirmed active in 2026.
2026
Erie County property records online
Erie County property assessment and recorder office online portal active in 2026.
The 4-Step Erie County Records Pathway
1
Step 1 — Start at the Erie County clerk/courthouse
For most local records (court cases, property deeds, marriage licenses), the Erie County clerk's office is the first stop.
2
Step 2 — Use the New York statewide systems
Criminal background, court case search, voter registration, and professional licensing are all run at the New York state level — not by the county.
3
Step 3 — Federal sources for federal records
Federal court cases (PACER), federal tax liens (IRS), military records (NPRC), and immigration data (ICE) are all federal — not held by the county.
4
Step 4 — Cross-check before relying on data
Most county portals lag 24-48 hours behind the courthouse. For time-sensitive verification, call the clerk directly.
Five Things People Get Wrong About Erie County Records
MYTH"Erie County maintains all criminal records."
FACTCriminal records for Erie County are held by the New York state repository, NOT the county. The county sheriff has only the local arrest log.
MYTH"Records sealed in Erie County are gone everywhere."
FACTSealing removes records from public search but they still exist at the courthouse and may appear in FBI records (Identity History Summary).
MYTH"Free 'instant background' sites have Erie County data."
FACTOnly the official New York state repository has verified, current Erie County data. Free sites often have stale data.
MYTH"The Erie County assessor's value is what I'll sell my home for."
FACTThe Erie County assessor's value is for property tax purposes only — usually below market value.
MYTH"All county records older than 50 years are public."
FACTPartially false. Public-records rules vary by record type AND state. Court records and deeds are usually older-public; vital records remain restricted longer (often 75-125 years).
Primary Sources and Official Record Portals
- www2.erie.gov — Official Erie County government website
- iapps.courts.state.ny.us — Court records — official source
- paytax.erie.gov — Property records — official source
- ecclerk.erie.gov — Vital records — official source
- fbi.gov — FBI Identity History Summary (federal record)
Related — Erie County & New York Records
For records not specific to Erie County, use New York's statewide system or the national hub.
📍 New York statewide record systems:
- New York Court Records →
- New York Criminal Records →
- New York Property Records →
- New York Vital Records →
- New York Voter Records →
- New York Wants & Warrants →
- New York Licenses →
- New York Recorded Documents →
🇺🇸 National hubs:
Related Public Records
New York statewide records: Court records · Criminal records · Wants & warrants · Property records · Vital records · Voter records · Licenses · Recorded docs
National directories: Court records · Criminal records · Property records · Vital records · Federal databases
Looking for a person, not a database? Start with the New York guides:
About Erie County, New York
Erie County is located in western New York. The county seat is Buffalo (official site: http://www2.erie.gov/).
- Households: 406,547
- Median household income: $68,014
- Median home value: $197,400
- Below poverty line: 13.8%
- Land area: 1,042.8 sq mi
- Population density: 911.6 people / sq mi
Real Property Information
Official Free
*Erie County is not responsible for clerical errors, omissions, or errors caused by taxpayers paying on the wrong property.
Tax Office – Town of Cheektowaga
Official Free
Penalties are applied based on the late fee schedule located on the front of the tax bill. Penalties are assessed on outstanding balances after the due date and in accordance with the Erie County Tax Act and New York State Real Property Tax Law, Section 925.
Town of Cheektowaga
Official Free
Welcome to the Town of Cheektowaga Online Tax Payment & Search System When searching for your parcel, use only one of the search fields above. When searching by Owner Name exclude your middle initial.
Town of Lancaster Assessor's Office
Official Free
Property assessment records for Erie County, New York. Search by owner, address, or parcel number; nearby sales are usually a click away. Tax amounts and payment status typically link from the same record.
Land Records | Erie County Clerk Michael P. Kearns
Official Free
Recorded documents for Erie County — deeds, mortgages, liens, and releases — are indexed through this office. If a link breaks, the office homepage at www4.erie.gov carries the new path.
ERIE COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF REAL PROPERTY TAX SERVICES NEWS RELEASE
Official Free
Property assessment records for Erie County, New York. Researchers use these records to trace ownership when deed indexes are thin. Pair it with the recorder's index — values here, the deeds themselves there.
Town of West Seneca
Official Free
Welcome to the Town of West Seneca Online Tax Payment & Search System · Our online system is a convenient and easy way to pay your taxes using your Visa, MasterCard, Discover or AMEX credit card (2.45% service fee), Visa debit card ($3.95 flat fee) or by electronic check ($1.75 flat fee).
BAS | Internet Tax
Official Free
Welcome to the Town of Hamburg online tax payment & search system You may pay your taxes online by using your Visa, MasterCard, Discover, or American Express credit card (2.5% service fee/minimum $1.80 service fee); by Visa debit card ($4.00 flat fee); or by electronic check ($2.00 flat fee).
Tax Rates - Town of Tonawanda
Official Free
Property research in Erie County starts here: parcels, assessments, and tax detail. It is an official government source.
{ "currentVersion": 11.5, "cimVersion": "3.5.0", "id": 8, "name": "Parcels",
Official Free
tric Tranmission Improvement", "code": "882" }, { "name": "Wild, Forested, conservation Lands & Public Parks", "code": "900" }, { "name": "Private Wild & Forest Lands except for Private Hunting & Fishing Clubs", "code": "910" }, { "name": "Forest Land Under Section 480 of the Real Property Tax Law", "code": "911" }, { "name": "Forest Land Under Section 480-a of the Real Property Tax Law", "code": "912" }, { "name": "Private Hunting & Fishing Clubs", "code": "920" }, { "name": "State Owner Forest Lands", "code": "930" }, { "name": "State Owned Land (Forest Preserve) in the Adirondack or Catskil
Assessment and Property Information - Town of Orchard Park, NY
Official Free
Assessment and tax records covering Erie County are published through this system. Searching the official side is free.
Beacon - Town Of Tonawanda, NY - Search
Official Free
Online access to maps, real estate data, tax information, and appraisal data.
BAS | Internet Tax
Official Free
Etc). You may pay your taxes online by using your Visa, MasterCard or Discover credit card (2.45% service fee = $24.50 per thousand ), by Visa debit card ($3.95 flat fee) or by electronic check ($1.75 flat fee) Please allow two weeks for processing.
Lackawanna 2025 Tent RPS150P1 Website
Official Free
Official public records resource for Erie County, New York. What displays online is usually a subset — the office holds more than it posts. The information comes straight from the office that creates the record, not a reseller.
Erie County Tax Payment Site
Official Free
Property research in Erie County starts here: parcels, assessments, and tax detail. Searching the official side is free.
Town of Colden SWIS Code - 143400 NYS - Real Property System County of Erie
Official Free
Chapman, Eric D. Chapman, John W. Chen, Guang X. Chen, Guang X. Cherkis, Carol L. Chowaniec, David A. Christ, Scott A. Christ, Scott A. Christ, Scott A. Christ, Scott A. Chrostowski, David P. Cimino, Bradley S. Clark, Russell A. Clark, Russell A. Clarkson, Peter J. Clarkson, Richard W. Clements, Richard A. Colden
Town of Hamburg Property Assessment System
Official Free
Parcel mapping for Erie County, New York with ownership and assessment layers. Neighboring-parcel data makes it easy to see who owns the land around any lot. Printable map exports are standard for title and permit work.
BAS | Internet Tax
Official Free
Welcome to the Town of Evans online tax payment and search system! Please search by filling in only one of the above fields: Bill # - Enter the bill number that is displayed on your tax bill above the SBL# and your name and address .
Town of Eden online tax payment & search system.
Official Free
Welcome to the Town of Eden online tax payment & search system. You may pay your taxes online by using your Visa, MasterCard, or Discover credit card (2.45% service fee); by Visa debit card ($3.95 flat fee); or by electronic check ($1.75 flat fee).
City of N. Tonawanda - Assessment Search Online - PROS v1.0.0
Official Free
The City of N. Tonawanda Property N. Tonawanda. The City of N. Tonawanda PROS website allows property owners to review property assessment information, property inventory, property tax liability information, and search for comparable sales
CPI Search
Official Free
Assessment and tax records covering Erie County are published through this system. Searching the official side is free.
GIS Mapping | Town of Eden, New York
Official Free
Quick Links: Assessment Rolls Brush System (GIS) makes a mapping system available to the public with such information as property parcels, roads, pond locations, sewer and water line locations, and environmental features (wetlands, open space, etc.).
Property
Official Free
Assessment and tax records covering Erie County are published through this system. If a link breaks, start from egov.basgov.com directly.
https://townofgrandisland.sdgnys.com/
Official Free
Town of Grand Island, with the cooperation of SDG, provides access to RPS data, tax maps, and photographic images of properties.
Property Alert Service - Erie County
Official Free
The Property Alert Service is a Buffalo, New York. The service matches data (Parcel ID) in legal descriptions on recorded documents with requests made by subscribers. Additionally, a subscriber can register to receive alerts when documents are recorded with specific party names. No. This is a free service provided by Erie County
NY Courts / eCourts
Official Free
Using our free case information services you can find future appearance dates for cases in Criminal and Family Courts .
SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF ERIE
Official Free
Court case information for Erie County, New York. Coverage is deepest for recent decades and thins out further back — check the stated start dates. Fee waivers and forms usually live on the same court site.
Erie County Sheriff's Office
Official Free
Current inmate roster for Erie County, New York, published by the sheriff's office. Entries show booking dates and the charges being held on; bond amounts appear where set.
New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services - NYC
Official Free
The Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) administers the state’s Commercial Security Tax Credit Program.
Property Alert Service - Erie County
Official Free
The Property Alert Service is a Buffalo, New York. The service matches data (Parcel ID) in legal descriptions on recorded documents with requests made by subscribers. Additionally, a subscriber can register to receive alerts when documents are recorded with specific party names. No. This is a free service provided by Erie County
Vital Statistics of New York State
Official Free
Information on vital records, including obtaining your birth or death certificates, can be found at: https://www.health.ny.gov/vital_records/ Through a cooperative agreement, the New York State Department of Health receives data on live births, deaths, fetal deaths, induced terminations of pregnancy/abortions (abortion), marriages, and divorces/dissolutions of marriage recorded in New York City from the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene and on live births and deaths recorded outside of New York State to residents of New York State from other states and Canada.
Ny
Official Free
This is where Erie County handles voter registration records and election operations. If a link breaks, the office homepage at voterlookup.elections.ny.gov carries the new path.
Licensee Name Search - NY.Gov
Official Free
Enter all or part of last name and/or first name. Select a license type or "ALL LICENSE TYPES" from the drop-down list. To narrow down this search, you may select a county name or enter all or part of a city name or a Zip Code.
County Charter and Code | Department of Law
Official Free
A New York statewide system that covers Erie County along with every other jurisdiction in the state. Searching the official side is free.
Winter- Snow Removal, parking etc. | Town of Clarence
Official Free
The Town of Clarence Highway Deparment has an employee assigned 24/7 in the winter months to watch the road contitions and we coordinate with all local agencies - State, and County to provide the safest roads as possible. Most of the snowplow routes can be plowed in approximately four (4) hours after the snow stops.
Additional Records
Tax Maps | Real Property Tax Services
Official Free
The Department of Real Property Tax Services maintains the tax maps covering all municipalities within Erie County and provides updated maps to local assessors. The maps indicate property lines, right of way lines, property dimensions and acreage, stream and lake boundaries, special district lines, and Section - Block - Lot information.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where do I find Erie County property records?
Erie County property records are maintained by the County Clerk, which records deeds, mortgages, and liens. Search the Real Property Information portal directly: https://paytax.erie.gov/webprop/ecgov_pg1.asp?owner=FAGARASZ+WILLIAM+A+++&sblkey=1438013351900003003000++++&street=74+W+MAIN+ST.
Can my employer see a sealed record in New York?
Generally, most private employers running a standard name-based check cannot see a sealed New York record. However, government employers, law enforcement, schools, healthcare facilities, and any role requiring a fingerprint-based check can see sealed records under specific statutory exemptions. Confirm specifics with the sealing court.
Does an arrest show up on a background check before conviction in New York?
Yes — in New York, an arrest can appear on a name-based background check from the moment of booking, even before any court ruling. Whether it appears on an employment screening depends on the type of check (name-based vs. fingerprint-based) and how recent the arrest is.
Are New York criminal records public?
Mostly yes. New York's public-records law makes adult arrests, court filings, and conviction histories accessible to anyone unless a specific statutory exemption applies. Juvenile cases and sealed records are generally excluded by statute.