Searching Ontario County: what to expect
Ontario County publishes some records directly — 2 local sources below — and leans on state systems for the rest. Court cases are the easy part: New York's statewide search covers Ontario County filings, so start at the New York court records page instead of hunting for a local docket. Locally, ontariocountyny.gov takes care of parcel and property-tax data, while co.ontario.ny.us covers deeds and recorded documents. One gap: vital records aren't published by the county itself. Use the New York vital records page for those.
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Edited by SearchSystems Editorial Team — verified against official government sources. About our editorial process.
Last reviewed: June 04, 2026 · Methodology: all Ontario County record-source URLs verified against the official local and New York state publishers on the review date. 4 primary .gov / official sources cited below.
Ontario County — Key Numbers (2026)
Population, demographics, and county-seat data for Ontario County, New York — verified against U.S. Census 2024 estimates.
113,012
Population
Census estimate
47,080
Households
Census estimate
$76,603
Median income
Annual household
$192,800
Median home value
Census ACS
Canandaigua
County seat
In New York
Criminal records
see state portal
Court records
3 sources
Wants & warrants
see state portal
Property records
15 sources
Vital records
see state portal
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
Ontario County Records at a Glance
| Record type | Ontario County verified sources |
|---|---|
| Court records | NYSCEF Case Search — New York State Courts Web Civil Supreme Court Case Search |
| Criminal records | NY Division of Criminal Justice Services |
| Wants & warrants | |
| Property records | Ontario County Online Resources (OnCor) | Ontario County, NY… Assessment | Victor, NY - Official Website |
| Vital records | Vital Statistics of New York State |
| Voter records | Ny |
| Professional licenses | Licensee Name Search - NY.Gov |
| Recorded documents | Ontario County Government |
Count of officially verified .gov / .us record sources cataloged for Ontario County. Sources reviewed June 04, 2026.
What Changed in 2026 — Ontario County Records
2026
Ontario County official government portal active
The official Ontario County government website at www.co.ontario.ny.us continues to serve as the canonical local source.
2026
Ontario County court records portal verified
State court system links for Ontario County verified against the New York judiciary portal in 2026.
2026
Ontario County property records online
Ontario County property assessment and recorder office online portal active in 2026.
2026
FBI Identity History Summary (federal complement)
For records that may exist outside New York, the FBI Identity History Summary at fbi.gov complements all county-level state records.
The 4-Step Ontario County Records Pathway
1
Step 1 — Start at the Ontario County clerk/courthouse
For most local records (court cases, property deeds, marriage licenses), the Ontario 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 Ontario County Records
MYTH"Ontario County maintains all criminal records."
FACTCriminal records for Ontario 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 Ontario 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 Ontario County data."
FACTOnly the official New York state repository has verified, current Ontario County data. Free sites often have stale data.
MYTH"The Ontario County assessor's value is what I'll sell my home for."
FACTThe Ontario 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
- www.co.ontario.ny.us — Official Ontario County government website
- iapps.courts.state.ny.us — Court records — official source
- www.ontariocountyny.gov — Property records — official source
- fbi.gov — FBI Identity History Summary (federal record)
Related — Ontario County & New York Records
For records not specific to Ontario 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
Skip the directory — step-by-step New York guides that use these databases:
About Ontario County, New York
Ontario County is located in central New York. The county seat is Canandaigua (official site: http://www.co.ontario.ny.us/).
- Population: 113,012
- Households: 47,080
- Median household income: $76,603
- Median home value: $192,800
- Below poverty line: 9.0%
- Land area: 644.1 sq mi
- Population density: 175.5 people / sq mi
- Public libraries indexed: 12
- NCES schools indexed: 29
Ontario County Online Resources (OnCor) | Ontario County, NY - Official Website
Official Free
Parcel and valuation data for Ontario County — ownership, assessed values, and property characteristics. Searching the official side is free.
Assessment | Victor, NY - Official Website
Official Free
Ontario County Real Property Tax Services Agency 2024 Annual Report (PDF) In accordance with the NYS Real Property Tax Law the Assessment Department locates real property, maintains inventory data, tracks ownership of all property in the town, places value on real property, processes exemptions, prepares and creates the assessment roll, prepares and assists the public by providing information with regard to all of the above.
Bloomfield Central School
Official Free
Welcome to the Online Tax System for Bloomfield Central School. This system allows you to search property tax information from any computer that has access to the Internet. You can view a tax bill, find an assessed valuation, see exemptions on the property, and print a receipt.
Town of Niagara
Official Free
Welcome to the Town of Niagara Tax System. This system allows you to view your tax bill online, see if you have exemptions and print a receipt. Tax payments will be accepted by the Tax Collector at the Town of Niagara beginning January 1st and continue through March 31.
Log In - Image Mate Online
Official Free
Image Mate Online is The Towns of East Bloomfield’s commitment to provide the public with easy access to real property information. The Towns of East Bloomfield, with the cooperation of SDG, provides access to RPS data, tax maps, and photographic images of properties.
Log In - Image Mate Online
Official Free
Town of Canandaigua, with the cooperation of SDG, provides access to RPS data, tax maps, and photographic images of properties.
ATC Taxes - TaxLookup.net
Official Free
Current Tax Collections Choose the town, village, or school district in which you wish to search.
Search for Public Schools - MARCUS WHITMAN HIGH SCHOOL (361230000993)
Official Free
Official public records resource for Ontario County, New York. Staff at offices like this handle lookup questions daily — asking is normal. Older material may require an in-person visit or a mailed request.
Town of Farmington | Ontario County, NY - Official Website
Official Free
Official public records resource for Ontario County, New York. Requests route faster when they cite exactly what this office says it holds. It is the authoritative source for this record type in its jurisdiction.
Town of Gorham | Ontario County, NY - Official Website
Official Free
Official public records resource for Ontario County, New York. Government sites reorganize often; if a link breaks, the office's homepage will carry the new path. Hours, fees, and request forms live here and stay current.
Honeoye Central School
Official Free
Welcome to the Online Tax System for Honeoye Central School. This system allows you to search property tax information from any computer that has access to the Internet. You can: View a tax bill; Find an assessed valuation; See any exemptions on the property, and Print a receipt.
Records & Archives | Ontario County, NY - Official Website
Official Free
New York State Census Records Available for 1845 (Canandaigua heads of household), 1855, 1865, 1875, 1892, 1905, 1915, and 1925. 1845, 1855, 1865, and part of 1875 are indexed and available on the Internet. Maps A variety of maps are available, including the 1874 and 1904 Ontario County Atlas, that show lot numbers, school districts, and landowners; a 1859 wall map showing landowners, and 1851, 1889 and 1908 maps of Canandaigua with street names and owners.
Town of Manchester
Official Free
Property research in Ontario County starts here: parcels, assessments, and tax detail. If a link breaks, start from egov.basgov.com directly.
Document Search Introduction
Official Free
Welcome to the New York City Department of Finance Office of the City Register 's Document Search.
Civil Decisions
Official Free
New York Unified Court System WebCivil — official statewide civil case search.
The History of Ontario County | Ontario County, NY - Official Website
Official Free
This office answers most records requests in Ontario County. If a link breaks, the office homepage at ontariocountyny.gov carries the new path.
Meetings - Agendas & Minutes | Ontario County, NY - Official Website
Official Free
Ontario County, NY — official .gov source for public records.
NYSCEF Case Search — New York State Courts
Official Free
Local Civil Courts ONLY Enter at least the index number and year to find results, or select case type and court type for an exact match · Case Number and Year Separated If you don't know the format, enter the case number and year separately (year is optional)
Web Civil Supreme Court Case Search
Official Free
This system provides past, present and future case information for New York State Civil Supreme Courts Only · Index Search Find New York State Civil Supreme Court cases by index number. Party Search Find New York State Civil Supreme Court cases by party name.
Webcrims NY
Official Free
Court case information for Ontario County — dockets, hearing dates, and case lookups. It is an official government source.
NY Division of Criminal Justice Services
Official Free
Law-enforcement records for Ontario County route through this office. If a link breaks, the office homepage at criminaljustice.ny.gov carries the new path.
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
Election administration for Ontario County runs through this office, from voter rolls to results. Searching the official side is free.
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.
Ontario County Government
Business, Voter & Other
Official public records resource for Ontario County, New York. Records requests here follow the state's open-records act, with response deadlines that bind. What displays online is usually a subset — the office holds more than it posts.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where do I find Ontario County property records?
Ontario County property records are maintained by the County Clerk, which records deeds, mortgages, and liens. Search the Ontario County Online Resources (OnCor) | Ontario County, NY - Official Website portal directly: https://www.ontariocountyny.gov/714/OnCor.
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.
How long does an arrest stay on my record in New York if I wasn't convicted?
In New York, an arrest stays on your record indefinitely unless you petition the court to seal or expunge it, even if charges were dropped or you were found not guilty. New York's rules for clearing non-conviction records are stricter than for convictions — start with the New York DCJS.
What is an ICE detainer (Form I-247)?
An ICE detainer (Form I-247) is a written request from ICE asking a local jail to hold someone for up to 48 additional hours after they would normally be released so ICE can take custody. Federal courts have held that detainers are requests, not orders — whether a jail honors a detainer depends on the local sheriff's policy.