Hudson Valley
Westchester County is home to 1,004,457 people in the Hudson Valley region. Historic estates, farm-to-table towns, and Hudson River art and mountains.
How Westchester County works
County government does some local jobs, but not all of them. Cities, towns, villages, schools, and courts each keep their own work.
A parcel's value usually comes from the city or town assessor, while the county property office backs that up with tax maps and parcel details. Deeds and mortgages live with the County Clerk — and the tax bill itself may be collected by a different office again.
Most building permits in Westchester County start with the city, town, or village. County public health may join the job for a well, septic system, food business, or another health rule.
County offices are often the right place for health programs, benefits, family services, voting help, and emergency alerts. The office may be in another town, but it serves the whole county.
Ordinary example
The city, town, or village handles the building and zoning start. County public health may handle the septic work. The County Clerk keeps the deed, and the school district controls its own tax and enrollment line. The county name alone does not choose every office.
Property tax in Westchester County
The FY2025 source rows combine county + town/city + school on a full-value basis. On a $300,000 home, that is roughly $4,226–$8,699 a year before STAR, exemptions, village taxes, and special-district charges. This is not a county minimum or maximum bill; it is a broad comparison across different municipalities and school districts.
Who handles this here
New York divides everyday work among municipal, county, state, court, and City offices. This is the routing map. Confirm current forms, fees, hours, and deadlines on the official office page before acting.
Open the official Westchester County website ->County service directory
These links open the responsible county department, not a general homepage. A city, town, court, school district, or state agency may still own the final step.
County Clerk and land records
Westchester County ClerkDeeds, mortgages, recorded documents, copies, and the county's official records handoff.
Real property and tax maps
Westchester County Tax CommissionCounty tax maps, parcel resources, and assessment support. Check whether the county or local assessor owns the roll. The Tax Commission oversees countywide assessment administration and equalization; local assessors handle individual parcel assessments.
Elections and voter help
Westchester County Board of ElectionsRegistration, polling places, absentee or early-mail voting, and local election information.
Public health
Westchester County Department of HealthLocal public-health programs, environmental-health contacts, and current notices.
Social services
Westchester County Department of Social ServicesCounty-administered benefits, family services, adult services, and help finding the right program.
Emergency management and alerts
Westchester County Department of Emergency ServicesPreparedness, local emergency information, and the county's route to public alerts.
Official county pages reviewed 2026-07-13. Confirm current forms, fees, hours, and deadlines with the office before acting.
Probate, administration, and small estates
Westchester County Surrogate's CourtNew York Courts routes estate proceedings through the Surrogate's Court in the county of the person's domicile.
Driver and vehicle counter service
The serving DMV officeOffice ownership and available transactions vary. Use DMV's location finder before traveling, and check whether an appointment is expected.
Birth, death, marriage, and divorce records
The office that holds that event recordThe right owner depends on the event, date, and whether it happened in New York City. The records guide sorts those lanes first.
Confirm the current service arrangement on the responsible official page.
Local stories & notes
Short, sourced notes tied to this county, with the local color and the things worth knowing before you make a plan.
History & Culture
Sleepy Hollow got its name from Washington Irving's 1820 tale of the Headless Horseman. Irving himself is buried in Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, where his simple gravestone is the most-visited spot.
History & Culture
Mount Kisco's unusual government shape starts with a railroad village that later separated from Bedford and New Castle.
History & Culture
Harrison village history is tied to a rare town-village frame, local historian pages, and a Westchester identity that crosses hamlets.
Cars & Driving
Mount Kisco drivers should separate permit parking, meter rules, handicap permits, and enforcement hours before leaving a car downtown or near the station.
Cars & Driving
Before a Westchester DMV trip, use the NYS office locator and document guide so the office, appointment, and proofs match the errand.
History & Culture
Ossining village history connects the Hudson riverfront, older settlement, and a distinct village identity in Westchester.
History & Culture
The Capitol Theatre gives Port Chester a 1926 theater, downtown arts life, and a visible Westchester Avenue anchor.
History & Culture
Bedford Village Green keeps court, preservation, Revolutionary War memory, and local civic life close together.
History & Culture
Rockefeller State Park Preserve gives Mount Pleasant carriage roads, open fields, and Pocantico estate landscape in public view.
Official starting points
Start with the county website for departments and local services. Use ORPTS for assessor, equalization-rate, and municipal profile data. Exact forms and deadlines still come from the office that owns the work.
Use this carefully: The county website comes from New York State's locality directory. Follow any redirect and confirm the current department, form, deadline, and parcel-specific details before acting.
Tax rates: NYS Dept of Taxation & Finance (ORPTS), Real Property Tax Rates and Levy Data by Municipality, data.ny.gov dataset iq85-sdzs. (FY2025). Population: U.S. Census 2020.
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