Understanding Data Units

The Recorder’s Office offers Data Services to provide convenient online access to digital property records. Because the volume and size of records vary, access is measured through a system of Data Units, which represent the amount of data used during your session. Each action - such as searching for a record, opening a document, or viewing a map - uses a specific number of Data Units based on the search activity, document type, and file size.

Our office has carefully evaluated each record type to assign fair and consistent Data Unit values. Generally speaking, each search or abstract retrieval uses 1 Data Unit and each page of a document you view uses 1 Data Unit per page. Plats and maps are larger files and therefore use 20 Data Units per page. For example, a three-page plat map would use 60 Data Units. If you plan to review multiple plats or maps, please keep in mind that your Data Units may be used up more quickly.

We also offer several different Data Unit packages to meet a variety of customer needs from small, short-term research to larger ongoing projects. If you’re unsure which package is best for you or would like help estimating your expected usage, please contact the Recorder’s Office and our staff will be happy to assist.