Clackamas County Public Records

What Are Public Records in Clackamas County?

Public records in Clackamas County are defined according to Oregon Revised Statutes § 192.311, which states that public records include "any writing that contains information relating to the conduct of the public's business... prepared, owned, used or retained by a public body regardless of physical form or characteristics." These records document the activities and operations of government agencies serving Clackamas County residents.

Clackamas County maintains numerous types of public records, including:

• Court Records: Civil, criminal, probate, family court cases, and traffic citations maintained by the Clackamas County Circuit Court
• Property Records: Deeds, mortgages, liens, assessments, and property tax information
• Vital Records: Birth certificates (limited to 1903-1930), death certificates (limited to 1903-1962), marriage licenses (from 1840), and divorce records
• Business Records: Business licenses, permits, and fictitious business name registrations
• Tax Records: Property tax statements, assessment records, and tax maps
• Voting and Election Records: Voter registration information, election results, and campaign finance reports
• Meeting Minutes and Agendas: County commission meetings, advisory boards, and special districts
• Budget and Financial Documents: County budgets, expenditure reports, and financial audits
• Law Enforcement Records: Arrest logs, incident reports (with restrictions), and jail records
• Land Use and Zoning Records: Building permits, zoning maps, and land use applications

The Clackamas County Clerk's Office serves as the primary custodian for many county records, while specialized records are maintained by their respective departments. The County Records Guide provides a comprehensive inventory of historical and current records maintained by various county offices.

Is Clackamas County an Open Records County?

Clackamas County adheres to Oregon's Public Records Law as codified in Oregon Revised Statutes § 192.314, which establishes the fundamental principle that "every person has a right to inspect any public record of a public body in this state." This statute creates a presumption of openness for government records in Clackamas County.

The law specifically states: "The custodian of a public record may not destroy, alter, or impair the record in response to a request to inspect or receive a copy of the record." This provision ensures the integrity of public records during the request process.

Clackamas County has implemented its own Public Records Request Policy in compliance with state law. This policy outlines procedures for requesting records, establishes reasonable timeframes for responses, and details the fee structure for record production.

The county also complies with Oregon's Public Meetings Law (ORS § 192.610-690), often referred to as the "sunshine law," which requires that meetings of public bodies be open to the public with proper notice.

While Clackamas County maintains a strong commitment to transparency, certain records may be exempt from disclosure under specific provisions of Oregon law, as detailed in ORS § 192.345 and § 192.355.

How to Find Public Records in Clackamas County in 2026

Members of the public seeking records from Clackamas County may follow these steps to obtain the information they need:

1. Identify the appropriate department: Determine which county department or office maintains the records you seek. The Clackamas County website provides a directory of departments and services.

2. Submit a formal request: While some records are available online, others require a formal public records request. Requests may be submitted through:

   • The county's online public records request portal
   • Email to the specific department
   • In-person at the appropriate county office
   • Mail to the department's physical address

3. For court records: The Clackamas County Circuit Court maintains its own records system. Court records can be accessed through:

   • Oregon Judicial Department's Oregon eCourt Case Information system
   • In-person at the courthouse public access terminals
   • Formal request to the court clerk for certified copies

4. For property records: The County Assessor's Office provides property information through:

   • Online property records search
   • In-person research at the County Assessor's Office

5. For vital records: Birth, death, marriage, and divorce records can be requested through:

   • The Oregon Vital Records Office for recent records
   • The Clackamas County Clerk for historical records
   • The Oregon State Archives for older historical records

6. For law enforcement records: Contact the Clackamas County Sheriff's Office for incident reports, arrest records, and other law enforcement documents.

When submitting requests, include specific information such as names, dates, addresses, or case numbers to facilitate efficient processing. Pursuant to ORS § 192.324, agencies must acknowledge receipt of public records requests within five business days and complete the request within ten business days, when practicable.

How Much Does It Cost to Get Public Records in Clackamas County?

Clackamas County charges fees for public records in accordance with Oregon Revised Statutes § 192.324(4), which permits agencies to establish fees "reasonably calculated to reimburse the public body for the public body's actual cost of making public records available."

Current standard fees for Clackamas County public records include:

• Paper copies: $0.25 per page for standard black and white (8.5" x 11")
• Color copies: $1.00 per page
• Large format documents: $3.00-$10.00 per page depending on size
• Electronic records: $10.00 per CD/DVD or USB drive (plus actual cost of the storage device)
• Staff research time: $40.00-$75.00 per hour depending on employee classification (first 30 minutes may be free)
• Attorney review time: $150.00-$200.00 per hour when legal review is required

Specialized records may have different fee structures:

• Court records: $0.25 per page for copies; $5.00 for certified copies through the Clackamas County Circuit Court
• Property records: $10.00 for the first page and $5.00 for each additional page for recorded documents
• Marriage licenses: $50.00 for a new license; $7.75 for certified copies of existing licenses
• Maps and plats: $15.00-$30.00 depending on size and complexity

Accepted payment methods include:

• Cash (in-person only)
• Personal checks
• Money orders
• Credit/debit cards (subject to processing fees)
• Cashier's checks

The county may require prepayment if estimated fees exceed $25.00. Fee waivers or reductions may be granted when the request is determined to be in the public interest, as provided by ORS § 192.324(5).

Does Clackamas County Have Free Public Records?

Clackamas County provides several options for accessing public records at no cost:

Free inspection of non-exempt public records is available during normal business hours at the respective county offices, as guaranteed by Oregon Revised Statutes § 192.324. Members of the public may examine records without charge, though advance appointments are recommended for extensive research.

The Clackamas County Circuit Court provides free access to view court records maintained in the Oregon eCourt Information system at public terminals located in the courthouse. No appointment is necessary to use these terminals during regular business hours.

Several online resources offer free access to certain county records:

• Clackamas County Property Information Search: Free access to property ownership, assessment, and tax information
• Clackamas County Board of Commissioners: Meeting agendas, minutes, and video recordings
• Clackamas County Budget Documents: Annual budgets and financial reports
• Clackamas County Elections: Election results, voter pamphlets, and candidate information
• Clackamas County GIS Maps: Geographic information system maps and data

Additionally, the county may waive fees for small requests (typically fewer than 10 pages) or when the request is determined to be in the public interest and primarily benefits the general public.

Who Can Request Public Records in Clackamas County?

Under Oregon Revised Statutes § 192.314, "every person" has the right to inspect public records in Oregon, including those maintained by Clackamas County. This broad eligibility extends to:

• Oregon residents
• Non-residents of Oregon
• Business entities
• Media organizations
• Non-profit organizations
• Government agencies
• Foreign nationals

Requestors are not generally required to:

• Provide identification (except for certain protected records)
• State the purpose of their request
• Explain how they intend to use the records
• Be physically present in Oregon

However, certain record types have specific eligibility restrictions:

• Vital records: Birth and death certificates are restricted to immediate family members, legal representatives, or those with a "direct and tangible interest" as defined by ORS § 432.380
• Medical records: Protected by HIPAA and accessible only to the patient or their authorized representative
• Juvenile records: Generally confidential with limited access to parents, guardians, or by court order
• Concealed handgun license information: Available only to the license holder or by court order
• Social service records: Protected by various state and federal privacy laws

When requesting records about oneself, identification may be required to verify identity and prevent unauthorized disclosure of personal information. For requests involving sensitive or protected information, the county may require a signed release form or other documentation establishing the requestor's legal right to access the records.

What Records Are Confidential in Clackamas County?

Clackamas County maintains certain records that are exempt from public disclosure under Oregon law. Oregon Revised Statutes § 192.345 and § 192.355 establish numerous exemptions from disclosure, including:

• Personal privacy information: Social Security numbers, driver's license numbers, financial account information, and medical information
• Sealed court records: Cases that have been expunged or sealed by court order
• Juvenile records: Court proceedings, police reports, and social service records involving minors
• Ongoing investigations: Law enforcement records that could interfere with an active investigation or prosecution
• Attorney-client privileged communications: Legal advice and strategy discussions between county officials and legal counsel
• Personnel records: Employee evaluations, disciplinary actions, and personal information (with limited exceptions for certain employment information)
• Trade secrets and proprietary information: Confidential business information submitted to the county
• Security information: Building security plans, emergency response protocols, and critical infrastructure details
• Public safety plans: Tactical response plans, security measures, and vulnerability assessments
• Adoption records: Sealed except by court order or through the Oregon Voluntary Adoption Registry
• Child welfare records: Reports of child abuse, foster care records, and protective services information
• Medical and mental health records: Protected by HIPAA and state privacy laws
• Certain personal contact information: Home addresses, personal telephone numbers, and email addresses of public employees and officials

Oregon law applies a "conditional exemption" to many records, requiring agencies to apply a public interest balancing test. This test weighs whether "the public interest in disclosure clearly outweighs the public interest in confidentiality." The county must articulate specific reasons for withholding conditionally exempt records.

Even when records contain exempt information, the county must provide redacted versions when possible, removing only the specific information that is exempt from disclosure while releasing the remainder of the record.

Clackamas County Recorder's Office: Contact Information and Hours

Clackamas County Clerk's Recording Office
2051 Kaen Road, Suite 310
Oregon City, OR 97045
503-655-8551
Clackamas County Clerk

Hours of Operation: Monday - Thursday: 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM Friday: 8:30 AM - 3:00 PM Closed on weekends and county-observed holidays

The Recording Office maintains and provides access to:

• Real property records (deeds, mortgages, liens)
• Marriage licenses
• Domestic partnerships
• Military discharge records (DD-214)
• County Board of Commissioners records
• Historical records

Clackamas County Circuit Court Records Department
807 Main Street
Oregon City, OR 97045
503-655-8447
Clackamas County Circuit Court

Hours of Operation: Monday - Friday: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM Closed on weekends and state-observed holidays

Clackamas County Assessor's Office
2051 Kaen Road, Suite 310
Oregon City, OR 97045
503-655-8671
Clackamas County Assessor

Hours of Operation: Monday - Thursday: 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM Friday: 8:30 AM - 3:00 PM Closed on weekends and county-observed holidays

Clackamas County Sheriff's Office Records Unit
2223 Kaen Road
Oregon City, OR 97045
503-655-8218
Clackamas County Sheriff

Hours of Operation: Monday - Friday: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM Closed on weekends and county-observed holidays

Lookup Public Records in Clackamas County

Clackamas County Circuit Court records

Clackamas County Sheriff's Office records

Court records payment information

Court records request procedures

Clackamas County historical records inventory