Davis County Public Records

What Are Public Records in Davis County?

Public records in Davis County are defined according to Utah's Government Records Access and Management Act (GRAMA), specifically under § 63G-2-103, as "all books, letters, documents, papers, maps, plans, photographs, films, cards, tapes, recordings, electronic data, or other documentary materials regardless of physical form or characteristics" that are prepared, owned, received, or retained by a governmental entity where the record is reproducible.

Davis County maintains a comprehensive collection of public records that are accessible to citizens. These records include:

Court Records: Civil, criminal, probate, and family court proceedings maintained by the Davis County District Court
Property Records: Deeds, mortgages, liens, and property assessments maintained by the Davis County Recorder's Office
Vital Records: Birth certificates, death certificates, marriage licenses, and divorce decrees maintained by the Davis County Clerk/Auditor's Office
Business Records: Business licenses, permits, and fictitious business name registrations
Tax Records: Property tax information, assessment records, and tax rolls maintained by the Davis County Assessor
Voting and Election Records: Voter registration data, election results, and campaign finance reports
Meeting Minutes and Agendas: Records of County Commission meetings, board proceedings, and public hearings
Budget and Financial Documents: County budgets, expenditure reports, and financial statements
Law Enforcement Records: Arrest logs and incident reports (with certain restrictions)
Land Use and Zoning Records: Planning documents, zoning maps, and building permits

The Davis County Clerk serves as the designated Chief Administrative Officer under GRAMA for Davis County and oversees the public records request process. Different departments maintain specific record types, with the Recorder's Office handling property records, the Clerk/Auditor managing vital records, and the Assessor's Office maintaining tax assessment records.

Is Davis County an Open Records County?

Davis County fully complies with Utah's Government Records Access and Management Act (GRAMA), codified under Utah Code § 63G-2. This comprehensive state law establishes the framework for public access to government records throughout Utah, including Davis County.

Under § 63G-2-201(1), the statute clearly states: "Every person has the right to inspect a public record free of charge, and the right to take a copy of a public record during normal working hours, subject to Sections 63G-2-203 and 63G-2-204." This provision forms the foundation of Davis County's open records policy.

Davis County has implemented specific procedures to facilitate public access to records in accordance with state law. The county maintains a dedicated public records request portal where citizens can submit formal requests for various county documents.

The county also adheres to Utah's Open and Public Meetings Act (Utah Code § 52-4), which requires that meetings of public bodies be open to the public, with proper notice given, and that minutes and recordings of these meetings be made available for public inspection.

Davis County has established a records management program that classifies records according to GRAMA's provisions, ensuring that public records are accessible while protecting private, protected, and controlled records as defined by state law. The county's commitment to transparency is further demonstrated through its online resources that provide direct access to many commonly requested records.

How to Find Public Records in Davis County in 2026

Members of the public seeking access to Davis County records may utilize several methods to locate and obtain the information they need. The county provides multiple pathways for records access:

Online Access: Many records are available through the county's official website. Citizens may access:
- Property records through the Davis County Property Search portal
- Meeting agendas and minutes via the county's meeting portal
- Court records through the Utah Courts XChange system
Submit a GRAMA Request: For records not available online, individuals may submit a formal request under the Government Records Access and Management Act:
- Complete the official GRAMA request form available on the County Clerk's website
- Submit the form via email, mail, or in person to the appropriate department
- Provide a clear description of the records sought
- Include contact information for response
Visit County Offices: Records may be inspected in person during regular business hours:
- Identify the department that maintains the desired records
- Call ahead to ensure availability and prepare any necessary documentation
- Bring valid identification if required for specific record types
Historical Records: For historical land records dating back to 1870, visit the County Recorder's Office or access the Utah State Archives for historical divorce records and other archived county documents.

The county typically responds to records requests within 10 business days as required by § 63G-2-204. For expedited requests, citizens may request an earlier response if they can demonstrate an urgent need for the records.

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

Davis County assesses fees for public records in accordance with Utah Code § 63G-2-203, which permits governmental entities to charge reasonable fees covering the actual cost of providing records. The current fee structure for Davis County public records is as follows:

Inspection: No charge for inspecting records during regular business hours
Standard Copies: $0.25 per page for black and white copies
Color Copies: $1.00 per page
Large Format Documents: $5.00 per page for maps, plats, and other oversized documents
Digital Records: $10.00 per CD/DVD for electronic copies
Staff Time: $20.00 per hour for research, compilation, or redaction exceeding 15 minutes (first 15 minutes are free)
Certification: $2.00 per document for certified copies

Specific record types may have statutorily established fees:

Marriage Licenses: $50.00
Birth Certificates: $20.00 for the first copy, $8.00 for additional copies ordered at the same time
Death Certificates: $18.00 for the first copy, $10.00 for additional copies ordered at the same time
Recorded Documents: $10.00 for the first page, $2.00 for each additional page

Davis County accepts payment by cash, check, money order, and major credit cards. Some departments may also accept online payments for certain record types.

Fee waivers may be granted if the request primarily benefits the public rather than the requester, if the requester is the subject of the record, or if the requester's legal rights are directly implicated by the information in the record. To request a fee waiver, individuals must include a statement explaining the basis for the waiver with their GRAMA request.

Does Davis County Have Free Public Records?

Davis County provides several categories of public records at no cost to requesters, in accordance with Utah's commitment to government transparency. The following records are currently available free of charge:

Online Property Information: Basic property ownership and assessment data is freely accessible through the Davis County Property Search portal, allowing citizens to view property details without fees.
Meeting Records: County Commission meeting agendas, minutes, and recordings are available at no cost on the county's official website.
Election Results: Current and historical election results can be accessed free of charge through the County Clerk's elections division.
Budget Documents: The county's annual budget, financial reports, and audited financial statements are available for free public inspection.
Public Notices: All public notices issued by the county are freely accessible online.
Record Inspection: As mandated by Utah Code § 63G-2-201, Davis County permits free in-person inspection of public records during regular business hours.

The Davis County Clerk's Office maintains a public terminal where citizens can view certain records at no cost. Additionally, the Davis County Library System provides free public access to computers where residents can access online county records.

For records that are not available free of charge, the county assesses fees only to recover the actual cost of providing the record, as permitted by state law. The first 15 minutes of staff time spent responding to a request are provided at no cost, with fees applying only to requests requiring more extensive research or compilation.

Who Can Request Public Records in Davis County?

Under Utah's Government Records Access and Management Act (GRAMA), specifically § 63G-2-201, any person has the right to request and receive public records from Davis County. The law establishes broad eligibility criteria for records requesters:

Residency: There is no residency requirement for requesting public records in Davis County. Both Utah residents and non-residents may submit records requests.
Identification: For most public records, requesters are not required to provide identification. However, certain sensitive records may require verification of identity, particularly when the requester is seeking records about themselves.
Purpose Statement: Generally, requesters are not required to explain why they want a record or how they intend to use it. As stated in § 63G-2-201(7), "A governmental entity may not require a person to provide a reason for a request to inspect a public record."
Special Categories: Different rules apply to specific record types:
- For vital records (birth, death certificates), only eligible individuals as defined by Utah Code § 26-2-22 may obtain copies
- For adoption records, access is restricted to parties to the adoption or by court order
- For private records, only the subject of the record, their legal representative, or those with written consent may access them
Business Entities: Corporations, organizations, and other legal entities may request public records through authorized representatives.
Media Representatives: Journalists and media organizations have the same rights of access as other members of the public, with no special privileges or restrictions.

When requesting records about oneself, individuals must provide sufficient identification to verify their identity. For requests concerning another person's private records, the requester must provide written authorization from that individual or demonstrate legal authority to access those records.

What Records Are Confidential in Davis County?

Davis County maintains certain records as confidential in accordance with Utah Code § 63G-2-302 through § 63G-2-305, which designates records as private, controlled, or protected. The following categories of records are not available for public inspection:

Private Records: Information concerning individuals that, if disclosed, would constitute an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy:
- Social Security numbers, driver's license numbers, and other personal identifiers
- Medical, psychiatric, and psychological data
- Library user records
- Certain personnel records including performance evaluations
- Individual financial information not related to public business
Controlled Records: Medical, psychiatric, or psychological records that:
- Contain medical, psychiatric, or psychological data
- Would be detrimental to the subject's mental health if released
- Would be detrimental to public safety if released
Protected Records: Information that is protected from disclosure for various policy reasons:
- Records subject to attorney-client privilege
- Records prepared for pending or reasonably anticipated litigation
- Trade secrets and proprietary commercial information
- Records that would jeopardize life, safety, or property if disclosed
- Records that would interfere with investigations, audits, or disciplinary proceedings
- Records that would reveal the location of historic, prehistoric, or biological resources
- Records that would identify anonymous donors to government entities
Other Exempt Records:
- Juvenile court records (governed by § 78A-6-209)
- Adoption records (governed by § 78B-6-141)
- Child welfare records (governed by § 62A-4a-412)
- Records sealed by court order
- Certain law enforcement records related to ongoing investigations

Davis County applies a balancing test as required by § 63G-2-201(5)(b) when determining whether to release certain records, weighing the public's right to access against privacy interests, public safety concerns, and other statutory protections.

Records that contain both public and non-public information may be released with the protected information redacted, as provided in § 63G-2-308. The county is required to justify any denial of access by citing the specific provisions of law that exempt the record from disclosure.

Davis County Recorder's Office: Contact Information and Hours

Davis County Recorder's Office
61 South Main Street, Room 101
Farmington, UT 84025
(801) 451-3234
Davis County Recorder

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

The Davis County Recorder's Office maintains and provides access to real property records for Davis County, including deeds, mortgages, liens, plats, and other land records dating back to 1870. The office is responsible for recording, indexing, and maintaining these documents in accordance with Utah Code § 17-21.

Services provided by the Recorder's Office include:

Recording real estate documents
Providing copies of recorded documents
Maintaining subdivision plats and surveys
Issuing certified copies of recorded documents
Maintaining the county's geographic information system (GIS)

The public counter is available during regular business hours for in-person assistance. No appointment is necessary for general inquiries or to request copies of recorded documents. For extensive research projects, contacting the office in advance is recommended.

The Recorder's Office maintains a public research area equipped with computer terminals where members of the public may search property records at no charge. Staff members are available to assist with navigating the records system, though they cannot provide legal advice regarding property matters.

For those unable to visit in person, many property records are accessible through the county's online property search portal. This service allows users to search by owner name, property address, or parcel number.

Lookup Public Records in Davis County

Request public records from the Davis County Clerk's Office

Search property records using the Davis County Property Search portal

Access property information through Davis County Property Search 2.0

Find historical land records at the Davis County Recorder's Office

Research historical divorce records through the Utah State Archives