Eagle County Public Records
What Are Public Records in Eagle County?
Public records in Eagle County are defined under Colorado law as all writings made, maintained, or kept by any state or local agency for use in the exercise of functions required or authorized by law or administrative rule. Pursuant to Colorado Revised Statutes § 24-72-202, a "public record" includes any documentary material, regardless of physical form or characteristics, that is prepared, owned, used, or retained by a government body in the performance of an official function.
Members of the public may access a broad range of record types maintained by Eagle County agencies, including:
- Court records — civil, criminal, probate, and family law case files maintained by the Eagle Combined Courts
- Property records — deeds, mortgages, liens, plats, and assessments held by the Eagle County Clerk and Recorder
- Vital records — birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates issued through the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment and the Eagle County Clerk
- Business records — business licenses, permits, and fictitious name registrations maintained by Eagle County and the Colorado Secretary of State
- Tax records — property tax bills and assessment records maintained by the Eagle County Assessor and Treasurer
- Voting and election records — voter registration data and election results maintained by the Eagle County Clerk and Recorder's Elections Division
- Meeting minutes and agendas — Eagle County Board of County Commissioners meeting records available through the Eagle County government website
- Budget and financial documents — annual budgets, audits, and expenditure reports published by Eagle County Finance
- Law enforcement records — arrest logs and incident reports available through the Eagle County Sheriff's Office, subject to applicable exemptions
- Land use and zoning records — planning applications, zoning maps, and development permits maintained by Eagle County Community Development
Is Eagle County an Open Records County?
Eagle County fully complies with Colorado's open records framework, which establishes a strong presumption in favor of public access to government documents. Under the Colorado Open Records Act (CORA), C.R.S. § 24-72-201 et seq., all public records held by state and local agencies are presumed open and available for inspection by any person, unless a specific statutory exemption applies.
Key provisions of CORA relevant to Eagle County residents include:
- Custodians of public records must allow inspection of records during regular business hours and must respond to written requests within three business days.
- Agencies may deny access only when a specific statutory exemption applies, and the burden of proof rests with the agency to justify any denial.
- Colorado's Sunshine Law, codified at C.R.S. § 24-6-402, requires that meetings of governmental bodies be open to the public, and that notice of such meetings be provided in advance.
Eagle County does not maintain a separate county-level open records ordinance that supersedes state law; all public records requests are processed in accordance with CORA. The county's official records request procedures are administered through the Eagle County Clerk and Recorder's Office and individual department custodians.
How to Find Public Records in Eagle County in 2026
Locating public records in Eagle County involves identifying the appropriate custodial office and submitting a request through the correct channel. The following steps outline the standard process:
- Identify the record type and custodial office. Property records are held by the Clerk and Recorder; court records are maintained by the Eagle Combined Courts; vital records may require contact with the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.
- Search online portals first. Eagle County provides online access to property records, assessor data, and recorded documents through the Eagle County Clerk and Recorder's online search portal.
- Submit a written CORA request. For records not available online, members of the public may submit a written Colorado Open Records Act request directly to the relevant department. Requests should identify the records sought with reasonable specificity.
- Visit the office in person. Members of the public may inspect records in person at the relevant county office during regular business hours without submitting a formal written request for many record types.
- Access court records. Civil, criminal, probate, and family court records may be accessed through the Eagle Combined Courts. Members of the public seeking judicial records may contact the court directly or use the Colorado Judicial Branch's online case search tools.
- Allow the statutory response period. Under CORA, custodians must respond within three business days; complex requests may require up to seven additional working days with written notice.
How Much Does It Cost to Get Public Records in Eagle County?
Eagle County assesses fees for public records in accordance with the fee schedule established under Colorado law. Current fees vary by record type and the office providing the records.
- Standard copy fees: Pursuant to C.R.S. § 24-72-205, agencies may charge a reasonable fee for copies, not to exceed $0.25 per page for standard paper copies.
- Certified copies: Certified copies of recorded documents, such as deeds or marriage certificates, typically carry a higher fee set by the recording office. The Eagle County Clerk and Recorder currently charges $1.00 per page for certified copies of recorded documents.
- Research fees: When a request requires more than one hour of staff research time, agencies may charge a reasonable hourly rate for the time exceeding the first hour.
- Electronic records: Fees for electronic copies or data extracts may differ from paper copy fees and are assessed on a case-by-case basis.
- Accepted payment methods: Eagle County offices generally accept cash, check, money order, and credit or debit card payments; individual offices may vary.
- Fee waivers: Fee waivers may be available for indigent requestors or when disclosure is determined to be primarily in the public interest. Requestors seeking a waiver should submit a written request explaining the basis for the waiver at the time of the records request.
Does Eagle County Have Free Public Records?
Free inspection of public records is available in Eagle County, consistent with the requirements of Colorado's Open Records Act. Members of the public are entitled to inspect public records in person at the custodial office at no charge during regular business hours; fees apply only when copies are requested.
The following free resources are currently available:
- Eagle County Assessor's online property search — property ownership, assessment values, and parcel data are available at no cost through the Eagle County Assessor's Office
- Eagle County Clerk and Recorder's recorded document search — deeds, liens, and other recorded instruments may be searched online at no charge through the Clerk and Recorder's portal
- Eagle County Board of County Commissioners meeting minutes and agendas — published at no cost on the Eagle County government website
- Colorado court case information — basic case information for Eagle County court proceedings is available through the Colorado Judicial Branch's online search tools at no charge
- Eagle County election and voter information — election results and candidate filings are published free of charge by the Eagle County Clerk and Recorder's Elections Division
Who Can Request Public Records in Eagle County?
Under Colorado's Open Records Act, any person may request access to public records held by Eagle County agencies. The statute does not restrict access based on residency, citizenship, or organizational affiliation.
Specific eligibility provisions include:
- No residency requirement: Non-residents of Eagle County and non-residents of Colorado retain the same right to request public records as county residents.
- No identification required: Requestors are generally not required to provide identification when requesting public records, unless the record type involves restricted access categories.
- No stated purpose required: Members of the public are not required to state the reason for their records request under CORA for most record categories.
- Restrictions for specific record types: Certain records, such as criminal justice records containing personal identifying information, juvenile records, or sealed court files, may require the requestor to demonstrate a legal right of access or provide identification.
- Requesting your own records: Individuals requesting records pertaining to themselves, such as their own criminal history or vital records, may be required to provide government-issued identification and, in some cases, a notarized authorization form.
- Third-party records: Requests for records pertaining to another individual may be subject to additional review to protect personal privacy interests under applicable exemptions.
What Records Are Confidential in Eagle County?
Certain categories of records held by Eagle County agencies are exempt from public disclosure under Colorado law. The following records are currently protected from routine public access:
- Sealed court records — records sealed by judicial order are not available for public inspection
- Juvenile records — records pertaining to juvenile delinquency proceedings are confidential under Colorado law
- Ongoing criminal investigation records — law enforcement records related to active investigations may be withheld to protect investigative integrity
- Personal identifying information — Social Security numbers, financial account data, and similar identifiers are redacted from disclosed records
- Medical records — protected under both state law and the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)
- Adoption records — adoption proceedings and related documents are sealed by statute
- Child welfare and protective services records — records of the Eagle County Department of Human Services relating to child protection are confidential
- Personnel records — employee personnel files are exempt from disclosure, with limited exceptions for certain public employee information
- Trade secrets and proprietary business information — submitted in connection with licensing or permitting applications
- Security plans and critical infrastructure details — withheld to protect public safety
Pursuant to C.R.S. § 24-72-204, the Colorado Open Records Act enumerates specific categories of records that custodians are authorized or required to withhold. Where a record contains both disclosable and exempt information, the custodian is required to redact the exempt portions and release the remainder. Colorado courts apply a balancing test in cases where the public interest in disclosure may outweigh the interest in confidentiality.
Eagle County Recorder's Office: Contact Information and Hours
The Eagle County Clerk and Recorder's Office serves as the primary custodian of property records, recorded documents, vital records, and election records for Eagle County.
Eagle County Clerk and Recorder's Office 500 Broadway, Eagle, CO 81631 (970) 328-8710 Public Counter Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Eagle County Clerk and Recorder
Eagle County Assessor's Office 500 Broadway, Eagle, CO 81631 (970) 328-8640 Public Counter Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Eagle County Assessor
Eagle County Sheriff's Office 885 Chambers Ave., Eagle, CO 81631 (970) 328-8500 Public Counter Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Eagle County Sheriff's Office
Eagle Combined Courts 885 Chambers Ave., Eagle, CO 81631 (970) 328-6373 Public Counter Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Eagle Combined Courts
Eagle County Department of Human Services 551 Broadway, Eagle, CO 81631 (970) 328-8840 Public Counter Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Eagle County Human Services