Garfield County Public Records

What Are Public Records in Garfield County?

Public records in Garfield County are defined under the Colorado Open Records Act (CORA), § 24-72-202 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. Members of the public may inspect a broad range of documents held by county offices, courts, and administrative bodies.

The following categories of records are currently available through various Garfield County offices:

Court records — Civil, criminal, probate, and family law case files are maintained by the Garfield County District and County Courts, which operate under the Colorado Judicial Branch within the 9th Judicial District
Property records — Deeds, mortgages, liens, and recorded instruments dating back to February 21, 1883, are maintained by the Garfield County Clerk and Recorder; members of the public may search these documents through the Garfield County Clerk's recorded documents portal
Vital records — Birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates are issued through the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment and, for marriage licenses, through the Garfield County Clerk and Recorder
Business records — Trade name registrations, business licenses, and permits are maintained by the Garfield County Clerk and Recorder and relevant municipal offices
Tax records — Property tax assessments and payment histories are maintained by the Garfield County Assessor and Treasurer
Voting and election records — Voter registration data and election results are maintained by the Garfield County Clerk and Recorder, Elections Division
Meeting minutes and agendas — Board of County Commissioners meeting minutes, agendas, and resolutions are available through the Garfield County Manager's Office
Budget and financial documents — Annual budgets, audits, and expenditure reports are maintained by the Garfield County Finance Department
Law enforcement records — Arrest logs and incident reports, where permitted by law, are maintained by the Garfield County Sheriff's Office
Land use and zoning records — Land use applications, zoning maps, and planning documents are maintained by the Garfield County Community Development Department

Is Garfield County an Open Records County?

Garfield County fully complies with Colorado's statewide open records framework. Under § 24-72-203 of the Colorado Open Records Act, all public records are open for inspection by any person at reasonable times, except as otherwise provided by law. This statute establishes a presumption of openness, meaning that the burden falls on the custodial agency to justify any denial of access rather than on the requesting party to justify the need for disclosure.

Key provisions currently in effect include:

Custodians must allow inspection of public records during regular business hours
Written requests must receive a response within three business days; if additional time is needed, the custodian must notify the requester and may extend the response period up to seven additional working days
Denial of access must be made in writing and must cite the specific statutory exemption relied upon

Garfield County does not maintain a separate county-level open records ordinance that supersedes state law; all county offices operate in accordance with CORA and Colorado's Sunshine Law, codified at § 24-6-402, which requires that meetings of public bodies be open to the public.

How to Find Public Records in Garfield County in 2026

Members of the public may obtain Garfield County public records through several channels, depending on the record type sought.

Step 1 — Identify the custodial office. Determine which county department or court maintains the record. Property and vital records are held by the Clerk and Recorder; court records are held by the District or County Court; assessment records are held by the Assessor's Office.

Step 2 — Search online portals first. The Garfield County Clerk and Recorder provides an online search tool for recorded documents. The Colorado Judicial Branch's trial court page for Garfield County provides information on accessing court records through the 9th Judicial District.

Step 3 — Submit a written CORA request if needed. For records not available online, members of the public may submit a written request to the appropriate custodian. Requests should identify the record with reasonable specificity, including the type of document, relevant dates, and names of parties involved. No specific form is mandated by state law, though individual offices may provide optional request forms.

Step 4 — Appear in person. Members of the public may inspect records in person at the relevant office during posted public counter hours. Identification may be required for certain restricted record categories.

Step 5 — Request copies. Upon inspection, requesters may ask for paper or electronic copies, subject to applicable fees.

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

Current fees for public records in Garfield County are governed by § 24-72-205 of the Colorado Open Records Act, which authorizes custodians to charge a reasonable fee for copies but prohibits fees that exceed the actual cost of reproduction.

Standard fees currently in effect include:

Paper copies — Typically $0.25 per page for standard black-and-white copies; fees may vary by office
Certified copies — Vital records and recorded documents carry higher certification fees; the Clerk and Recorder currently charges $1.00 per page for recorded document copies, plus a certification fee where applicable
Electronic records — Fees for electronic copies or data extracts are assessed based on the actual cost of duplication and, where applicable, staff time for research exceeding one hour
Research fees — Custodians may charge for staff time spent on requests that require more than one hour of research, at a rate not to exceed the hourly salary of the lowest-paid employee capable of fulfilling the request

Accepted payment methods vary by office but generally include cash, check, and credit or debit card. Fee waivers are not broadly mandated under Colorado law, though individual offices retain discretion to waive fees in cases of demonstrated public interest or indigency.

Does Garfield County Have Free Public Records?

Free inspection of public records is available at all Garfield County offices during regular business hours, consistent with the requirements of § 24-72-203. No fee may be charged solely for the act of inspecting a record in person.

The following free online resources are currently available:

The Garfield County Clerk's recorded documents search allows members of the public to search property records, deeds, and other recorded instruments at no cost
The Colorado Judicial Branch provides online access to court case information through its statewide case management system, with basic case lookup available at no charge
The Garfield County Assessor's Office provides free online access to property assessment data and ownership information through the county's official website
The Garfield County Board of County Commissioners posts meeting agendas, minutes, and resolutions on the county's official website at no charge

Who Can Request Public Records in Garfield County?

Any person may request public records in Garfield County, regardless of residency, citizenship, or stated purpose. Under § 24-72-203 of the Colorado Open Records Act, the right of inspection is extended broadly and does not require the requester to be a Colorado resident or to demonstrate a specific interest in the records sought.

Specific eligibility provisions currently in effect include:

Residency — Requesters are not required to be residents of Garfield County or the State of Colorado
Identification — Custodians may not require identification as a condition of inspecting most public records; however, identification may be required for records subject to restricted access, such as certain law enforcement or vital records
Statement of purpose — Requesters are generally not required to state the reason for their request; however, for records that require a balancing of privacy interests, the custodian may inquire as to purpose
Non-residents — Non-residents hold the same inspection rights as residents under current Colorado law
Requesting your own records — Individuals seeking records pertaining to themselves, such as criminal history or vital records, may be subject to additional identity verification requirements to protect against unauthorized disclosure

Certain record categories, including juvenile court records, sealed criminal records, and adoption files, carry access restrictions that apply regardless of the requester's identity or purpose.

What Records Are Confidential in Garfield County?

Not all government-held documents are subject to public disclosure. Colorado law identifies numerous categories of exempt records, and the Access Guide to Public Records published by the Colorado Judicial Branch provides detailed guidance on court record exemptions. Under § 24-72-204 of the Colorado Open Records Act, the following categories are currently exempt from mandatory disclosure:

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 Children's Code provisions
Ongoing investigation records — Law enforcement investigative files that, if disclosed, would impede an active investigation or endanger a witness are exempt
Personal identifying information — Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, and similar data are redacted prior to disclosure
Medical records — Records protected under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and Colorado medical privacy statutes are exempt
Adoption records — Adoption case files are sealed by statute and accessible only under specific court order
Child welfare and protective services records — Records maintained by child protective services are confidential under Colorado Children's Code
Personnel records — Employee personnel files are exempt, with limited exceptions for information relating to the performance of public duties
Trade secrets and proprietary business information — Commercially sensitive information submitted to government agencies in the course of licensing or permitting may be withheld
Security plans and critical infrastructure details — Documents describing vulnerabilities in public infrastructure or security systems are exempt from disclosure

Where a record contains both exempt and non-exempt information, custodians are required to redact the exempt portions and release the remainder, consistent with the severability provisions of § 24-72-204.

Garfield County Recorder's Office: Contact Information and Hours

The Garfield County Clerk and Recorder serves as the primary custodian of property records, vital records, election records, and recorded instruments for the county.

Garfield County Clerk and Recorder 109 8th Street, Suite 200, Glenwood Springs, CO 81601 (970) 945-2377 Garfield County Clerk and Recorder

Public counter hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., excluding state and federal holidays. The Recorder's Division accepts in-person requests, mail submissions, and online searches through the county's recorded documents portal.

Garfield County District Court — 9th Judicial District 109 8th Street, Suite 104, Glenwood Springs, CO 81601 (970) 945-5075 Garfield County District Court

Court public counter hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., excluding court holidays.

Garfield County Assessor's Office 109 8th Street, Suite 207, Glenwood Springs, CO 81601 (970) 945-9134 Garfield County Assessor

Garfield County Sheriff's Office 107 8th Street, Glenwood Springs, CO 81601 (970) 945-0453 Garfield County Sheriff's Office