Arapahoe County Public Records
What Are Public Records in Arapahoe County?
Public records in Arapahoe County are defined as all writings made, maintained, or kept by the county for use in the exercise of functions required or authorized by law or administrative rule, as specified in the Colorado Open Records Act (CORA) under § 24-72-202(6), C.R.S. These records document the activities and operations of government agencies and are generally accessible to the public unless specifically exempted by law.
Arapahoe County maintains numerous types of public records, including:
- Court Records: Civil, criminal, probate, and family court cases maintained by the Arapahoe County District Court and County Court
- Property Records: Deeds, mortgages, liens, plats, and property assessments maintained by the Clerk and Recorder's Office and Assessor's Office
- Vital Records: Birth and death certificates (limited to those occurring in Arapahoe County) maintained by the Clerk and Recorder's Office
- Business Records: Business licenses, permits, and fictitious business name filings maintained by the Clerk and Recorder's Office
- Tax Records: Property tax information and assessment records maintained by the Treasurer's Office and Assessor's Office
- Voting and Election Records: Voter registration data, election results, and campaign finance reports maintained by the Clerk and Recorder's Elections Division
- Meeting Minutes and Agendas: Records of the Board of County Commissioners, planning commission, and other county boards maintained by the Clerk to the Board
- Budget and Financial Documents: County budgets, expenditure reports, and financial statements maintained by the Finance Department
- Law Enforcement Records: Arrest logs and incident reports (with legally required redactions) maintained by the Sheriff's Office
- Land Use and Zoning Records: Planning documents, permits, and zoning information maintained by the Planning Division
The Arapahoe County Clerk and Recorder's Office serves as the primary custodian for many of the county's most frequently requested records, including property records, marriage licenses, and business filings. The Arapahoe County Assessor's Office maintains property assessment records and provides online property search capabilities.
Is Arapahoe County an Open Records County?
Arapahoe County fully complies with the Colorado Open Records Act (CORA), codified under § 24-72-201 et seq., C.R.S., which establishes the public's right to access government records. The statute explicitly declares that "all public records shall be open for inspection by any person at reasonable times" (§ 24-72-203(1), C.R.S.), affirming the presumption of openness for government records in Colorado.
Arapahoe County has adopted specific policies to implement CORA requirements, including established procedures for submitting and processing records requests. The county maintains a dedicated public records request portal where citizens can submit formal requests for records not readily available online.
In addition to CORA compliance, Arapahoe County adheres to Colorado's Open Meetings Law, also known as the "Sunshine Law" (§ 24-6-401 et seq., C.R.S.), which requires that meetings of public bodies be open to the public, with limited exceptions for executive sessions. This commitment to transparency extends to the publication of meeting agendas, minutes, and other public documents on the county's official website.
The county's public records policy emphasizes timely response to records requests, typically within three working days as required by state law, though complex requests may require additional time as permitted under CORA's provision for a seven-day extension in extenuating circumstances.
How to Find Public Records in Arapahoe County in 2026
Accessing public records in Arapahoe County involves several methods depending on the type of record sought and its availability. The county currently provides multiple pathways for obtaining public information:
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Online Access: Many records are available through the county's official website. Citizens may access:
- Property records and tax information through the Assessor's property search portal
- Recorded documents through the Clerk and Recorder's online system
- Court records through the Colorado Judicial Branch's public access system
- Meeting agendas and minutes through the county's Board of County Commissioners webpage
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Submit a CORA Request: For records not readily available online, individuals may submit a formal Colorado Open Records Act request through the county's public records portal. When submitting a request:
- Clearly identify the records sought
- Provide contact information
- Specify preferred format (electronic or paper)
- Be as specific as possible about date ranges and document types
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Visit In Person: Records may be inspected in person at the appropriate county office:
- For property records, visit the Clerk and Recorder's Office
- For court records, visit the Arapahoe County District Court or County Court
- For tax records, visit the Treasurer's Office
- For assessment information, visit the Assessor's Office
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Court Records Requests: Judicial records require submission of a record/document request form through the Colorado Judicial Branch. These records are maintained separately from administrative county records.
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Contact the Records Custodian: Each department has a designated records custodian who can assist with locating specific records:
- For general inquiries: County Attorney's Office (CORA Officer)
- For property records: Clerk and Recorder's Office
- For court records: Clerk of Court
- For law enforcement records: Sheriff's Office Records Division
The county typically responds to records requests within three working days, though complex requests may require additional time as permitted under state law.
How Much Does It Cost to Get Public Records in Arapahoe County?
Arapahoe County assesses fees for public records in accordance with § 24-72-205, C.R.S., which authorizes reasonable charges for document reproduction and staff time. The current fee structure includes:
- Standard Paper Copies: $0.25 per page for letter or legal size documents
- Large Format Documents (maps, plats, etc.): $5.00 per page
- Electronic Records: No charge when records are already maintained in electronic format and can be emailed
- Research and Retrieval Time: First hour free, $33.58 per hour thereafter (in quarter-hour increments)
- Specialized Document Fees:
- Recorded documents (deeds, mortgages): $0.25 per page
- Certified copies of vital records: $20.00 for first copy, $13.00 for each additional copy ordered simultaneously
- Marriage licenses: $30.00
- Court records: $0.75 per page for copies, additional fees for certification
Payment methods accepted by Arapahoe County include:
- Cash (in-person only)
- Credit/debit cards (Visa, MasterCard, Discover)
- Checks or money orders payable to "Arapahoe County"
The county may require advance payment before processing requests that will incur substantial fees, particularly those involving extensive research time or large document production. Per CORA provisions, the county will provide a cost estimate for requests expected to exceed $30.00.
Fee waivers or reductions may be granted when the release of records primarily benefits the public rather than the requestor. Such determinations are made on a case-by-case basis by the records custodian in consultation with the County Attorney's Office.
Does Arapahoe County Have Free Public Records?
Arapahoe County provides several avenues for accessing public records at no cost:
Free inspection of public records is available during normal business hours at the appropriate county office, as guaranteed by § 24-72-203(1), C.R.S.. Citizens may examine records without charge, though advance scheduling may be required for voluminous records or those requiring redaction.
The county offers numerous free online resources, including:
- Property assessment records through the Assessor's Office online search portal
- Board of County Commissioners meeting agendas and minutes
- County budget documents and financial reports
- Election results and voter information (excluding confidential voter data)
- Planning and zoning documents
- Building permit information
Additionally, the first hour of research and retrieval time for any records request is provided at no charge, as mandated by state law. This allows citizens to obtain records requiring minimal staff time without incurring fees.
The Arapahoe County Clerk and Recorder's Office maintains public access terminals where visitors can search recorded documents at no cost, though printing fees apply if copies are desired.
The Arapahoe County District Court and County Court provide public access terminals for searching court records, with viewing available at no charge (printing fees apply).
Who Can Request Public Records in Arapahoe County?
Under the Colorado Open Records Act § 24-72-201 et seq., C.R.S., any person may request access to public records maintained by Arapahoe County. The statute specifically states that public records "shall be open for inspection by any person" (§ 24-72-203(1), C.R.S.), establishing a broad right of access regardless of citizenship or residency status.
Key eligibility considerations include:
- Residency: Colorado law does not restrict records access to state or county residents; requestors from any location may submit requests
- Identification: For most general records, requestors are not required to provide identification or state the purpose of their request
- Purpose Disclosure: The intended use of requested information generally need not be disclosed, though certain specialized records may require purpose statements
- Special Categories: Some records have requestor restrictions:
- Criminal justice records may have additional requirements under the Criminal Justice Records Act
- Voter registration records have specific limitations on commercial use
- Records containing personally identifying information may require additional verification when requested by the subject individual
When requesting records about oneself, individuals may need to provide identification to verify their identity and right to access personal information. This is particularly relevant for records containing confidential personal data.
For records about other individuals, access may be limited based on privacy protections. The county balances the public's right to know with individual privacy rights as required by § 24-72-204(3)(a)(I), C.R.S..
Commercial entities may request public records, though certain uses of information (particularly bulk data for marketing purposes) may be restricted by specific provisions in state law.
What Records Are Confidential in Arapahoe County?
Arapahoe County maintains certain records as confidential in accordance with exemptions specified in the Colorado Open Records Act § 24-72-204, C.R.S. and other applicable state and federal laws. These protected records include:
- Court Records: Sealed court cases, certain juvenile proceedings, mental health proceedings, and adoption records as specified in Colorado Judicial Department rules
- Personal Identifying Information: Social Security numbers, driver's license numbers, financial account information, and other data that could facilitate identity theft
- Medical Information: Health records protected under HIPAA and state medical privacy laws
- Personnel Records: County employee personnel files, except for basic employment and salary information
- Law Enforcement Records: Ongoing investigation records, intelligence information, victim information, and records that would compromise public safety if released
- Child Welfare Records: Reports and investigations related to child abuse or neglect as protected under § 19-1-307, C.R.S.
- Attorney-Client Communications: Legal advice and work product between county officials and county attorneys
- Deliberative Process Materials: Draft documents and materials that reflect the deliberative process of decision-makers prior to final action
- Security Information: Building security plans, computer network security information, and critical infrastructure details
- Trade Secrets: Proprietary business information submitted to the county by private entities
- Voter Registration Records: Confidential components of voter registration records, including Social Security numbers and driver's license numbers
- Library User Records: Information showing which materials specific patrons have borrowed
When records contain both public and confidential information, the county will redact protected information and release the remainder of the record when possible, applying the balancing test required by Colorado law that weighs the public interest in disclosure against privacy interests.
The county custodian of records makes determinations regarding confidentiality in consultation with the County Attorney's Office. Denials of access may be appealed through procedures outlined in CORA or through judicial review in district court.
Arapahoe County Recorder's Office: Contact Information and Hours
Arapahoe County Clerk and Recorder's Office
5334 S. Prince Street
Littleton, CO 80120
Phone: 303-795-4200
Arapahoe County Clerk and Recorder
Hours of Operation:
Monday - Friday: 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Closed on weekends and county-observed holidays
Additional Branch Locations:
Aurora Branch Office
490 S. Chambers Road
Aurora, CO 80017
Phone: 303-795-4200
Centennial Branch Office
6954 S. Lima Street
Centennial, CO 80112
Phone: 303-795-4200
Byers Branch Office
440 N. Kiowa-Bennett Road
Byers, CO 80103
Phone: 303-795-4200
The Clerk and Recorder's Office maintains and provides access to various public records, including:
- Real estate documents (deeds, mortgages, liens)
- Marriage licenses
- Birth and death certificates (for events occurring in Arapahoe County)
- Board of County Commissioners records
- Trade name registrations
- Military discharge records (DD-214)
Research and document recording services are available at all locations. Some services may require appointments, particularly for marriage licenses and vital records requests. The office recommends checking the official website for current information regarding appointment requirements.
Lookup Public Records in Arapahoe County
Public Records and Colorado Open Records Act (CORA)