Franklin County Public Records

How to Find Public Records in Franklin County in 2026

Members of the public seeking government documents may access publicly available information through FranklinVTRecords.org as well as through official county and state government offices. Franklin County, Vermont maintains a range of records that may be inspected or obtained by submitting a formal request to the appropriate custodial agency. The types of records that may be available include, but are not limited to:

Court records (civil, criminal, probate, and family)
Property deeds, mortgages, and land records
Vital records (birth, death, marriage, and divorce)
Tax and assessment records
Law enforcement incident reports and arrest logs
Business licenses and permits
Meeting minutes, agendas, and budget documents
Voting and election records
Land use and zoning records

Records may be searched through official court resources, clerk offices, public access terminals, and online tools maintained by state and county agencies.

Online Access: The Vermont Judiciary provides online access to court dockets and case information. The Vermont Treasurer's office maintains a public records database for Franklin County that members of the public may query at no charge. Property records and land records are searchable through the Franklin County Clerk's online portal. Some records require account registration prior to access.

In-Person Requests: Members of the public may visit the Franklin County Clerk's Office to inspect records during regular business hours. The process involves presenting a written or verbal request to the records custodian, identifying the record sought with reasonable specificity, and completing any required request forms provided by the office.

Written/Mail Requests: Written requests must identify the record sought with sufficient detail to allow the custodian to locate it. Under Vermont Public Records Act § 316, agencies are required to respond to requests within three business days of receipt.

Phone/Email: The Franklin County Clerk's Office may be reached by telephone at (802) 285-4500. Email inquiries may be directed to the office through contact information listed on the official county website.

What Are Public Records in Franklin County?

Public records in Franklin County are defined under Vermont law as any written or recorded information produced or acquired in the course of agency business. Pursuant to 1 V.S.A. § 317, public records include all documents, papers, letters, maps, books, photographs, films, sound recordings, magnetic or other tapes, electronic data processing records, artifacts, or other documentary material, regardless of physical form or characteristics, made or received by any agency of the state or its political subdivisions.

The following record types are maintained by specific offices within the county and state system:

Record Type	Custodial Office
Court records (civil, criminal, probate, family)	Vermont Judiciary / Franklin County Superior Court
Property deeds, mortgages, liens	Franklin County Clerk's Office
Vital records (birth, death, marriage, divorce)	Vermont Department of Health
Business licenses and permits	Vermont Secretary of State
Tax and assessment records	Town Listers / Vermont Department of Taxes
Voting and election records	Vermont Secretary of State
Meeting minutes and agendas	Franklin County Clerk's Office
Law enforcement records	Vermont State Police / Local Departments
Land use and zoning records	Municipal Planning Offices

Vital records, including birth and death certificates, are ordered through the Vermont Department of Health vital records portal. Corrections-related records may be requested through the Vermont Department of Corrections.

Is Franklin County an Open Records County?

Franklin County operates in full compliance with Vermont's statewide open records framework. Under the Vermont Public Records Act, 1 V.S.A. § 315 et seq., all state and local government agencies, including county offices, are required to make public records available for inspection and copying upon request. The statute establishes a presumption of openness, meaning that records are presumed to be public unless a specific statutory exemption applies.

As stated in the Vermont Public Records Act, "it is the policy of this state that public records shall be open to inspection and copying by any person at reasonable times." This provision applies to Franklin County offices, including the County Clerk, the Superior Court, and all municipal agencies operating within the county.

The Vermont State Police public information page notes that "the Public Records Act places the onus on the government agency to demonstrate that a record is exempt from disclosure." This standard applies uniformly across all agencies subject to Vermont law, including those operating in Franklin County.

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

The current fee structure for public records in Vermont is governed by statute and applies to all agencies, including those in Franklin County. Standard fees are as follows:

Fee Type	Amount
Black-and-white paper copies (per page)	$0.05 per page (standard rate)
Certification of records	Varies by office
Electronic copies	No charge in many cases
Search fees	Not permitted under Vermont law for standard requests
Inspection of records	No charge

Under 1 V.S.A. § 316(b), agencies may charge only the actual cost of providing copies and may not impose fees for the time spent locating records. Accepted payment methods vary by office and may include cash, check, or money order. Fee waivers may be available for indigent requestors or for requests determined to be in the public interest, at the discretion of the custodial agency. Vital records obtained through the Vermont Department of Health carry a separate fee schedule established by the Department.

Does Franklin County Have Free Public Records?

Free inspection of public records is available at custodial offices throughout Franklin County. Vermont law requires that agencies permit members of the public to inspect records at no charge during regular business hours. The distinction between free inspection and free copies is significant: while inspection carries no fee, obtaining physical or electronic copies may involve the per-page charges described above.

The following resources provide free access to certain records:

The Vermont Judiciary provides free online access to court docket information and case summaries
The Vermont Crime Information Center sex offender registry is available to the public at no charge
The Franklin County public records database maintained by the Vermont Treasurer is accessible without fee
The Vermont Department for Children and Families processes public records requests and provides access to non-exempt records in accordance with state law
The Office of the Defender General maintains a public records request database accessible to members of the public

Who Can Request Public Records in Franklin County?

Any person may request public records in Franklin County, regardless of residency, citizenship, or stated purpose. Vermont law does not require a requestor to be a Vermont resident, to provide identification, or to explain the reason for the request as a condition of access to public records. This broad eligibility reflects the state's strong presumption in favor of open government.

Certain record types carry additional access restrictions. For example, records pertaining to ongoing criminal investigations, sealed court proceedings, or records protected by federal law may require the requestor to demonstrate a qualifying interest or legal standing. Individuals requesting their own records from agencies such as the Vermont Department of Corrections may be required to provide proof of identity to ensure the accuracy of the disclosure.

Non-residents retain the same rights as Vermont residents under the Public Records Act. Requests submitted by attorneys, journalists, researchers, and members of the general public are processed under the same statutory framework without preference or distinction based on the requestor's identity or affiliation.

What Records Are Confidential in Franklin County?

Certain categories of records are exempt from public disclosure under Vermont law. The exemptions are set forth in 1 V.S.A. § 317(c), which identifies specific classes of records that agencies are not required, and in some cases are prohibited, to disclose. The following record types are currently exempt from public access:

Sealed court records and expunged criminal records
Juvenile records and proceedings
Records pertaining to ongoing law enforcement investigations
Personal identifying information, including Social Security numbers and financial account data
Medical and mental health records protected under HIPAA
Adoption records
Child welfare and protective services records maintained by the Vermont Department for Children and Families
Personnel records, except where disclosure is required by law
Trade secrets and proprietary business information submitted to government agencies
Security plans, infrastructure vulnerability assessments, and emergency response protocols

When an agency withholds a record, it is required to identify the specific statutory exemption upon which it relies. Vermont courts apply a balancing test in cases where the public interest in disclosure may outweigh the interest in confidentiality, particularly for records that do not fall squarely within a named exemption.

Franklin County Recorder's Office: Contact Information and Hours

Office Name: Franklin County Clerk's Office

Physical Address:
Franklin County Courthouse
36 Lake Street
St. Albans, VT 05478

Phone: (802) 285-4500
Website: Franklin County Clerk's Office

Office Hours:
Monday – Friday: 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM
Closed on state and federal holidays

Additional Offices:

Franklin County Superior Court
36 Lake Street
St. Albans, VT 05478
(802) 524-7997
Vermont Judiciary

Vermont State Police – St. Albans Barracks
140 Fisher Pond Road
St. Albans, VT 05478
(802) 524-5993
Vermont State Police public information

Vermont Department of Health – Vital Records
108 Cherry Street
Burlington, VT 05402
(800) 439-5008
Vermont Department of Health vital records