Highland County Public Records

What Are Public Records in Highland County?

Public records in Highland County, Ohio, are defined under Ohio Revised Code § 149.43 as any record kept by a public office, including any document, device, or item, regardless of physical form or characteristic, created or received by or coming under the jurisdiction of any public office that serves to document the organization, functions, policies, decisions, procedures, operations, or other activities of the office. The Highland County Clerk of Courts, Recorder's Office, Auditor, and other county agencies collectively maintain a broad range of public documents accessible to members of the public.

The following record types are currently available through various Highland County offices:

Court records — civil, criminal, probate, and family court filings maintained by the Highland County Clerk of Courts
Property records — deeds, mortgages, liens, and easements recorded with the Highland County Recorder's Office
Vital records — birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates held by the Highland County Probate Court and the Ohio Department of Health
Business records — trade name registrations, vendor licenses, and fictitious name filings maintained by the Highland County Auditor and the Ohio Secretary of State
Tax records — property tax assessments, payment histories, and delinquency records maintained by the Highland County Treasurer and Auditor
Voting and election records — voter registration data and election results maintained by the Highland County Board of Elections
Meeting minutes and agendas — records of the Highland County Board of Commissioners and other public boards
Budget and financial documents — annual appropriations, expenditure reports, and audit findings
Law enforcement records — arrest logs and incident reports, where permitted, maintained by the Highland County Sheriff's Office
Land use and zoning records — zoning maps, variance applications, and planning documents maintained by the Highland County Regional Planning Commission

Members of the public may access court-related documents through the Highland County Clerk of Courts, which serves as the official custodian of all judicial records filed within the county's common pleas, domestic relations, and juvenile divisions.

Is Highland County an Open Records County?

Highland County fully complies with Ohio's open records framework, which establishes a broad public right of access to government documents. Under Ohio Revised Code § 149.43, all public records must be promptly prepared and made available for inspection to any person at all reasonable times during regular business hours. The statute further provides that copies of public records must be made available within a reasonable period of time.

Key provisions of Ohio's Public Records Act currently applicable to Highland County include:

Public offices must acknowledge receipt of a records request within a reasonable time and provide records promptly
Denial of access must be accompanied by a written explanation citing the specific legal authority for the exemption
Any person denied access may file a complaint with the Ohio Court of Claims or seek a writ of mandamus in the appropriate court of appeals

Ohio's Sunshine Laws, codified under Ohio Revised Code § 121.22, additionally require that all meetings of public bodies — including the Highland County Board of Commissioners — be open to the public, with limited exceptions for executive sessions. Highland County does not maintain a separate county-specific public records ordinance beyond the requirements established by state law; all offices operate in accordance with the Ohio Public Records Act as administered by the Ohio Attorney General's Office.

How to Find Public Records in Highland County in 2026

Members of the public may obtain Highland County public records through several official channels. The following steps outline the current process for submitting a records request:

Identify the custodial office — Determine which county office maintains the record type sought (e.g., the Recorder's Office for property deeds, the Clerk of Courts for case filings, the Auditor for tax records).
Submit a request in person — Visit the appropriate office during regular business hours. No written request is required under Ohio law, though offices may ask requestors to complete a standard form for tracking purposes.
Submit a written request by mail or email — Written requests may be mailed or emailed directly to the custodial office. Requests should identify the record with sufficient specificity to allow staff to locate it.
Use online portals — Several Highland County offices provide online search tools. The Highland County Auditor's website offers property and tax record searches. The Clerk of Courts provides case information through its public access terminal.
Review records on-site — Members of the public may inspect original records at the custodial office at no charge during regular business hours.
Request certified copies — Certified copies of vital records, court judgments, and recorded instruments may be requested in person, by mail, or through designated online services.

No statement of purpose is required when requesting most public records under Ohio law, and requestors are not required to provide identification unless seeking records that contain restricted personal information.

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

Current fees for public records in Highland County are governed by Ohio Revised Code § 149.43, which permits public offices to charge the actual cost of making copies. Standard fees currently in effect across principal Highland County offices include:

Standard paper copies — $0.05 to $0.10 per page for black-and-white copies, depending on the office
Certified copies of court records — $1.00 per page plus a certification fee, as set by the Clerk of Courts
Certified copies of recorded instruments — $2.00 for the first two pages and $0.50 per additional page, as set by the Recorder's Office
Vital records (birth/death certificates) — Fees are established by the Ohio Department of Health; the current standard fee is $25.00 per certified copy
Electronic records — Provided at no charge when transmitted by email or made available for download, unless the office incurs a specific cost for the medium used

Accepted payment methods vary by office but generally include cash, check, and money order. Some offices accept credit or debit cards. Fee waivers are not broadly available under Ohio law, though indigent requestors seeking records for legal proceedings may petition the court for waiver of certain court-related fees.

Does Highland County Have Free Public Records?

Free inspection of public records is available at all Highland County offices during regular business hours, consistent with the requirements of Ohio Revised Code § 149.43. Members of the public are not charged to view original records on-site; fees apply only when copies are requested.

The following free public record resources are currently available through official Highland County government sources:

Highland County Auditor's website — Provides free online access to property ownership data, tax assessment records, and parcel maps
Highland County Board of Elections — Offers free access to voter registration verification and election results online
Highland County Board of Commissioners — Posts meeting agendas, minutes, and budget documents at no charge on the county's official website
Ohio Courts Network — Provides free online access to certain case summary information for Highland County courts through the Ohio Supreme Court's public portal
GIS mapping portal — The county's geographic information system provides free access to parcel data, zoning layers, and aerial imagery

Members of the public may also conduct free in-person searches of recorded land instruments at the Highland County Recorder's Office public terminal during regular business hours.

Who Can Request Public Records in Highland County?

Any person may request public records in Highland County, regardless of residency, citizenship, or stated purpose. Ohio Revised Code § 149.43 does not restrict access to Ohio residents; non-residents and out-of-state requestors hold the same rights as county residents under current law.

Specific eligibility provisions currently in effect include:

No residency requirement — Requestors are not required to be Ohio residents or Highland County residents
No identification requirement — Requestors are generally not required to present identification to inspect or obtain copies of public records
No purpose requirement — Public offices may not require a requestor to state the reason for the request as a condition of access, except in limited circumstances involving restricted record categories
Requesting your own records — Individuals seeking records that contain their own personal information (such as criminal history or court filings) follow the same process as any other requestor; no special authorization is required
Requesting records about others — Access to records containing third-party personal information is subject to applicable exemptions; certain records, such as those containing Social Security numbers or medical information, may be redacted prior to release

Attorneys, journalists, researchers, and members of the general public are all entitled to equal access under Ohio's open records framework.

What Records Are Confidential in Highland County?

Certain categories of records are exempt from public disclosure under Ohio law. The primary exemptions are codified in Ohio Revised Code § 149.43(A)(1) and related statutes, which identify specific record types that public offices are not required — and in some cases are prohibited — to release.

Confidential and exempt record categories currently recognized in Highland County include:

Sealed court records — Records sealed by court order pursuant to Ohio expungement and sealing statutes are not available for public inspection
Juvenile records — Case files and proceedings in the Highland County Juvenile Court are confidential; access is governed by the Rules of Practice of the Highland County Juvenile Court and Ohio Juvenile Rules
Ongoing criminal investigation records — Records compiled in connection with a law enforcement investigation are exempt while the investigation is active
Personal identifying information — Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, and similar data must be redacted from records prior to release
Medical and mental health records — Protected under both Ohio law and the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)
Adoption records — Sealed by statute and accessible only through a court order or the Ohio Adoption Registry
Child welfare and protective services records — Records of the Highland County Job and Family Services relating to child abuse and neglect investigations are confidential
Personnel records — Certain employee records are exempt, with exceptions for names, positions, salaries, and dates of employment of public employees
Trade secrets and proprietary business information — Exempt when submitted to a public office under a claim of confidentiality
Security and infrastructure plans — Records detailing security arrangements for public facilities are exempt to protect public safety

When a record contains both exempt and non-exempt information, the custodial office is required to redact the exempt portions and release the remainder, consistent with the balancing principles established under Ohio's Public Records Act.

Highland County Recorder's Office: Contact Information and Hours

The Highland County Recorder's Office serves as the official repository for land records, deeds, mortgages, liens, and other instruments affecting real property within the county. Members of the public may inspect and obtain copies of recorded documents during regular public counter hours.

Highland County Recorder's Office 114 Governor Foraker Place, Hillsboro, OH 45133 (937) 393-9957 Highland County Recorder

Public counter hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., excluding state and federal holidays. Additional principal offices serving public records functions in Highland County are listed below.

Highland County Clerk of Courts 105 N. High Street, Hillsboro, OH 45133 (937) 393-9957 Highland County Clerk of Courts

Highland County Auditor's Office 114 Governor Foraker Place, Hillsboro, OH 45133 (937) 393-1915 Highland County Auditor

Highland County Probate Court 105 N. High Street, Hillsboro, OH 45133 (937) 393-9957 Highland County Probate Court

Highland County Sheriff's Office 100 N. High Street, Hillsboro, OH 45133 (937) 393-1421 Highland County Sheriff

Highland County Board of Elections 119 Governor Foraker Place, Hillsboro, OH 45133 (937) 393-9961 Highland County Board of Elections