Calaveras County Public Records

What Are Public Records in Calaveras County?

Public records in Calaveras County are defined under California Government Code § 6252 as any writing containing information relating to the conduct of the public's business prepared, owned, used, or retained by any state or local agency. Members of the public may inspect or obtain copies of a broad range of documents maintained by county departments and state agencies operating within Calaveras County.

The following record types are currently available through various county and state offices:

Court records (civil, criminal, probate, and family law matters) — maintained by the Superior Court of California, County of Calaveras
Property records (deeds, mortgages, liens, and assessments) — maintained by the Calaveras County Recorder-Clerk
Vital records (birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates) — maintained by the Calaveras County Recorder-Clerk and the California Department of Public Health
Business records (licenses, permits, and fictitious business names) — maintained by the Calaveras County Clerk and applicable municipal agencies
Tax records (property tax bills and assessment records) — maintained by the Calaveras County Assessor and Tax Collector
Voting and election records — maintained by the Calaveras County Elections Division
Meeting minutes and agendas (Board of Supervisors and county commissions) — maintained by the Calaveras County Clerk of the Board
Budget and financial documents — maintained by the Calaveras County Auditor-Controller
Law enforcement records (arrest logs and incident reports, where permitted by law) — maintained by the Calaveras County Sheriff's Office
Land use and zoning records — maintained by the Calaveras County Planning Department

Is Calaveras County an Open Records County?

Calaveras County fully complies with California's statewide open records framework, which mandates broad public access to government documents. Under the California Public Records Act (Government Code §§ 6250–6276.48), all state and local agencies — including Calaveras County departments — are required to make public records available for inspection during regular office hours and to provide copies upon request. The Act establishes a presumption of openness: any record not specifically exempted by statute must be disclosed.

Key provisions currently in effect include:

Agencies must respond to a public records request within 10 calendar days, with a possible 14-day extension under unusual circumstances
Agencies may not require a requester to state a reason for seeking records
Records must be made available in the format requested, where reasonably practicable

Calaveras County also operates under California's open meeting law, the Ralph M. Brown Act (Government Code § 54950 et seq.), which requires that agendas, minutes, and supporting documents for public meetings of the Board of Supervisors and other legislative bodies be made available to the public. No county-specific ordinance currently restricts access beyond the exemptions already established under state law.

How to Find Public Records in Calaveras County in 2026

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

In-Person Requests:

Visit the appropriate county department during public counter hours
Present a written or verbal request identifying the record with reasonable specificity
Staff will confirm availability and provide inspection access or copies

Written or Mailed Requests:

Submit a written request to the custodian of the record, identifying the document by type, date range, or subject matter
Include contact information for response delivery
No specific form is mandated under state law, though some departments provide optional request forms

Online Access:

The Calaveras County Recorder-Clerk offers online index searches for recorded documents
Court case information and judicial administrative records may be accessed through the Superior Court of California, County of Calaveras, which also provides online services including citation lookup and case management tools
The Calaveras County Assessor's Office provides parcel and assessment data through its online portal

By Telephone or Email:

Members of the public may contact individual departments directly to confirm record availability before submitting a formal request

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

Current fees for public records in Calaveras County are governed by Government Code § 6253(b), which limits copy fees to the direct cost of duplication unless a specific statute authorizes a higher charge. Standard fees currently applicable include:

Standard paper copies: $0.10 per page (black and white, letter or legal size) at most county offices
Certified copies of vital records: $25.00 per certified copy of a birth, death, or marriage certificate (set by state schedule)
Recorded document copies: Fees vary by document type and page count; the Recorder-Clerk's fee schedule is available at the public counter
Electronic records: Provided at no charge or at the cost of the electronic medium used, where applicable
Certified court records: Fees are set by the California Rules of Court and vary by document type

Accepted payment methods at most Calaveras County offices include cash, check, money order, and credit or debit card (where available). Fee waivers may be granted at the discretion of the agency head when disclosure is determined to be primarily in the public interest and not for commercial purposes, pursuant to Government Code § 6253(d).

Does Calaveras County Have Free Public Records?

Free inspection of public records is available at all Calaveras County offices during regular business hours, as required by state law. Members of the public are not required to pay any fee solely to view records on-site. Several categories of records are also accessible at no cost through official online platforms:

Court case records and self-help legal resources are available through the judicial self-help and online resources portal maintained by the Superior Court of California, County of Calaveras
Property assessment and parcel data may be searched at no cost through the Calaveras County Assessor's online portal
Board of Supervisors agendas and minutes are posted at no charge on the Calaveras County official website
Election results and voter registration information are available without charge through the Calaveras County Elections Division website

Who Can Request Public Records in Calaveras County?

Any person — regardless of residency, citizenship, or stated purpose — may request public records from Calaveras County agencies under the California Public Records Act. The Act does not restrict access based on geographic location or affiliation with any organization.

Specific eligibility provisions currently in effect include:

Residency: Not required; non-residents of Calaveras County and California retain full access rights
Identification: Agencies may not require requesters to provide identification as a condition of access to non-restricted records
Purpose: Requesters are not required to state a reason for their request, except in limited circumstances involving certain law enforcement or personnel records
Requesting your own records: Individuals seeking records about themselves may be entitled to additional access under the California Information Practices Act (Civil Code § 1798 et seq.), including records that might otherwise be withheld from third parties
Restrictions for specific record types: Certain records — such as juvenile court files, adoption records, and sealed documents — are accessible only to parties with a demonstrated legal interest or court authorization

What Records Are Confidential in Calaveras County?

Not all government documents held by Calaveras County agencies are subject to public disclosure. Government Code § 6254 enumerates the principal categories of records currently exempt from mandatory disclosure under the California Public Records Act. The following record types are generally withheld from public access:

Sealed court records — accessible only by court order
Juvenile records — protected under Welfare and Institutions Code § 827
Records of ongoing law enforcement investigations — withheld to protect investigative integrity
Personal identifying information — including Social Security numbers, financial account data, and home addresses of private individuals
Medical and health records — protected under HIPAA and California Confidentiality of Medical Information Act
Adoption records — sealed by statute and accessible only to authorized parties
Child welfare and protective services records — confidential under state and federal law
Personnel records — exempt except where disclosure is required by law or ordered by a court
Trade secrets and proprietary business information — exempt when submitted to a public agency in confidence
Security plans and critical infrastructure details — withheld to protect public safety

Where a record contains both disclosable and exempt information, agencies are required to redact the exempt portions and release the remainder, pursuant to the severability provisions of the California Public Records Act.

Calaveras County Recorder's Office: Contact Information and Hours

The Calaveras County Recorder-Clerk serves as the primary custodian of property records, vital records, fictitious business name filings, and official recorded documents. Members of the public may inspect or request copies of these records during regular public counter hours.

Calaveras County Recorder-Clerk 891 Mountain Ranch Road, San Andreas, CA 95249 (209) 754-6372 Calaveras County Recorder-Clerk

Public counter hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (excluding county holidays)

Calaveras County Assessor 891 Mountain Ranch Road, San Andreas, CA 95249 (209) 754-6356 Calaveras County Assessor

Calaveras County Sheriff's Office 891 Mountain Ranch Road, San Andreas, CA 95249 (209) 754-6500 Calaveras County Sheriff's Office

Superior Court of California, County of Calaveras 400 Government Center Drive, San Andreas, CA 95249 (209) 754-9800 Superior Court of California, County of Calaveras

Public counter hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (excluding court holidays)