Rowan County Public Records

How to Find Public Records in Rowan County in 2026

Members of the public seeking government documents in Rowan County, Kentucky may access a range of publicly available information through official county, state, and court channels. RowanRecords.org provides a directory of resources that may assist individuals in locating relevant government data. Rowan County maintains records across multiple offices, and the availability of specific documents depends on the record type, the custodial agency, and applicable state law.

Records that members of the public may find through official channels include:

Court records (civil, criminal, probate, and family court)
Property deeds, mortgages, and liens
Vital records (births, deaths, marriages, and divorces)
Business licenses and fictitious name registrations
Property tax and assessment records
Voting and election records
County commission meeting minutes and agendas
Budget and financial documents
Law enforcement incident reports (where permitted)
Land use, zoning, and building permit records

Online Access: The Rowan County Clerk's records portal provides online access to certain property and land records. The Kentucky Court of Justice maintains an online case information system through which members of the public may search court records by party name or case number. Business entity filings and election-related records are searchable through the Kentucky Secretary of State website. No registration is required to conduct basic searches on most of these platforms.

In-Person Requests: Members of the public may inspect records in person at the Rowan County Clerk's Office, located at 627 E. Main Street, Morehead, Kentucky 40351. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Requestors should identify the record type and provide relevant details such as names, dates, or parcel numbers to facilitate retrieval.

Written/Mail Requests: Written requests may be submitted to the Rowan County Clerk's Office at 627 E. Main Street, Morehead, KY 40351. Requests should include the requestor's name, contact information, a description of the records sought, and the preferred format for response. Under Kentucky Revised Statutes § 61.880, the agency custodian must respond within five business days of receiving a written request.

Phone/Email: The Rowan County Clerk's Office may be reached by phone at (606) 784-5212. For open records requests directed to the City of Morehead, the published open records policy directs requestors to email HSmith@morehead-ky.gov or mhughesrichmond@morehead-ky.gov.

What Are Public Records in Rowan County?

Public records in Rowan County are defined under Kentucky's Open Records Act as all books, papers, maps, photographs, cards, tapes, discs, diskettes, recordings, software, or other documentation regardless of physical form or characteristics, which are prepared, owned, used, in the possession of, or retained by a public agency. The following record types are maintained by specific offices:

Record Type	Custodial Office
Deeds, mortgages, liens	Rowan County Clerk
Civil, criminal, probate court records	Rowan Circuit Court Clerk
Vital records (births, deaths)	Kentucky Office of Vital Statistics
Marriage licenses	Rowan County Clerk
Business entity filings	Kentucky Secretary of State
Property tax assessments	Rowan County Property Valuation Administrator
Building and construction permits	Kentucky Department of Housing, Buildings and Construction
Election and voter records	Rowan County Clerk / Kentucky Secretary of State
County commission minutes	Rowan County Clerk

The Rowan County Clerk's office serves as the primary custodian for land, vital, and election records at the county level. Court records from cases filed in Rowan County are maintained by the Circuit Court Clerk, accessible through the Kentucky Court of Justice – Rowan County page. Vital records such as birth and death certificates are issued by the Kentucky Office of Vital Statistics, a division of the Cabinet for Health and Family Services. Building permit records are administered by the Kentucky Department of Housing, Buildings and Construction.

Is Rowan County an Open Records County?

Rowan County fully complies with the Kentucky Open Records Act, codified at Kentucky Revised Statutes § 61.870–61.884, which governs public access to government records across all counties in the Commonwealth. Under this statute, every public agency is required to make non-exempt public records available for inspection by any person upon written request.

The Kentucky Open Records Act states that "free and open examination of public records is in the public interest," and that the exceptions to disclosure are to be "strictly construed." This principle applies to all Rowan County agencies, including the County Clerk, the fiscal court, and all county-level departments.

The Rowan County Clerk maintains a published open records policy that outlines the procedures for submitting inspection requests to both the county and the City of Morehead. The policy identifies designated open records coordinators and provides the appropriate submission channels for each agency. Kentucky's Open Records Act is further reinforced by the state's Open Meetings Act, which requires that deliberations of public bodies be conducted in open session except in narrowly defined circumstances.

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

The fee structure for public records in Rowan County is governed by KRS § 61.874, which sets the maximum charges a public agency may impose for copies of public records.

Fee Type	Standard Amount
Paper copies (letter/legal size)	$0.10 per page
Inspection of records	No charge
Certification of documents	Varies by document type
Electronic copies	Actual cost of medium (e.g., CD, USB)
Oversized documents or maps	Actual cost of reproduction
Postage (mail requests)	Actual postage cost

Inspection of public records at the custodial office is provided at no charge. Fees are assessed only when copies are requested. Agencies may charge for the actual cost of producing records in electronic format, but may not charge for staff time spent locating or retrieving records unless the request is for a commercial purpose, in which case additional fees may apply under KRS § 61.874(4). Accepted payment methods at the Rowan County Clerk's Office include cash, check, and money order. Fee waiver provisions may apply in limited circumstances, particularly for indigent requestors or requests serving a clear public interest.

Does Rowan County Have Free Public Records?

Free inspection of public records is available to any person under Kentucky's Open Records Act, which prohibits agencies from charging for the act of reviewing records on-site. Members of the public may visit the Rowan County Clerk's Office during regular business hours to inspect land records, marriage licenses, and other documents maintained by that office at no cost.

Several categories of records are also accessible at no charge through official online platforms:

Court case information is searchable at no cost through the Kentucky Court of Justice case search portal
Business entity records are freely searchable through the Kentucky Secretary of State business search tool
Property and tax map data may be explored through the county's geographic information systems resources

The Kentucky Office of Vital Statistics notes that "several third-party vendors charge excessive fees to assist with obtaining Kentucky vital records," and advises members of the public to request vital records directly through official state channels to avoid unnecessary costs.

Who Can Request Public Records in Rowan County?

Any person may submit a public records request in Rowan County, regardless of residency, citizenship, or stated purpose. Under the Kentucky Open Records Act, the right to inspect public records is not limited to Kentucky residents, and requestors are not required to provide identification or explain the reason for their request as a condition of access to non-exempt records.

Specific provisions apply in the following circumstances:

Identification: Requestors are not required to present identification for standard open records requests, though identification may be required for certain sensitive records such as vital records, where eligibility criteria apply.
Purpose: Agencies may not deny a request solely because the requestor declines to state a purpose, except where commercial use is claimed and additional fees may apply.
Restricted records: Certain records, such as birth certificates and adoption records, are restricted to eligible parties (e.g., the subject of the record, parents, or legal representatives) under separate statutes.
Requesting your own records: Individuals requesting records about themselves may be required to provide proof of identity to ensure proper disclosure and to prevent unauthorized access to personal information.

The Kentucky Department of Public Advocacy provides legal assistance to eligible individuals who encounter barriers in accessing public records or navigating the court system.

What Records Are Confidential in Rowan County?

Not all government records in Rowan County are subject to public disclosure. Kentucky Revised Statutes § 61.878 enumerates the categories of records exempt from the Open Records Act. The following record types are currently withheld from public inspection:

Sealed court records: Records sealed by judicial order are not accessible to the general public.
Juvenile records: Records pertaining to minors in the court system are confidential under KRS Chapter 610.
Ongoing law enforcement investigations: Preliminary investigative files and records that would harm an active investigation are exempt.
Personal identifying information: Social Security numbers, financial account data, and similar identifiers are redacted prior to disclosure.
Medical and health records: Protected under both state law and the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).
Adoption records: Sealed under KRS Chapter 199 and accessible only to eligible parties.
Child welfare and protective services records: Maintained as confidential under KRS Chapter 620.
Personnel records: Employee personnel files are exempt except for basic employment information such as name, position, and salary.
Trade secrets and proprietary business information: Submitted to government agencies under confidentiality agreements.
Security and infrastructure plans: Documents detailing vulnerabilities of public facilities or critical infrastructure.

When a record contains both exempt and non-exempt information, the custodial agency is required to redact the exempt portions and release the remainder. Agencies bear the burden of justifying any denial of access under the specific exemption claimed.

Rowan County Recorder's Office: Contact Information and Hours

Rowan County Clerk's Office 627 E. Main Street, Morehead, KY 40351 (606) 784-5212 Rowan County Clerk

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

Rowan County Circuit Court Clerk 627 E. Main Street, Morehead, KY 40351 (606) 784-5973 Kentucky Court of Justice – Rowan County

Office Hours: Monday – Friday: 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM

As the Kentucky Court of Justice states, "The Office of Circuit Court Clerk in each county is the starting point for requesting copies of court records from cases in that county." Members of the public seeking court documents should contact the Circuit Court Clerk directly or use the official court records request portal.

Kentucky Office of Vital Statistics 275 E. Main Street, Frankfort, KY 40621 (502) 564-4212 Office of Vital Statistics – Cabinet for Health and Family Services