Gordon County Public Records

What Are Public Records in Gordon County?

Public records in Gordon County are documents, files, and data created or maintained by government agencies in the course of official business, and members of the public may inspect or obtain copies of these materials pursuant to Georgia law. Under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70, all records prepared, made, or received by a public agency in the transaction of public business are presumed open unless a specific exemption applies.

The following categories of public records are currently maintained by various Gordon County offices:

Court records — civil, criminal, probate, and family court filings are maintained by the Clerk of Superior Court, which is responsible for recording real estate transactions, warranty deeds, quit claim deeds, and related instruments
Property records — deeds, mortgages, liens, and property assessments are recorded through the Clerk of Superior Court and the Tax Assessor's Office
Vital records — birth certificates, death certificates, and marriage certificates are accessible through the county's records portal, while divorce records are filed with the Superior Court
Business records — occupational tax certificates, business licenses, and permits are maintained by the county's licensing and permitting departments
Tax records — property tax records and assessment data are held by the Gordon County Tax Assessor and Tax Commissioner
Voting and election records — voter registration data and election results are maintained by the Gordon County Board of Elections
Meeting minutes and agendas — county commission meeting minutes, board agendas, and related documents are available through the county's official records portal
Budget and financial documents — annual budgets, expenditure reports, and audit records are maintained by the county Finance Department
Law enforcement records — arrest logs and incident reports, where permitted by law, are maintained by the Gordon County Sheriff's Office
Land use and zoning records — zoning maps, variance applications, and land use permits are held by the Planning and Zoning Department

Is Gordon County an Open Records County?

Gordon County fully complies with Georgia's statewide open records framework, and all county agencies are subject to the same disclosure obligations as other public bodies in the state. Under the Georgia Open Records Act, codified at O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70 through § 50-18-76, every state and local government agency is required to make public records available for inspection and copying upon request.

Key provisions of the Act include:

Government agencies must respond to a public records request within three business days of receipt
Agencies may not require a requester to state a reason or purpose for the request
Records must be provided in the format requested, where reasonably practicable
Agencies are prohibited from charging fees that exceed the actual cost of search, retrieval, and duplication

Gordon County's official public records and documents page references the Act directly and provides guidance on how residents and non-residents alike may submit requests. The county does not maintain a separate local ordinance that supersedes state law; all open records obligations are governed by the Georgia Open Records Act.

How to Find Public Records in Gordon County in 2026

Members of the public may obtain Gordon County public records through several official channels, depending on the record type sought.

Online portal — The county's open records request portal allows individuals to submit requests electronically for a wide range of documents, including birth certificates, death certificates, marriage certificates, and government meeting agendas
In-person inspection — Members of the public may visit the Clerk of Superior Court's office during regular business hours to inspect court records, real estate filings, and related instruments without submitting a formal written request
Mail-in request — Written requests may be mailed directly to the Clerk of Superior Court at the address listed below; the request should identify the record sought with sufficient specificity to allow staff to locate it
Fax request — The Clerk's office accepts faxed requests at 706-629-2139
Court and trial information — All court and trial information maintained by the Clerk's office is considered public record and is available both online and at the physical office location

Requesters should include their name, contact information, and a clear description of the records sought. Agencies are not required to create new records or compile data in a format that does not already exist.

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

Current fees for public records in Gordon County vary by record type and the office fulfilling the request. The services and fees schedule maintained by the Clerk of Superior Court provides the most current fee information for court and real estate records.

Standard fees currently applicable include:

Copies — Standard per-page copy fees apply for paper reproductions of public records; fees reflect the actual cost of duplication as required under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-71
Certified copies — Certified copies of court documents and recorded instruments carry an additional certification fee
Vital records — Fees for certified copies of birth, death, and marriage certificates are set by state schedule
Search fees — Where a records search requires more than one hour of staff time, agencies may charge for the cost of the search at the hourly rate of the lowest-paid employee capable of performing the search

Accepted payment methods vary by office; members of the public are advised to confirm accepted forms of payment when submitting a request. Fee waivers may be available in limited circumstances, such as for indigent requesters or requests made in the public interest, subject to agency discretion.

Does Gordon County Have Free Public Records?

Free inspection of public records is available in Gordon County, as Georgia law does not permit agencies to charge a fee solely for the act of inspecting records on-site. Members of the public may review records in person at the relevant county office at no cost, provided no copies are made.

The following free resources are currently available:

Online court and trial information — All court and trial data published on the county's official website is available at no charge; this information is also accessible in person at the Clerk's office
Open records request portal — Submission of a records request through the county's online portal carries no filing fee
Meeting agendas and minutes — County commission agendas and meeting minutes are posted publicly on the county website and may be accessed without charge
Property and tax assessment data — Basic property assessment information is available through the county's online systems at no cost

Who Can Request Public Records in Gordon County?

Any person, regardless of residency, citizenship, or stated purpose, may request public records from Gordon County agencies under current Georgia law. The Georgia Open Records Act does not restrict access to residents of the state or county, nor does it require requesters to identify themselves or explain the reason for their request.

Specific eligibility provisions include:

Residency — Non-residents of Georgia retain the same right of access as residents; no proof of residency is required
Identification — Agencies may not require a requester to provide identification as a condition of access to public records, except in limited circumstances involving records that contain sensitive personal information
Purpose — Requesters are not required to state a purpose for their request; agencies may not deny access based on the perceived intent of the requester
Requesting your own records — Individuals seeking records pertaining to themselves may be entitled to additional access rights under state and federal privacy statutes
Restrictions by record type — Certain categories of records, such as sealed court files or juvenile records, are subject to access restrictions regardless of who is requesting them

What Records Are Confidential in Gordon County?

Certain records maintained by Gordon County agencies are exempt from public disclosure under Georgia law, and agencies are required to withhold or redact such materials when responding to open records requests. O.C.G.A. § 50-18-72 sets forth the specific categories of records that are currently exempt from mandatory disclosure.

Confidential and exempt record categories include:

Sealed court records — Records sealed by judicial order are not available for public inspection
Juvenile records — Records pertaining to minors involved in delinquency or dependency proceedings are confidential under Georgia law
Ongoing investigation records — Law enforcement records compiled in connection with an active criminal investigation are exempt until the investigation is closed
Personal identifying information — Social Security numbers, financial account data, and similar identifiers are redacted from otherwise public documents
Medical records — Health and medical information is protected under both state law and the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)
Adoption records — Records related to adoption proceedings are sealed and not subject to general public access
Child welfare records — Records maintained by child protective services agencies are confidential
Personnel records — Employee personnel files are generally exempt, with limited exceptions for records relating to job performance or disciplinary actions involving public officials
Trade secrets and proprietary business information — Commercially sensitive information submitted to government agencies in the course of licensing or permitting may be withheld
Security plans and infrastructure details — Records relating to the security of public facilities or critical infrastructure are exempt from disclosure

Where a record contains both exempt and non-exempt information, agencies are required to redact the exempt portions and release the remainder.

Gordon County Recorder's Office: Contact Information and Hours

The Clerk of Superior Court serves as the principal recorder of official documents in Gordon County, maintaining court records, real estate instruments, and related filings.

Gordon County Clerk of Superior Court 100 Wall Street, Suite 203, Calhoun, GA 30701 (706) 629-9533 Clerk of Superior Court

Public counter hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., excluding official county holidays. Fax requests may be submitted to 706-629-2139 at any time.

Gordon County Board of Commissioners (General Records) 201 North Wall Street, Calhoun, GA 30701 (706) 629-3795 Gordon County Government

Gordon County Tax Assessor's Office 215 North Wall Street, Calhoun, GA 30701 (706) 629-6812 Gordon County Tax Assessor

Members of the public seeking vital records, including birth and death certificates, should access the county's official records portal or contact the Clerk's office directly for guidance on the appropriate filing office.