Carroll County Public Records

What Are Public Records in Carroll County?

Public records in Carroll County, Georgia, are documents, files, and data created or maintained by government agencies in the course of official business and made available to the public under state law. Pursuant to O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70, a public record includes any document, paper, letter, map, book, tape, photograph, computer-based or generated information, or similar material prepared and maintained or received in the performance of a service or function by or on behalf of any agency of the state or its political subdivisions.

Members of the public may inspect and obtain copies of the following categories of records maintained by Carroll County offices:

Court records — civil, criminal, probate, and family court filings, maintained by the Carroll County Clerk of Superior Court and the Probate Court
Property records — deeds, mortgages, liens, plats, and property assessments, maintained by the Carroll County Clerk of Superior Court and the Tax Assessor's Office
Vital records — birth and death certificates (maintained by the Georgia Department of Public Health); marriage licenses and divorce decrees (maintained by the Probate Court and Clerk of Superior Court)
Business records — business licenses, permits, and trade name registrations, maintained by the Carroll County Planning and Zoning Department
Tax records — property tax bills and assessment records, maintained by the Carroll County Tax Commissioner's Office
Voting and election records — voter registration data and election results, maintained by the Carroll County Board of Elections
Meeting minutes and agendas — county commission meetings and board proceedings, maintained by the Carroll County Board of Commissioners
Budget and financial documents — annual budgets, audits, and expenditure reports, maintained by the Carroll County Finance Department
Law enforcement records — arrest logs and incident reports (where permitted by law), maintained by the Carroll County Sheriff's Office
Land use and zoning records — zoning maps, variance applications, and land use permits, maintained by the Carroll County Planning and Zoning Department

Is Carroll County an Open Records County?

Carroll County fully complies with Georgia's open records framework, which mandates broad public access to government documents. Under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-71, all agencies of the state and its political subdivisions are required to respond to open records requests within three business days of receipt. The statute further provides that if the records are in active use or in storage and not immediately available, the agency must notify the requester of this fact and provide a timetable for when the records will be available.

The Georgia Open Records Act establishes the legal foundation for public access to government information throughout the state, including Carroll County. Key provisions of the Act affirm that:

Any person may inspect and copy public records during regular business hours
Agencies may not require a requester to state a reason or purpose for the request
Agencies must acknowledge receipt of a request within three business days and provide responsive records or a lawful reason for denial

Carroll County has adopted procedures consistent with the Act, and the Carroll County Board of Commissioners maintains an open records request portal through which members of the public may submit requests electronically or in writing. The county's policy reflects the state's commitment to government transparency under Georgia's Sunshine Laws.

How to Find Public Records in Carroll County in 2026

Members of the public may access Carroll County public records through several official channels. The following steps outline the standard process for obtaining records:

Identify the record type and custodial office. Determine which county department or agency maintains the record being sought. Property records are held by the Clerk of Superior Court; tax records by the Tax Commissioner; vital records by the Probate Court or Georgia Department of Public Health.
Submit a written request. Requests may be submitted in person, by mail, by email, or through the county's online portal. The Carroll County Board of Commissioners accepts general government records requests via its open records request form.
Submit a fire and rescue records request separately. For incident reports or records involving property or events within the City of Carrollton, the City of Bremen, or other incorporated areas, requesters must use the Carroll County Fire and Rescue record request form specific to that department.
Await agency response. Under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-71, the agency must respond within three business days. Complex requests may require additional time, but the agency must communicate a reasonable timeline.
Pay applicable fees. Upon notification that records are available, the requester must pay any applicable copying or search fees before receiving copies.
Inspect records in person if preferred. Members of the public may visit the relevant office during public counter hours to inspect records without charge.

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

Carroll County assesses fees for public records in accordance with the fee schedule permitted under Georgia law. Current fees for standard records requests are as follows:

Paper copies: Typically $0.10 per page for standard letter- or legal-size documents
Certified copies: Fees vary by record type; certified copies of deeds and court documents generally range from $2.50 to $5.00 per document, as set by the Clerk of Superior Court
Electronic records: Agencies may charge for the actual cost of production, including staff time for retrieval and redaction
Search and retrieval fees: Pursuant to O.C.G.A. § 50-18-71(c), agencies may charge for the cost of search, retrieval, and redaction at the hourly rate of the lowest-paid employee capable of performing the task, but only when the search and retrieval time exceeds one hour

Accepted payment methods vary by office but generally include cash, check, and money order. Some offices may accept credit or debit card payments. Fee waivers may be available for indigent requesters or for requests determined to be in the public interest, at the discretion of the custodial agency.

Does Carroll County Have Free Public Records?

Free inspection of public records is available to all members of the public under Georgia law. O.C.G.A. § 50-18-71 affirms that any person has the right to inspect public records during regular business hours at no charge; fees apply only when copies are requested. The following free access options are currently available:

In-person inspection at the Carroll County Clerk of Superior Court, Tax Commissioner's Office, Probate Court, and Board of Commissioners offices during regular business hours
Online property records through the Carroll County Tax Assessor's online portal, which provides free access to property assessment data, ownership information, and parcel maps
Online court records through the Georgia Superior Court Clerks' Cooperative Authority's eCourt public access system, which provides free index searches for recorded documents statewide
Voter registration records through the Georgia Secretary of State's My Voter Page, available at no cost to registered voters

Who Can Request Public Records in Carroll County?

Any person may request public records in Carroll County, regardless of residency, citizenship, or stated purpose. The Georgia Open Records Act does not restrict access based on the requester's identity or affiliation. Specifically:

Residency is not required. Non-residents of Carroll County and non-residents of Georgia retain full rights to request and inspect public records
Identification is generally not required. Agencies may not condition access to public records on the provision of identification, except in limited circumstances involving records that contain sensitive personal information
Purpose need not be stated. Under current law, requesters are not obligated to explain why they are seeking records
Restrictions apply to certain record types. Access to sealed court records, juvenile records, and certain law enforcement investigative files may be restricted regardless of the requester's identity
Requesting your own records. Individuals seeking records about themselves, such as criminal history or personnel files, may be subject to identity verification requirements to protect against unauthorized disclosure of personal information

Non-residents and organizations, including media entities and advocacy groups, hold the same access rights as individual Georgia residents under the Act.

What Records Are Confidential in Carroll County?

Certain categories of records are exempt from public disclosure under Georgia law. O.C.G.A. § 50-18-72 enumerates the following exemptions applicable to Carroll County public records:

Sealed court records — records sealed by judicial order are not subject to public inspection
Juvenile records — records pertaining to minors involved in delinquency or dependency proceedings are confidential under Georgia law
Ongoing criminal investigation records — records compiled for law enforcement purposes that would compromise an active investigation are exempt
Personal identifying information — Social Security numbers, financial account data, and similar identifiers are redacted prior to disclosure
Medical records — protected under both state exemptions and the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)
Adoption records — sealed by statute and accessible only through court order
Child welfare and protective services records — records maintained by the Georgia Division of Family and Children Services are confidential
Personnel records — employee performance evaluations and certain disciplinary records are exempt, though basic employment information such as name, position, and salary is generally public
Trade secrets and proprietary business information — submitted to government agencies under confidentiality agreements
Security plans and critical infrastructure details — records that could compromise public safety or government facility security

When an agency withholds records under one or more exemptions, it must notify the requester of the specific statutory basis for the denial. Georgia courts apply a balancing test in certain cases to weigh the public interest in disclosure against the privacy or security interests protected by the exemption.

Carroll County Recorder's Office: Contact Information and Hours

The Carroll County Clerk of Superior Court serves as the primary recorder of official documents, including deeds, mortgages, liens, and court filings. The Tax Commissioner's Office maintains property tax and payment records, while the Probate Court handles vital records and estate matters.

Carroll County Clerk of Superior Court 311 Newnan Street, Carrollton, GA 30117 (770) 830-5830 Carroll County Clerk of Superior Court Public Counter Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Carroll County Tax Commissioner's Office 423 College Street, Carrollton, GA 30117 (770) 830-5843 Carroll County Tax Commissioner Public Counter Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Carroll County Probate Court 311 Newnan Street, Carrollton, GA 30117 (770) 830-5840 Carroll County Probate Court Public Counter Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Carroll County Board of Commissioners 423 College Street, Carrollton, GA 30117 (770) 830-5800 Carroll County Board of Commissioners Public Counter Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Carroll County Sheriff's Office 100 Courthouse Square, Carrollton, GA 30117 (770) 830-5916 Carroll County Sheriff's Office Public Counter Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.