Campbell County Public Records

What Are Public Records in Campbell County?

Public records in Campbell County, Kentucky, are defined under Kentucky Revised Statutes § 61.870 as all documents, papers, letters, maps, books, photographs, films, sound recordings, magnetic or optical disks, electronic mail, and other documentary materials, regardless of physical form or characteristics, that are prepared, owned, used, in the possession of, or retained by a public agency. The Campbell County Clerk's Office serves as the primary custodian for a broad range of official documents accessible to members of the public.

The following categories of records are currently maintained and available through various Campbell County agencies:

Court records — Civil, criminal, probate, and family court case files are maintained by the Office of the Circuit Court Clerk and are accessible through the Kentucky Court of Justice
Property records — Deeds, mortgages, liens, and property assessments are filed with the Campbell County Clerk's Office
Vital records — Birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates are maintained by the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services; the County Clerk also retains marriage license records
Business records — Business licenses, permits, and fictitious name registrations are processed through the County Clerk and applicable municipal offices
Tax records — Property tax bills and assessment records are maintained by the Campbell County Property Valuation Administrator (PVA)
Voting and election records — Voter registration data and election results are held by the County Clerk's Office
Meeting minutes and agendas — Records of Campbell County Fiscal Court meetings, board proceedings, and public hearings are available through the Fiscal Court office
Budget and financial documents — Annual budgets, expenditure reports, and audit records are maintained by the Campbell County Fiscal Court
Law enforcement records — Arrest logs and incident reports, where permitted by law, may be requested through the Campbell County Sheriff's Office or applicable municipal police departments
Land use and zoning records — Zoning maps, variance applications, and land use permits are maintained by the Campbell County Planning and Zoning Commission

Is Campbell County an Open Records County?

Campbell County fully complies with Kentucky's open records framework, which mandates public access to government documents held by public agencies. Under Kentucky Revised Statutes § 61.872, all public records of a public agency shall be open for inspection by any person, except as otherwise provided by the Kentucky Open Records Act. This statute establishes that agencies must respond to written requests within five business days and must either provide the requested records or issue a written denial citing the applicable exemption.

The Open Records policy of Campbell County is administered through the Campbell County Fiscal Court. It is important to note that the Fiscal Court does not maintain records on behalf of cities, special purpose government entities, the Commonwealth of Kentucky, or other independent organizations. Requests for records held by those entities must be directed to the respective agency.

Kentucky's Open Records Act operates in conjunction with the state's Open Meetings Act, collectively referred to as the "Sunshine Laws," which are designed to ensure transparency and accountability in government operations. Campbell County agencies are required to designate an official records custodian and to post open records procedures in a publicly accessible location.

How to Find Public Records in Campbell County in 2026

Members of the public may obtain Campbell County public records through several channels, depending on the record type and the custodial agency. The following steps outline the standard process:

Identify the custodial agency — Determine which office holds the record being sought. Property and vital records are typically held by the County Clerk; court records are held by the Circuit Court Clerk; fiscal and administrative records are held by the Fiscal Court
Submit a written request — Under Kentucky's open records law, requests must be submitted in writing. Many agencies accept requests by mail, in person, or via email. The Campbell County public records access portal provides guidance on submitting requests to Fiscal Court offices
Use online search tools — The Campbell County Clerk's Office provides access to digitized records through the eCCLIX platform, which allows users to view and print documents filed by county clerks across Kentucky
Visit the office in person — Members of the public may inspect records in person during regular business hours at the applicable agency's public counter
Request court records — Civil, criminal, probate, and family court records may be requested through the Campbell County Circuit Court Clerk, which serves as the official repository for all case-related documents in the county

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

Current fees for public records in Campbell County vary by record type and the office processing the request. Under Kentucky Revised Statutes § 61.874, a public agency may charge a reasonable fee for making copies of public records, not to exceed the actual cost of reproduction, excluding the cost of staff time required to produce the copies.

Standard fees currently applicable include:

Paper copies — Agencies may charge a per-page fee for standard paper reproductions; fees typically range from $0.10 to $0.25 per page depending on the office
Certified copies — Certified copies of documents such as deeds, marriage licenses, and court orders carry additional certification fees set by statute or local schedule
Electronic records — When records are provided in electronic format, agencies may charge for the cost of the electronic medium used
Court record copies — The Circuit Court Clerk's Office charges fees established by the Kentucky Court of Justice for certified and uncertified copies of case documents
Property records — Recording fees and copy fees for deeds and other instruments are set pursuant to Kentucky statutes governing county clerk operations

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 in limited circumstances, such as when the requester demonstrates that disclosure primarily benefits the general public rather than a private interest.

Does Campbell County Have Free Public Records?

Free inspection of public records is available to members of the public under Kentucky law, which requires agencies to permit on-site review of records without charge. Individuals who wish to inspect rather than obtain copies of records may do so at no cost during regular business hours at the applicable agency's office.

Several free online resources are currently available for accessing Campbell County records:

The Campbell County Clerk's Office provides online access to certain property and land records through the eCCLIX system at no cost for basic searches
The Kentucky Court of Justice offers a public case search tool through its website, allowing members of the public to search court case information without charge
The Campbell County Fiscal Court makes meeting agendas, minutes, and budget documents available on the county's official website at no cost
The Campbell County Property Valuation Administrator maintains a publicly accessible database of property assessment records that may be searched online without a fee

Who Can Request Public Records in Campbell County?

Any person may submit a public records request in Campbell County, regardless of residency, citizenship, or stated purpose. Kentucky's Open Records Act does not restrict access based on the requester's identity or affiliation. The following provisions apply under current law:

Residency — Requesters are not required to be residents of Campbell County or the Commonwealth of Kentucky
Identification — Agencies may not require requesters to provide identification as a condition of access to public records, except in limited circumstances involving records that contain personal information about the requester
Purpose — Requesters are generally not required to state the reason for their request; however, agencies may ask for the purpose in order to assist in locating responsive records
Restrictions for specific record types — Certain categories of records, such as sealed court files, juvenile records, and law enforcement investigative materials, are subject to access restrictions regardless of the requester's identity
Non-residents — Non-residents of Kentucky retain the same rights of access as residents under the Open Records Act
Requesting one's own records — Individuals seeking records about themselves may be required to provide proof of identity to protect against unauthorized disclosure of personal information

What Records Are Confidential in Campbell County?

Certain records maintained by Campbell County agencies are exempt from public disclosure under Kentucky law. Kentucky Revised Statutes § 61.878 enumerates the categories of records that a public agency may withhold from inspection, and agencies are required to cite the specific exemption when denying a request.

The following categories of records are currently exempt or restricted from public access:

Sealed court records — Records sealed by judicial order are not available for public inspection
Juvenile records — Records pertaining to juvenile proceedings are confidential pursuant to Kentucky law and are not subject to general public access
Ongoing investigation records — Law enforcement records compiled in the course of an active criminal investigation are exempt to the extent that disclosure would harm the investigation
Personal identifying information — Social Security numbers, financial account data, and similar personally identifiable information are protected from disclosure
Medical records — Health and medical records are protected under both state exemptions and federal HIPAA regulations
Adoption records — Records related to adoption proceedings are sealed and accessible only under specific legal circumstances
Child welfare and protective services records — Records maintained by child protective services agencies are confidential under state and federal law
Personnel records — Employee personnel files are generally exempt, with limited exceptions for records relating to public employees' official duties and compensation
Trade secrets and proprietary business information — Confidential commercial or financial information submitted to a public agency may be withheld if disclosure would cause competitive harm
Security plans and infrastructure details — Records containing information about the security of public facilities or critical infrastructure are exempt from disclosure

When an agency denies a request, it must provide a written explanation citing the applicable exemption under § 61.878 and must release any portions of the record that are not exempt, a process known as redaction.

Campbell County Recorder's Office: Contact Information and Hours

The Campbell County Clerk's Office serves as the primary recorder of official documents in Campbell County, including deeds, mortgages, liens, marriage licenses, and other instruments of public record.

Campbell County Clerk's Office 1098 Monmouth Street, Newport, KY 41071 (859) 292-3845 Campbell County Clerk's Office

Public counter hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Members of the public may inspect records and submit copy requests during these hours.

Campbell County Fiscal Court (Open Records) 1098 Monmouth Street, Newport, KY 41071 (859) 547-1700 Open Records — Campbell County, Kentucky

Campbell County Circuit Court Clerk 330 York Street, Newport, KY 41071 (859) 292-6314 Campbell — Kentucky Court of Justice

The Circuit Court Clerk's Office is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Court records requests may be submitted in person, by mail, or through the Kentucky Court of Justice online portal.

Campbell County Property Valuation Administrator 1098 Monmouth Street, Suite 2, Newport, KY 41071 (859) 292-3871