Boxelder County Public Records
What Are Public Records in Boxelder County?
Public records in Box Elder County, Utah, are defined under Utah Code § 63G-2-103 as any document, letter, book, map, photograph, film, sound recording, or other material, regardless of physical form, that is prepared, owned, received, or retained by a governmental entity in the conduct of public business. Box Elder County government offices maintain a broad range of records that members of the public may inspect or obtain copies of upon request.
The following categories of records are currently available through various Box Elder County offices:
- Court records — Civil, criminal, probate, and family law case files are maintained by the Box Elder County Justice Court and the First District Court. Historical district court indexes are accessible through the Utah Division of Archives and Records Service.
- Property records — Deeds, mortgages, liens, and property assessments are held by the Box Elder County Recorder's Office and the County Assessor.
- Vital records — Birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates are issued by the Utah Office of Vital Records and Health Statistics. Members of the public may order vital record certificates online through the state portal.
- Business records — Business licenses, permits, and fictitious business name filings are maintained by the Box Elder County Clerk and relevant municipal offices.
- Tax records — Property tax and assessment records are held by the Box Elder County Treasurer and Assessor.
- Voting and election records — Voter registration data and election results are maintained by the Box Elder County Clerk/Auditor.
- Meeting minutes and agendas — County Commission meeting minutes, agendas, and public notices are published through the Box Elder County Commission on the Utah Public Notice Website.
- Budget and financial documents — Annual budgets, audits, and expenditure reports are available through the Box Elder County Auditor's Office.
- Law enforcement records — Arrest logs and incident reports, where permitted by law, are maintained by the Box Elder County Sheriff's Office.
- Land use and zoning records — Zoning maps, conditional use permits, and subdivision plats are held by the Box Elder County Planning and Zoning Department.
Is Boxelder County an Open Records County?
Box Elder County fully complies with Utah's Government Records Access and Management Act (GRAMA), codified at Utah Code § 63G-2-201, which establishes the public's right to access government records. Under GRAMA, all records prepared or retained by a governmental entity are presumed to be public unless specifically classified as private, protected, controlled, or exempt by statute. The Act further requires that governmental entities respond to records requests within ten business days of receipt.
Box Elder County governmental bodies, including the County Commission, Recorder, Assessor, Sheriff, and Clerk/Auditor, are each subject to GRAMA's provisions. The county does not maintain a separate local ordinance that supersedes state open records law; rather, all county offices operate in accordance with the statewide framework. Utah's Open and Public Meetings Act, codified at Utah Code § 52-4-101, further requires that meetings of public bodies be open to the public and that minutes be recorded and made available.
How to Find Public Records in Boxelder County in 2026
Members of the public may obtain Box Elder County public records through several channels, depending on the record type sought.
- Submit a written GRAMA request — Requestors may submit a written Government Records Access and Management Act request directly to the governmental entity that maintains the record. Requests should identify the record with reasonable specificity, including the record type, date range, and subject matter.
- Visit the relevant county office in person — Many records may be inspected at the public counter of the appropriate office during regular business hours without submitting a formal written request.
- Search online court records — Civil and criminal case documents filed in district court are available for purchase through Xchange, the Utah Courts public case search portal, which provides images of public documents filed in district court cases.
- Access historical court indexes — The First District Court records guide maintained by the Utah Division of Archives and Records Service provides access to historical records for Box Elder County, Cache County, and Rich County dating to 1851.
- Request vital records online — Birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates may be ordered through the Utah Office of Vital Records and Health Statistics.
- Contact the Box Elder County Clerk/Auditor — For election records, commission minutes, and business filings, requestors may contact the Clerk/Auditor's office directly by phone, mail, or in person.
How Much Does It Cost to Get Public Records in Boxelder County?
Current fees for public records in Box Elder County are governed by Utah Code § 63G-2-203, which authorizes governmental entities to charge reasonable fees that do not exceed the actual cost of providing the record. Standard fees applicable to Box Elder County records requests include:
- Paper copies — Typically $0.10 to $0.25 per page for standard black-and-white copies, depending on the office.
- Certified copies — Vital records certified copies carry a standard state fee; birth and death certificates are currently $30.00 per certified copy through the Utah Office of Vital Records.
- Electronic records — Fees for electronic copies vary by office and may include costs for staff time when compilation is required.
- Court records — Document images obtained through the Xchange portal are subject to per-page fees established by the Utah State Courts.
- Research fees — When a request requires more than one hour of staff time to fulfill, the governmental entity may charge for the additional time at the hourly rate of the lowest-paid employee capable of performing the work.
Accepted payment methods vary by office but generally include cash, check, and money order. Fee waivers may be available for indigent requestors or when disclosure is determined to be in the public interest, as provided under § 63G-2-203(4).
Does Boxelder County Have Free Public Records?
Members of the public are entitled under GRAMA to inspect public records at no charge during regular business hours, provided that inspection does not require the governmental entity to compile or format data in a manner not already maintained. The following free access options are currently available:
- In-person inspection — Any person may inspect public records at the relevant Box Elder County office without charge. Fees apply only when copies are requested.
- Utah Public Notice Website — Box Elder County Commission meeting agendas, minutes, and public notices are available at no cost through the Utah Public Notice Website.
- Utah Division of Archives digital collections — Digitized historical court indexes for Box Elder County are accessible at no charge through the Utah Division of Archives and Records Service online portal.
- Utah Courts Xchange — Basic case information is searchable at no cost; fees apply for document image downloads.
- Utah Office of Vital Records — Certain public vital records indexes may be searched online without charge, though certified copy orders carry standard fees.
Who Can Request Public Records in Boxelder County?
Under GRAMA, any person — regardless of residency, citizenship, or stated purpose — may submit a public records request to a Box Elder County governmental entity. The statute does not require requestors to be Utah residents or to provide justification for their request in most circumstances.
- Identification — Requestors are generally not required to provide identification to access public records, though certain restricted record categories may require proof of identity or eligibility.
- Purpose — Governmental entities may not require a requestor to state the purpose of a records request as a condition of access to public records, except in limited circumstances involving records that are classified as private or controlled.
- Non-residents — Non-residents of Box Elder County and of the State of Utah retain full rights to request public records under GRAMA.
- Requesting your own records — Individuals requesting records about themselves may be entitled to access certain records that would otherwise be classified as private, upon providing satisfactory proof of identity.
- Restrictions for specific record types — Access to juvenile records, adoption records, sealed court files, and certain law enforcement records is restricted by statute and may require a court order or demonstrated legal interest.
What Records Are Confidential in Boxelder County?
Certain categories of records maintained by Box Elder County governmental entities are classified as private, protected, or controlled under GRAMA and are not subject to public disclosure. Utah Code § 63G-2-302 and § 63G-2-305 enumerate the primary exemptions applicable to county records. The following record types are currently exempt from public access:
- Sealed court records — Records sealed by court order are not accessible to the general public.
- Juvenile records — Records pertaining to juvenile proceedings are confidential under Utah law.
- Ongoing investigation records — Law enforcement records compiled as part of an active criminal investigation are protected from disclosure where release would interfere with the investigation.
- Personal identifying information — Social Security numbers, financial account data, and similar personally identifiable information are classified as private.
- Medical records — Health and medical records are protected under both GRAMA and the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).
- Adoption records — Adoption case files are sealed and accessible only under specific statutory conditions.
- Child welfare and protective services records — Records maintained by child protective services are confidential by statute.
- Personnel records — Employee records are generally classified as private, with limited exceptions for information such as an employee's name, title, and gross compensation.
- Trade secrets and proprietary business information — Records containing trade secrets submitted to a governmental entity in the course of licensing or permitting are protected.
- Security plans and critical infrastructure details — Records describing security systems, emergency response plans, or infrastructure vulnerabilities are classified as protected.
Where a record contains both public and non-public information, the governmental entity is required to segregate and release the public portions while withholding the exempt portions.
Boxelder County Recorder's Office: Contact Information and Hours
The Box Elder County Recorder's Office is the primary custodian of property-related public records, including deeds, liens, mortgages, and recorded instruments. Members of the public may inspect or request copies of recorded documents during regular public counter hours.
Box Elder County Recorder's Office 01 South Main Street, Brigham City, UT 84302 (435) 734-3318 Box Elder County Recorder
Public counter hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., excluding state and federal holidays.
Box Elder County Clerk/Auditor's Office 01 South Main Street, Brigham City, UT 84302 (435) 734-3310 Box Elder County Clerk/Auditor
Public counter hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., excluding state and federal holidays.
Box Elder County Sheriff's Office 910 South 1100 West, Brigham City, UT 84302 (435) 734-3800 Box Elder County Sheriff
Box Elder County Assessor's Office 01 South Main Street, Brigham City, UT 84302 (435) 734-3310 Box Elder County Assessor
Public counter hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., excluding state and federal holidays.
Utah Office of Vital Records and Health Statistics 288 North 1460 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116 (801) 538-6105 Utah Office of Vital Records