Adams County Public Records

What Are Public Records in Adams County?

Public records in Adams County, Pennsylvania, are documents, data, and information created or received by government agencies in the course of official business that are available for inspection by members of the public under applicable law. Under Pennsylvania's Right-to-Know Law, 65 P.S. § 67.102, a "public record" is defined as any information, regardless of physical form or characteristic, that documents a transaction or activity of a government agency and is created, received, or retained pursuant to law or in connection with a transaction, business, or activity of the agency.

Adams County government agencies maintain a broad range of record types, including:

Court records — Civil, criminal, probate, and family court filings are maintained by the Adams County Clerk of Courts, which currently processes over 1,500 new criminal court records and more than 2,000 contempt cases annually, in addition to summary appeals and juvenile matters.
Property records — Deeds, mortgages, liens, and related real estate instruments are recorded and maintained by the Adams County Recorder of Deeds. All recorded documents become part of the permanent public record.
Vital records — Birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates are administered at the state level through the Pennsylvania Department of Health and the Department of State, with county-level access available through the Register of Wills for estate-related documents.
Business records — Fictitious name registrations, business licenses, and permits are filed with the Pennsylvania Department of State and relevant county offices.
Tax records — Property tax assessments and related records are maintained by the Adams County Assessment Office.
Voting and election records — Voter registration data and election results are maintained by the Adams County Election Services office.
Meeting minutes and agendas — Records of Adams County Commissioner meetings, board proceedings, and public hearings are available through the county's official website.
Budget and financial documents — Annual budgets, audits, and expenditure reports are public records maintained by the Adams County Finance Office.
Law enforcement records — Arrest logs, incident reports, and related records, where permitted by law, are available through the Adams County Sheriff's Office.
Land use and zoning records — Zoning permits, subdivision plans, and land use applications are maintained by the Adams County Planning Department.

Is Adams County an Open Records County?

Adams County operates in full compliance with Pennsylvania's statewide open records framework, which applies uniformly to all county government agencies. Under 65 P.S. § 67.301, a public record in the possession of a Commonwealth agency or local agency shall be accessible for inspection and duplication by a requester. This provision establishes a presumption of openness, meaning that all records are presumed to be public unless a specific exemption applies.

Pennsylvania's Right-to-Know Law, enacted in its current form in 2008, replaced earlier, more restrictive legislation and significantly expanded public access to government records. Key provisions of the law include:

Agencies must respond to written requests within five business days of receipt.
The burden of proof rests with the agency to demonstrate that a record is exempt from disclosure, not with the requester to justify access.
Requesters who are denied access have the right to appeal to the Pennsylvania Office of Open Records.

Adams County agencies are also subject to Pennsylvania's Sunshine Act, 65 Pa. C.S. § 701 et seq., which requires that deliberations and official actions of government agencies be conducted at open, public meetings. Meeting agendas and minutes resulting from these proceedings constitute public records accessible under the Right-to-Know Law.

How to Find Public Records in Adams County in 2026

Members of the public may access Adams County public records through several channels, depending on the record type sought. The following steps outline the standard process for obtaining records:

Identify the custodial office. Determine which county agency maintains the record being sought. Court records are held by the Clerk of Courts; property records by the Recorder of Deeds; estate and will records by the Register of Wills; and law enforcement records by the Sheriff's Office.
Submit a written Right-to-Know request. Requests must be submitted in writing to the agency's designated Open Records Officer. Requests may be submitted in person, by mail, by fax, or by email, depending on the agency's accepted methods.
Use online portals where available. Members of the public may search criminal court records through the Adams County Clerk of Courts public records portal or access estate and deed records through the county's Register of Wills and Recorder of Deeds eSearch platform.
Visit the office in person. Members of the public may inspect records during regular business hours at the relevant county office without submitting a formal written request in many cases.
Await the agency's response. Under current law, agencies have five business days to respond, with a possible 30-day extension if the request requires redaction or involves a large volume of records.
Appeal if denied. If a request is denied in whole or in part, the requester may appeal to the Pennsylvania Office of Open Records within 15 business days of the denial.

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

Standard fees apply to the duplication and certification of public records in Adams County, consistent with the fee schedule established under Pennsylvania's Right-to-Know Law. Current fees are as follows:

Photocopies: $0.25 per page for standard black-and-white copies, as established by the Office of Open Records fee schedule.
Certified copies: Fees vary by record type and office. The Recorder of Deeds and Register of Wills charge statutory fees for certified copies of recorded instruments.
Electronic records: Agencies may charge the actual cost of duplication for records provided in electronic format, including the cost of the storage medium.
Postage and mailing: Actual postage costs may be charged when records are mailed to the requester.
Certification fees: Additional fees apply when a document must be certified or authenticated by a county official.

Accepted payment methods vary by office but generally include cash, check, and money order payable to the relevant county office. Fee waivers are not broadly available under Pennsylvania law, though agencies retain discretion to waive fees in certain circumstances, particularly when the requester demonstrates that disclosure is in the public interest.

Does Adams County Have Free Public Records?

Members of the public are entitled to inspect public records free of charge at the offices of the custodial agency during regular business hours. Fees apply only when copies or certified documents are requested. Several categories of Adams County records are currently accessible at no cost through official online platforms:

Criminal court records may be searched at no cost through the Adams County Clerk of Courts and the Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System's web portal.
Property and parcel data may be viewed at no cost through the Adams County Tax Parcel Viewer, which provides reference-level mapping and assessment information for all parcels within the county.
Deed and estate records may be searched online through the county's land records public search portal, which provides access to recorded instruments maintained by the Recorder of Deeds and Register of Wills.
Sheriff's Office records, including public notices and inmate information, are available through the Adams County Sheriff's Office website.

Who Can Request Public Records in Adams County?

Any person may submit a Right-to-Know request to an Adams County agency, regardless of residency, citizenship, or stated purpose. Pennsylvania's Right-to-Know Law does not restrict access to residents of the Commonwealth, nor does it require requesters to provide identification or explain the reason for their request in most circumstances. Specifically:

Residency is not required. Non-residents of Adams County and non-residents of Pennsylvania retain the same right of access as county residents.
Identification is generally not required for inspection of records at a public counter, though individual offices may have internal procedures for visitor sign-in.
Purpose need not be stated. Requesters are not obligated to disclose the reason for their request, and agencies may not condition access on the requester's stated purpose.
Requesting records about oneself vs. others: Members of the public may request records pertaining to themselves or to other individuals, subject to applicable exemptions protecting personal identifying information.
Restrictions apply to certain record types. Access to juvenile records, sealed court documents, and records containing protected personal information is restricted regardless of the requester's identity or purpose, pursuant to applicable state and federal law.

Attorneys, journalists, researchers, and members of the general public are all treated as equal requesters under current Pennsylvania law.

What Records Are Confidential in Adams County?

Certain categories of records maintained by Adams County agencies are exempt from public disclosure under Pennsylvania law. 65 P.S. § 67.708 enumerates the specific exemptions applicable to Commonwealth and local agencies, including the following categories of confidential records:

Sealed court records — Documents sealed by judicial order are not accessible to the public.
Juvenile records — Records pertaining to juvenile proceedings are confidential under Pennsylvania's Juvenile Act and are not subject to general public disclosure.
Ongoing investigation records — Records compiled in the course of a criminal investigation that would interfere with law enforcement proceedings are exempt from disclosure.
Personal identifying information — Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, and similar data are redacted from otherwise public records prior to release.
Medical records — Health information protected under the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) is exempt from disclosure.
Adoption records — Records pertaining to adoption proceedings are sealed under Pennsylvania law.
Child welfare and protective services records — Records maintained by child protective services agencies are confidential under the Child Protective Services Law.
Personnel records — Employee personnel files are generally exempt, with limited exceptions for records relating to compensation and job titles of public employees.
Trade secrets and proprietary business information — Confidential commercial or financial information submitted to a government agency is exempt from disclosure.
Security plans and infrastructure details — Records that would compromise the security of public facilities or critical infrastructure are withheld from public access.

When an agency denies a request based on an exemption, it must identify the specific provision of law that supports the denial, and the requester retains the right to appeal that determination to the Pennsylvania Office of Open Records.

Adams County Recorder's Office: Contact Information and Hours

The principal offices responsible for maintaining and providing access to public records in Adams County are listed below. Members of the public may visit these offices in person during posted business hours or contact them by telephone or through their official websites.

Adams County Recorder of Deeds 111 Baltimore Street, Suite 202, Gettysburg, PA 17325 (717) 337-9832 Adams County Recorder of Deeds Public Counter Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.

Adams County Clerk of Courts 111 Baltimore Street, Suite 102, Gettysburg, PA 17325 (717) 337-9846 Adams County Clerk of Courts Public Counter Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.

Adams County Register of Wills 111 Baltimore Street, Suite 202, Gettysburg, PA 17325 (717) 337-9832 Public Counter Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.

Adams County Sheriff's Office 111 Baltimore Street, Gettysburg, PA 17325 (717) 334-8101 Adams County Sheriff's Office Public Counter Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.

Adams County Assessment Office 111 Baltimore Street, Suite 114, Gettysburg, PA 17325 (717) 337-9837 Public Counter Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.