Chaffee County Public Records

How to Find Public Records in Chaffee County in 2026

ChaffeeRecords.us provides access to publicly available information that may assist individuals seeking public records in Chaffee County, Colorado. Members of the public may use this resource to locate data related to a range of record categories maintained by county and state agencies. Available record types may include:

Court records (civil, criminal, probate, and family)
Property records (deeds, liens, and assessments)
Vital records (birth, death, marriage, and divorce)
Business licenses and permits
Tax and assessment records
Voting and election records
Law enforcement records (where permitted by law)
Land use and zoning records
County commission meeting minutes and agendas

Records can be searched through official court resources, clerk offices, public access terminals, and online tools.

Online Access: The Chaffee County Clerk and Recorder maintains an online portal where members of the public may search recorded documents, including deeds and liens. The Colorado Judicial Branch provides a court case docket search tool that allows users to look up civil, criminal, and probate case information statewide, including records from Chaffee County. No registration is required to perform basic searches on these platforms.

In-Person Requests: Members of the public may visit the Chaffee County Clerk and Recorder's Office to inspect records in person. The office is located at 104 Crestone Avenue, Salida, CO 81201. Standard business hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

Written/Mail Requests: Written requests may be submitted to the Chaffee County Clerk and Recorder at P.O. Box 699, Salida, CO 81201. Requests should include the requester's name, contact information, a description of the records sought, and the preferred format for delivery. Under the Colorado Open Records Act, agencies are required to respond within three business days.

Phone/Email: The Chaffee County Clerk and Recorder's Office may be reached by phone at (719) 539-4004. Email inquiries may be directed through the county's official website contact form.

What Are Public Records in Chaffee County?

Public records in Chaffee County are defined under Colorado law as all writings made, maintained, or kept by any state or local agency for use in the exercise of functions required or authorized by law. Under Colorado Revised Statutes § 24-72-202, a "public record" includes documents, papers, letters, books, maps, photographs, and other documentary materials regardless of physical form or characteristics.

The following record types are maintained by Chaffee County agencies:

Record Type	Maintaining Office
Court records (civil, criminal, probate, family)	Chaffee County District Court
Property deeds, mortgages, liens	Clerk and Recorder
Vital records (birth, death, marriage)	Clerk and Recorder / CDPHE
Business licenses and permits	Clerk and Recorder
Property tax and assessment records	County Assessor
Voting and election records	Clerk and Recorder
Meeting minutes and agendas	County Administrator
Budget and financial documents	County Finance Office
Law enforcement records	Chaffee County Sheriff's Office
Land use and zoning records	Planning and Zoning Department

The Chaffee County Clerk and Recorder serves as the primary custodian for the majority of recorded documents and vital statistics at the county level.

Is Chaffee County an Open Records County?

Chaffee County operates in full compliance with Colorado's statewide open records framework. Under the Colorado Open Records Act (CORA), C.R.S. § 24-72-201 et seq., all public records maintained by state and local government agencies are presumed open and available for inspection by any person. The Act establishes that the right of the public to inspect and copy public records is a fundamental right.

As stated by the Colorado Attorney General's Office, "CORA reflects the General Assembly's intent that government records be open to the public, with limited exceptions." The law places the burden on the government agency to justify any denial of access, not on the requester to justify the need for records.

Chaffee County does not maintain a separate county-level open records ordinance; the county operates under the state CORA framework. The Colorado Attorney General's Open Records resources provide additional guidance on how CORA applies to county agencies. Colorado's Sunshine Law, codified at C.R.S. § 24-6-402, further requires that meetings of public bodies be open to the public.

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

The current fee structure for public records in Chaffee County is governed by state law and the policies of the individual custodial office. Under CORA, agencies may charge fees for research and retrieval of records, but such fees must be reasonable and may not exceed the actual cost of providing the records.

Standard Copy and Research Fees:

Fee Type	Standard Rate
Black-and-white copies (per page)	$0.25 per page
Certified copies (vital records)	$20.00 per certificate
Electronic records (per document)	Varies by office
Research/retrieval fee	Actual cost; may apply for requests exceeding 1 hour
Inspection of records	No charge

Certification fees for recorded documents (deeds, liens) are set by the Clerk and Recorder and are subject to change.
The Chaffee County Assessor's Office does not charge for basic property record lookups conducted in person or online.
Accepted payment methods at the Clerk and Recorder's Office include cash, check, and credit card.
Fee waivers may be available for indigent requesters or for records requested for a public interest purpose, at the discretion of the custodial agency.

Does Chaffee County Have Free Public Records?

Free inspection of public records is available in Chaffee County. Under CORA, no fee may be charged solely for the act of inspecting public records at the custodial office. Members of the public may review documents in person at the Clerk and Recorder's Office, the County Assessor's Office, and the District Court without incurring a fee.

The following free online resources are available:

The Chaffee County Assessor's Office provides free online access to property assessment data, ownership information, and parcel maps.
The Colorado Judicial Branch offers a free court case docket search for case information from Chaffee County courts.
The Chaffee County District Court maintains public access terminals at the courthouse where case records may be reviewed at no charge.
Voter registration records and election results are available at no cost through the Clerk and Recorder's Office and the Colorado Secretary of State.

The distinction between free inspection and free copies is significant: while inspection carries no fee, obtaining physical or electronic copies of records is subject to the fee schedule described above.

Who Can Request Public Records in Chaffee County?

Any person may request public records in Chaffee County. Under CORA, there is no residency requirement, and requesters are not required to state the purpose of their request for most record types. Non-residents of Colorado retain the same rights to access public records as residents.

Requesters are not required to provide identification to inspect most public records, though identification may be required for certain sensitive record types, such as vital records, where the requester's relationship to the subject must be established. Under Colorado law, certified copies of birth and death certificates are restricted to the registrant, immediate family members, legal representatives, and others with a demonstrated legal interest.

Individuals requesting their own records are subject to the same general access rules as third-party requesters for most record categories. However, for records containing personal information, individuals may have additional rights to access and correct their own data under applicable state and federal law. Requests for juvenile records, sealed court records, or law enforcement investigative files are subject to additional restrictions regardless of the requester's identity.

What Records Are Confidential in Chaffee County?

Certain records maintained by Chaffee County agencies are exempt from public disclosure under state and federal law. CORA identifies specific categories of exempt records, and agencies are authorized to withhold such records in whole or in part. The following record types are currently treated as confidential:

Sealed court records: Records sealed by judicial order are not available for public inspection.
Juvenile records: Records pertaining to juvenile proceedings are confidential under Colorado law.
Ongoing criminal investigation records: Law enforcement records related to active investigations may be withheld to protect the integrity of the investigation.
Personal identifying information: Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, and similar data are redacted from disclosed records.
Medical records: Protected under the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and state law.
Adoption records: Sealed by statute and accessible only under specific legal circumstances.
Child welfare and protective services records: Confidential under Colorado Children's Code.
Personnel records: Employee records are exempt with limited exceptions for disciplinary actions involving public officials.
Trade secrets and proprietary business information: Exempt where disclosure would cause competitive harm.
Security plans and critical infrastructure details: Withheld to protect public safety.

As noted in the Colorado Attorney General's guidance, "the exemptions in CORA are to be narrowly construed, and the burden is on the governmental body to demonstrate that a record falls within a specific exemption." Agencies applying exemptions must identify the specific statutory basis for withholding any record.

Chaffee County Recorder's Office: Contact Information and Hours

Chaffee County Clerk and Recorder
104 Crestone Avenue
Salida, CO 81201
(719) 539-4004
Chaffee County Clerk and Recorder

Office Hours:
Monday – Friday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Closed on federal and state holidays.

Chaffee County Assessor's Office
104 Crestone Avenue
Salida, CO 81201
(719) 539-4016
Chaffee County Assessor

Office Hours:
Monday – Friday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Chaffee County District Court
142 Crestone Avenue
Salida, CO 81201
(719) 539-2561
Chaffee County District Court

Office Hours:
Monday – Friday: 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM

Chaffee County Sheriff's Office
635 Indiana Street
Salida, CO 81201
(719) 539-2596
Chaffee County Sheriff's Office