Catoosa County Public Records

What Are Public Records in Catoosa County?

Public records in Catoosa County are defined under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70 as all documents, papers, letters, maps, books, tapes, photographs, computer-based or generated information, data, data fields, or similar material prepared and maintained or received in the course of the operation of a public office or agency. This definition is broad and encompasses records created or held by county offices, boards, authorities, and other governmental bodies operating within Catoosa County, Georgia.

Members of the public may access the following categories of records maintained by Catoosa County offices:

Court records — Civil, criminal, probate, and family court filings are maintained by the Catoosa County Clerk of Superior Court
Property records — Deeds, mortgages, liens, and plats are recorded with the Clerk of Superior Court; property assessments are maintained by the Catoosa County Board of Assessors
Vital records — Birth and death certificates are issued through the Georgia Department of Public Health; marriage licenses are filed with the Probate Court
Business records — Occupation tax certificates, business licenses, and permits are administered by the Catoosa County Planning and Zoning Department
Tax records — Property tax records and assessment data are maintained by the Catoosa County Tax Commissioner
Voting and election records — Maintained by the Catoosa County Board of Elections and Registration
Meeting minutes and agendas — County Commission meeting minutes, agendas, and resolutions are published by the Catoosa County Board of Commissioners
Budget and financial documents — Annual budgets, audits, and expenditure reports are available through the County Finance Department
Law enforcement records — Arrest logs and incident reports, where permitted by law, are maintained by the Catoosa County Sheriff's Office
Land use and zoning records — Zoning maps, variance applications, and land use permits are held by the Planning and Zoning Department

Is Catoosa County an Open Records County?

Catoosa 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 public agencies are required to respond to open records requests within three business days of receipt. The statute further provides that records must be made available for inspection and copying during regular office hours, and that agencies may not require a requester to state a reason for seeking access to public documents.

Georgia's Open Records Act operates in conjunction with the state's Open Meetings Act, collectively referred to as Georgia's Sunshine Laws, which ensure transparency in both governmental records and public deliberations. Catoosa County agencies are bound by these provisions and are required to designate an open records officer responsible for coordinating responses to public records requests. The county does not maintain a separate local ordinance that supersedes or restricts state open records requirements; all requests are processed in accordance with state law.

How to Find Public Records in Catoosa County in 2026

Members of the public may obtain Catoosa County public records through several official channels, depending on the record type sought.

In-person requests — Requesters may visit the relevant county office during public counter hours and submit a written or verbal request. Staff are required to assist in identifying responsive records.
Written or email requests — Requests may be submitted in writing to the custodial office. While no specific form is mandated by state law, written requests create a clear record of the inquiry and the agency's response timeline.
Online access — Court records may be searched through the Georgia Courts e-access portal, which provides case lookup tools for superior, state, and magistrate courts. An account may be required for full access.
Vital records — Certified copies of Georgia birth and death certificates may be ordered online through the ROVER vital records ordering system, operated by the Georgia Department of Public Health.
Property and tax records — The Catoosa County Board of Assessors and Tax Commissioner maintain searchable online databases accessible through the county's official website.
Election records — Voter registration data and election results are available through the Catoosa County Board of Elections and Registration office or the Georgia Secretary of State's My Voter Page.

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

Current fees for public records in Catoosa County are governed by O.C.G.A. § 50-18-71, which authorizes agencies to charge reasonable fees for search, retrieval, redaction, and copying of records. Standard fees applicable to most county offices include:

Paper copies — $0.10 per page for standard letter or legal-size documents
Certified copies — Fees vary by record type; certified court documents typically carry a per-page fee plus a certification charge set by the Clerk of Superior Court
Vital records — Certified birth and death certificates issued by the Georgia Department of Public Health carry a standard fee per copy, payable at the time of request
Electronic records — Where records are maintained in electronic format, agencies may charge for the actual cost of duplication to an electronic medium
Staff time — Agencies may charge for the cost of an employee's time spent retrieving and reviewing records when the request is for a large volume of documents, provided the first 15 minutes of search time are provided at no charge under state law

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

Does Catoosa County Have Free Public Records?

Free inspection of public records is available in Catoosa County, as Georgia law requires that agencies permit members of the public to inspect records at no charge during regular business hours. Fees apply only when copies are requested. The following resources provide free access to Catoosa County public records:

In-person inspection — Any person may inspect records at the custodial office without charge; copying fees apply only if the requester wishes to obtain physical or electronic copies
Catoosa County official website — Meeting minutes, agendas, budget documents, and certain property records are available at no cost through the county's online portal at catoosacounty.org
Georgia Courts e-access — Basic case information for Catoosa County court proceedings may be reviewed through the Georgia Courts electronic access system without a fee for general lookups
Georgia Secretary of State — Business entity filings and registered agent information for entities operating in Catoosa County are searchable at no cost through the Georgia Corporations Division
Board of Assessors online search — Property assessment records and parcel data are available free of charge through the county assessor's online database

Who Can Request Public Records in Catoosa County?

Under Georgia's Open Records Act, any person — regardless of residency, citizenship, or stated purpose — is entitled to inspect and obtain copies of public records maintained by Catoosa County agencies. The statute does not require requesters to be Georgia residents or to provide identification as a condition of access to most public records.

Residency — Non-residents of Catoosa County and Georgia retain full rights to request public records under state law
Identification — Agencies may not require requesters to provide identification as a precondition for accessing general public records
Purpose — Requesters are not required to state a reason for their request under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70, which affirms that the right of access is not contingent upon the requester's intended use of the records
Requesting your own records — Individuals seeking records pertaining to themselves, such as criminal history or personnel files, may be subject to identity verification requirements to protect against unauthorized disclosure
Restrictions for specific record types — Certain records, including adoption files, juvenile court records, and sealed court documents, are restricted by statute and may only be accessed by authorized parties regardless of the requester's identity

What Records Are Confidential in Catoosa County?

Not all government records in Catoosa County are subject to public disclosure. Georgia law enumerates specific categories of exempt records under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-72, which identifies information that agencies are authorized or required to withhold from public access. The following record types are currently exempt from disclosure:

Sealed court records — Documents sealed by judicial order are not available for public inspection
Juvenile records — Records pertaining to minors involved in delinquency or dependency proceedings are confidential under Georgia juvenile code provisions
Ongoing investigation records — Law enforcement records compiled in connection with an active criminal investigation are exempt to the extent that disclosure would compromise the investigation
Personal identifying information — Social Security numbers, financial account data, and similar identifiers are redacted from publicly disclosed records
Medical records — Health information protected under the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) is exempt from disclosure
Adoption records — Adoption files are sealed by statute and accessible only through court order or specific statutory procedures
Child welfare records — Records maintained by child protective services agencies are confidential under state and federal law
Personnel records — Employee performance evaluations, medical information, 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 — Confidential commercial data submitted to government agencies in the course of licensing or permitting may be withheld
Security plans and infrastructure details — Records relating to the security of public facilities, critical infrastructure, or emergency response plans are exempt from disclosure

When a record contains both exempt and non-exempt information, agencies are required to redact the confidential portions and release the remainder of the document.

Catoosa County Recorder's Office: Contact Information and Hours

In Catoosa County, the functions of a recorder's office are performed by the Clerk of Superior Court, which serves as the official custodian of land records, court filings, and related documents. The following offices handle the principal categories of public records requests:

Catoosa County Clerk of Superior Court 875 Lafayette Street, Ringgold, GA 30736 (706) 935-4231 Catoosa County Clerk of Superior Court Public counter hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Catoosa County Board of Assessors 798 Lafayette Street, Ringgold, GA 30736 (706) 965-3772 Catoosa County Board of Assessors Public counter hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Catoosa County Tax Commissioner 796 Lafayette Street, Ringgold, GA 30736 (706) 965-2571 Catoosa County Tax Commissioner Public counter hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Catoosa County Probate Court 875 Lafayette Street, Ringgold, GA 30736 (706) 935-2989 Catoosa County Probate Court Public counter hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Catoosa County Sheriff's Office 110 Jail Street, Ringgold, GA 30736 (706) 935-2424 Catoosa County Sheriff's Office Public counter hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Catoosa County Board of Elections and Registration 800 Lafayette Street, Suite 100, Ringgold, GA 30736 (706) 965-2500 Catoosa County Board of Elections and Registration Public counter hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.