Fremont County Public Records

What Are Public Records in Fremont County?

Public records in Fremont County, Colorado, are defined under the Colorado Open Records Act (CORA), codified at C.R.S. § 24-72-202, 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 or administrative rule. Members of the public may inspect a broad range of documents held by county offices, courts, and administrative bodies.

The following categories of records are currently available through Fremont County agencies:

Court records — civil, criminal, probate, and family law case files maintained by the Fremont County District Court
Property records — deeds, mortgages, liens, and recorded instruments held by the Fremont County Clerk & Recorder
Property assessments — valuation and assessment data maintained by the Fremont County Assessor
Vital records — marriage licenses issued by the Clerk & Recorder; birth and death certificates issued by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment
Business records — trade name registrations and fictitious name filings held by the Clerk & Recorder
Tax records — property tax records and assessment rolls maintained by the Assessor and Treasurer
Voting and election records — voter registration data and election results maintained by the Fremont County Clerk & Recorder
Meeting minutes and agendas — Board of County Commissioners meeting records available through the Fremont County official website
Budget and financial documents — annual budgets, audits, and expenditure reports held by the County Administrator's office
Law enforcement records — arrest logs and incident reports available from the Fremont County Sheriff's Office, subject to applicable exemptions
Land use and zoning records — planning applications, zoning maps, and permit records maintained by the Fremont County Planning Department

Is Fremont County an Open Records County?

Fremont County fully complies with Colorado's statewide open records framework, which establishes a strong presumption in favor of public access to government documents. Under C.R.S. § 24-72-203, all public records of every county, municipality, and political subdivision of the state are open for inspection by any person at reasonable times. The statute further provides that any denial of access must be supported by a specific statutory exemption, placing the burden of justification on the custodial agency rather than the requesting party.

Colorado's open meetings law, the Sunshine Law codified at C.R.S. § 24-6-402, complements CORA by requiring that meetings of governmental bodies at which public business is discussed be open to the public. Fremont County agencies are obligated to post meeting notices and make minutes available in accordance with these provisions. At present, no county-specific ordinance imposes additional restrictions beyond those established by state statute, and the county's records custodians are required to respond to inspection requests within three business days.

How to Find Public Records in Fremont County in 2026

Members of the public may obtain Fremont County public records through several channels, depending on the record type and the custodial office involved.

In-person inspection — Requestors may visit the relevant county office during public counter hours to inspect records on-site. No appointment is required for routine inspection of most records.
Written request — A written request submitted by mail, email, or in person to the appropriate custodian is the standard method for obtaining copies. Requests should identify the record sought with reasonable specificity, including relevant names, dates, and document types.
Online access — Property assessment data is searchable through the Fremont County Assessor's online portal. Court docket information is accessible statewide through the Colorado Judicial Branch docket search. Recorded land documents may be searched through the Clerk & Recorder's online index.
Court records — Civil, criminal, and probate case records may be accessed through the Fremont County District Court clerk's office or via the Colorado Judicial Branch's online systems.
Vital records — Marriage license records are available from the Fremont County Clerk & Recorder. Certified copies of birth and death certificates must be requested from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.

Requestors are not required to submit requests on a specific form, though using the custodian's standard request form, where available, may expedite processing.

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

Current fees for public records in Fremont County are governed by C.R.S. § 24-72-205, which authorizes custodians to charge a reasonable fee for the actual cost of providing copies but prohibits fees that exceed the direct cost of duplication.

Standard fees currently applicable include:

Paper copies — $0.25 per page for standard black-and-white copies at most county offices
Certified copies — Fees vary by record type; certified copies of recorded documents through the Clerk & Recorder are subject to a per-page recording fee schedule
Electronic records — Provided at no charge or at the cost of the electronic medium used, where records are maintained in electronic format
Research fees — Where a request requires more than one hour of staff research time, custodians may charge a reasonable hourly rate not to exceed the salary of the lowest-paid employee capable of fulfilling the request
Vital records — Marriage license copies are subject to a separate fee schedule established by the Clerk & Recorder's office

Accepted payment methods at county offices generally include cash, check, and credit or debit card, though individual offices may vary. Fee waivers are available at the discretion of the custodian where disclosure is determined to be primarily in the public interest and not for commercial benefit.

Does Fremont County Have Free Public Records?

Free inspection of public records is available under Colorado law, which provides that members of the public may inspect records at no charge during regular business hours. The following resources are currently available at no cost:

In-person inspection — Any person may inspect public records at the custodial office without charge; fees apply only when copies are requested
Fremont County Assessor's online portal — Property valuation, ownership, and assessment data are searchable at no cost through the Fremont County Assessor
Colorado Judicial Branch docket search — Basic case docket information for Fremont County courts is available free of charge through the statewide court docket search
Clerk & Recorder online index — The Fremont County Clerk & Recorder provides online access to recorded document indexes at no cost; fees apply for certified copies or document images
County meeting records — Board of County Commissioners agendas and minutes are posted publicly on the Fremont County website at no charge

Who Can Request Public Records in Fremont County?

Under CORA, any person may request public records held by Fremont County agencies, regardless of residency, citizenship, or stated purpose. The statute does not require requestors to be Colorado residents or to identify themselves in most circumstances.

Key eligibility provisions include:

No residency requirement — Non-residents of Fremont County and Colorado retain the same right of access as county residents
No identification required — Custodians may not require requestors to provide identification as a condition of access to most public records
No purpose required — Requestors are generally not required to state the reason for their request, and custodians may not deny access based on the requestor's intended use of the records
Requesting your own records — Individuals seeking records pertaining to themselves may be entitled to access records that would otherwise be restricted to third parties, particularly in the context of personnel or law enforcement records
Restrictions for specific record types — Certain records, including sealed court files, juvenile records, and adoption records, are subject to access restrictions regardless of the requestor's identity; access to these records may require a court order or demonstration of a legally recognized interest

What Records Are Confidential in Fremont County?

Not all government records in Fremont County are subject to public disclosure. Colorado law establishes a comprehensive set of exemptions under C.R.S. § 24-72-204, which identifies categories of records that custodians are authorized or required to withhold from public inspection.

Records currently exempt from disclosure include:

Sealed court records — Files sealed by judicial order, including certain criminal case records following expungement or sealing proceedings
Juvenile records — Records pertaining to juvenile delinquency proceedings, which are confidential under Colorado's Children's Code
Ongoing investigation records — Law enforcement investigative files where disclosure would impede an active investigation or endanger a witness
Personal identifying information — Social Security numbers, financial account data, and similar identifiers embedded in otherwise public documents
Medical records — Health information protected under both state law and the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)
Adoption records — Sealed adoption files, accessible only pursuant to court order or statutory exception
Child welfare records — Records of the Department of Human Services relating to child protective services investigations
Personnel records — Employee performance evaluations and certain disciplinary records, subject to limited exceptions for records of final disciplinary action
Trade secrets and proprietary business information — Confidential commercial data submitted to government agencies in the course of licensing or permitting
Security plans and infrastructure details — Documents relating to the security of public facilities or critical infrastructure

Where a record contains both disclosable and exempt information, custodians are required to redact the exempt portions and release the remainder, consistent with the balancing framework established under Colorado law.

Fremont County Recorder's Office: Contact Information and Hours

The Fremont County Clerk & Recorder serves as the primary custodian of recorded land documents, vital records, voter registration files, and business name registrations for the county.

Fremont County Clerk & Recorder 615 Macon Ave, Room 104, Cañon City, CO 81212 (719) 276-7340 Fremont County Clerk & Recorder

Public counter hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., excluding state and federal holidays.

Fremont County Assessor 615 Macon Ave, Room 100, Cañon City, CO 81212 (719) 276-7310 Assessor | Fremont County, Colorado

Public counter hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Fremont County District Court 136 Justice Center Rd, Cañon City, CO 81212 (719) 269-0100 Fremont County – Colorado Judicial Branch

Court clerk's office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Fremont County Board of County Commissioners 615 Macon Ave, Cañon City, CO 81212 (719) 276-7400 Fremont County, Colorado