Augusta County Public Records
What Are Public Records in Augusta County?
Public records in Augusta County are defined under the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), specifically § 2.2-3701, as "all writings and recordings that consist of letters, words or numbers, or their equivalent... prepared or owned by, or in the possession of a public body or its officers, employees or agents in the transaction of public business." These records document government activities and are maintained by various county departments and agencies.
Augusta County maintains the following types of public records:
- Court Records: Civil, criminal, traffic, probate, and family court cases processed through the Augusta County Circuit Court, General District Court, and Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court
- Property Records: Deeds, mortgages, liens, easements, plats, and property assessments
- Vital Records: Birth certificates, death certificates, marriage licenses, and divorce decrees
- Business Records: Business licenses, permits, fictitious name registrations, and trade name certificates
- Tax Records: Property tax information, assessment records, and tax maps
- Voting and Election Records: Voter registration data, election results, and campaign finance reports
- Meeting Minutes and Agendas: Records from Board of Supervisors meetings, planning commission, and other county boards
- Budget and Financial Documents: Annual budgets, financial reports, expenditure records, and audits
- Law Enforcement Records: Arrest logs, incident reports (with certain restrictions), and police blotter information
- Land Use and Zoning Records: Zoning applications, building permits, code enforcement actions, and comprehensive plans
The Augusta County Clerk of Circuit Court maintains court records, land records, marriage licenses, and probate documents. Property assessment records are maintained by the Augusta County Real Estate Department. Vital records such as birth and death certificates are maintained at the state level by the Virginia Department of Health.
Is Augusta County an Open Records County?
Augusta County adheres to the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), codified under § 2.2-3700 through § 2.2-3714 of the Code of Virginia. This comprehensive state law governs public access to government records throughout Virginia, including Augusta County.
The Virginia FOIA explicitly states in § 2.2-3700(B) that "all public records shall be open to citizens of the Commonwealth, representatives of newspapers and magazines with circulation in the Commonwealth, and representatives of radio and television stations broadcasting in or into the Commonwealth during the regular office hours of the custodian of such records." This provision establishes the presumption of openness for government records.
Augusta County follows these state-mandated transparency requirements and has implemented procedures to facilitate public access to records. The county complies with Virginia's "sunshine laws" that require open meetings and public notice of government proceedings as outlined in § 2.2-3707 of the Code of Virginia.
The Augusta County Board of Supervisors has adopted policies consistent with state law regarding records retention, disclosure, and processing of FOIA requests. These policies aim to balance the public's right to information with the protection of sensitive information exempted under state law.
How to Find Public Records in Augusta County in 2026
Members of the public seeking records in Augusta County may follow these procedures to obtain the information they need:
-
Identify the appropriate department: Determine which county office maintains the records you seek. The Augusta County website provides a directory of departments and their responsibilities.
-
Submit a FOIA request: While informal requests are often sufficient, formal FOIA requests can be submitted in writing to the appropriate department. Requests should:
- Clearly describe the records sought
- Provide contact information
- Specify preferred format (electronic or paper)
-
For court records: Visit the Augusta County Circuit Court Clerk's Office in person or access the Virginia Judicial System's online case information system.
Augusta County Circuit Court Clerk's Office
1 East Johnson Street
Staunton, VA 24401
Phone: (540) 245-5321
Augusta County Circuit Court Clerk -
For property records: Visit the Augusta County Real Estate Department or search online through the county's GIS and property information portal.
Augusta County Real Estate Department
18 Government Center Lane
Verona, VA 24482
Phone: (540) 245-5640
Augusta County Real Estate Department -
For vital records: Birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates can be requested through the Virginia Department of Health's Office of Vital Records or the Augusta County Health Department.
Augusta County Health Department
1414 N. Augusta Street
Staunton, VA 24401
Phone: (540) 332-7830
Augusta County Health Department -
For law enforcement records: Contact the Augusta County Sheriff's Office for available incident reports and other public safety records.
Augusta County Sheriff's Office
127 Lee Highway
Verona, VA 24482
Phone: (540) 245-5333
Augusta County Sheriff's Office
Under Virginia FOIA § 2.2-3704(B), agencies must respond to requests within five working days, either by providing the records, denying the request with specific exemption citations, or requesting additional time if needed.
How Much Does It Cost to Get Public Records in Augusta County?
Augusta County charges reasonable fees for public records in accordance with § 2.2-3704(F) of the Virginia Freedom of Information Act. Current standard fees include:
- Photocopies: $0.25 per page for standard black and white copies
- Color copies: $0.50 per page
- Large format documents (maps, plats): $5.00 - $25.00 depending on size
- Electronic records: No charge for emailed documents; $5.00 for records provided on CD/DVD
- Certified copies: Additional $2.00 per document
- Search and retrieval fees: May be charged if request requires extensive staff time (typically over 30 minutes), billed at the hourly rate of the lowest-paid employee capable of performing the search
Specific departments may have different fee structures:
- Circuit Court records: $0.50 per page for court case documents; $3.00 per certified copy
- Land records: $3.00 per page for deed copies; $5.00 for certified copies
- Vital records: $12.00 for birth, death, marriage, or divorce certificates through the Virginia Department of Health
Payment methods accepted include cash, check, and credit/debit cards (in person). Some departments may accept online payments for certain records.
Under § 2.2-3704(F), agencies may waive fees if doing so is in the public interest. Additionally, requestors may ask for an estimate of charges before records are produced if costs are expected to exceed $200.
Does Augusta County Have Free Public Records?
Augusta County provides free inspection of non-exempt public records during regular business hours in accordance with § 2.2-3704(A) of the Virginia Freedom of Information Act. While copying fees may apply, viewing records in person is available at no cost to the public.
The following records are currently available at no charge:
- Online court case information: Basic case status information is available through the Virginia Judicial System's online portal
- Board of Supervisors meeting minutes and agendas: Available on the Augusta County website
- County budget documents: Current and past fiscal year budgets are posted online
- GIS mapping information: Basic property information through the county's online GIS portal
- Voter information: Polling locations and election results on the Augusta County Electoral Board website
- Public notices: Legal advertisements and public hearing notices
Visitors may use public access terminals at the Augusta County Government Center to view certain electronic records at no charge. The Augusta County Public Library also provides free public computer access for researching online government records.
Who Can Request Public Records in Augusta County?
Under § 2.2-3704 of the Virginia Freedom of Information Act, public records in Augusta County are available to:
- Citizens of the Commonwealth of Virginia
- Representatives of newspapers and magazines with circulation in Virginia
- Representatives of radio and television stations broadcasting in or into Virginia
Unlike some states with completely open records laws, Virginia's FOIA does contain a citizenship restriction. However, in practice, Augusta County often provides records to non-Virginia residents as a courtesy, though they are not legally obligated to do so.
Requestors generally do not need to:
- State the purpose of their request
- Provide identification (except for certain restricted records)
- Explain why they want the information
For most public records, requestors may remain anonymous. However, identification may be required for:
- Records containing personally identifiable information
- Criminal history information
- Vital records (birth, death, marriage certificates)
- Medical examiner reports
- Certain property records when the requestor is a party to the transaction
When requesting records about oneself, proper identification is typically required to protect privacy. When requesting records about another individual, additional restrictions may apply based on the record type and applicable exemptions under § 2.2-3705.1 through § 2.2-3705.7 of the Virginia Code.
What Records Are Confidential in Augusta County?
Augusta County maintains certain records as confidential in accordance with exemptions provided under the Virginia Freedom of Information Act, specifically § 2.2-3705.1 through § 2.2-3705.7. These exemptions protect privacy, security, and other important interests while balancing the public's right to information.
The following record types are generally exempt from public disclosure:
- Personal information: Social Security numbers, driver's license numbers, bank account information, and other personally identifying data as protected under § 2.2-3705.1(10)
- Medical records: Health information protected under HIPAA and § 2.2-3705.5
- Juvenile records: Court records involving minors, except in limited circumstances, per § 16.1-305
- Ongoing criminal investigations: Active law enforcement investigations as exempted under § 2.2-3706(B)
- Personnel records: Employee files, performance evaluations, and disciplinary actions as protected under § 2.2-3705.1(1)
- Attorney-client privileged communications: Legal advice and work product under § 2.2-3705.1(2)
- Victim information: Identifying details of crime victims, particularly in sensitive cases
- Confidential informant information: Records that would identify confidential sources
- Security information: Building plans, infrastructure details, security protocols, and emergency response plans under § 2.2-3705.2
- Trade secrets and proprietary business information: Confidential financial or commercial information submitted to the county under § 2.2-3705.6
- Scholastic records: Student information protected under FERPA and § 2.2-3705.4
- Adoption records: Sealed adoption files except as provided by court order
- Tax information: Individual tax returns and financial data
When a record contains both exempt and non-exempt information, Augusta County will redact the protected information and release the remainder of the record in accordance with § 2.2-3704.01.
The county applies a balancing test when considering discretionary exemptions, weighing the public interest in disclosure against the potential harm that might result from releasing sensitive information.
Augusta County Recorder's Office: Contact Information and Hours
Augusta County Clerk of Circuit Court
1 East Johnson Street
Staunton, VA 24401
Phone: (540) 245-5321
Fax: (540) 245-5318
Augusta County Circuit Court Clerk
Regular Office Hours:
Monday - Friday: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Closed on weekends and state holidays
The Augusta County Clerk of Circuit Court serves as the recorder of deeds and maintains land records, marriage licenses, fictitious name certificates, financing statements (UCC filings), and other official documents. The office also maintains court records for the Circuit Court.
Services Provided:
- Recording deeds, mortgages, liens, and other land records
- Issuing marriage licenses
- Processing notary public commissions
- Maintaining court case files
- Providing certified copies of recorded documents
- Administering oaths
- Probating wills and administering estates
Augusta County Government Center
18 Government Center Lane
Verona, VA 24482
Phone: (540) 245-5600
Augusta County Government
Regular Office Hours:
Monday - Friday: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Closed on weekends and county holidays
The Government Center houses most county departments including the Commissioner of Revenue, Treasurer's Office, Building Inspections, and Planning & Zoning, which maintain various public records related to their functions.
Lookup Public Records in Augusta County
Virginia Department of Corrections Inmate Locator