Chesterfield County Public Records

What Are Public Records in Chesterfield County?

Public records in Chesterfield County are defined according to the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) under § 2.2-3700 of the Code of Virginia. This statute establishes that all records prepared or owned by, or in the possession of a public body or its officers, employees, or agents in the transaction of public business are considered public records and are available for inspection and copying upon request.

Chesterfield County maintains numerous types of public records, including:

Court Records: Civil, criminal, traffic, and probate cases processed through the Chesterfield Circuit Court, General District Court, and Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court
Property Records: Deeds, mortgages, liens, plats, and real estate assessment data
Vital Records: Birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates (maintained by the Virginia Department of Health and Circuit Court)
Business Records: Business licenses, permits, and fictitious name filings
Tax Records: Property tax information, assessment records, and tax maps
Voting and Election Records: Voter registration information and election results
Meeting Minutes and Agendas: County Board of Supervisors, planning commission, and other public bodies
Budget and Financial Documents: County budgets, expenditure reports, and financial statements
Law Enforcement Records: Police reports, incident logs, and arrest records (with statutory limitations)
Land Use and Zoning Records: Zoning maps, permits, and planning documents accessible through Chesterfield GIS Map Applications

The maintenance of these records is distributed among various county departments. Land records and court documents are primarily maintained by the Clerk of the Circuit Court, while property assessment records are managed by the Real Estate Assessor's Office. Vital records are maintained by both the Virginia Department of Health and the Circuit Court, depending on the record type and date.

Is Chesterfield County an Open Records County?

Chesterfield County fully complies with the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) as codified in § 2.2-3700 through § 2.2-3714 of the Code of Virginia. This comprehensive state law governs public access to government records and meetings throughout Virginia, including Chesterfield County.

The Virginia FOIA explicitly states in § 2.2-3700(B) that: "The affairs of government are not intended to be conducted in an atmosphere of secrecy since at all times the public is to be the beneficiary of any action taken at any level of government." This foundational principle guides Chesterfield County's approach to public records access.

Chesterfield County has established specific procedures for handling FOIA requests in accordance with state law. The county maintains a FOIA Officer who coordinates responses to requests and ensures compliance with statutory requirements. Under current law, the county must respond to FOIA requests within five working days, though this period may be extended by an additional seven working days with proper notification to the requestor.

The county's commitment to transparency is further demonstrated through its online resources, which provide direct access to many public records without requiring formal FOIA requests. These resources include the county's GIS mapping system, real estate assessment database, and court case information available through the Virginia Judicial System.

How to Find Public Records in Chesterfield County in 2026

Members of the public seeking records in Chesterfield County may utilize several methods to access information. The county has established streamlined processes for obtaining various record types:

For court records, individuals may:

Visit the Clerk of the Circuit Court in person at the courthouse
Access the Virginia Judicial System's online case information system
Submit a written request using standardized court forms for certified copies
Contact the clerk's office by telephone for guidance on specific record requests

For property and land records, requestors may:

Search the Real Estate Assessment Database online
Utilize the county's GIS mapping applications for property information
Visit the Land Records division at the courthouse for deed research
Submit written requests for certified copies of land documents

For vital records, individuals should:

Contact the Virginia Department of Health's Vital Records office for birth and death certificates
Visit the Circuit Court for marriage licenses and divorce decrees
Complete the appropriate application forms with required identification
Pay the applicable fees for certified copies

For general county records not available online, requestors must submit a formal FOIA request by:

Contacting the specific department that maintains the desired records
Submitting a written request that reasonably describes the records sought
Specifying preferred format (electronic or paper copies)
Including contact information for response coordination

The county currently maintains a centralized FOIA request process through its online portal, which streamlines submission and tracking of requests across departments.

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

Chesterfield County assesses fees for public records in accordance with § 2.2-3704(F) of the Virginia Freedom of Information Act, which permits charging for the "actual cost of accessing, duplicating, supplying, or searching for the requested records."

Current standard fees for common record types include:

Court Records:
- Case copies: $0.50 per page
- Certified copies: $2.50 per document plus copy fees
- Criminal record search: $10.00 per name
- Civil judgment search: $10.00 per name
Land Records:
- Deed copies: $0.50 per page
- Certified land records: $2.50 per document plus copy fees
- Plat copies (standard size): $5.00 each
- Plat copies (large format): $10.00 each
Vital Records:
- Birth certificates: $12.00 per copy
- Death certificates: $12.00 per copy
- Marriage licenses: $30.00 for issuance
- Certified marriage/divorce records: $12.00 per copy

For general FOIA requests, the county charges:

Electronic records: Actual cost of production
Paper copies: $0.10 per page for standard letter/legal size
Staff time: Actual cost for requests requiring over 30 minutes of staff time
Special media: Actual cost for CDs, DVDs, or other storage media

Accepted payment methods include cash, check, money order, and credit/debit cards at most county offices. Some online services may require credit card payment.

Under § 2.2-3704(H) of the Virginia FOIA, the county may require advance payment if estimated costs exceed $200. Fee waivers or reductions may be granted at the discretion of the agency when doing so serves the public interest, though such determinations are made on a case-by-case basis.

Does Chesterfield County Have Free Public Records?

Chesterfield County provides several avenues for accessing public records at no cost to requestors. In accordance with § 2.2-3704(A) of the Virginia Freedom of Information Act, all public records must be open to inspection at no charge during regular business hours. This statutory right allows any person to view records without paying fees, provided they do not request copies.

The following free resources are currently available:

Online Property Information: The county's Real Estate Assessment Database provides free access to property ownership, assessment values, and tax information.
GIS Mapping System: Chesterfield's GIS portal offers free access to interactive maps showing property boundaries, zoning, flood plains, and other geographic data.
Court Case Information: Basic case status information is available at no charge through the Virginia Judicial System's online portal.
Meeting Minutes and Agendas: Records of public meetings, including Board of Supervisors sessions, are freely accessible through the county website.
Budget Documents: Annual budgets, financial reports, and audit information are available for public inspection without charge.
Public Notices: Legal notices, public hearing announcements, and procurement solicitations are freely accessible online.

Individuals may inspect any non-exempt public records at the appropriate county office during normal business hours without incurring fees. The Circuit Court Clerk's Office maintains public access terminals for searching court and land records on-site at no charge, though printing from these terminals does incur standard copy fees.

Who Can Request Public Records in Chesterfield County?

Under § 2.2-3704 of the Virginia Freedom of Information Act, "any citizen 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" may request public records from Chesterfield County.

The Virginia Supreme Court expanded this right in 2013 to include non-Virginia residents in certain circumstances, though the statute has not been formally amended to reflect this change. Currently, Chesterfield County processes requests from:

Virginia residents
Representatives of Virginia-based media outlets
Out-of-state individuals and organizations with a connection to Virginia
Business entities registered to do business in Virginia

Requestors are not required to:

State the purpose of their request
Demonstrate a "need to know"
Provide identification for most record types
Explain how they intend to use the records

However, certain specialized records may have additional requirements:

Vital Records: Birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates require proof of identity and, in some cases, demonstration of a direct interest in the record.
Medical Records: Access is restricted to the individual or their authorized representative with proper documentation.
Juvenile Court Records: Access is limited to parties to the case, their attorneys, or others with a legitimate interest as determined by the court.
Voter Registration Records: While available for inspection, these records have specific limitations on commercial use under § 24.2-406 of the Code of Virginia.

When requesting records about oneself, identification is typically required to verify identity and protect privacy. For requests concerning other individuals, certain personal identifying information may be redacted in accordance with exemptions under § 2.2-3705.1 of the Virginia FOIA.

What Records Are Confidential in Chesterfield County?

Chesterfield County maintains certain records as confidential in accordance with exemptions established under § 2.2-3705.1 through § 2.2-3705.7 of the Virginia Freedom of Information Act. These exemptions protect privacy, security, and other important interests while balancing the public's right to information.

Records currently exempt from disclosure include:

Personal Information: Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, and other personally identifying information that would jeopardize an individual's privacy or safety
Medical Records: Health information protected under HIPAA and state medical privacy laws
Juvenile Records: Court records involving minors, except in limited circumstances as provided in § 16.1-305 of the Code of Virginia
Ongoing Investigations: Records related to active law enforcement investigations, pending prosecutions, or ongoing disciplinary proceedings
Attorney-Client Communications: Legal advice, memoranda, and work product prepared for litigation
Personnel Records: Employee files containing performance evaluations, disciplinary actions, and personal information, though certain salary and position information remains public
Proprietary Business Information: Trade secrets, financial data, and other confidential commercial information submitted to the county
Security Information: Records that would jeopardize building security, emergency response plans, or critical infrastructure
Victim Information: Identifying details of crime victims, particularly in cases involving sexual assault or domestic violence
Adoption Records: Documents related to adoption proceedings, which are sealed by court order
Tax Information: Individual tax returns and financial information submitted for tax purposes
Library Records: Information showing which materials specific patrons have borrowed

The county applies a balancing test when considering discretionary exemptions, weighing the public interest in disclosure against potential harm from release. Even when records contain exempt information, the county must release any reasonably segregable non-exempt portions of the requested records.

Chesterfield County Recorder's Office: Contact Information and Hours

Chesterfield County Circuit Court Clerk's Office
9500 Courthouse Road
Chesterfield, VA 23832
Phone: (804) 748-1241
Clerk of the Circuit Court

Hours of Operation:
Monday - Friday: 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Closed on weekends and county-observed holidays

Land Records Division
9500 Courthouse Road
Chesterfield, VA 23832
Phone: (804) 748-1285
Land Records

Hours of Operation:
Monday - Friday: 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Closed on weekends and county-observed holidays

Chesterfield County Real Estate Assessor's Office
9901 Lori Road, Room 343
Chesterfield, VA 23832
Phone: (804) 748-1321
Real Estate Assessment

Hours of Operation:
Monday - Friday: 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Closed on weekends and county-observed holidays

Virginia Department of Health - Vital Records
8701 Park Central Drive, Suite 100
Richmond, VA 23227
Phone: (804) 662-6200
Vital Records

Hours of Operation:
Monday - Friday: 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Closed on weekends and state holidays

Chesterfield County FOIA Officer
P.O. Box 40
Chesterfield, VA 23832
Phone: (804) 748-1000
Freedom of Information Act Requests

Hours for FOIA Requests:
Monday - Friday: 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Electronic submissions accepted 24/7

Lookup Public Records in Chesterfield County

Circuit Court case records and land documents

Virginia Judicial System case information

Real estate assessment data and property records

Chesterfield County GIS mapping applications

Land records and deed information

Freedom of Information Act request procedures

Circuit Court forms for record requests

Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court information

Vital records application process