Roanoke County Public Records
What Are Public Records in Roanoke County?
Public records in Roanoke County are defined according to the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) as all writings and recordings prepared or owned by, or in the possession of, a public body or its officers, employees, or agents in the transaction of public business. Pursuant to Virginia Code § 2.2-3700, these records are presumed open and accessible to citizens of the Commonwealth.
Roanoke County maintains numerous types of public records, including:
- Court records (civil, criminal, probate, family law cases)
- Property records (deeds, mortgages, liens, assessments)
- Vital records (birth, death, marriage, divorce certificates)
- Business records (licenses, permits, fictitious business names)
- Tax records (property tax assessments, tax maps)
- Voting and election records
- Meeting minutes and agendas (Board of Supervisors, commissions)
- Budget and financial documents
- Law enforcement records (incident reports, where permitted by law)
- Land use and zoning records (permits, applications, maps)
The Roanoke County Circuit Court Clerk's Office maintains court records, land records, marriage licenses, and other vital documents. Property records, including deeds, mortgages, and liens, are maintained in the real estate records division of the Clerk's Office. The County Treasurer maintains tax records, while the County Administrator's Office maintains Board of Supervisors meeting minutes and other administrative records.
Is Roanoke County an Open Records County?
Roanoke County fully adheres to the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), codified under Virginia Code § 2.2-3700 et seq. This comprehensive statute establishes the framework for public access to government records throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia, including Roanoke County.
The Virginia FOIA explicitly states 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 Roanoke County's approach to records management and public access.
Roanoke County has established specific procedures for requesting public records in compliance with state law. The County maintains a FOIA Officer who coordinates responses to public records requests across all county departments and agencies.
Additionally, Roanoke County complies with Virginia's open meetings laws, also part of FOIA, which require that meetings of public bodies be open to the public, with limited exceptions for closed sessions as permitted by law. The County publishes notices of public meetings in accordance with statutory requirements.
How to Find Public Records in Roanoke County in 2026
Members of the public seeking records from Roanoke County may utilize several methods to access information. The County has established streamlined processes to facilitate public access to government records.
For court-related records, individuals may:
- Visit the Roanoke County Circuit Court Clerk's Office in person to request and review records.
- Search court cases online through the county's web portal.
- Access the Virginia Judicial System website for case information.
For property and real estate records, requesters may:
- Search real estate records through the county's online database.
- Visit the Circuit Court Clerk's Office to examine deed books, plats, and other land records.
- Request certified copies of property documents in person or by mail.
For general county records, the process includes:
- Submit a FOIA request through the county's online portal.
- Direct written requests to the appropriate department or the County FOIA Officer.
- Visit county offices during regular business hours to inspect records in person.
When submitting a FOIA request, individuals should:
- Identify the records sought with reasonable specificity
- Provide contact information for response
- Specify preferred format (electronic or paper copies)
- Indicate willingness to pay applicable fees
Pursuant to Virginia Code § 2.2-3704, the county must respond to FOIA requests within five working days, either by providing the requested records, denying the request with citation to applicable exemptions, or invoking a seven-day extension if necessary.
How Much Does It Cost to Get Public Records in Roanoke County?
Roanoke County assesses fees for public records in accordance with the provisions of the Virginia Freedom of Information Act, specifically Virginia Code § 2.2-3704(F). The current fee structure is designed to recover actual costs associated with accessing, duplicating, supplying, or searching for requested records.
Standard fees for public records in Roanoke County include:
- Photocopies: $0.25 per page for standard letter/legal size documents
- Certified copies: $2.50 per document plus copy fees
- Electronic records: Actual cost of production
- Staff time: Hourly rate of employee(s) directly involved in records retrieval (only charged when retrieval exceeds 30 minutes)
For specific record types, the following fees apply:
- Marriage licenses: $30.00
- Certified copies of marriage certificates: $3.00
- Deed recordings: $27.00 for first 15 pages, plus $1.00 for each additional page
- Plat recordings: $16.00 per page
- Court case copies: $0.50 per page
Accepted payment methods include:
- Cash (in-person requests only)
- Check or money order (payable to "Treasurer, Roanoke County")
- Credit/debit cards (Visa, MasterCard, Discover) for in-person transactions and some online services
The county may require advance payment if estimated fees exceed $200. In accordance with Virginia FOIA, the county may waive fees when doing so serves the public interest. Requesters seeking a fee waiver should include this request and justification when submitting their records request.
Does Roanoke County Have Free Public Records?
Roanoke County provides several avenues for accessing public records at no cost to requesters. In accordance with Virginia FOIA, the county permits free inspection of non-exempt public records during normal business hours at the office where such records are maintained.
Free public records resources in Roanoke County include:
- In-person inspection of any non-exempt public record during regular business hours
- Online access to court case information through the county's web portal
- Real estate assessment data available through the county's online database
- Board of Supervisors meeting agendas and minutes accessible on the county website
- County budget documents and financial reports published online
- GIS mapping information available through the county's online mapping portal
The Roanoke County Circuit Court Clerk's Office maintains public access terminals where visitors may search court and land records at no charge. While viewing these records is free, printing or obtaining certified copies incurs standard fees.
Additionally, the Virginia Judicial System provides free online access to certain case information through its Case Information System, though document images are generally not available through this platform.
Who Can Request Public Records in Roanoke County?
Under the Virginia Freedom of Information Act, specifically Virginia Code § 2.2-3704, any citizen of the Commonwealth of Virginia has the right to request public records from Roanoke County. Additionally, representatives of newspapers and magazines with circulation in Virginia, and radio and television stations broadcasting in or into Virginia, may request records regardless of citizenship status.
The following eligibility requirements apply:
- Virginia citizenship or qualifying media status (though in practice, Roanoke County often processes requests from non-citizens)
- No requirement to state the purpose of the request for most records
- No requirement to identify oneself, except when requesting records exempt from disclosure to the general public but available to certain individuals
For most public records requests, requesters are not required to:
- Demonstrate a "need to know"
- Explain why they want the information
- Sign any document other than a request form
Special considerations apply when requesting:
- One's own records (identification required)
- Records containing others' personal information (may be redacted)
- Records available only to certain individuals by law (proof of eligibility required)
While Virginia FOIA technically limits access rights to Virginia citizens and qualifying media, pursuant to federal court decisions, Roanoke County generally processes requests from all individuals regardless of residency status.
What Records Are Confidential in Roanoke County?
Certain records maintained by Roanoke County are exempt from public disclosure under the Virginia Freedom of Information Act. Virginia Code § 2.2-3705.1 through § 2.2-3705.8 establishes specific exemptions that protect sensitive information from disclosure.
Records that are generally confidential in Roanoke County include:
- Personnel records of county employees
- Medical and health records protected under HIPAA
- Juvenile court records and related social services documents
- Records related to ongoing criminal investigations
- Social security numbers, driver's license numbers, and other personal identifying information
- Attorney-client privileged communications and work product
- Records containing trade secrets or proprietary business information
- Scholastic records containing personally identifiable student information
- Library records revealing the identity of library patrons
- Critical infrastructure and security information
- Victim identity information in certain criminal cases
- Sealed court records and expunged criminal records
- Adoption records and related vital statistics
- Tax returns and financial information of individuals
The county applies a balancing test when considering discretionary exemptions, weighing the public interest in disclosure against privacy interests and other protected values. Even when a record contains exempt information, the county must release any reasonably segregable non-exempt portions of the record.
Requesters denied access to records may seek judicial review of the county's decision in the Roanoke County Circuit Court, as provided by Virginia Code § 2.2-3713.
Roanoke County Recorder's Office: Contact Information and Hours
Roanoke County Circuit Court Clerk's Office
305 East Main Street
Salem, VA 24153
(540) 387-6205
Circuit Court Clerk's Office
Public Counter Hours: Monday through Friday: 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM Closed on weekends and state holidays
The Roanoke County Circuit Court Clerk's Office serves as the primary repository for official records in the county. The office is responsible for maintaining court records, land records, marriage licenses, and other vital documents. The Clerk of Circuit Court is an elected constitutional officer who serves an eight-year term.
Services provided by the Clerk's Office include:
- Recording deeds, mortgages, and other land records
- Maintaining civil and criminal court files
- Issuing marriage licenses
- Probating wills and administering estates
- Processing passport applications
- Providing certified copies of official records
- Maintaining historic records dating back to the county's formation
For specific questions about records availability or to confirm current operating hours, members of the public are encouraged to contact the Clerk's Office directly.