Scott County Public Records

What Are Public Records in Scott County?

Public records in Scott County, Iowa, are defined under Iowa Code § 22.1 as all records, documents, tape recordings, or other information stored or preserved in any medium that are made, received, or maintained by a government body in connection with the transaction of official business. Members of the public may inspect or obtain copies of these records unless a specific statutory exemption applies. The Iowa Public Information Board administers and enforces the state's open records framework, commonly referred to as the "sunshine law."

Scott County government agencies currently maintain the following categories of public records:

Court records — Civil, criminal, probate, and family court case files are maintained by the Scott County Clerk of Court under the authority of the Iowa Judicial Branch
Property records — Deeds, mortgages, liens, and recorded instruments are held by the Scott County Recorder's Office
Property assessments — Maintained by the Scott County Assessor's Office
Vital records — Birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates; the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services maintains statewide vital records indexes, while county-level certified copies may be obtained through the Scott County Recorder
Business records — Trade name registrations, licenses, and permits are filed with the Scott County Recorder and relevant municipal offices
Tax records — Property tax payment histories and assessment records are maintained by the Scott County Treasurer and Assessor
Voting and election records — Voter registration data and election results are held by the Scott County Auditor
Meeting minutes and agendas — Board of Supervisors minutes, agendas, and resolutions are maintained by the Scott County Auditor
Budget and financial documents — Annual budgets, expenditure reports, and audit documents are available through the Scott County Auditor
Law enforcement records — Arrest logs and incident reports, where permitted by law, are maintained by the Scott County Sheriff's Office
Land use and zoning records — Zoning maps, permits, and variance applications are held by the Scott County Planning and Development Department

Is Scott County an Open Records County?

Scott County fully complies with Iowa's statewide open records law, which governs all county government bodies without exception. Under Iowa Code § 22.2, every person has the right to examine and copy public records of a government body. The statute establishes a strong presumption of openness, meaning that any record not specifically exempted by law must be made available to the public upon request.

Key provisions of Iowa's open records law as applied in Scott County include:

Government bodies must make records available during regular business hours
Agencies may not require a requester to state a reason for seeking records
Responses to records requests must be made promptly and without unreasonable delay
Agencies may charge reasonable fees for copies but may not charge for inspection alone

The Iowa Department of Administrative Services open records policy further specifies that open records are available to the public Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., excluding state-designated holidays. Scott County offices follow this same general schedule. The Iowa Public Information Board serves as the oversight body for compliance with Chapters 21 and 22 of the Iowa Code — the open meetings and open records statutes — and members of the public may file complaints with that board if access is improperly denied.

How to Find Public Records in Scott County in 2026

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

In-Person Requests Requesters may visit the appropriate county office during public counter hours and ask to inspect or obtain copies of records. Staff are required by law to assist with reasonable requests and to provide access without requiring the requester to state a purpose.

Written or Mail Requests Formal written requests may be submitted by mail or email to the custodian of the specific record. Requests should identify the record sought with sufficient specificity to allow staff to locate it. No standardized statewide form is currently required, though individual offices may provide optional request forms.

Online Access Several Scott County record types are accessible online:

Court case information is searchable through the Iowa Judicial Branch electronic filing and case management system
Statewide marriage, birth, and death records may be ordered through the Iowa.gov vital records portal
Property records and assessment data may be searched through the Scott County Assessor and Recorder online portals

Criminal History Records Requests for Iowa criminal history record checks may be submitted by mail, fax, in person, or email through the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation. Applicable fees and identification requirements apply depending on the type of check requested.

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

Scott County offices charge fees for copies of public records consistent with the cost limitations established under Iowa law. Under Iowa Code § 22.3, fees charged for copies of public records may not exceed the actual cost of providing the service, including the cost of the medium used and the cost of any mechanical processing required.

Current standard fees applicable to Scott County public records include:

Standard paper copies — Typically $0.10 to $0.25 per page, depending on the office
Certified copies of vital records — Fees vary by record type; the Scott County Recorder charges set fees per certified copy of recorded documents
Court record copies — Fees are established by the Iowa Judicial Branch and apply per page or per document
Electronic records — Fees reflect the actual cost of the medium (e.g., USB drive or CD) and any required staff processing time
Criminal history record checks — Fees are set by the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation and vary by check type

Accepted payment methods vary by office but generally include cash, check, and money order. Some offices accept credit or debit cards. Fee waivers are not broadly established by statute for general public records requests, though indigent requesters or members of the news media may inquire with individual offices regarding reduced-cost access in specific circumstances.

Does Scott County Have Free Public Records?

Iowa law guarantees the right to inspect public records at no charge. Members of the public may examine records in person at the custodial office without incurring any fee, provided they do not request copies. Fees apply only when physical or electronic copies are produced.

The following free access options are currently available for Scott County records:

In-person inspection — Any open record may be reviewed at the relevant county office at no cost during public counter hours
Iowa Judicial Branch online portal — Basic court case information is searchable at no charge through the Iowa Judicial Branch website
Vital records indexes — The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services provides free access to birth, death, and marriage indexes for historical research purposes
Scott County Assessor and Auditor portals — Property assessment data, tax information, and election records are available online at no cost through the respective county office websites

Who Can Request Public Records in Scott County?

Any person may request public records in Scott County, regardless of residency, citizenship, or stated purpose. Iowa Code § 22.2 establishes that the right to examine public records extends to every person, and government bodies may not condition access on the requester's identity, affiliation, or reason for the request.

Specific eligibility provisions currently in effect include:

Residency — Non-residents of Scott County and Iowa have the same right of access as residents
Identification — Requesters are generally not required to provide identification for standard open records requests, though identification may be required for certain sensitive record types or for requests involving the requester's own records
Purpose — Agencies may not require a requester to state the purpose of a records request as a condition of access
Restrictions by record type — Certain records, such as sealed court files, juvenile records, and adoption records, are restricted by statute and may only be accessed by authorized parties
Requesting one's own records — Individuals seeking their own vital records, criminal history, or other personal records may be required to provide proof of identity and, in some cases, a notarized authorization

What Records Are Confidential in Scott County?

Not all government records in Scott County are open to public inspection. Iowa Code § 22.7 enumerates specific categories of records that are exempt from disclosure, and government bodies are required to withhold these records unless a court orders otherwise or the exemption is waived by the appropriate authority.

Records currently exempt from public disclosure in Scott County include:

Sealed court records — Orders sealing case files are issued by the court and restrict public access
Juvenile records — Records pertaining to minors involved in delinquency or child welfare proceedings are confidential under Iowa law
Ongoing investigation records — Law enforcement investigative reports that, if disclosed, would jeopardize an active investigation or endanger individuals
Personal identifying information — Social Security numbers, financial account data, and similar identifiers are protected from disclosure
Medical and health records — Protected under both Iowa law and the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)
Adoption records — Sealed by statute and accessible only through a court order or specific statutory process
Child welfare and protective services records — Maintained as confidential by the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services
Personnel records — Employee performance evaluations and certain disciplinary records are exempt, with limited exceptions for final disciplinary actions
Trade secrets and proprietary business information — Submitted to government agencies in confidence and protected from competitive disclosure
Security plans and critical infrastructure details — Records whose release could compromise public safety or government facility security

Iowa Code § 22.7 provides the controlling list of exemptions, and agencies are required to apply a balancing test in borderline cases, weighing the public interest in disclosure against the potential harm of release.

Scott County Recorder's Office: Contact Information and Hours

The Scott County Recorder's Office serves as the primary custodian of property records, recorded instruments, and certain vital records at the county level. Members of the public may visit the office in person, submit requests by mail, or access certain records online.

Scott County Recorder's Office 600 W. 4th Street, Davenport, IA 52801 (563) 326-8628 Scott County Recorder

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

Scott County Clerk of Court 416 W. 4th Street, Davenport, IA 52801 (563) 328-3206 Scott County Clerk of Court

Scott County Auditor's Office 600 W. 4th Street, Davenport, IA 52801 (563) 326-8688 Scott County Auditor

Scott County Assessor's Office 600 W. 4th Street, Davenport, IA 52801 (563) 326-8635 Scott County Assessor

Scott County Sheriff's Office 400 W. 4th Street, Davenport, IA 52801 (563) 326-8685 Scott County Sheriff