Lee County Public Records

What Are Public Records in Lee County?

Public records in Lee County, Alabama, are documents, files, and data created or maintained by government agencies in the course of official business and made available for public inspection under state law. Under Alabama Code § 36-12-40, any citizen of the state is entitled to inspect and take a copy of any public writing of the state, except as otherwise expressly provided by statute. The following categories of records are currently maintained and accessible through various Lee County offices:

Court records — Civil, criminal, probate, and family court filings are maintained by the Lee County Circuit Court, which serves as the 37th Judicial Circuit of Alabama. Members of the public may access these records through the Lee County – Thirty-Seventh Circuit Court of Alabama portal.
Property records — Deeds, mortgages, liens, and property assessments are maintained by the Lee County Judge of Probate and the Lee County Revenue Commissioner.
Vital records — Birth and death certificates are issued through the Alabama Department of Public Health. Marriage and divorce records are filed with the Lee County Probate Court.
Business records — Business licenses, permits, and fictitious name registrations are maintained by the Lee County Probate Office and applicable municipal licensing authorities.
Tax records — Property tax records and assessment data are maintained by the Lee County Revenue Commissioner's Office.
Voting and election records — Voter registration data and election results are maintained by the Lee County Board of Registrars and the Lee County Probate Judge, who serves as the chief election official.
Meeting minutes and agendas — Records of the Lee County Commission, boards, and committees are maintained by the County Commission office and posted publicly in accordance with Alabama's Open Meetings Act.
Budget and financial documents — Annual budgets, expenditure reports, and audit records are maintained by the Lee County Commission.
Law enforcement records — Arrest logs and incident reports, where permitted by law, are available through the Lee County Sheriff's Office.
Land use and zoning records — Zoning maps, permits, and land use decisions are maintained by the Lee County Planning and Zoning Department.

Is Lee County an Open Records County?

Lee County fully operates under Alabama's statewide open records framework, which mandates public access to government documents. Under Alabama Code § 36-12-40, all public writings of the state and its political subdivisions are presumptively open to inspection by any Alabama citizen. Effective October 1, 2024, Act 2024-278, known as the Alabama Open Records Act, significantly strengthened these provisions by establishing formal request procedures, response timelines, and fee limitations applicable to all county agencies, including those in Lee County.

Key provisions of the current law include:

Government agencies must acknowledge a records request promptly and provide responsive documents within a reasonable timeframe as defined by the Act.
Agencies bear the burden of demonstrating that a specific exemption applies before withholding any requested record.
The Act applies to all public bodies, including county commissions, sheriff's offices, courts, and municipal governments operating within Lee County.

Lee County agencies, including the Sheriff's Office, have adopted internal policies consistent with Act 2024-278. The City of Opelika, the county seat's neighboring municipality, also maintains a formal public records request process through its City Clerk's office in compliance with state sunshine laws.

How to Find Public Records in Lee County

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

Online portals — Court records for civil, criminal, and probate matters are searchable through the Alabama Administrative Office of Courts, which provides on-demand access to Alabama state trial court records statewide, including Lee County.
In-person requests — Requestors may visit the relevant county office during regular business hours to inspect records or submit a written request. The Lee County Probate Office, Revenue Commissioner, and Circuit Court Clerk all accept in-person requests.
Written or electronic requests — Under Act 2024-278, requests may be submitted in writing by mail, email, or through an agency's designated online form. The Lee County Sheriff's Office maintains a dedicated records request form on its official website.
Municipal requests — Residents seeking records from the City of Opelika must submit requests directly to the Opelika City Clerk's office using the city's designated public records request form.
Vital records — Birth and death certificates are requested through the Lee County Health Department, operated by the Alabama Department of Public Health, which also provides clinical and environmental health services to county residents.

When submitting a request, it is advisable to describe the record sought with sufficient specificity — including relevant dates, names, case numbers, or parcel identification numbers — to facilitate timely processing.

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

Current fees for public records in Lee County vary by record type and the office maintaining the documents. Act 2024-278 establishes that fees charged by public bodies must be reasonable and may not exceed the actual cost of reproduction and, where applicable, the cost of staff time required to fulfill the request.

Standard fees currently applicable across Lee County offices include:

Paper copies — Typically $0.25 to $1.00 per page, depending on the office and document format.
Certified copies — Certified court documents and vital records carry additional certification fees; probate court copies are generally $1.00 per page plus a certification fee.
Birth and death certificates — The Alabama Department of Public Health charges a standard fee per certified copy, currently set at $15.00 for the first copy and $6.00 for each additional copy ordered simultaneously.
Electronic records — Where records are provided in electronic format, fees may be reduced or waived at the discretion of the custodial agency.
Extensive requests — For requests requiring significant staff time to compile or redact, agencies may charge for the actual cost of labor in addition to reproduction costs, consistent with Alabama Code § 36-12-40.

Accepted payment methods vary by office but generally include cash, check, money order, and, in some offices, credit or debit card. Fee waiver provisions exist for indigent requestors and, in certain circumstances, for members of the news media acting in the public interest.

Does Lee County Have Free Public Records?

Free inspection of public records is available in Lee County, as Alabama law establishes the right to inspect public writings without charge. Members of the public may review records in person at the custodial office without incurring a fee; charges apply only when copies are requested.

The following free resources are currently available:

Online court record access — The Alabama Administrative Office of Courts provides searchable access to Alabama state trial court records, including Lee County civil, criminal, and probate filings, at no cost for basic searches.
Lee County Circuit Court portal — The 37th Judicial Circuit Court provides online access to case information for Lee County at no charge.
In-person inspection — Any member of the public may visit the Lee County Probate Office, Revenue Commissioner, or Circuit Court Clerk during business hours to inspect records without paying a fee.
Sheriff's Office records — The Lee County Sheriff's Office allows eligible requestors to submit and track records requests through its online portal at no initial cost.
Health department records — General public health data and certain environmental records maintained by the Lee County Health Department are accessible without charge.

Who Can Request Public Records in Lee County?

Under the Alabama Open Records Act, as amended by Act 2024-278, the right to inspect and copy public records is extended to Alabama residents. The Act defines eligible requestors as individuals who are residents of the State of Alabama at the time the request is made.

Key eligibility provisions currently in effect include:

Residency — Requestors must be Alabama residents under the current framework established by Act 2024-278. Non-residents may have more limited access rights compared to residents, though many agencies exercise discretion in fulfilling requests from out-of-state individuals.
Identification — Agencies may request reasonable identification to verify Alabama residency, though requestors are generally not required to provide extensive personal information.
Purpose — Under Alabama Code § 36-12-40, requestors are not required to state the purpose of their request for most public records. Agencies may not condition access on the disclosure of the requestor's intended use.
Requesting your own records — Individuals seeking their own records, such as personal court filings, tax records, or vital records, follow the same general process but may be required to provide proof of identity.
Restricted record types — Certain categories of records, including juvenile records, sealed court files, and ongoing investigation materials, carry additional access restrictions regardless of the requestor's identity or stated purpose.
Media requests — The Lee County Circuit Court designates a separate process for media records requests, handled through the court's official portal.

What Records Are Confidential in Lee County?

Certain categories of records maintained by Lee County agencies are exempt from public disclosure under state and federal law. Alabama Code § 36-12-40 and related provisions establish that the following records are not subject to public inspection:

Sealed court records — Records sealed by judicial order are not accessible to the general public.
Juvenile records — Records pertaining to minors involved in delinquency or dependency proceedings are confidential under Alabama law.
Ongoing investigation records — Law enforcement records related to active criminal investigations are exempt to the extent that disclosure would compromise the investigation or endanger individuals.
Personal identifying information — Social Security numbers, financial account data, and similar personally identifiable information are redacted from publicly released documents.
Medical records — Health information maintained by the Lee County Health Department and other public health agencies is protected under both state law and the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).
Adoption records — Records pertaining to adoption proceedings are sealed and accessible only by court order or to authorized parties.
Child welfare records — Records maintained by child protective services agencies are confidential under Alabama's child welfare statutes.
Personnel records — Employee personnel files held by county agencies are generally exempt, with limited exceptions for information such as salary and job title.
Trade secrets and proprietary business information — Commercially sensitive information submitted to government agencies in the course of licensing or permitting may be withheld.
Security plans and infrastructure details — Documents describing security vulnerabilities or critical infrastructure are exempt from disclosure in the interest of public safety.

Where an agency withholds a record, it bears the burden of identifying the specific statutory exemption that applies. Requestors who believe a record has been improperly withheld may seek review through the courts or through the procedures established under Act 2024-278.

Lee County Recorder's Office: Contact Information and Hours

The Lee County Probate Office serves as the primary recorder of official documents in Lee County, including deeds, mortgages, liens, and other instruments affecting real property, as well as marriage licenses and probate court filings.

Lee County Probate Office 215 S 9th St, Opelika, AL 36801 (334) 737-3670 Lee County Probate Office Public counter hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Lee County Revenue Commissioner 215 S 9th St, Opelika, AL 36801 (334) 737-3655 Lee County Revenue Commissioner Public counter hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Lee County Sheriff's Office 2311 Gateway Dr, Opelika, AL 36801 (334) 749-5651 Lee County Sheriff's Office Records requests accepted during regular business hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Lee County Circuit Court Clerk – 37th Judicial Circuit 2311 Gateway Dr, Opelika, AL 36801 (334) 737-3490 Lee County – Thirty-Seventh Circuit Court of Alabama Public counter hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Lee County Health Department 2202 Hamilton Rd, Opelika, AL 36801 (334) 745-1200 Lee County Health Department – Alabama Department of Public Health Public counter hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

City of Opelika City Clerk's Office 204 S 7th St, Opelika, AL 36801 (334) 705-5100 City of Opelika Public Records Request Public counter hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.