Chesterfield County Public Records

What Are Public Records in Chesterfield County?

Public records in Chesterfield County, Virginia, are defined under the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) as all writings, papers, letters, maps, books, tapes, photographs, films, sound recordings, magnetic or other tapes, electronic data processing records, artifacts, or other documentary materials, regardless of physical form or characteristics, prepared or owned by, or in the possession of a public body or its officers, employees, or agents in the transaction of public business.

Members of the public may access a broad range of records maintained by various Chesterfield County offices, including:

Court records — Civil, criminal, probate, and family court records are maintained by the Chesterfield County Circuit Court Clerk's Office
Property records — Deeds, mortgages, liens, and land records are recorded and maintained by the Circuit Court Clerk's Office; assessment records are held by the Chesterfield County Assessor's Office
Vital records — Birth and death certificates are issued through the Virginia Department of Health; marriage and divorce records are filed with the Circuit Court Clerk
Business records — Business licenses, permits, and fictitious name registrations are managed by the Chesterfield County Department of Finance
Tax records — Real estate and personal property tax records are maintained by the Chesterfield County Treasurer's Office
Voting and election records — Maintained by the Chesterfield County Electoral Board and Registrar's Office
Meeting minutes and agendas — Board of Supervisors minutes, agendas, and related documents are published through the Chesterfield County Board of Supervisors
Budget and financial documents — Available through the Department of Finance and the county's official budget portal
Law enforcement records — Arrest logs and incident reports, where permitted by law, are maintained by the Chesterfield County Police Department
Land use and zoning records — Maintained by the Chesterfield County Planning Department

Is Chesterfield County an Open Records County?

Chesterfield County fully complies with Virginia's open records framework. Under Virginia Code § 2.2-3700 et seq., commonly known as the Virginia Freedom of Information Act, all public records are presumed open unless a specific statutory exemption applies. The Act declares it the policy of the Commonwealth that the people have access to public records and the proceedings of public bodies.

Key provisions of the Virginia FOIA relevant to Chesterfield County residents include:

Public bodies must respond to records requests within five working days of receipt
If additional time is needed, the public body must notify the requester and may take up to seven additional working days in certain circumstances
The burden of proof to establish an exemption rests with the public body, not the requester

Chesterfield County maintains a dedicated FOIA policy and processes requests through individual departments as well as through a centralized county contact. The county's compliance with Virginia's sunshine laws ensures that government meetings, records, and proceedings remain accessible to the public. The Chesterfield County FOIA page provides guidance on submitting requests and understanding applicable exemptions.

How to Find Public Records in Chesterfield County in 2026

Locating public records in Chesterfield County involves several straightforward methods depending on the type of record sought.

Online Access

Visit the Chesterfield County official website to access online portals for property records, meeting minutes, budgets, and more
Use the Circuit Court's online case information system for court records
Access the Virginia Department of Health's online portal for vital records orders

In-Person Requests

Members of the public may visit the relevant county office during business hours to inspect records in person at no charge
Bring a valid photo identification when visiting offices, particularly for vital records or sealed file requests

Written or Electronic FOIA Requests

Submit a written FOIA request by mail, email, or in person to the specific department holding the records
Requests should identify the records sought with reasonable specificity; requesters are not required to state a purpose
Use the county's online FOIA request form for a streamlined submission process

Third-Party Certified Requests

Vital records such as birth and death certificates may require submission through the Virginia Department of Health using certified application forms

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

Current fees for public records in Chesterfield County are governed by Virginia Code § 2.2-3704, which permits public bodies to charge reasonable fees not to exceed the actual cost incurred in accessing, duplicating, supplying, or searching for the requested records.

Standard fees applicable to Chesterfield County records include:

Paper copies — Typically $0.10 to $0.25 per page for standard black-and-white copies, depending on the office
Certified copies — Circuit Court certified copies of recorded documents are generally $0.50 per page, plus a certification fee
Vital records — Birth and death certificates issued by the Virginia Department of Health carry a standard fee of $12.00 per certified copy
Electronic records — Fees for electronic copies reflect the actual cost of duplication and may be lower than paper copy fees
Staff research time — Charges for staff time may apply when a request requires more than 30 minutes of staff effort to fulfill
Postage and handling — Actual postage costs may be charged when records are mailed

Accepted payment methods vary by office but generally include cash, check, money order, and credit or debit card. Fee waivers may be available for indigent requesters or when disclosure is determined to be in the public interest, at the discretion of the public body.

Does Chesterfield County Have Free Public Records?

Free inspection of public records is available in Chesterfield County. Under Virginia FOIA, members of the public have the right to inspect public records at no charge during regular business hours. Fees apply only when copies are requested.

Free public records resources currently available include:

Online property records and GIS mapping — Available at no cost through the Chesterfield County GIS and Mapping portal
Board of Supervisors meeting minutes and agendas — Published free of charge on the Board of Supervisors page
Budget and financial documents — Accessible at no cost through the county's finance department web pages
Court case information — Basic case lookup is available through the Virginia Judiciary's online case information system at no charge
Voter registration records — General voter registration data is available through the Chesterfield County Registrar's Office
Zoning and land use records — Accessible online through the Planning Department's public portal

Who Can Request Public Records in Chesterfield County?

Any person may request public records in Chesterfield County. Virginia FOIA does not restrict access to residents of the Commonwealth; non-residents, businesses, organizations, and members of the media hold equal rights to request public records under Virginia Code § 2.2-3700.

Key eligibility provisions include:

Residency — Requesters are not required to be Virginia residents or Chesterfield County residents
Identification — Requesters are generally not required to provide identification to submit a FOIA request, though identification may be required for certain sensitive records such as vital records
Purpose — Requesters are not required to state the purpose of their request for most public records
Restrictions for specific record types — Certain records, such as certified copies of vital records, are restricted to the subject of the record, immediate family members, or authorized legal representatives
Requesting your own records — Individuals requesting their own records, such as criminal history or personnel files, may be required to provide proof of identity and may access additional information not available to the general public
Non-resident rights — Non-residents retain full rights under Virginia FOIA to inspect and obtain copies of public records

What Records Are Confidential in Chesterfield County?

Not all government records are subject to public disclosure. Virginia FOIA provides a comprehensive list of exemptions under Virginia Code § 2.2-3705 et seq., which identifies categories of records that public bodies may withhold from disclosure.

Confidential or exempt records in Chesterfield County currently include:

Sealed court records — Records sealed by judicial order are not available for public inspection
Juvenile records — Records pertaining to juveniles in the court system are protected under Virginia law
Ongoing criminal investigation records — Law enforcement records related to active investigations may be withheld to protect the integrity of the investigation
Personal identifying information — Social Security numbers, financial account data, and similar personally identifiable information are exempt from disclosure
Medical and health records — Protected under both Virginia law and the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)
Adoption records — Sealed by statute and accessible only under specific legal circumstances
Child welfare and protective services records — Records maintained by child protective services are confidential
Personnel records — Employee personnel files are generally exempt, with limited exceptions for certain public officials
Trade secrets and proprietary business information — Submitted to the county in confidence as part of licensing or permitting processes
Security plans and critical infrastructure details — Plans related to the security of public facilities and infrastructure are withheld to protect public safety

When a public body asserts an exemption, it must identify the specific statutory basis for withholding the record. Virginia FOIA does not require a balancing test for most exemptions; however, public bodies retain discretion to release exempt records when disclosure serves the public interest and no other law prohibits release.

Chesterfield County Recorder's Office: Contact Information and Hours

The Circuit Court Clerk's Office serves as the primary recorder of official documents in Chesterfield County, including deeds, mortgages, liens, plats, and other land records. The office also maintains court records for civil, criminal, probate, and family matters.

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

Public Counter Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (excluding state and federal holidays)

Chesterfield County Assessor's Office 9901 Lori Road, Building 38, Chesterfield, VA 23832 Phone: (804) 748-1321 Chesterfield County Assessor's Office

Chesterfield County Treasurer's Office 9901 Lori Road, Building 38, Chesterfield, VA 23832 Phone: (804) 748-1201 Chesterfield County Treasurer's Office

Chesterfield County Police Department — Records Unit 10001 Iron Bridge Road, Chesterfield, VA 23832 Phone: (804) 748-1251 Chesterfield County Police Department

Chesterfield County Department of Finance 9901 Lori Road, Building 38, Chesterfield, VA 23832 Phone: (804) 748-1000 Chesterfield County Department of Finance

Virginia Department of Health — Division of Vital Records P.O. Box 1000, Richmond, VA 23218 Phone: (804) 662-6200 Virginia Department of Health Vital Records