Addison County Public Records

What Are Public Records in Addison County?

Public records in Addison County, Vermont, are documents, data, and information created or maintained by government agencies in the course of official business and made available to members of the public under state law. Under 1 V.S.A. § 317, public records are broadly defined to include any written or recorded information produced by a public agency, regardless of physical form or medium. The following categories of records are currently available through various Addison County and state offices:

Court records — Civil, criminal, probate, and family court records are maintained by the Addison County Superior Court, located in Middlebury, Vermont.
Property records — Deeds, mortgages, liens, and land assessments are recorded at the town clerk's office in each municipality. Residents may search town land records online as a guest at no charge, with scans dating back to December 1975.
Vital records — Birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates are maintained by individual town clerks and the Vermont Department of Health. Historical vital records are also accessible through the Vermont State Archives and Records Administration.
Business records — Business licenses, permits, and registrations are maintained by the Vermont Secretary of State's office.
Tax records — Property tax and assessment records are held by individual town listers and the town clerk's office in each Addison County municipality.
Voting and election records — Voter registration data and election results are maintained by town clerks and the Vermont Secretary of State.
Meeting minutes and agendas — Records of county and municipal board meetings, including selectboard agendas and minutes, are maintained by each town clerk.
Budget and financial documents — Municipal budgets and financial reports are available through individual town offices.
Law enforcement records — Arrest logs and incident reports, where permitted by law, are available through the Vermont State Police and local law enforcement agencies.
Land use and zoning records — Zoning permits, subdivision approvals, and land use decisions are maintained by town zoning administrators and development review boards.

Is Addison County an Open Records County?

Addison County fully adheres to Vermont's statewide open records framework, which establishes a strong presumption in favor of public access to government documents. Under 1 V.S.A. § 315, the Vermont Public Records Act declares that "it is the policy of this state that public records shall be open to inspection by any person at reasonable times." This provision applies to all public agencies operating within Addison County, including town offices, the county superior court, and state agencies with local offices. The Act further requires that any denial of access be accompanied by a written explanation citing the specific statutory exemption relied upon, placing the burden of justification squarely on the government agency. Vermont's open meetings law, codified at 1 V.S.A. § 310 et seq., complements the Public Records Act by requiring that deliberations of public bodies be conducted in open session, with limited exceptions. Addison County municipalities are expected to maintain public records policies consistent with these state mandates, and no county-specific ordinance may restrict access beyond what state law permits.

How to Find Public Records in Addison County in 2026

Members of the public may obtain Addison County public records through several channels, depending on the record type sought. The following steps outline the standard process:

Identify the custodial office. Determine which agency maintains the record. Property and land records are held by individual town clerks; court records are held by the Addison County Superior Court; vital records are available from town clerks or the Vermont Department of Health; and criminal conviction records may be searched through the Vermont Criminal Conviction Record Internet Service.
Submit a written request. Most agencies accept requests in person, by mail, or by email. Requests should identify the record sought with sufficient specificity to allow the agency to locate it.
Await agency response. Under current Vermont law, agencies must acknowledge requests promptly and respond within three business days, or provide a written explanation if additional time is required.
Inspect or receive copies. Members of the public may inspect records in person at no charge. Copies may be requested for a standard fee.
Appeal if denied. If a request is denied, the requester may appeal to the agency head or seek judicial review in Vermont Superior Court.

For transportation-related records, requests may be directed to the Vermont Agency of Transportation, which maintains a dedicated public records portal. Corrections records may be requested through the Vermont Department of Corrections.

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

Current fees for public records in Addison County are governed by state statute and vary by record type and custodial office. Under 1 V.S.A. § 316, agencies may charge a reasonable fee for copies of public records, but inspection of records in person must be provided at no cost. Standard fees currently applicable include:

Paper copies: Typically $0.05 to $0.25 per page, depending on the office.
Certified copies of vital records: The Vermont Department of Health currently charges $10.00 per certified copy of a birth, death, or marriage certificate.
Land record copies: Fees vary by town clerk's office; many charge $1.00 to $2.00 per page for certified copies of deeds and related documents.
Court record copies: The Addison County Superior Court charges fees established by the Vermont Court Administrator, generally $1.00 per page for certified copies.
Electronic records: Some agencies provide electronic copies at reduced or no cost.

Accepted payment methods vary by office but commonly include cash, check, and money order. Fee waivers may be available for indigent requesters or for requests determined to be in the public interest, at the discretion of the custodial agency.

Does Addison County Have Free Public Records?

Members of the public are entitled to inspect public records in person at no charge under current Vermont law, without the need to purchase copies. Several categories of records are also freely accessible online through official government portals:

Land records: The Town of Addison provides free online guest access to searchable land records dating back to December 1975.
Criminal conviction records: The Vermont Criminal Conviction Record Internet Service allows members of the public to search conviction records at no charge.
Vital records information: General guidance and access instructions for birth, death, and marriage records are available at no cost through the Vermont Department of Health vital records portal.
State archives: Historical vital and government records may be searched through the Vermont State Archives and Records Administration at no charge for basic inquiries.
Vermont State Police public information: Certain law enforcement records and public information are accessible through the Vermont State Police public information page.

Who Can Request Public Records in Addison County?

Any person, regardless of residency, citizenship, or stated purpose, may request public records in Addison County under current Vermont law. The Vermont Public Records Act does not require requesters to be Vermont residents, to provide identification, or to explain the reason for their request. Specific eligibility provisions include:

Residency: Not required. Non-residents retain the same access rights as Vermont residents.
Identification: Generally not required for standard public records requests, though some offices may request contact information for follow-up purposes.
Purpose: Requesters are not obligated to state a reason for their request under 1 V.S.A. § 315.
Requesting your own records: Individuals seeking records about themselves, such as their own criminal history or vital records, follow the same process as any other requester, though additional verification may be required for certified copies.
Restrictions for specific record types: Certain records, such as adoption files, juvenile court records, and sealed court documents, are restricted regardless of the requester's identity. Access to child welfare records maintained by the Vermont Department for Children and Families is subject to additional statutory protections.

What Records Are Confidential in Addison County?

Not all government records in Addison County are open to public inspection. Vermont law enumerates specific categories of exempt records under 1 V.S.A. § 317(c), which currently identifies more than thirty categories of information that agencies may withhold from public disclosure. Exempt and confidential records include:

Sealed court records — Records sealed by judicial order are not accessible to the general public.
Juvenile records — Records pertaining to minors involved in delinquency proceedings are confidential by statute.
Ongoing investigation records — Law enforcement records related to active criminal investigations may be withheld to protect investigative integrity.
Personal identifying information — Social Security numbers, financial account data, and similar identifiers are exempt from disclosure.
Medical and health records — Protected under both Vermont law and the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).
Adoption records — Adoption files are sealed and accessible only under specific court-ordered circumstances.
Child welfare and protective services records — Records maintained by child protective agencies are confidential under state and federal law.
Personnel records — Employee records are generally exempt, with limited exceptions for information such as job titles and compensation of public employees.
Trade secrets and proprietary business information — Submitted to government agencies in confidence and protected from disclosure.
Security plans and critical infrastructure details — Information that could compromise public safety if disclosed is withheld under current law.

When an agency determines that a record is partially exempt, it is required to redact only the exempt portions and release the remainder of the document.

Addison County Recorder's Office: Contact Information and Hours

Property and land records in Addison County are maintained at the town clerk level, as Vermont does not operate a centralized county recorder's office. The primary contact for county-level court and legal records is the Addison County Superior Court. Vital records are available through individual town clerks and the Vermont Department of Health.

Addison County Superior Court (Civil and Criminal Division) 7 Mahady Court, Middlebury, VT 05753 (802) 388-7741 Vermont Judiciary – Addison County Public counter hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Vermont Department of Health – Vital Records Office 108 Cherry Street, Burlington, VT 05402 (800) 439-5008 Vermont Department of Health Vital Records Public counter hours: Monday–Friday, 7:45 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Vermont State Archives and Records Administration (VSARA) 1078 Route 2, Middlesex, Montpelier, VT 05633-7701 (802) 828-3700 Vermont Secretary of State – Vital Records Public counter hours: Monday–Friday, 7:45 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Vermont State Police – Public Information 45 State Drive, Waterbury, VT 05671 (802) 244-8727 Vermont State Police Public Information

Vermont Department of Corrections 280 State Drive, Waterbury, VT 05671 (802) 241-2442 Vermont Department of Corrections

Vermont Agency of Transportation – Public Records One National Life Drive, Montpelier, VT 05633 (802) 828-2657 Vermont Agency of Transportation