Coos County Public Records

What Are Public Records in Coos County?

Public records in Coos County are defined under Oregon Revised Statutes § 192.311 as any writing that contains information relating to the conduct of the public's business, prepared, owned, used, or retained by a public body regardless of physical form or characteristics. This definition encompasses a broad range of documents maintained by county, state, and judicial agencies operating within Coos County.

Members of the public may access the following categories of records through the appropriate Coos County offices:

Court records — Civil, criminal, probate, and family law case files are maintained by the Coos & Curry County Circuit Court, located at 250 N. Baxter Street, Coquille, OR 97423
Property records — Deeds, mortgages, liens, and recorded instruments are held by the Coos County Clerk's Office
Vital records — Birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates are issued through the Oregon Center for Health Statistics and, for certified copies, through the Oregon Vital Records office; divorce decrees are filed with the Circuit Court
Business records — Licenses, permits, and assumed business name (fictitious name) registrations are maintained by the Coos County Clerk and the Oregon Secretary of State
Tax records — Property tax and assessment records are administered by the Coos County Assessor's Office
Voting and election records — Voter registration data and election results are maintained by the Coos County Clerk, who serves as the county elections officer
Meeting minutes and agendas — Board of Commissioners meeting minutes, agendas, and related documents are available through the Coos County Administrative Office
Budget and financial documents — Annual budgets, audits, and expenditure reports are public documents maintained by the Coos County Finance Department
Law enforcement records — Arrest logs and incident reports, where permitted by law, are available through the Coos County Sheriff's Office
Land use and zoning records — Planning applications, zoning maps, and land use decisions are maintained by the Coos County Community Development Department

The Coos County Records Inventory, maintained by the Oregon Secretary of State, provides a comprehensive catalog of record series held at the Coos County Courthouse, 250 North Baxter Street, Coquille, OR 97423.

Is Coos County an Open Records County?

Coos County fully complies with Oregon's public records framework, which establishes a strong presumption in favor of disclosure. Under ORS § 192.314, every public body in Oregon is required to make public records available for inspection and copying upon request, unless a specific statutory exemption applies. Coos County, as a political subdivision of the State of Oregon, is bound by this mandate.

Key provisions of Oregon's Public Records Law relevant to Coos County include:

Public bodies must respond to records requests within a reasonable time, and under ORS § 192.329, agencies are generally required to acknowledge requests and provide an estimated timeline for fulfillment
Agencies may not require requestors to state a reason for their request as a condition of access to non-exempt records
Oregon's Government Ethics and Sunshine Laws further require that meetings of public bodies be open to the public, with limited exceptions, under ORS Chapter 192 (Public Meetings Law)

Coos County does not currently maintain a separate county-specific public records ordinance that supersedes state law. All public records requests directed to county offices are processed in accordance with Oregon's statewide public records statutes. The Oregon Attorney General's Public Records and Meetings Manual serves as the authoritative interpretive guide for public bodies and requestors alike.

How to Find Public Records in Coos County in 2026

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

In Person Requestors may visit the relevant county office during regular business hours. The Coos County Courthouse, located at 250 N. Baxter Street, Coquille, OR 97423, houses the Clerk's Office, Assessor's Office, and other principal county departments. Members of the public may inspect records at the public counter without an appointment for most record types.

By Mail Written requests may be submitted by mail to the specific office that maintains the record. Requests should include the requestor's name, mailing address, a clear description of the records sought, and the preferred method of delivery.

By Email or Online Several Coos County offices accept records requests submitted by email. The Coos County website provides department contact information and, in some cases, downloadable request forms. For court records, members of the public may use the Oregon Judicial Department's case search and court records portal to locate and request documents from the Coos & Curry County Circuit Court.

Steps to Submit a Request

Identify the office or agency that maintains the record type sought
Prepare a written request describing the records with sufficient specificity to allow staff to locate them
Submit the request in person, by mail, or electronically to the appropriate office
Await acknowledgment and an estimated response timeline from the agency
Pay any applicable fees upon notification and receipt of the records

To find a case or court record within the Oregon court system, the Oregon Judicial Department provides free online access to court calendars and basic case information for circuit courts statewide, including Coos County.

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

Current fees for public records in Coos County vary by record type and the office fulfilling the request. Oregon law permits public bodies to charge reasonable fees for the actual cost of making records available, as provided under ORS § 192.324, which authorizes agencies to recover costs for locating, copying, and delivering records.

Standard fees currently applicable in Coos County include:

Photocopies — Typically $0.25 per page for standard black-and-white copies, though individual offices may set their own schedules
Certified copies — The Coos County Clerk charges a per-page certification fee for recorded documents; fees are posted at the public counter and on the county website
Vital records — Certified copies of birth and death certificates issued through Oregon Vital Records are subject to state-established fees
Court records — The Coos & Curry County Circuit Court applies fees set by the Oregon Judicial Department for copies of case documents and certified records
Electronic records — Fees for electronic copies may reflect the actual cost of reproduction and transmission

Accepted payment methods vary by office but generally include cash, check, and money order. Some offices accept credit or debit card payments. Fee waiver provisions exist under Oregon law for indigent requestors or where disclosure is determined to be in the public interest; requestors seeking a fee waiver should submit a written request stating the basis for the waiver at the time of the records request.

Does Coos County Have Free Public Records?

Oregon law guarantees the right to inspect public records without charge in most circumstances. Members of the public may inspect non-exempt records at the relevant Coos County office during regular business hours at no cost; fees apply only when copies or certified documents are requested.

The following free public records resources are currently available:

Oregon Judicial Department case search — Members of the public may search Oregon circuit court records online at no charge, accessing court calendars and basic case information for Coos County proceedings
Coos County Assessor's records — Property assessment and tax account information is available for free inspection at the Assessor's Office
Board of Commissioners meeting minutes and agendas — These documents are posted publicly on the Coos County website at no charge
Oregon Secretary of State archives — The Coos County records inventory maintained by the Oregon Secretary of State is freely accessible online and identifies the location and availability of historical county records

Who Can Request Public Records in Coos County?

Any person may request public records from Coos County offices under Oregon's Public Records Law. ORS § 192.314 does not restrict access based on residency, citizenship, or organizational affiliation. The following conditions apply under current law:

Residency — Requestors are not required to be Oregon residents or Coos County residents to submit a public records request
Identification — Agencies may not require requestors to provide identification as a condition of access to non-exempt public records, though identification may be required for certain sensitive record types or to verify eligibility for restricted records
Statement of purpose — Requestors are generally not required to state the reason for their request; however, providing context may assist agency staff in locating responsive records more efficiently
Requesting your own records — Individuals seeking records about themselves may be entitled to access certain records that are otherwise restricted to third parties, such as personnel files or law enforcement records, subject to applicable identity verification requirements
Restrictions for specific record types — Certain records, including juvenile court records, adoption records, and sealed case files, are restricted by statute and may only be accessed by authorized parties such as the subject of the record, legal guardians, or attorneys of record

Non-residents retain the same rights as Oregon residents with respect to most public records. Attorneys, journalists, researchers, and members of the general public are all entitled to submit requests on equal terms.

What Records Are Confidential in Coos County?

Oregon law establishes specific exemptions to public disclosure, and Coos County agencies apply these exemptions consistently when processing records requests. Under ORS § 192.345 and related statutes, the following categories of records are currently exempt from mandatory disclosure, in whole or in part:

Sealed court records — Records sealed by judicial order are not available to the public
Juvenile records — Records pertaining to juvenile court proceedings are confidential under ORS Chapter 419A
Ongoing investigation records — Law enforcement records compiled in the course of a criminal investigation are exempt where disclosure would interfere with enforcement proceedings
Personal identifying information — Social Security numbers, financial account data, and similar identifiers are redacted from disclosed records
Medical and health records — Protected health information is exempt under both Oregon law and the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)
Adoption records — Adoption case files are sealed by statute and accessible only under specific legal circumstances
Child welfare and protective services records — Records maintained by the Oregon Department of Human Services relating to child abuse investigations and foster care are confidential
Personnel records — Employee personnel files are exempt from disclosure with limited exceptions, such as records of final disciplinary actions
Trade secrets and proprietary business information — Confidential commercial or financial information submitted to a public body may be withheld
Security plans and critical infrastructure details — Records that could compromise public safety or security infrastructure are exempt from disclosure

Where a record contains both exempt and non-exempt information, Oregon law requires agencies to segregate and release the non-exempt portions. Agencies applying exemptions must conduct a balancing test in certain circumstances, weighing the public interest in disclosure against the interest in confidentiality, as provided under ORS § 192.345.

Coos County Recorder's Office: Contact Information and Hours

The Coos County Clerk serves as the official recorder of documents for Coos County, maintaining recorded instruments including deeds, mortgages, liens, and other land records, as well as election records and Board of Commissioners proceedings.

Coos County Clerk's Office 250 N. Baxter Street, Coquille, OR 97423 (541) 396-3121 Coos County Clerk

Public counter hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., excluding state and federal holidays. Members of the public may inspect recorded documents and submit recording requests during these hours.

Coos & Curry County Circuit Court 250 N. Baxter Street, Coquille, OR 97423 (541) 396-3121 Coos & Curry County Circuit Courts

Court counter hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Court records requests may also be submitted through the Oregon Judicial Department's online portal.

Coos County Assessor's Office 250 N. Baxter Street, Coquille, OR 97423 (541) 396-3121 Coos County Assessor

Coos County Sheriff's Office 63466 Hwy 101, Coos Bay, OR 97420 (541) 396-2115 Coos County Sheriff's Office