St. Lawrence County Public Records
What Are Public Records in St. Lawrence County?
Public records in St. Lawrence County are documents, files, recordings, and other materials created or maintained by government agencies that are accessible to the public pursuant to the New York State Freedom of Information Law (FOIL), codified in Public Officers Law § 84-90. These records document government activities, transactions, and decisions, serving as essential tools for transparency and accountability in local governance.
St. Lawrence County maintains numerous categories of public records, including:
- Court Records: Civil, criminal, family court, and surrogate court filings and proceedings maintained by the St. Lawrence County Clerk's Office
- Property Records: Deeds, mortgages, liens, easements, and other real property transactions recorded by the County Clerk
- Vital Records: Birth, death, and marriage certificates (with access restrictions)
- Business Records: DBA (Doing Business As) certificates, business licenses, and permits
- Tax Records: Property tax assessments, tax rolls, and payment records
- Voting and Election Records: Voter registration data and election results maintained by the Board of Elections
- Meeting Minutes and Agendas: Documentation of county legislative sessions, board meetings, and committee proceedings
- Budget and Financial Documents: County financial statements, budgets, and expenditure reports
- Law Enforcement Records: Arrest logs, incident reports (with certain privacy restrictions)
- Land Use and Zoning Records: Planning documents, zoning maps, and building permits
The St. Lawrence County Clerk serves as the primary custodian for many official records, including real property transactions and court filings. Other records are maintained by specific departments according to their functions, such as the County Treasurer (tax records), Department of Social Services (public assistance records), and the Sheriff's Office (law enforcement records).
Is St. Lawrence County an Open Records County?
St. Lawrence County adheres to New York State's robust open records framework established under the Freedom of Information Law (FOIL). Under Public Officers Law § 87, all government records are presumed to be open for public inspection unless specifically exempted by statute.
The law explicitly states that "government is the public's business and that the public, individually and collectively and represented by a free press, should have access to the records of government." This foundational principle guides St. Lawrence County's approach to records access.
The County follows the state-mandated procedures for handling FOIL requests, including:
- Responding to requests within five business days
- Providing written acknowledgments when requests cannot be fulfilled immediately
- Offering specific reasons when access to records is denied
- Maintaining an appeals process for denied requests
St. Lawrence County has designated Records Access Officers in each department responsible for processing FOIL requests pertaining to their respective records. The County Clerk's Office maintains many of the most frequently requested records and provides public access terminals for on-site research.
The County also complies with New York's Open Meetings Law (Public Officers Law § 100-111), ensuring that government meetings are open to public attendance and that minutes are properly recorded and made available.
How to Find Public Records in St. Lawrence County in 2026
Members of the public seeking records in St. Lawrence County may utilize several methods to locate and access information:
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Visit the appropriate county office in person:
- For court records and property documents, visit the County Clerk's Office
- For tax records, contact the County Treasurer
- For vital records, contact the County Clerk (for older records) or municipal clerk's offices
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Submit a FOIL request:
- Complete the county's FOIL Request Form
- Submit requests to the specific department that maintains the desired records
- Include detailed information about the records sought
- Provide contact information for response
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Use online resources:
- Access the St. Lawrence County Clerk's website for information on available records
- Check the county's Real Property Tax Service for property assessment data
- Review the County Legislature's website for meeting minutes and agendas
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Contact the Records Access Officer:
- Each county department has a designated Records Access Officer
- These officials can provide guidance on locating specific records
- They can assist with formulating effective FOIL requests
For court records, the County Clerk maintains files for Supreme and County Court cases. Requestors must provide specific case information, including names of parties involved and approximate dates. Criminal record searches require proper identification and adherence to state regulations.
Property records research can be conducted using the public access terminals at the County Clerk's Office, where staff can provide assistance with navigating the system. Currently, some property records are available online through the county's real property portal.
How Much Does It Cost to Get Public Records in St. Lawrence County?
St. Lawrence County charges fees for public records in accordance with Public Officers Law § 87(1)(b)(iii), which permits agencies to charge reasonable fees for copying or reproducing records. The current fee structure includes:
- Photocopies: $0.25 per page for standard letter/legal size documents
- Certified Copies: Additional $5.00 certification fee per document
- Court Records: $5.00 search fee plus $0.25 per page for copies
- Real Property Records:
- $5.00 per page for recording deeds, mortgages, and other instruments
- $40.00 filing fee for real property transfer documents
- $5.00 per name for property owner searches
- Vital Records:
- $10.00 for certified copies of birth certificates
- $10.00 for certified copies of death certificates
- $10.00 for marriage record searches and certified copies
- Maps and Large Format Documents: $5.00-$15.00 depending on size
- Digital Media: $10.00 for records provided on CD/DVD
Payment methods accepted by county offices include:
- Cash (in-person requests only)
- Personal checks (made payable to "St. Lawrence County Clerk" or appropriate department)
- Money orders
- Credit/debit cards (subject to processing fees)
Fees may be waived in certain circumstances when the request is determined to be in the public interest, though such determinations are made on a case-by-case basis. Requestors should note that extensive searches requiring significant staff time may incur additional fees, which will be communicated in advance.
Does St. Lawrence County Have Free Public Records?
St. Lawrence County provides free access to certain public records in compliance with state law. Under Public Officers Law § 87(2), the public has the right to inspect records at no cost, though fees may apply for copies.
Records available for free inspection include:
- County Legislature Proceedings: Meeting minutes, resolutions, and local laws can be viewed at the Clerk of the Legislature's Office or on the county website
- Budget Documents: Annual county budgets and financial reports are available for review at the County Administrator's Office
- Assessment Rolls: Current property assessment information can be viewed at the Real Property Tax Service
- Voter Registration Lists: Available for inspection at the Board of Elections (though fees apply for copies)
- Public Notices and Announcements: Posted at county offices and on the official county website
The County Clerk's Office provides public access terminals where visitors can search court and property records at no charge, though printing from these terminals incurs standard copy fees. Additionally, the county's website offers free access to:
- Board of Legislators meeting agendas and minutes
- County codes and local laws
- Public notices and announcements
- Department contact information and service descriptions
- Some property assessment data
For in-person inspection of physical records, visitors should contact the appropriate department in advance to ensure records are available and to schedule time with staff if assistance is needed.
Who Can Request Public Records in St. Lawrence County?
Under New York's Freedom of Information Law, any person may request access to public records maintained by St. Lawrence County. As specified in Public Officers Law § 89(1), requestors are not required to:
- Be residents of St. Lawrence County or New York State
- Provide identification (except for certain restricted records)
- State the purpose or reason for their request
- Have a direct interest in the records sought
However, certain record types have specific eligibility restrictions:
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Vital Records (birth, death, marriage certificates):
- Access is limited to the person named in the record
- Immediate family members with legitimate interest
- Legal representatives with proper authorization
- Persons with court orders or documented legal need
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Medical Records:
- Access restricted to the individual or their authorized representative
- Subject to HIPAA regulations and state privacy laws
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Law Enforcement Records:
- Ongoing investigation materials may be restricted
- Juvenile records have heightened confidentiality protections
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Social Services Records:
- Protected by confidentiality provisions in Social Services Law
- Access generally limited to the subject or authorized representatives
For most general government records, requestors need only submit a completed FOIL request form with sufficient detail to identify the desired records. The county may ask for clarification if requests are vague but cannot deny access based on the requestor's identity or purpose (except for restricted record categories).
Commercial entities may request public records, though certain bulk data requests may be subject to additional scrutiny to prevent privacy concerns or commercial exploitation of government records.
What Records Are Confidential in St. Lawrence County?
St. Lawrence County maintains certain records as confidential in accordance with Public Officers Law § 87(2), which establishes specific exemptions from disclosure. Records exempt from public access include:
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Personal Privacy Protected Information:
- Social Security numbers
- Medical and health records
- Personal financial information
- Home addresses and telephone numbers of public employees
- Employment, medical, and credit histories
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Law Enforcement Records:
- Active investigation materials that would interfere with proceedings
- Information that would identify confidential sources
- Information that would reveal non-routine criminal investigative techniques
- Records that could endanger the life or safety of any person
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Inter/Intra-Agency Materials:
- Deliberative process documents
- Draft policies and recommendations
- Pre-decisional memoranda
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Court-Protected Records:
- Sealed court records
- Juvenile delinquency proceedings
- Family Court Act proceedings
- Youthful offender records
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Other Protected Categories:
- Trade secrets submitted to the county
- Critical infrastructure information
- Computer access codes and security information
- Examination questions before administration
- Attorney-client privileged communications
- Records specifically exempted by state or federal statute
When a record contains both exempt and non-exempt information, the county must redact the confidential portions and release the remainder. All denials of access must cite the specific statutory provision supporting the exemption and inform the requestor of their right to appeal.
The County applies a balancing test when considering privacy exemptions, weighing the public's right to know against individual privacy interests, as required by case law interpreting FOIL.
St. Lawrence County Recorder's Office: Contact Information and Hours
St. Lawrence County Clerk's Office
48 Court Street
Canton, NY 13617
Phone: (315) 379-2237
St. Lawrence County Clerk
Hours of Operation:
Monday through Friday: 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Closed on weekends and county-observed holidays
Services Provided:
- Recording of deeds, mortgages, and other land records
- Filing of court documents for Supreme and County Courts
- Processing of passport applications
- Issuance of pistol permits
- DMV transactions
- Naturalization records
- Business certificates (DBA filings)
- Notary public applications and renewals
- Veterans discharge recording
Real Property Division
48 Court Street
Canton, NY 13617
Phone: (315) 379-2242
Real Property Transactions
Court Records Division
48 Court Street
Canton, NY 13617
Phone: (315) 379-2237
Court Records
For specific questions about record availability or filing procedures, members of the public are encouraged to contact the appropriate division directly during regular business hours.