Multnomah County Public Records

What Are Public Records in Multnomah County?

Public records in Multnomah County are defined under the Oregon Public Records Law, specifically Oregon Revised Statutes (ORS) § 192.311 through § 192.478. According to this statute, public records include "any writing that contains information relating to the conduct of the public's business" that is "prepared, owned, used or retained" by a public body regardless of physical form or characteristics.

Multnomah County maintains numerous types of public records accessible to citizens, including:

Court Records: Civil, criminal, probate, and family court cases maintained by the Multnomah County Circuit Court
Property Records: Deeds, mortgages, liens, and property assessments maintained by the County Assessor's Office and County Clerk
Vital Records: Birth and death certificates (maintained by the County Health Department), marriage licenses and domestic partnerships (maintained by the County Clerk)
Business Records: Business licenses, permits, and fictitious business name registrations
Tax Records: Property tax statements, assessment records, and tax lot information
Voting and Election Records: Voter registration data and election results maintained by the County Elections Division
Meeting Minutes and Agendas: Records of County Commission meetings, advisory boards, and committees
Budget and Financial Documents: County expenditures, contracts, and financial reports
Law Enforcement Records: Arrest logs, incident reports, and jail records (with statutory limitations)
Land Use and Zoning Records: Planning documents, building permits, and zoning decisions

The Multnomah County Records Inventory provides a comprehensive catalog of records maintained by various county departments. Each record type is maintained by specific county offices, with the County Clerk serving as the primary custodian for many official records.

Is Multnomah County an Open Records County?

Multnomah County fully adheres to Oregon's Public Records Law as established in ORS § 192.314, which states: "Every person has a right to inspect any public record of a public body in this state, except as otherwise expressly provided by ORS 192.338, 192.345 and 192.355." This statute establishes the presumption that all government records are open to public inspection unless specifically exempted by law.

The county operates under the principle of maximum transparency as required by state law. According to ORS § 192.324(1), "A public body that is the custodian of any public record shall, upon request, furnish reasonable opportunity to inspect or copy, or receive a copy or printout of the public record."

Multnomah County has established specific procedures for handling public records requests through Administrative Procedure REC-1, which outlines the county's commitment to providing timely access to public information while protecting confidential information as required by law.

The county also complies with Oregon's Public Meetings Law (ORS § 192.610-690), often referred to as "sunshine laws," which requires that meetings of public bodies be open to the public with proper notice given.

How to Find Public Records in Multnomah County in 2026

Members of the public seeking records in Multnomah County may utilize several methods to locate and obtain documents:

Submit a Public Records Request:
- Complete the county's Public Records Request Form available on the official county website
- Submit requests via email, mail, or in person to the specific department that maintains the records
- Clearly identify the records being requested with as much specificity as possible
Visit County Offices in Person:
- The Multnomah County Clerk's Office provides direct access to many public records
- The Multnomah County Circuit Court Records office maintains court documents
- The County Assessor's Office provides property records
Use Online Resources:
- The Oregon Judicial Department's Records Search provides access to court records
- The Multnomah County Property Information portal offers property tax and assessment information
- The County Clerk's Recording Search allows access to recorded documents
Contact the Records Management Program:
- For assistance in locating specific records, contact the county's Records Management Program
- Staff can direct requestors to the appropriate department
Review the Records Retention Schedule:
- Consult the County Records Retention Schedule to determine if the records sought are still maintained

Pursuant to ORS § 192.324, the county must acknowledge receipt of a public records request within five business days and complete the request within ten business days, or provide a written statement explaining when the request will be completed.

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

Multnomah County charges fees for public records in accordance with ORS § 192.324(4), which permits public bodies to establish fees "reasonably calculated to reimburse the public body for the public body's actual cost of making public records available."

Current standard fees for public records in Multnomah County include:

Paper Copies: $0.25 per page for standard black and white copies
Color Copies: $1.00 per page
Electronic Records: $10.00 per CD/DVD or no charge for email delivery when possible
Staff Research Time: $30.00 to $75.00 per hour depending on employee classification (first 30 minutes are often free)
Attorney Review Time: $150.00 per hour when legal review is required

Specialized records may have different fee structures:

Certified Copies of Vital Records: $25.00 for first copy, $25.00 for each additional copy
Marriage Licenses: $60.00
Recording Fees: $93.00 for first page, $5.00 for each additional page
Maps and Large Format Documents: Varies based on size and complexity

The county accepts payment by cash, check, money order, and credit card (in person). Some departments may accept online payments for specific services.

Fee waivers or reductions may be granted when the request is determined to be in the public interest. Requestors may submit a fee waiver application explaining how disclosure will primarily benefit the general public.

Does Multnomah County Have Free Public Records?

Multnomah County provides free access to certain public records as required by Oregon law. Under ORS § 192.324, all public records must be made available for inspection at no charge, though fees may apply for copies or extensive research.

Free public records resources in Multnomah County include:

In-Person Inspection: Citizens may inspect any non-exempt public record during normal business hours at no cost
Online Court Records: Basic case information is available through the Oregon Judicial Department's online records system
County Commission Meeting Records: Minutes, agendas, and recordings of public meetings are available on the county website
County Budget Documents: Annual budgets and financial reports are published online at no cost
Voter Pamphlets and Election Results: Available through the County Elections Division
Property Information: Basic property ownership and tax assessment information is available through the county's property information search

The Multnomah County Library system also provides free public computer access where citizens can access many online county records without charge.

Government agencies may waive fees when the furnishing of the records has a public benefit that outweighs the burden and cost to the public agency, as provided in ORS § 192.324(5).

Who Can Request Public Records in Multnomah County?

Under Oregon's Public Records Law, specifically ORS § 192.314, "every person" has the right to inspect public records. This broad eligibility extends to:

Oregon residents
Non-residents of Oregon
Business entities
Media organizations
Non-profit organizations
Government agencies

Requestors are not generally required to:

Provide identification (except for certain protected records)
State the purpose of their request
Explain how they intend to use the records
Be physically present in Oregon

However, certain restrictions apply to specific record types:

Vital Records: Birth and death certificates are restricted to qualified individuals with a "direct and tangible interest" as defined in ORS § 432.380
Juvenile Records: Access is limited by ORS § 419A.255
Medical Records: Protected under both state law and HIPAA
Voter Registration Information: Commercial use is restricted under ORS § 247.955

When requesting records about oneself, identification may be required to verify identity and prevent unauthorized disclosure of personal information. Requests for others' personal information may be subject to redaction or denial based on applicable privacy exemptions.

Public bodies may ask for clarification about requests but cannot typically require information about the requestor's identity or purpose except when necessary to determine if an exemption applies or if a fee waiver is appropriate.

What Records Are Confidential in Multnomah County?

While Oregon's Public Records Law establishes the presumption of openness, certain records are exempt from disclosure under ORS § 192.345 (conditional exemptions) and ORS § 192.355 (unconditional exemptions). Multnomah County maintains the following types of confidential records:

Sealed Court Records: Cases sealed by court order, including expunged criminal records
Juvenile Records: Juvenile court proceedings and records (ORS § 419A.255)
Ongoing Investigations: Law enforcement investigatory information that would interfere with an investigation
Personal Identifying Information: Social Security numbers, driver's license numbers, financial account information
Medical Records: Health information protected under HIPAA and state law
Adoption Records: Sealed adoption files and records
Child Welfare Records: Reports of child abuse and protective services records
Personnel Records: Disciplinary actions, performance evaluations, and personal information about public employees
Attorney-Client Communications: Legal advice and work product
Trade Secrets: Proprietary business information submitted to the county
Security Information: Building security plans, emergency response protocols, and critical infrastructure details
Executive Session Records: Confidential deliberations of governing bodies
Personal Privacy Information: Information that would constitute an unreasonable invasion of privacy

For conditionally exempt records under ORS § 192.345, the county must apply a public interest balancing test to determine if the public interest in disclosure outweighs the interest protected by the exemption.

Requestors should note that even when a record contains exempt information, the county is required to provide the non-exempt portions of the record with the exempt information redacted, as specified in ORS § 192.338.

Multnomah County Recorder's Office: Contact Information and Hours

Multnomah County Clerk's Recording Office
501 SE Hawthorne Blvd, Suite 175
Portland, OR 97214
Phone: (503) 988-3326
Multnomah County Recording Office

Hours of Operation:
Monday through Friday: 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM
Closed on weekends and county-observed holidays

Services Provided:

Recording of deeds, mortgages, and other property documents
Marriage licenses and domestic partnerships
Passport application acceptance
Certified copies of recorded documents
Notary public services

Multnomah County Circuit Court Records Office
1200 SW 1st Avenue, 3rd Floor
Portland, OR 97204
Phone: (503) 988-3022
Multnomah County Circuit Court Records

Hours of Operation:
Monday through Friday: 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Closed on weekends and state-observed holidays

Multnomah County Assessment & Taxation
501 SE Hawthorne Blvd, Suite 175
Portland, OR 97214
Phone: (503) 988-3326
Multnomah County Assessment & Taxation

Hours of Operation:
Monday through Friday: 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Closed on weekends and county-observed holidays

Lookup Public Records in Multnomah County

Oregon Judicial Department's court records search

Multnomah County public records request information

Multnomah County Circuit Court information

Multnomah County Court Records Office

Multnomah County Records Inventory