Public Records

An open records request, also called a public records request, is the process through which individuals or organizations can access government documents that are not considered confidential. These records are made available through Freedom of Information Acts or Sunshine Laws. In Georgia, they are subject to the Georgia Open Records Act and the Georgia Open Meetings Act.

In DeKalb County, requests for public records should be made to the department in which the record originated. The department then has three business days to respond to the person who made the request, even if the request will take longer than that to fill. There are fees for most records. If the cost is expected to exceed $25, the department must notify the person making the request prior to filling the request. Requests may be made in any format, though most departments prefer email requests. Some, such as the Department of Purchasing and Contracting, host online records request portals. A list of open records email addresses of every county department are available on the Open Records Request page of the DeKalb County website.

All records related to real estate are managed and archived by the DeKalb County Clerk of Superior Court. These include real estate deeds, plats, condominium floor plans, Uniform Commercial Code Filings, and General Execution Docket and Lien filings. Deeds are documents that evidence ownership of or interest in real estate. Land records are permanent records that are all open to the public. Requests for copies of these records may be made by mail or via the eCertification portal at https://ecert.gsccca.org/. Certified copies cost $2.50 for the first page and 50 cents for each additional page. Regular copies are $1 per page and plat copies are $2 per page. Fees may be paid by Cashier’s Check, Money Order or Attorneys Check made payable to Dekalb County Clerk of Court.

Birth and death certificates should be requested from the DeKalb County Vital Records Office. They can be requested by mail or through the DeKalb Public Health website. Requests should include completed request forms, which are available in English and Spanish on the website, a copy of a state ID, and payment of the $25 fee. Fees may be paid online by credit or debit card and by mail using certified check or money order. These fees may be paid in person by these methods or in cash. Checks and money orders should be made payable to: DeKalb County Vital Records Office.