Tillamook County Public Records

How to Find Public Records in Tillamook County in 2026

Members of the public seeking government documents in Tillamook County, Oregon, may access a broad range of publicly available information through official county and state channels. TillamookRecords.us provides a directory of publicly available data related to records maintained by Tillamook County agencies. The types of records that may be available include, but are not limited to:

Court records (civil, criminal, probate, and family law)
Property deeds, mortgages, and liens
Vital records such as birth, death, and marriage certificates
Arrest logs and incident reports (where permitted by law)
Land use, zoning, and permit records
County meeting minutes, agendas, and budget documents

Records may be searched through official court resources, the County Clerk's office, public access terminals located at county facilities, and online tools maintained by state and county agencies.

Online Access:

The Tillamook County Clerk's office maintains online access to real property records, including deeds and recorded documents. No registration is required to search basic property records.
Oregon's statewide court records system allows members of the public to search case information through the Oregon eCourt portal at courts.oregon.gov.
The Tillamook County Assessor's office provides property tax and assessment data through the county's online portal.

In-Person Requests: Members of the public may visit the Tillamook County Clerk's Office at 201 Laurel Avenue, Tillamook, OR 97141. The office is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM. Requestors should bring a valid photo ID and a written description of the records sought. Staff will assist in locating documents and directing requestors to the appropriate department.

Written/Mail Requests: Written requests may be submitted by mail to the Tillamook County Clerk's Office, 201 Laurel Avenue, Tillamook, OR 97141. Requests should include the requestor's full name, contact information, a specific description of the records sought, and the preferred format for delivery. Under Oregon Revised Statutes § 192.329, public bodies are required to acknowledge receipt of a request within five business days and must respond within a reasonable time.

Phone/Email:

Tillamook County Clerk: (503) 842-3402
District Attorney's Office public records requests: courtmail@tillamookcounty.gov
Sheriff's Records Division: (503) 842-2561

The Tillamook County Sheriff's Records Division provides a downloadable Records Request Form on its website. Completed forms may be mailed or delivered in person along with applicable payment.

What Are Public Records in Tillamook County?

Public records in Tillamook County are defined under Oregon law 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. Under ORS § 192.311, the term "public record" encompasses a wide range of documents, data, and communications held by government agencies.

The following record types are currently maintained by Tillamook County agencies:

Record Type	Maintaining Office
Real property deeds, mortgages, liens	County Clerk's Office
Court records (civil, criminal, probate, family)	Tillamook County Circuit Court
Vital records (birth, death, marriage)	County Clerk / Oregon Center for Health Statistics
Property tax and assessment records	County Assessor's Office
Business licenses and permits	County Clerk / Planning Department
Arrest logs and incident reports	Sheriff's Office
Land use and zoning records	Planning Department
Meeting minutes and agendas	County Clerk's Office
Budget and financial documents	County Finance Department
Voting and election records	County Clerk's Office

The Tillamook County Clerk serves as the official record keeper for the county and is responsible for processing all real property documents, maintaining election records, and preserving official county records. Court records are accessible through the Tillamook County Circuit Court records portal.

Is Tillamook County an Open Records County?

Tillamook County fully complies with Oregon's statewide open records framework. Under the Oregon Public Records Law, ORS § 192.311–192.478, all public bodies in Oregon — including counties, cities, and state agencies — are required to make public records available for inspection and copying upon request, subject to specific statutory exemptions.

As stated by the Oregon Attorney General's office, "Oregon's Public Records Law reflects the state's commitment to open government and the public's right to know about the activities of their government." The law establishes a presumption of openness: records are public unless a specific exemption applies.

Tillamook County does not maintain a separate county-level open records ordinance that supersedes state law. All county departments, including the Sheriff's Office, District Attorney's Office, and Clerk's Office, operate under the same statutory framework. The Tillamook County District Attorney's Office accepts public records requests for prosecutorial records via written submission to courtmail@tillamookcounty.gov.

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

The current fee structure for public records in Tillamook County varies by record type and the office maintaining the records. Under ORS § 192.324, public bodies may charge fees that reflect the actual cost of making records available, including staff time for extensive searches.

Standard Copy Fees (Tillamook County Clerk's Office):

Service	Fee
Standard paper copies (per page)	$0.25
Certified copies of recorded documents	$3.75 per document
Real property document recording	$10.00 for first page + $5.00 per additional page
Electronic copies (where available)	Varies by record type

Additional Fee Information:

Inspection of records at a public counter is available at no charge in most cases.
Fees for extensive staff research time may apply when a request requires more than 15 minutes of staff labor.
Certification fees apply to documents requiring an official county seal.
The Sheriff's Records Division charges fees for copies of incident reports and other law enforcement records; the current fee schedule is available on the Sheriff's Records Division page.
Fee waivers may be granted at the discretion of the public body if disclosure is in the public interest and the requester demonstrates financial hardship.
Accepted payment methods at the Clerk's Office include cash, check, and credit card.

Does Tillamook County Have Free Public Records?

Free inspection of public records is available in Tillamook County. Oregon law requires that public bodies allow members of the public to inspect records without charge during regular business hours, provided the inspection does not require the production of copies.

The following resources are currently available at no cost:

In-person inspection at the Tillamook County Clerk's Office: Members of the public may review recorded documents, property records, and election materials at the public counter without paying a fee.
Online property records: The Tillamook County Assessor and Clerk's office provide searchable property data through the county's online portal at no charge.
Oregon eCourt public access terminals: Located at the Tillamook County Courthouse, these terminals allow free in-person searches of court case information.
Circuit Court records portal: Basic case information is accessible at no cost through the Tillamook County Circuit Court records page maintained by the Oregon Judicial Department.

The distinction between free inspection and free copies is significant: while viewing records in person carries no fee, obtaining physical or electronic copies is subject to the fee schedule described above.

Who Can Request Public Records in Tillamook County?

Any person may request public records in Tillamook County, regardless of residency, citizenship, or stated purpose. Oregon's Public Records Law does not restrict access based on the identity or location of the requestor. Non-residents of Oregon retain the same rights to inspect and copy public records as Oregon residents.

Requestors are not required to:

Provide proof of Oregon residency
State the reason for the request
Demonstrate a personal interest in the records

However, certain record types carry additional access requirements:

Vital records (birth, death, marriage certificates): Access may be restricted to the subject of the record, immediate family members, or authorized legal representatives, depending on the age of the record and applicable state law.
Law enforcement records: Some categories of arrest and investigative records may require the requestor to provide identification or submit a formal written request.
Personal records requests: Individuals requesting their own records from the Sheriff's Office or District Attorney's Office may be required to provide a government-issued photo ID to verify identity.

Members of the public submitting requests to the Tillamook County District Attorney for prosecutorial records should include their name and contact information in the written request, though a stated purpose is not legally required.

What Records Are Confidential in Tillamook County?

Not all government records in Tillamook County are subject to public disclosure. Oregon law establishes a comprehensive list of exemptions under ORS § 192.345 and ORS § 192.355, which identify categories of records that public bodies may or must withhold from disclosure.

Records that are currently exempt from public disclosure 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 or dependency proceedings are confidential under Oregon law.
Ongoing criminal investigation records: Law enforcement records compiled for criminal law purposes are exempt while an investigation is active.
Personal identifying information: Social Security numbers, financial account data, and similar identifiers are protected from disclosure.
Medical and health records: Protected under both state law and the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).
Adoption records: Sealed by statute and accessible only under specific legal circumstances.
Child welfare and protective services records: Maintained as confidential by the Oregon Department of Human Services.
Personnel records: Employee records held by public bodies are exempt, with limited exceptions for disciplinary actions involving public safety personnel.
Trade secrets and proprietary business information: Submitted to government agencies in confidence and protected from disclosure.
Security plans and critical infrastructure details: Exempt to protect public safety.

As noted by the Oregon Attorney General's Public Records Manual, "the exemptions are not mandatory in all cases — the public body retains discretion to release exempt records unless another law prohibits disclosure." This balancing framework allows agencies to weigh the public interest in disclosure against the potential harm of releasing certain information.

Tillamook County Recorder's Office: Contact Information and Hours

Tillamook County Clerk's Office
201 Laurel Avenue
Tillamook, OR 97141
(503) 842-3402
Tillamook County Clerk

Office Hours:
Monday – Friday: 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM
Closed on state and federal holidays.

Tillamook County Circuit Court
201 Laurel Avenue
Tillamook, OR 97141
(503) 842-2596
Tillamook County Circuit Court Records

Office Hours:
Monday – Friday: 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM

Tillamook County Sheriff's Office – Records Division
201 Laurel Avenue
Tillamook, OR 97141
(503) 842-2561
Sheriff's Office Records Division

Office Hours:
Monday – Friday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Tillamook County District Attorney's Office
201 Laurel Avenue
Tillamook, OR 97141
courtmail@tillamookcounty.gov
District Attorney Public Records Requests