Boyd County Public Records

What Are Public Records in Boyd County?

Public records in Boyd County are official documents, files, and data created or maintained by government agencies in the course of their official duties, and they are broadly accessible to members of the public under Kentucky law. Under Kentucky Revised Statutes § 61.870, a "public record" is defined as all books, papers, maps, photographs, cards, tapes, disks, diskettes, recordings, software, or other documentation regardless of physical form or characteristics, which are prepared, owned, used, in the possession of, or retained by a public agency.

Boyd County maintains a wide variety of public records across multiple offices and agencies. The following record types are currently available to the public:

Court records — civil, criminal, probate, and family court case files are maintained by the Boyd County Circuit Court Clerk
Property records — deeds, mortgages, liens, and property assessments are filed with the Boyd County Clerk
Vital records — birth and death certificates are maintained by the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services; marriage licenses and divorce decrees are recorded through the County Clerk's office
Business records — fictitious business names, assumed name registrations, and related filings are held by the County Clerk
Tax records — property tax bills and assessment records are maintained by the Boyd County Property Valuation Administrator (PVA) and the County Clerk
Voting and election records — voter registration data and election results are administered by the Boyd County Clerk
Meeting minutes and agendas — records of Boyd County Fiscal Court sessions, board meetings, and public hearings are available through the County Clerk and respective agencies
Budget and financial documents — county fiscal records and appropriations documents are maintained by the Boyd County Fiscal Court
Law enforcement records — arrest logs and incident reports, where permitted by law, are available through the Ashland Police Department and Boyd County Sheriff's Office
Land use and zoning records — zoning maps, permits, and land use applications are maintained by the Boyd County Planning Commission

Is Boyd County an Open Records County?

Boyd County fully complies with Kentucky's open records framework, which mandates public access to government-held documents. Under Kentucky Open Records Act § 61.872, any person may inspect public records of any public agency during regular office hours or, upon written request, receive copies of those records. The Act establishes that public agencies must respond to a written request within five business days of receipt, either providing the requested records or issuing a written denial with a specific statutory basis for the exemption.

Key provisions of the Kentucky Open Records Act currently in effect include the presumption that all public records are open for inspection unless specifically exempted by statute, and the requirement that agencies provide the most efficient means of access. Boyd County agencies are obligated to maintain a written policy on public records access and to designate an official records custodian. The county operates in compliance with Kentucky's Open Meetings Act as well, ensuring that deliberations of public bodies remain transparent and accessible to residents and non-residents alike.

How to Find Public Records in Boyd County in 2026

Members of the public may obtain Boyd County public records through several official channels, depending on the record type sought. The following steps outline the standard process:

Identify the record type and custodial office — Determine which agency holds the record. Property and vital records are held by the County Clerk; court records are held by the Circuit Court Clerk; law enforcement records are held by the relevant police or sheriff's agency.
Submit a written request — Under § 61.872, requests may be submitted in person, by mail, by fax, or by email to the designated records custodian of the relevant agency. Requests should identify the record with sufficient specificity to allow the agency to locate it.
Use online search tools — The Boyd County Clerk's online records search allows members of the public to locate property, deed, and related records without visiting the office in person.
Visit the office in person — Members of the public may inspect records during regular business hours at the relevant agency's public counter without submitting a formal written request for inspection only.
Request court records through the Circuit Court Clerk — Civil, criminal, probate, and family court records are accessible through the Boyd County Circuit Court Clerk, as detailed on the Kentucky Court of Justice Boyd County page.
Allow the statutory response period — Agencies have five business days to respond to written requests; requestors should plan accordingly when seeking certified copies or large record sets.

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

Current fees for public records in Boyd County vary by record type and the office providing the documents. Under Kentucky Revised Statutes § 61.874, a public agency may charge a fee for copies of public records, provided that the fee does not exceed the actual cost of reproduction, excluding staff time.

Standard fees currently applicable include:

Photocopies — typically $0.10 to $0.25 per page for standard paper copies, consistent with the statutory cost-of-reproduction standard
Certified copies of deeds and recorded instruments — fees are set by the County Clerk and vary by document length; the first page typically carries a base fee with additional per-page charges for subsequent pages
Marriage license copies — a standard fee applies per certified copy, as established by the County Clerk's fee schedule
Court record copies — fees are set by the Kentucky Court of Justice and vary by document type and length
Electronic records — where records are provided in electronic format, fees may reflect the actual cost of duplication on the medium used

Accepted payment methods at the Boyd County Clerk's office currently include cash, check, and money order; members of the public should confirm accepted methods directly with the relevant agency prior to submitting payment. Fee waivers may be available for indigent requestors or in circumstances where disclosure is determined to be in the primary public interest, as provided under applicable Kentucky statutes.

Does Boyd County Have Free Public Records?

Members of the public are entitled to inspect public records free of charge during regular office hours, without incurring any copying fees, provided they do not request physical copies. This right of free inspection is established under Kentucky's open records framework and applies to all non-exempt records held by Boyd County agencies.

The following free access options are currently available:

In-person inspection — Any person may review public records at the Boyd County Clerk's office or the Circuit Court Clerk's office at no cost during posted business hours
Online records portal — The Boyd County Clerk provides online access to property records, deed indexes, and related documents at no charge through its public search interface
Kentucky Court of Justice online access — Basic case information for Boyd County court proceedings is available through the Kentucky Court of Justice website without charge

Who Can Request Public Records in Boyd County?

Any person, regardless of residency, citizenship, or stated purpose, may request public records from Boyd County agencies under the Kentucky Open Records Act. The Act does not restrict access based on the requestor's identity or the reason for the request, with limited exceptions for certain sensitive record categories.

Specific eligibility provisions currently in effect include:

No residency requirement — Non-residents of Boyd County and Kentucky may submit open records requests and receive the same access as residents
No identification requirement for inspection — Members of the public are not generally required to present identification to inspect public records, though individual agencies may have internal policies for visitor sign-in
Purpose need not be stated — Requestors are not required to explain why they are seeking records for most record types; however, agencies may ask for clarification to help locate specific documents
Restrictions for sensitive categories — Certain records, such as juvenile court files, adoption records, and sealed court documents, are restricted regardless of who is requesting them
Requesting your own records — Individuals seeking records about themselves, such as their own criminal history or vital records, may be subject to identity verification requirements to protect against unauthorized disclosure

What Records Are Confidential in Boyd County?

Certain categories of public records are exempt from disclosure under Kentucky law and are not available for public inspection. Kentucky Revised Statutes § 61.878 enumerates the specific exemptions to the Open Records Act and establishes the framework for withholding records that would constitute an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy or otherwise harm a protected interest.

Records currently exempt from public disclosure in Boyd County include:

Sealed court records — Documents sealed by judicial order are not accessible to the general public
Juvenile records — Records pertaining to minors involved in court proceedings are confidential under Kentucky law
Ongoing criminal investigation records — Law enforcement records compiled in the course of an active investigation are exempt to the extent that disclosure would harm the investigation
Personal identifying information — Social Security numbers, financial account data, and similar identifiers are redacted or withheld from disclosed records
Medical and health records — Protected health information is exempt under both § 61.878 and applicable federal HIPAA provisions
Adoption records — Records related to adoption proceedings are sealed and accessible only under specific court-ordered circumstances
Child welfare and protective services records — Case files maintained by child protective agencies are confidential
Personnel records — Employee records are generally exempt, with exceptions for records relating to public employees' official duties and compensation
Trade secrets and proprietary business information — Confidential commercial data submitted to government agencies is protected from disclosure
Security and infrastructure plans — Documents detailing security systems, emergency response plans, or critical infrastructure vulnerabilities are withheld in the interest of public safety

Where a record contains both exempt and non-exempt information, the custodial agency is required to separate and redact the exempt portions and provide the remainder to the requestor.

Boyd County Recorder's Office: Contact Information and Hours

The Boyd County Clerk serves as the primary custodian of recorded documents, including deeds, mortgages, liens, vital records, and election records. The Circuit Court Clerk maintains all court-related records for Boyd County.

Boyd County Clerk 2800 Louisa Street, Catlettsburg, KY 41129 (606) 325-3547 Boyd County Clerk Hours: Monday–Friday, 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Boyd County Circuit Court Clerk 2800 Louisa Street, Catlettsburg, KY 41129 (606) 739-4116 Boyd – Kentucky Court of Justice Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Boyd County Property Valuation Administrator 2800 Louisa Street, Suite 2, Catlettsburg, KY 41129 (606) 739-5173 Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Boyd County Sheriff's Office 2800 Louisa Street, Catlettsburg, KY 41129 (606) 739-4226 Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.