Sullivan County Public Records

What Are Public Records in Sullivan County?

Public records in Sullivan County, New York, are government-generated or government-held documents that members of the public are entitled to access under state law. Pursuant to New York Public Officers Law § 84, the legislature declared that government records shall be available to the public to promote open government and accountability. The Sullivan County Clerk's Office serves as the primary custodian of hundreds of thousands of legal documents and public records maintained on behalf of county residents.

The following categories of records are currently available through various Sullivan County offices:

Court records — Civil, criminal, probate, and family court records maintained by the Sullivan County Supreme and County Court
Property records — Deeds, mortgages, liens, maps, assignments, powers of attorney, and satisfactions of mortgage, all recorded through the Sullivan County Clerk's land records division
Vital records — Birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates maintained by the Sullivan County Department of Health and the New York State Department of Health
Business records — Business certificates, fictitious name filings, and notary public records held by the County Clerk
Tax records — Property tax assessments and related documents maintained by the Sullivan County Real Property Tax Service Agency
Voting and election records — Voter registration data and election results maintained by the Sullivan County Board of Elections
Meeting minutes and agendas — County Legislature meeting minutes, committee agendas, and board resolutions available through the County Legislature's office
Budget and financial documents — Annual budgets, audit reports, and financial statements published by the Sullivan County Department of Finance
Law enforcement records — Arrest logs and incident reports available from the Sullivan County Sheriff's Office, subject to applicable exemptions
Land use and zoning records — Zoning maps, variance applications, and planning documents maintained by the Sullivan County Planning Department

The Sullivan County Clerk's Office serves as the central repository for the majority of recorded legal instruments and public documents in the county.

Is Sullivan County an Open Records County?

Sullivan County fully complies with New York State's open records framework, which establishes a broad public right of access to government documents. Under New York Public Officers Law § 87, every state and local government agency — including Sullivan County offices — is required to maintain a records access program and respond to public requests in a timely manner. The law presumes that all records are accessible unless a specific statutory exemption applies.

Key provisions of the law currently in effect include:

Agencies must respond to a records request within five business days of receipt, either by providing the records, denying the request in writing, or acknowledging receipt and providing a projected response date
Denial of access must be made in writing and must cite the specific statutory basis for the exemption
Requestors have the right to appeal a denial to the agency's records access appeals officer within 30 days

Sullivan County operates in accordance with the New York State Committee on Open Government's guidance, which interprets and enforces the Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) statewide. The county does not impose additional local restrictions beyond those authorized under state law.

How to Find Public Records in Sullivan County in 2026

Members of the public may obtain Sullivan County records through several official channels, depending on the record type sought.

Step 1 — Identify the custodial office. Determine which county department maintains the record. Property and land records are held by the County Clerk; vital records are held by the Department of Health; court records are held by the court clerk.

Step 2 — Submit a FOIL request. For records not available over the counter or online, submit a written Freedom of Information Law request to the designated Records Access Officer of the relevant agency. Requests may be submitted in person, by mail, or by email where the agency accepts electronic submissions.

Step 3 — Search online portals. The Sullivan County Clerk's Office provides online access to certain recorded documents. Members of the public may search property and land records, including deeds, mortgages, and related instruments, through the county's digital records system.

Step 4 — Visit the office in person. Members of the public may inspect records in person at the relevant county office during regular business hours. No appointment is required for general records inspection at the County Clerk's Office.

Step 5 — Request certified copies. Certified copies of recorded documents may be requested in person, by mail, or through the online portal where available. Fees apply for certified copies.

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

Sullivan County charges standard fees for copies and certified documents in accordance with the fee schedule authorized under New York Public Officers Law § 87(1)(b), which permits agencies to charge up to twenty-five cents per page for photocopies of records up to nine inches by fourteen inches.

Current fees applicable at the Sullivan County Clerk's Office include:

Photocopies — $0.25 per page (standard size)
Certified copies of recorded documents — Fees vary by document type; land record certifications typically carry a per-page charge plus a certification fee
Recording fees — Fees for recording deeds, mortgages, and other instruments are set by New York State Real Property Law and vary by document type and number of pages
Search fees — A per-name or per-index search fee may apply for certain record searches

Accepted payment methods at the County Clerk's Office currently include cash, check, and money order made payable to the Sullivan County Clerk. Credit and debit card acceptance may vary; members of the public are advised to confirm accepted payment methods prior to visiting.

Fee waivers are not broadly available under current county policy, though certain government agencies and nonprofit organizations may qualify for reduced fees in specific circumstances as permitted by state law.

Does Sullivan County Have Free Public Records?

Members of the public are entitled to inspect public records free of charge at the custodial office, without being required to purchase copies. This right of inspection is guaranteed under New York Public Officers Law and applies to all non-exempt records maintained by Sullivan County agencies.

Free access to public records is currently available through the following official sources:

In-person inspection at the Sullivan County Clerk's Office — Members of the public may review recorded documents, land records, and other instruments at no cost during regular business hours
Online land records search — The County Clerk's Office provides access to recorded property instruments, including deeds, mortgages, and maps, through its online portal at no charge for basic searches
Sullivan County Legislature website — Meeting minutes, agendas, adopted budgets, and legislative documents are published online at no cost
Sullivan County Board of Elections — Voter registration information and election results are available online at no charge
New York State court records — Certain court case information is accessible through the New York State Unified Court System's public access portal at no cost

Members of the public seeking to review land records and associated resources, including parcel viewer tools and state taxation references, may do so through the County Clerk's online resources at no charge.

Who Can Request Public Records in Sullivan County?

Any person — regardless of residency, citizenship, or stated purpose — may request access to public records maintained by Sullivan County agencies. New York's Freedom of Information Law does not restrict access based on the requestor's identity or the reason for the request.

Under current law, requestors are not required to:

Be a resident of Sullivan County or New York State
Provide government-issued identification for general records requests
State the purpose of the request or explain how the records will be used

However, certain record types carry additional access requirements:

Vital records (birth, death, marriage certificates) — Access is restricted to the subject of the record, immediate family members, legal representatives, or others with a demonstrated legal interest, pursuant to New York Public Health Law
Sealed court records — Access requires a court order regardless of the requestor's identity
Personnel records — Access is limited under Civil Service Law and applicable collective bargaining agreements

Individuals requesting their own records — such as their own arrest record or vital record — may be required to provide proof of identity to verify eligibility. Non-residents retain the same rights as residents for all records that are open to the general public under FOIL.

What Records Are Confidential in Sullivan County?

Certain categories of records maintained by Sullivan County agencies are exempt from public disclosure under New York law. New York Public Officers Law § 87(2) enumerates the specific grounds upon which an agency may deny access to records, and agencies must cite the applicable exemption when denying a request.

Records currently exempt from disclosure include:

Sealed court records — Records sealed by court order, including certain criminal case records following dismissal or acquittal
Juvenile records — Records pertaining to persons under the age of sixteen involved in Family Court proceedings
Ongoing investigation records — Law enforcement records that, if disclosed, would interfere with an active criminal investigation or endanger a witness
Personal identifying information — Social Security numbers, financial account data, and similar information are redacted from otherwise public documents
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 through a court order or the New York State Adoption Registry
Child protective services records — Maintained as confidential under New York Social Services Law
Personnel records — Employee performance evaluations, disciplinary records, and similar documents are exempt except where disclosure is required by law
Trade secrets and proprietary business information — Commercial or financial information submitted to the county in confidence
Security plans and critical infrastructure details — Records that, if disclosed, would endanger public safety or security

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

Sullivan County Recorder's Office: Contact Information and Hours

The Sullivan County Clerk's Office functions as the county's primary recorder of official documents and public records. The office maintains land records, business filings, court-related documents, and other instruments of public record.

Sullivan County Clerk's Office 100 North Street, Monticello, NY 12701 (845) 807-0411 Sullivan County Clerk

Public counter hours are Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., excluding state and federal holidays. Members of the public may inspect records and request copies during these hours without a prior appointment.

Sullivan County Supreme and County Court Clerk Sullivan County Courthouse, 414 Broadway, Monticello, NY 12701 (845) 794-4066 New York State Unified Court System — Sullivan County

Sullivan County Department of Health (Vital Records) 1 Cablevision Center Drive, Ferndale, NY 12734 (845) 292-5910 Sullivan County Department of Health

Sullivan County Board of Elections 100 North Street, Monticello, NY 12701 (845) 807-0400 Sullivan County Board of Elections