Genesee County Public Records

What Are Public Records in Genesee County?

Public records in Genesee County, Michigan, are defined under the Michigan Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), which establishes that any writing prepared, owned, used, possessed, or retained by a public body in the performance of an official function is subject to public disclosure. Members of the public may inspect and obtain copies of these records from the appropriate county office or agency.

The following categories of public records are currently maintained and available through various Genesee County offices:

Court Records — Civil, criminal, probate, and family court records are maintained by the Genesee County Clerk's Office and the 7th Circuit Court. These include case filings, judgments, and docket entries.
Property Records — Deeds, mortgages, liens, and land transfers are recorded and maintained by the Genesee County Register of Deeds.
Vital Records — Birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates are filed with the Genesee County Clerk's Office. Certified copies of birth and death records may also be obtained through the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.
Business Records — Assumed name (DBA) filings, business licenses, and permits are processed through the County Clerk and relevant municipal offices.
Tax Records — Property tax and assessment records are maintained by the Genesee County Treasurer's Office and individual township or city assessors.
Voting and Election Records — Voter registration data, election results, and campaign finance filings are available through the Genesee County Clerk's Elections Division.
Meeting Minutes and Agendas — Records of the Genesee County Board of Commissioners, including meeting minutes, agendas, and resolutions, are published by the County Clerk.
Budget and Financial Documents — Annual budgets, audits, and expenditure reports are available through the Genesee County Controller/Administrator's Office.
Law Enforcement Records — Arrest logs and incident reports, where permitted under Michigan law, are available through the Genesee County Sheriff's Office.
Land Use and Zoning Records — Zoning maps, permits, and land use decisions are maintained by the Genesee County Metropolitan Planning Commission.

Is Genesee County an Open Records County?

Genesee County fully complies with Michigan's statewide open records framework. Under Michigan FOIA, MCL § 15.231 et seq., all public bodies in the state — including county agencies, boards, and commissions — are required to disclose public records upon written request, unless a specific statutory exemption applies. The law affirms that it is the public policy of Michigan that all persons are entitled to full and complete information regarding the affairs of government and the official acts of those who represent them.

Key provisions of the Michigan FOIA relevant to Genesee County include:

Public bodies must respond to a FOIA request within 5 business days of receipt, with the option to extend by an additional 10 business days under certain circumstances.
Requests must be made in writing and directed to the public body's designated FOIA Coordinator.
Genesee County has designated FOIA Coordinators within each principal department to receive and process requests in accordance with state law.

Genesee County also operates under Michigan's Open Meetings Act, MCL § 15.261 et seq., which requires that meetings of public bodies be open to the public and that notice and minutes be made available. The county does not currently maintain a separate county-specific public records ordinance beyond the requirements established by state statute.

How to Find Public Records in Genesee County in 2026

Members of the public may access Genesee County public records through several official channels. The following steps outline the standard process for submitting a records request:

Identify the Correct Office — Determine which county department or agency holds the record being sought. Property records are held by the Register of Deeds; court records by the Circuit or District Court Clerk; vital records by the County Clerk; and tax records by the Treasurer's Office.
Submit a Written FOIA Request — Prepare a written request identifying the record with sufficient detail. Requests may be submitted in person, by mail, or by email to the designated FOIA Coordinator of the relevant department.
Use Online Portals Where Available — The Genesee County government website provides access to certain records online, including property information, tax data, and meeting minutes. The Register of Deeds offers an online document search tool for recorded land records.
Await the Agency Response — Under Michigan FOIA, the public body must respond within 5 business days, either granting the request, denying it with written explanation, or issuing an extension notice.
Pay Applicable Fees — Upon approval, the requester will receive a fee itemization. Payment must be made before records are released.
Appeal if Denied — If a request is denied or granted in part, the requester may appeal to the head of the public body within 180 days of the denial, or file a civil action in circuit court.

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

Current fees for public records in Genesee County are governed by Michigan FOIA, MCL § 15.234, which sets limits on what public bodies may charge for fulfilling records requests. Standard fees applicable to most county offices include:

Paper copies — Fees are based on the actual cost of duplication, not to exceed the amount permitted under state law. Many offices charge $0.10 to $0.25 per page for standard black-and-white copies.
Labor costs — Public bodies may charge for the labor involved in searching, locating, and examining records, calculated at the hourly wage of the lowest-paid employee capable of performing the task.
Mailing and delivery costs — Actual postage and packaging costs may be added when records are delivered by mail.
Certified copies — Vital records such as birth and death certificates carry a statutory fee set by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, currently $34.00 for the first certified copy and $16.00 for each additional copy ordered at the same time.
Register of Deeds recording fees — Recording a document with the Register of Deeds is subject to fees established under Michigan statute, generally $30.00 for the first page and $3.00 for each additional page.

Accepted payment methods vary by office but generally include cash, check, money order, and credit or debit card. Fee waivers are available under Michigan FOIA when the requester demonstrates an inability to pay and the public interest in disclosure is substantial.

Does Genesee County Have Free Public Records?

Free inspection of public records is available in Genesee County, consistent with Michigan FOIA requirements. Members of the public may inspect records at the relevant county office during regular business hours at no charge, provided the inspection does not require the public body to compile or summarize information.

The following free resources are currently available:

Online property and tax records — The Genesee County Equalization Department and Treasurer's Office provide free online access to property assessment and tax payment information through the county's official web portal.
Court records online — Basic case information for cases filed in Michigan courts may be searched at no cost through the Michigan Courts Case Search tool maintained by the Michigan Supreme Court.
Meeting minutes and agendas — The Genesee County Board of Commissioners publishes meeting minutes, agendas, and resolutions at no cost on the county website.
Voter registration verification — Michigan residents may verify their voter registration status at no cost through the Michigan Voter Information Center.
Recorded land documents — The Genesee County Register of Deeds provides a searchable online index of recorded documents, with some document images available for free viewing.

Who Can Request Public Records in Genesee County?

Under Michigan FOIA, any person — defined broadly to include individuals, corporations, partnerships, associations, and other legal entities — may submit a public records request to a Genesee County public body. The law does not restrict access based on residency, citizenship, or stated purpose.

Specific eligibility provisions include:

No residency requirement — Non-residents of Michigan and non-residents of Genesee County have the same right to request public records as county residents.
No identification required — Requesters are generally not required to provide identification when submitting a FOIA request, though some offices may request contact information for response purposes.
No purpose required — Under current law, requesters are not obligated to state the reason for their request, and public bodies may not condition disclosure on the requester's stated purpose.
Requesting your own records — Individuals seeking records about themselves, such as criminal history or personal government files, follow the same FOIA process. Certain records, such as law enforcement records, may require additional verification of identity.
Restrictions for specific record types — Certain records, including adoption records, juvenile court records, and sealed court files, are restricted by statute regardless of who is requesting them. Access to these records may require a court order or demonstration of a legally recognized interest.

What Records Are Confidential in Genesee County?

Not all government records in Genesee County are subject to public disclosure. Michigan FOIA, MCL § 15.243, enumerates specific categories of records that are exempt from disclosure. The following types of records are currently treated as confidential or restricted:

Sealed court records — Records sealed by court order are not accessible to the general public.
Juvenile records — Records pertaining to juvenile proceedings are confidential under Michigan law and accessible only to authorized parties.
Ongoing investigation records — Law enforcement records compiled in connection with an active criminal investigation are exempt to the extent that disclosure would interfere with the investigation or endanger individuals.
Personal identifying information — Social Security numbers, financial account data, and similar personally identifiable information are redacted from disclosed records.
Medical records — Health and medical information is protected under both Michigan law and the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).
Adoption records — Adoption proceedings and related records are sealed under Michigan Adoption Code and are not available as public records.
Child welfare and protective services records — Records maintained by child protective services are confidential under Michigan's Child Protection Law.
Personnel records — Employee personnel files are generally exempt, with limited exceptions for certain public officials' compensation and disciplinary records.
Trade secrets and proprietary business information — Commercial or financial information submitted to a public body that constitutes a trade secret is exempt from disclosure.
Security plans and infrastructure details — Records containing security vulnerabilities or critical infrastructure information are withheld to protect public safety.

When a public body denies a request in whole or in part, it must provide a written explanation citing the specific statutory exemption relied upon. Michigan courts apply a balancing test in certain cases to weigh the public interest in disclosure against the privacy or security interests protected by the exemption.

Genesee County Recorder's Office: Contact Information and Hours

The Genesee County Register of Deeds is the principal office responsible for recording and maintaining land records, including deeds, mortgages, liens, plats, and other instruments affecting real property in Genesee County.

Genesee County Register of Deeds 1101 Beach Street, Room 1N1, Flint, MI 48502 (810) 257-3060 Genesee County Register of Deeds

Public counter hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., excluding state and federal holidays. Document recording is accepted in person, by mail, or through authorized e-recording services.

Genesee County Clerk's Office 1101 Beach Street, Room 2N1, Flint, MI 48502 (810) 257-3282 Genesee County Clerk

The County Clerk's Office is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. This office handles vital records, court filings, election records, and business name registrations.

Genesee County Treasurer's Office 1101 Beach Street, Room 2N2, Flint, MI 48502 (810) 257-3054 Genesee County Treasurer

The Treasurer's Office is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and maintains property tax records and delinquent tax information.

Genesee County Sheriff's Office 1002 S. Saginaw Street, Flint, MI 48502 (810) 257-3422 Genesee County Sheriff

The Sheriff's Office processes requests for law enforcement records, including incident reports and arrest logs, in accordance with Michigan FOIA. Public counter hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

7th Circuit Court — Genesee County 900 S. Saginaw Street, Flint, MI 48502 (810) 257-3225 7th Circuit Court

Court records, including civil, criminal, family, and probate filings, are accessible through the Circuit Court Clerk's Office, open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.