Union County Public Records

How to Find Public Records in Union County in 2026

Members of the public seeking government documents may access publicly available information through UnionORRecords.us, a directory resource that aggregates guidance on locating official records maintained by county and state agencies. Public records in Union County, Oregon are held across multiple government offices, and the availability of specific documents depends on the record type, the custodial agency, and applicable state law. Requestors may find records related to the following categories:

Property deeds, transfers, and mortgage documents
Court filings, civil judgments, and criminal case records
Vital records including marriage and death certificates
County Commissioner meeting minutes and agendas
Tax assessment and property tax records
Law enforcement incident reports and jail records
Land use, zoning, and permit records
Business licenses and fictitious name registrations
Voting and election records

Records may be accessed through official court resources, the County Clerk and Recorder's Office, public access terminals at the courthouse, and online government portals.

Online Access:

The Union County official website provides a property search tool, Commissioner agendas and minutes, public notices, and assessor records accessible without registration.
The Oregon Judicial Department maintains an online portal for Union County Circuit Court records, where members of the public may search case information subject to court rules.
The Union County Assessor and Tax Collector offers a property search and tax summary sheet through the county homepage.

In-Person Requests: Members of the public may visit the Union County Clerk and Recorder's Office at 1001 4th Street, Suite L, La Grande, OR 97850. Staff accept walk-in requests during regular business hours, Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Requestors should identify the record type, approximate date range, and any known identifying information such as a parcel number or case number.

Written/Mail Requests: Written requests may be submitted by mail to the Union County Clerk and Recorder at 1001 4th Street, Suite L, La Grande, OR 97850. Under Oregon Revised Statutes § 192.329, public bodies must acknowledge receipt of a request within five business days and must respond within a reasonable time.

Phone/Email: The Union County Clerk's Office may be reached by phone at (541) 963-1006. Contact information for individual departments is listed on the county's official website.

What Are Public Records in Union County?

Public records in Oregon are defined broadly under state law as any writing that contains information relating to the conduct of the public's business and is prepared, owned, used, or retained by a public body. Under Oregon Revised Statutes § 192.311, a "public record" includes any document, book, paper, photograph, file, sound recording, machine-readable electronic record, or other material regardless of physical form or characteristics.

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

Record Type	Custodial Office
Property deeds, mortgages, liens	County Clerk and Recorder
Court records (civil, criminal, probate, family)	Union County Circuit Court
Marriage and death certificates	County Clerk and Recorder
Commissioner minutes and agendas	County Clerk and Recorder
Property tax and assessment records	Assessor and Tax Collector
Law enforcement reports and jail records	Union County Sheriff's Office
Land use and zoning records	County Planning Department
Business licenses and permits	County Clerk / relevant department
Voting and election records	County Clerk and Recorder

As noted on the county's official records page, "The County Recorder is the County Archivist and the office of origination for property transfers. All public records (County Commissioners minutes, deeds, liens, etc.) are maintained in this office." The County Clerk and Recorder's Office serves as the primary repository for the majority of county-level public records.

Court records, including civil, criminal, probate, and family law filings, are maintained separately by the Union County Circuit Court, which operates under the Oregon Judicial Department. Law enforcement records, including case reports, photographs, and jail records, are held by the Union County Sheriff's Office.

Is Union County an Open Records County?

Union County fully complies with Oregon's statewide public 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. Oregon's Public Records Law reflects the legislative policy that "democracy requires access to public records."

The Oregon Attorney General's Public Records and Meetings Manual provides interpretive guidance on the application of the Public Records Law and is used by public bodies statewide to ensure compliance. Union County does not maintain a separate county-specific open records ordinance; the state statute governs all public records requests submitted to county offices. The county's compliance with Oregon's sunshine laws means that meeting minutes, financial documents, and most administrative records are available to any member of the public upon request.

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

The fee structure for public records in Union County is governed by state law and individual office schedules. Under ORS § 192.324, public bodies may charge fees that reflect the actual cost of making records available, including staff time for extensive searches and the cost of duplication.

Standard Copy Fees (County Clerk and Recorder):

Service	Fee
Standard document copies (per page)	$0.25 per page
Certified copies of recorded documents	$3.75 per document
Recording fees (per page)	Varies by document type
Electronic record copies	Varies

Inspection of records at a public counter does not require payment of a copy fee.
Fees for extensive staff research time may be assessed when a request requires more than a minimal amount of staff effort.
Certification fees apply when a requestor requires an official certified copy bearing the county seal.
Accepted payment methods at the County Clerk's Office include cash, check, and credit card; individual offices may vary.
Fee waivers may be available for indigent requestors or when disclosure is determined to be in the public interest, consistent with ORS § 192.324(4).

Court record copy fees are set separately by the Oregon Judicial Department and apply to documents obtained through the Union County Circuit Court.

Does Union County Have Free Public Records?

Free inspection of public records is available at Union County government offices. Oregon law requires that public bodies permit members of the public to inspect records without charge; fees apply only when copies are requested. The following resources provide free access to public records:

The Union County official website provides free online access to property search tools, Commissioner agendas and minutes, public notices, and tax summary information without registration.
The Oregon Judicial Department's online case search portal allows free access to basic case information for Union County Circuit Court records.
In-person inspection at the County Clerk and Recorder's Office is available at no cost during regular business hours.
The Union County Sheriff's Office accepts public records requests and provides access to case reports and related documents; fees may apply for copies but initial review of available records is not subject to an inspection charge.

The distinction between free inspection and free copies is significant: members of the public have the right to view records at no cost, while duplication fees apply when physical or electronic copies are requested.

Who Can Request Public Records in Union County?

Any person may submit a public records request in Union County, Oregon. Under ORS § 192.314, the right to inspect and copy public records extends to every person, and requestors are not required to be Oregon residents or to demonstrate a particular interest in the records sought. The law does not require requestors to state the purpose of their request for most record types.

Key eligibility provisions include:

Residency: Requestors are not required to be residents of Union County or the state of Oregon.
Identification: Public bodies may not require identification as a condition of fulfilling a standard public records request, though identification may be required for certain sensitive record types.
Purpose: Requestors are not required to state the reason for their request for most public records.
Requesting your own records: Individuals requesting records about themselves may be entitled to access records that would otherwise be restricted when requested by a third party, such as certain law enforcement or personnel records.
Restrictions by record type: Some records, such as juvenile court records, adoption records, and sealed court files, are restricted regardless of who submits the request.

The Union County Sheriff's Office notes that it can fulfill records requests for case reports, photographs associated with a particular case, and jail records, subject to applicable exemptions.

What Records Are Confidential in Union County?

Certain categories of records are exempt from public disclosure under Oregon law. ORS § 192.345 and ORS § 192.355 enumerate specific exemptions that public bodies may invoke when responding to records requests. The following record types are currently exempt from mandatory disclosure:

Sealed court records: Records sealed by court order are not available for public inspection.
Juvenile records: Records pertaining to juvenile proceedings are confidential under ORS Chapter 419A.
Ongoing investigation records: Law enforcement records compiled for criminal law purposes may be withheld if disclosure would interfere with an active investigation.
Personal identifying information: Social Security numbers, financial account data, and similar personal identifiers are protected from disclosure.
Medical and health records: Records protected under HIPAA and Oregon health privacy statutes are exempt.
Adoption records: Adoption proceedings and related documents are sealed by statute.
Child welfare records: Records maintained by child protective services are confidential under ORS Chapter 419B.
Personnel records: Employee personnel files are exempt from disclosure, with limited exceptions for records relating to public officials' exercise of official duties.
Trade secrets and proprietary business information: Submitted business records containing trade secrets are exempt under ORS § 192.345.
Security plans and critical infrastructure details: Records that would compromise public safety or security infrastructure are withheld.

When a public body withholds records, it is required to notify the requestor of the specific exemption relied upon and, where applicable, to segregate and release any non-exempt portions of the document.

Union County Recorder's Office: Contact Information and Hours

Office Name: Union County Clerk and Recorder

Physical Address:
1001 4th Street, Suite L
La Grande, OR 97850

Phone: (541) 963-1006
Website: Union County Clerk and Recorder

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

Additional Offices:

Union County Circuit Court
1001 4th Street
La Grande, OR 97850
(541) 962-9500
Union County Circuit Court

Union County Sheriff's Office
4500 S. Fir Street
La Grande, OR 97850
(541) 963-1017
Union County Sheriff's Office

Union County Assessor and Tax Collector
1001 4th Street, Suite 33
La Grande, OR 97850
(541) 963-1002
Union County Assessor