Des Moines County Public Records

What Are Public Records in Des Moines County?

Public records in Des Moines County are defined under Iowa Code § 22.1 as all records, documents, and other information maintained by a government body, regardless of physical form or characteristics, that are not expressly exempted by law. The Des Moines County, Iowa county government maintains a broad range of records accessible to members of the public through multiple offices and departments.

The following record types are currently available through Des Moines County offices:

Court records — Civil, criminal, probate, and family court records are maintained by the Iowa Judicial Branch and accessible through the Iowa Judicial Branch online portal and the Des Moines County Courthouse.
Property records — Deeds, mortgages, liens, and real estate instruments are recorded and maintained by the Des Moines County Recorder's Office. Members of the public may search real estate documents and recording fees through the official county recorder portal.
Vital records — Birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates are maintained by the Des Moines County Recorder's Office and, at the state level, by the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services.
Business records — Fictitious name registrations, trade name filings, and related business documents are filed with the Iowa Secretary of State and, where applicable, with county offices.
Tax records — Property tax payment histories and assessment records are maintained by the Des Moines County Treasurer and Assessor's Office.
Voting and election records — Voter registration data and election results are maintained by the Des Moines County Auditor's Office.
Meeting minutes and agendas — Board of Supervisors meeting minutes, agendas, and related documents are maintained by the Des Moines County Auditor and published on the county website.
Budget and financial documents — Annual budgets, expenditure reports, and financial statements are available through the Des Moines County Auditor's Office.
Law enforcement records — Arrest logs and incident reports, where permitted by law, are maintained by the Des Moines County Sheriff's Office.
Land use and zoning records — Zoning maps, permits, and land use decisions are maintained by the Des Moines County Planning and Zoning Department.

Is Des Moines County an Open Records County?

Des Moines County fully complies with Iowa's open records framework, which establishes a strong presumption in favor of public access to government records. Under Iowa Code § 22.2, every person has the right to examine and copy public records of a government body. This statute, commonly referred to as Iowa's Open Records Law or "Sunshine Law," mandates that government bodies make records available for inspection during regular business hours without requiring a requester to state a reason or demonstrate a specific interest.

Key provisions of Iowa's open records law currently in effect include:

Government bodies must provide access to public records promptly upon request.
Custodians of records may not require requesters to identify themselves or explain the purpose of their request for most record types.
Agencies are required to respond to requests in a reasonable time and may not impose unreasonable delays.

Des Moines County does not maintain a separate county-specific open records ordinance, as the county operates in full conformance with state law. The county's compliance with Iowa's sunshine laws ensures that all departments, including the Recorder, Auditor, Treasurer, and Sheriff, adhere to uniform standards for records access and disclosure.

How to Find Public Records in Des Moines County in 2026

Members of the public may obtain Des Moines County public records through several channels, depending on the record type sought. The following steps outline the current process for accessing records:

Identify the custodial office. Determine which county department maintains the record. Vital records such as certified copies of birth certificates are available through the Des Moines County Recorder's birth records page, while court records are accessible through the Iowa Judicial Branch.
Submit an in-person request. Members of the public may visit the appropriate office during public counter hours to inspect or request copies of records. No formal written request is required for most record types under Iowa law.
Submit a written or online request. Certain offices accept written requests by mail or through online portals. The Des Moines County Recorder's Office provides online access to real estate and vital records through its official website.
Use the Iowa Land Records portal. Real estate documents, including deeds and mortgages, may be searched online through IowaLandRecords.org, the official statewide portal sponsored by elected county officials and linked from the Des Moines County Recorder's Office.
Request vital records through the state. Birth, marriage, and death records may also be requested through the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services or through the Iowa.gov vital records portal, which provides instructions for submitting requests by mail or in person.
Access court records online. Civil and criminal court records may be searched through the Iowa Judicial Branch's electronic filing and case management system at iowacourts.gov.

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

Current fees for public records in Des Moines County vary by record type and the office responsible for maintaining the record. Under Iowa Code § 22.3, government bodies are authorized to charge fees for the actual cost of providing copies of public records, provided such fees do not exceed the cost of reproduction.

Standard fees currently in effect include:

Certified copies of marriage records — $15.00 per certified copy, as established by the Des Moines County Recorder's Office. The county's marriage records and licenses page confirms that records date to 1839.
Certified copies of birth records — Fees apply per certified copy; the current fee schedule is available through the Des Moines County Recorder's birth records page.
Real estate document recording fees — Fees for recording deeds, mortgages, and other instruments are established by state statute and listed on the county's real estate documents and recording fees page.
Standard document copies — Photocopies of non-certified public records are generally available at a per-page rate consistent with actual reproduction costs.

Accepted payment methods vary by office and may include cash, check, or money order. Checks and money orders for state-level vital records requests should be made payable to the Iowa Department of Public Health, as directed by the Iowa.gov vital records portal. Fee waiver provisions are not broadly established under Iowa's open records law, though government bodies retain discretion to waive fees in appropriate circumstances.

Does Des Moines County Have Free Public Records?

Members of the public are entitled to inspect public records in Des Moines County at no charge. Iowa Code § 22.2 guarantees the right to examine public records during regular business hours without payment of a fee; fees apply only when copies are requested. The following free access options are currently available:

In-person inspection — Any person may inspect public records at the custodial office without charge during regular business hours.
Iowa Land Records online portal — Real estate documents, including deeds and mortgage instruments, may be searched at no cost through the official statewide portal linked from the Des Moines County Recorder's Office website.
Iowa Judicial Branch online case search — Court records and case information may be searched at no cost through the Iowa Judicial Branch's public access portal.
County website resources — Meeting minutes, agendas, budgets, and other administrative documents are published at no cost on the Des Moines County government website.

Who Can Request Public Records in Des Moines County?

Any person may request public records in Des Moines County, regardless of residency, citizenship, or stated purpose. Iowa's open records law does not restrict access to residents of the state, nor does it require requesters to provide identification or explain the reason for their request for most record types. The following eligibility provisions currently apply:

Residency — Non-residents of Iowa and Des Moines County retain the same right of access as residents.
Identification — Requesters are generally not required to provide identification to inspect public records, though identification may be required for certain restricted record types, such as certified vital records.
Purpose — Government bodies may not condition access to public records on the requester's stated purpose, except where a specific exemption applies.
Requesting your own records — Individuals requesting their own vital records, such as birth or marriage certificates, may be required to demonstrate eligibility and provide proof of identity or relationship, consistent with state vital records statutes.
Restricted record types — Access to certain records, including juvenile court records, sealed court files, and confidential law enforcement investigative materials, is restricted by law regardless of the requester's identity.

What Records Are Confidential in Des Moines County?

Not all government records in Des Moines County are subject to public disclosure. Iowa Code § 22.7 enumerates specific categories of records that are confidential and exempt from the general right of public access. The following record types are currently exempt from disclosure:

Sealed court records — Records sealed by court order are not available for public inspection.
Juvenile records — Records pertaining to juvenile court proceedings are confidential under Iowa law.
Ongoing investigation records — Law enforcement investigative reports and materials related to active investigations are exempt from disclosure where release would jeopardize the investigation.
Personal identifying information — Social Security numbers, financial account data, and similar personally identifiable information are protected from disclosure.
Medical records — Health and medical records are protected under both Iowa law and federal HIPAA regulations.
Adoption records — Records pertaining to adoption proceedings are confidential and accessible only to authorized parties.
Child welfare and protective services records — Records maintained by child protective services are exempt from public disclosure.
Personnel records — Employee personnel files are generally confidential, with limited exceptions for certain public employee information.
Trade secrets and proprietary business information — Confidential business information submitted to government bodies is exempt from disclosure.
Security plans and infrastructure details — Records relating to the security of public facilities and critical infrastructure are exempt.

Where a record contains both disclosable and exempt information, the custodial office is required to redact the exempt portions and provide access to the remainder, consistent with the balancing principles established under Iowa's open records framework.

Des Moines County Recorder's Office: Contact Information and Hours

The Des Moines County Recorder's Office serves as the primary custodian of vital records, real estate documents, military discharge records, and DNR licensing in Des Moines County. Members of the public may visit the office in person during regular business hours or submit requests by mail.

Des Moines County Recorder's Office 513 N. Main Street, Burlington, Iowa 52601 (319) 753-8262 Des Moines County Recorder

Public counter hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., excluding state and federal holidays.

Des Moines County Courthouse 513 N. Main Street, Burlington, Iowa 52601 (319) 753-8262 Des Moines County, Iowa

For state-level vital records requests, members of the public may contact the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services:

Iowa Department of Health and Human Services — Vital Records 321 E. 12th Street, Des Moines, Iowa 50319-0075 (515) 281-4944 Iowa Department of Health and Human Services