Franklin County Public Records

How to Find Public Records in Franklin County in 2026

Members of the public seeking government documents in Franklin County, Kentucky may access a range of publicly available information through FranklinKYRecords.org as well as through official county and state government offices. Public records maintained by Franklin County agencies may include court filings, property documents, vital records, tax assessments, business licenses, and meeting minutes, among other categories. The availability and completeness of any particular record depends on the maintaining agency, the nature of the document, and applicable state law exemptions.

Records in Franklin County may be searched through official court resources, clerk offices, public access terminals, and online tools.

Online Access:

The Franklin County official government portal provides access to open records request forms and county department information.
The Franklin County Clerk's office offers the eCCLIX system for searching land records online. Registered users may access land records archived in the Kentucky County Clerk's office through an internet-ready device. Registration is required to use the eCCLIX platform.
Court records may be searched through the Kentucky Court of Justice online case search portal at kycourts.gov.

In-Person Requests:

Members of the public may visit the Franklin County Clerk's Office at 315 West Main Street, Frankfort, Kentucky 40601 during regular business hours, Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM.
Court records are available through the Franklin Circuit Court Clerk located at 222 St. Clair Street, Frankfort, Kentucky 40601.
Requestors should identify the record type, provide relevant names or dates, and present a valid request either verbally or in writing at the counter.

Written/Mail Requests:

Open Records Request Forms shall be submitted to the Official Custodian, Fiscal Court Clerk, 321 West Main Street, Frankfort, Kentucky 40601. The open records request form is available on the county website.
Written requests should include the requestor's name, contact information, a specific description of the records sought, and the preferred format for response.
Under KRS § 61.880, the agency must respond within five business days of receiving a written request.

Phone/Email:

Franklin County Clerk's Office: (502) 875-8702
Franklin County Fiscal Court: (502) 875-8740
Franklin Circuit Court Clerk: (502) 564-8380

What Are Public Records in Franklin County?

Public records in Franklin County are defined under Kentucky's Open Records Act as any document, paper, photograph, film, map, or electronic record prepared, owned, used, or retained by a public agency in the conduct of its official business. The Franklin County Clerk's records division maintains a broad range of documents accessible to the public. The following record types are currently available through various county and state offices:

Court records (civil, criminal, probate, and family court filings) — maintained by the Franklin Circuit Court Clerk
Property records (deeds, mortgages, liens, and plats) — maintained by the Franklin County Clerk
Vital records (birth and death certificates) — maintained by the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services; marriage licenses are filed with the County Clerk
Business records (assumed name filings, occupational licenses) — maintained by the County Clerk and local licensing authorities
Tax records (property tax bills and assessment data) — maintained by the Franklin County Property Valuation Administrator
Voting and election records — maintained by the Franklin County Clerk's election division
Meeting minutes and agendas — maintained by the Franklin County Fiscal Court Clerk
Budget and financial documents — available through the Fiscal Court
Law enforcement records (arrest logs and incident reports, where permitted) — maintained by the Frankfort Police Department and Franklin County Sheriff's Office
Land use and zoning records — maintained by the Franklin County Planning and Zoning Commission

Is Franklin County an Open Records County?

Franklin County fully complies with Kentucky's Open Records Act, codified at KRS § 61.870 through § 61.884, which governs public access to government records across all counties in the Commonwealth. Under this law, any person may inspect public records of a public agency, subject to specific statutory exemptions.

As stated in the Kentucky Open Records Act, "free and open examination of public records is in the public interest." The law establishes a presumption of openness, meaning that agencies bear the burden of demonstrating that a record is exempt from disclosure rather than requiring requestors to justify their need for access.

The Franklin County Fiscal Court has adopted open records procedures consistent with state law. Open Records Request Forms are accepted during regular business hours at the Fiscal Court Clerk's office. The county does not impose additional local ordinances that restrict access beyond what state law permits. Kentucky's Open Records Act operates in conjunction with the Kentucky Open Meetings Act, collectively forming the state's sunshine law framework.

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

The standard fee structure for public records in Franklin County is governed by KRS § 61.874, which sets limits on what agencies may charge for copies and related services. Current fees applicable to most requests are as follows:

Fee Type	Standard Amount
Paper copies (letter/legal size)	$0.10 per page
Nonstandard format copies	Actual cost of medium
Certification of records	Varies by office
Electronic copies	Actual cost of duplication
Inspection of records	No charge

Inspection of public records at the agency's office is provided at no cost to the requestor.
Copies of documents are charged at ten cents per page for standard paper reproductions.
Applicants requesting copies of public records for a commercial purpose, as noted on the Franklin County Clerk's records page, may be subject to additional requirements under KRS § 61.874(4).
Certification fees vary by office; the County Clerk's office charges a separate fee for certified copies of recorded instruments such as deeds and marriage licenses.
Accepted payment methods at the County Clerk's office include cash, check, and credit card. The Fiscal Court Clerk accepts cash and check for open records copy fees.
Fee waivers are not broadly mandated under Kentucky law, though agencies retain discretion to waive fees in individual circumstances.

Does Franklin County Have Free Public Records?

Free inspection of public records is available in Franklin County. Under Kentucky's Open Records Act, any person has the right to inspect public records at the maintaining agency's office without charge. The distinction between free inspection and free copies is significant: while viewing records in person costs nothing, obtaining physical or electronic copies is subject to the fee schedule described above.

The following resources provide free access to certain public records:

The Franklin County government website provides free access to meeting agendas, budget documents, and open records request forms without registration.
The Kentucky Court of Justice offers free online case search functionality through its public portal, allowing members of the public to search court records by party name or case number.
The Franklin County Clerk's office permits free in-person inspection of land records, recorded instruments, and election filings during regular business hours.
The Kentucky Property Valuation Administrator's assessment data is accessible at no cost through the county's public access terminals.

Members of the public who wish to inspect records in person may do so at the relevant office without submitting a formal written request, provided the records are not subject to a statutory exemption.

Who Can Request Public Records in Franklin County?

Any person may request public records in Franklin County, regardless of residency, citizenship, or stated purpose. Kentucky's Open Records Act does not require requestors to be Kentucky residents, to provide identification, or to explain the reason for their request as a condition of access to non-exempt records.

Specific provisions applicable to requestors include the following:

Residency: Not required. Non-residents of Franklin County and Kentucky retain full rights under the Open Records Act.
Identification: Not required for inspection of most records. Certain offices may request identification for administrative purposes, but this is not a legal prerequisite.
Purpose: Requestors are not required to state a purpose for standard public records requests. However, as noted on the Franklin County Clerk's records page, applicants seeking records for a commercial purpose must identify that purpose in writing, as required by KRS § 61.874(4).
Requesting your own records: Individuals seeking records about themselves follow the same process as any other requestor. Certain records, such as vital records, may require proof of identity or relationship to obtain certified copies.
Restrictions for specific record types: Some records, including sealed court files, juvenile records, and adoption records, are restricted by statute regardless of who is requesting them.

What Records Are Confidential in Franklin County?

Certain categories of records are exempt from public disclosure under Kentucky law. The Kentucky Open Records Act, at KRS § 61.878, enumerates specific exemptions that agencies may invoke to withhold records from public inspection. The following record types are currently treated as confidential or restricted in Franklin County:

Sealed court records: Records sealed by judicial order are not accessible to the general public.
Juvenile records: Records pertaining to juvenile court proceedings are confidential under Kentucky law.
Ongoing investigation records: Law enforcement records compiled in the course of an active criminal investigation are exempt from disclosure where premature release would harm the investigation.
Personal identifying information: Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, and similar data are redacted from publicly released documents.
Medical records: Protected under both state law and the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).
Adoption records: Sealed by statute and accessible only under specific court-ordered circumstances.
Child welfare and protective services records: Maintained as confidential by the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services.
Personnel records: Employee personnel files are exempt, with limited exceptions for records relating to final disciplinary actions.
Trade secrets and proprietary business information: Exempt where disclosure would cause competitive harm.
Security plans and infrastructure details: Records containing information that could compromise public safety infrastructure are withheld.

As stated in KRS § 61.878, agencies invoking an exemption must "briefly explain how the exception applies to the record withheld," ensuring that denials are not made without justification. A balancing test may apply in cases where the public interest in disclosure is weighed against the harm of release.

Franklin County Recorder's Office: Contact Information and Hours

Franklin County Clerk
315 West Main Street, Frankfort, Kentucky 40601
(502) 875-8702
Franklin County Clerk

Office Hours:
Monday – Friday: 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM
Closed on state and federal holidays.

Franklin County Fiscal Court Clerk (Open Records Custodian)
321 West Main Street, Frankfort, Kentucky 40601
(502) 875-8740
Franklin County Fiscal Court

Office Hours:
Monday – Friday: 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM

Franklin Circuit Court Clerk
222 St. Clair Street, Frankfort, Kentucky 40601
(502) 564-8380
Franklin Circuit Court Clerk