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How to Find Public Records in Peach County in 2026
Members of the public seeking government documents in Peach County, Georgia, may access publicly available information through official county offices, state court systems, and online portals. PeachRecords.us aggregates publicly available data that may assist individuals in locating records associated with Peach County. The types of records that may be found through official channels include, but are not limited to:
- Court records (civil, criminal, probate, and magistrate)
- Property deeds, mortgages, and tax assessments
- Vital records (birth, death, marriage, and divorce)
- Business licenses and permits
- Arrest logs and incident reports (where permitted by law)
- County commission meeting minutes and agendas
- Budget and financial documents
- Land use, zoning, and planning records
Records can be searched through official court resources, clerk offices, public access terminals, and online tools.
Online Access:
- The Peach County government portal provides access to county services, open records request forms, code of ordinances, and departmental information.
- The open records request page maintained by the Office of County Clerk allows members of the public to submit requests electronically.
- Court case records may be searched through the Georgia Courts e-access portal, which redirects users to a provider's website; an account is required to conduct searches.
- Property and tax records are accessible through the Peach County Tax Assessor's online database.
In-Person Requests: Members of the public may visit the Office of County Clerk located at the Peach County Courthouse, 205 W. Church Street, Fort Valley, GA 31030. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Requestors should present a written or verbal description of the records sought and may be asked to complete a standard request form.
Written/Mail Requests: Written requests may be mailed to the Office of County Clerk, 205 W. Church Street, Fort Valley, GA 31030. Requests should include the requestor's name, contact information, a specific description of the records sought, and the preferred format for delivery. Under Georgia's Open Records Act, agencies are required to respond within three business days of receiving a written request.
Phone/Email:
- Phone: (478) 825-2535
- Email: Contact information is available through the official county website.
What Are Public Records in Peach County?
Public records in Peach County are defined by the Georgia Open Records Act, O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70, which broadly defines public records as all documents, papers, letters, maps, books, tapes, photographs, computer-based or generated information, or similar material prepared and maintained or received in the performance of a service or function by or on behalf of any agency of state or local government. The following record types are maintained by Peach County offices:
| Record Type | Maintaining Office |
|---|---|
| Civil and criminal court records | Superior Court Clerk |
| Magistrate/small claims records | Magistrate Court |
| Property deeds and mortgages | Superior Court Clerk |
| Tax assessments | Tax Assessor's Office |
| Vital records (birth, death) | Georgia Department of Public Health |
| Marriage and divorce records | Superior Court Clerk |
| Business licenses and permits | County Clerk / Planning Department |
| Meeting minutes and agendas | Office of County Clerk |
| Budget and financial documents | County Administrator's Office |
| Arrest logs and incident reports | Peach County Sheriff's Office |
| Land use and zoning records | Planning and Zoning Department |
The Office of County Clerk serves as the primary custodian for administrative records and processes open records requests submitted to county government departments.
Is Peach County an Open Records County?
Peach County fully complies with the Georgia Open Records Act, which mandates public access to government records. Under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70 et seq., all agencies of state and local government in Georgia are required to make public records available for inspection and copying upon request. As stated on the county's official records page, "One of the key functions of the Office of County Clerk is to receive requests for records under the Open Records laws of the State of Georgia." The Act applies to all county departments, boards, authorities, and other entities that perform a governmental function. Peach County does not maintain a separate county-level open records ordinance that supersedes state law; the Georgia Open Records Act governs all public records access within the county. The Georgia Attorney General's office provides guidance to agencies and the public regarding compliance with the Act, and agencies that fail to respond within the statutory timeframe may be subject to legal action.
How Much Does It Cost to Get Public Records in Peach County?
The fee structure for public records in Peach County is governed by the Georgia Open Records Act, which sets limits on what agencies may charge requestors. Current fees applicable to records requests include:
- Inspection fees: No charge for inspecting records in person during regular business hours.
- Copy fees: Agencies may charge a reasonable fee not to exceed $0.10 per page for standard letter- or legal-size copies, as permitted under state law.
- Certification fees: Certified copies of court documents are subject to fees set by the Superior Court Clerk; fees vary by document type.
- Electronic format fees: Agencies may charge for the actual cost of producing records in electronic format, including the cost of the storage medium.
- Search and retrieval fees: If a request requires more than one hour of staff time to search, retrieve, or compile records, the agency may charge for the cost of the personnel time at the salary rate of the lowest-paid employee capable of performing the task, pursuant to O.C.G.A. § 50-18-71.
Accepted payment methods at the Office of County Clerk include cash, check, and money order. Fee waivers are not expressly mandated by state statute for general public requests, though agencies retain discretion to waive fees in certain circumstances.
| Fee Type | Amount |
|---|---|
| In-person inspection | No charge |
| Standard copies (per page) | Up to $0.10 |
| Certified court copies | Varies by document |
| Electronic records | Actual cost of production |
| Staff search time (over 1 hour) | Salary rate of lowest-paid qualified employee |
Does Peach County Have Free Public Records?
Free inspection of public records is available to any member of the public under Georgia law. Individuals may visit the Office of County Clerk during regular business hours to inspect records at no cost, provided the records are not exempt from disclosure. The following resources provide free access to certain records:
- The Peach County government website provides free access to meeting minutes, agendas, the code of ordinances, budget documents, and other administrative records posted online.
- The county clerk's open records portal allows members of the public to submit requests and, in some cases, receive records electronically at no charge.
- The Georgia Courts e-access system provides online access to court case information, though an account with the third-party provider may be required for full search functionality.
- Public access terminals are available at the Peach County Courthouse for on-site inspection of property and court records without charge.
The distinction between free inspection and free copies is significant: while inspection carries no fee, obtaining physical or certified copies is subject to the fee schedule described above.
Who Can Request Public Records in Peach County?
Any person may request public records in Peach County, regardless of residency, citizenship, or stated purpose. Under the Georgia Open Records Act, there is no requirement that a requestor be a Georgia resident or provide identification to inspect public records. Requestors are not required to state the reason for their request for the majority of record types. Specific provisions include:
- Residency: Not required. Non-residents of Georgia retain the same rights to access public records as residents.
- Identification: Not required for general inspection, though some offices may request identification for administrative purposes.
- Purpose: Not required to be disclosed for most records. Certain sensitive record categories, such as law enforcement investigative files, may require additional justification.
- Requesting your own records vs. others' records: Individuals requesting their own records, such as personal court files or tax records, follow the same process as any other requestor. Access to records containing another individual's personal identifying information may be subject to redaction of exempt data.
- Restrictions: Certain record types, including juvenile records, sealed court files, and records protected by federal law, are not available to the general public regardless of the requestor's identity.
What Records Are Confidential in Peach County?
Not all government records in Peach County are subject to public disclosure. Under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-72, the following categories of records are exempt from mandatory disclosure:
- Sealed court records: Records sealed by judicial order are not available for public inspection.
- Juvenile records: Records pertaining to minors involved in delinquency or dependency proceedings are confidential under Georgia law.
- Ongoing criminal investigation records: Law enforcement records compiled for the purpose of an active criminal investigation are exempt until the investigation is closed or prosecution is complete.
- Personal identifying information: Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, and similar data are redacted from publicly disclosed records.
- Medical records: Records protected under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and state medical privacy laws are not subject to disclosure.
- Adoption records: Adoption proceedings and related documents are sealed by statute.
- Child welfare and protective services records: Records maintained by child protective services agencies are confidential.
- Personnel records: Employee performance evaluations, medical information, and certain disciplinary records are exempt, though basic employment information such as name, position, and salary is public.
- Trade secrets and proprietary business information: Confidential commercial or financial information submitted to government agencies may be withheld.
- Security plans and infrastructure details: Records that could compromise public safety or critical infrastructure are exempt from disclosure.
Agencies applying exemptions are required to identify the specific statutory basis for withholding any record and, where possible, to provide access to non-exempt portions of a document through redaction.
Peach County Recorder's Office: Contact Information and Hours
Office of County Clerk and Administrator 205 W. Church Street, Fort Valley, GA 31030 (478) 825-2535 Peach County Office of County Clerk
Office Hours: Monday – Friday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM Closed on state and federal holidays.
Additional Offices:
Peach County Superior Court Clerk 205 W. Church Street, Fort Valley, GA 31030 (478) 825-5331 Superior Court Clerk – Peach County
Peach County Magistrate Court 205 W. Church Street, Fort Valley, GA 31030 (478) 825-2438 Peach County Magistrate Court
Peach County Tax Assessor's Office 205 W. Church Street, Suite 221, Fort Valley, GA 31030 (478) 825-5924 Peach County Tax Assessor
Peach County Sheriff's Office 213 Persons Street, Fort Valley, GA 31030 (478) 825-3383 Peach County Sheriff's Office
As noted in the county's official documentation, the Magistrate Court "is Peach County's small claims court" where individuals "can pursue a case in this court with or without an attorney," making it an accessible venue for members of the public seeking civil remedies or related court records.