Public records in Arizona include property deeds, court filings, vital certificates, criminal history reports, and business registrations. These records are maintained by county offices, state agencies, and the Arizona judicial system. Many are accessible to the public under the Arizona Public Records Law, though some categories are restricted by statute. This guide explains where each type of record is held, who can request it, and how to search for it.
How to Access Public Records in Arizona
- Identify the type of record you need and the agency or office that maintains it.
- Choose the record type — property, court, vital, criminal, or business.
- Visit the appropriate portal: county recorder or assessor, Arizona Judicial Branch, Arizona Department of Health Services, Arizona Department of Public Safety, or Arizona Corporation Commission.
- Search by name, case number, parcel number, or entity name.
- Download records where available online, or submit a written request to the agency.
- Be prepared to provide valid photo ID and pay applicable fees.
- For a directory of official Arizona county record portals, see PublicRecordHub.com.
Arizona’s Open Records Law
Public records in Arizona are governed by the Arizona Public Records Law, codified under A.R.S. § 39-121 et seq. The law establishes a broad right for any person to inspect and copy public records maintained by state and local government agencies.
Key provisions:
- Agencies must respond to requests promptly — Arizona does not set a fixed statutory deadline but courts have interpreted “prompt” as within a reasonable time, generally a few business days.
- Fees may be charged for copies and for extensive searches, particularly for commercial requests.
- Requests should be specific and directed to the record custodian, often identified on the agency’s website.
- Agencies may redact or withhold information protected by statutory exemptions, including personal identifiers, security details, and proprietary data.
- Denials must be based on a specific legal exemption, and requesters may seek judicial review in Superior Court.
Who Can Request Public Records in Arizona?
Arizona’s Public Records Law grants access to any person — there is no residency requirement. Residents and non-residents alike may request records from Arizona government agencies. Inspection of records is generally available to anyone during regular office hours.
However, certain categories of records carry access restrictions regardless of who is requesting them. These include juvenile court records, adoption files, sealed court cases, certain law enforcement investigative files, and restricted vital records. Authorized agencies, legal representatives, and individuals named in a record may access certain restricted records that are unavailable to the general public.
Common Reasons Records Are Denied in Arizona
Even valid requests can be denied if they fall under a recognized exemption. Common reasons include:
- Ongoing law enforcement investigations
- Sealed or expunged court records
- Juvenile and adoption records protected by statute
- Personal privacy protections for medical, mental health, and personnel records
- Security-sensitive government information
- Proprietary or trade secret information submitted to government agencies
- Records subject to attorney-client privilege
If your request is denied, the agency must provide the legal basis. You may seek judicial review in the Superior Court if you believe the denial is improper.
Property Records in Arizona
Property records in Arizona are maintained at the county level, with different offices responsible for different aspects of the record. The County Recorder’s Office handles recorded documents, the county assessor maintains valuation data, and the county treasurer holds tax and lien information.
What property records in Arizona contain:
- Recorded deeds, liens, mortgages, and easements
- Ownership history and legal descriptions
- Sale prices and transaction dates
- Assessed property values and exemptions
- GIS parcel maps and zoning data
- Building permits and inspection reports (maintained by municipal offices)
- State trust land lease records (maintained by the Arizona State Land Department — note these are lease-based records for state-managed lands, not standard private property records)
How to search property records in Arizona:
- Identify the county where the property is located.
- Visit that county’s recorder website to search recorded documents by owner name, parcel number, or document type.
- Visit the county assessor portal to find assessed values, ownership history, and parcel characteristics.
- Visit the county treasurer portal for tax billing and lien data.
- For state trust lands, search the Arizona State Land Department’s online portal.
- For older or undigitized records, contact the county recorder’s office directly.
Arizona’s most populated county, Maricopa, has one of the most robust online property record systems in the country. All 15 Arizona counties maintain online portals, though depth of coverage varies. For a directory of official Arizona county property record portals, visit PublicRecordHub.
Court Records in Arizona
Court records in Arizona are accessible through the Arizona Judicial Branch, which operates several online portals for public case access.
What court records in Arizona cover:
- Criminal, civil, family, and probate cases
- Case dockets, filings, judgments, and dispositions
- Superior Court cases searchable through eCourt Public Access — the Arizona Judicial Branch’s primary statewide case search system
- Limited jurisdiction court records including Justice Courts and Municipal Courts (availability varies by jurisdiction)
How to access court records in Arizona:
- Go to the Arizona Judicial Branch website and navigate to the public access portal.
- Use eCourt Public Access or Superior Court eAccess to search by party name, case number, or filing date.
- Review docket entries and available documents online.
- For documents not available online, contact the Clerk of the Superior Court in the relevant county — the official custodian of court records for that jurisdiction.
- In-person access is available at clerk offices via public terminals during courthouse hours.
- Pay applicable fees for copies and certified documents — basic case data is often free.
Restrictions:
- Juvenile, adoption, and mental health records are confidential and excluded from public portals.
- Sealed cases are not accessible through online search.
- Procedures and fee structures vary by county clerk’s office.
Vital Records in Arizona (Birth & Death Certificates)
Vital records in Arizona are maintained by the Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS), Office of Vital Records, along with local county health departments.
State-maintained records:
- Birth certificates
- Death certificates
Important: Marriage licenses and divorce decrees are not maintained by ADHS.
- Marriage licenses are issued by the Clerk of the Superior Court in each county.
- Divorce decrees are maintained by the Superior Court that granted the divorce.
How to obtain Arizona vital records:
- Visit the Arizona Department of Health Services Office of Vital Records website.
- Complete the application form for a birth or death certificate.
- Provide a government-issued photo ID.
- Provide proof of eligibility — birth certificates are restricted to the registrant, parents, legal guardians, and authorized legal representatives.
- Submit requests online, by mail, or in person at an ADHS office or county health department.
- Pay the required fee; expedited service is available through VitalChek.
Access restrictions:
- Birth certificates for living persons are restricted indefinitely to eligible requesters.
- Death certificates become public record after 50 years.
- Proof of relationship or legal interest is required for certified copies.
Criminal Records in Arizona
Criminal history information in Arizona is maintained by the Arizona Department of Public Safety (AZDPS) through the Central State Repository (CSR), under A.R.S. § 41-1750.
Arizona restricts access to full criminal histories. Comprehensive reports are available only for authorized purposes or personal record reviews.
What Arizona criminal records include:
- Arrest records and charges
- Court dispositions and convictions
- Sentencing and incarceration history
- Probation and parole status
How to request criminal records in Arizona:
Personal record review:
- Request your own record through the AZDPS Record Review Packet.
- Submit fingerprint cards and the applicable fee to AZDPS.
Authorized background checks: 3. Employers and licensing agencies submit requests through the AZDPS official portal.
Court case records: 4. Search public court cases via the Arizona Judicial Branch public access portals.
Inmate information: 5. Use the Arizona Department of Corrections online inmate locator for sentence and release data.
Sex offender registry: 6. Search the public sex offender registry maintained by AZDPS.
Restrictions:
- Sealed and expunged records are not available through ordinary public-access channels.
- Mugshot and arrest log availability varies by local law enforcement agency.
- Unauthorized commercial use of criminal history records is restricted under Arizona law.
- Dispute and correction procedures are available through AZDPS for inaccurate records.
Business Records in Arizona
Arizona business records are maintained by two primary state agencies: the Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC) and the Arizona Secretary of State (SOS).
Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC) maintains:
- Corporations, LLCs, and limited partnerships
- Formation documents and entity status
- Annual reports and registered agent information
Arizona Secretary of State (SOS) maintains:
- Trade names (DBAs) and trademarks
- Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) filings
- Notary public records
How to search business records in Arizona:
- For corporations and LLCs, visit the Arizona Corporation Commission eCorp portal.
- Search by entity name, entity number, or registered agent name.
- View formation date, entity status, filing history, and registered agent details.
- Download available formation documents and annual reports directly from ACC.
- For trade names and UCC filings, search the Arizona Secretary of State database.
Note: Sole proprietorships operating under the owner’s legal name and general partnerships typically do not register with the ACC or SOS and will not appear in these databases.
Additional Arizona Public Records
Certain specialized records are maintained by other state agencies:
- Professional Licenses — healthcare providers, contractors, real estate agents, and other regulated occupations are searchable through the Arizona Department of Health Services and the Arizona Department of Real Estate, among others.
- Voter Registration Records — maintained by the Arizona Secretary of State and county recorders; available to authorized requesters.
- Environmental Permits — water use permits, air quality permits, and land remediation records are maintained by the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality.
- Concealed Weapons Permits — maintained by the Arizona Department of Public Safety.
- Campaign Finance Records — maintained by the Arizona Secretary of State and searchable online.
These records may require contacting the specific agency rather than a standard county or court portal.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Arizona public records free?
Inspection of records is generally free. Copies are subject to fees set by each agency, and extensive searches — particularly for commercial purposes — may incur additional charges. Many online portals provide free basic case or property data with fees only for document copies.
Can non-residents request Arizona public records?
Yes. Arizona’s Public Records Law grants access to any person regardless of residency. There is no requirement to be an Arizona resident to inspect or request copies of public records.
How far back do Arizona records go?
It depends on the record type and county. Many county recorders have digitized records going back 20 to 30 years, with older documents available on microfilm or in person. Court records on eCourt Public Access generally cover more recent filings. Death certificates older than 50 years are more broadly accessible.
Are criminal records public in Arizona?
Arizona has moderately restricted criminal history access. Full criminal histories are not freely available to the general public — requests go through the Arizona Department of Public Safety. Arrest logs and court case information are accessible through county courts and law enforcement agencies, subject to applicable restrictions.
How long are vital records restricted in Arizona?
Birth certificates for living persons are restricted indefinitely to eligible requesters. Death certificates become more broadly accessible after 50 years. Eligibility for restricted records depends on the requester’s legal relationship to the person named and agency discretion.
What is Arizona’s open records law called?
The Arizona Public Records Law, codified at A.R.S. § 39-121 et seq. It grants any person the right to inspect and copy public records maintained by Arizona state and local government agencies, with no residency requirement.
Do all Arizona counties provide online record searches?
Yes. All 15 Arizona counties provide some form of online public record access, though the depth of digitized records varies. Larger counties such as Maricopa and Pima offer comprehensive searchable databases, while smaller counties may provide limited historical records online with older documents available in person.
Find Arizona County Record Portals
Arizona has 15 counties, each maintaining its own recorder, assessor, treasurer, and court clerk systems. Finding the right portal for a specific county — particularly for property records and court filings — can require navigating multiple agency websites.
A directory of official Arizona county record portals, organized by county, is available free through PublicRecordHub — connecting you directly to official government sources for all 15 Arizona counties.