Ulster County Public Records
What Are Public Records in Ulster County?
Public records in Ulster County are defined according to the New York State Freedom of Information Law (FOIL), codified under Public Officers Law § 87. This statute establishes that government records are presumptively open to public inspection unless specifically exempted by law.
Ulster County maintains numerous categories of public records, including:
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Court Records: Civil and criminal records from the Supreme and County Courts in Ulster County, including civil actions, criminal indictments, and judgments are maintained by the Ulster County Clerk's Office.
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Property Records: Land records including deeds, mortgages, assignments, powers of attorney, satisfaction of mortgages, and related documents are filed with the County Clerk's land records division.
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Vital Records: Birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates. The Ulster County Clerk maintains marriage licenses and some historical vital records, while the New York State Department of Health maintains most vital records.
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Business Records: Business certificates, assumed name filings (DBA), and professional licenses are maintained by the County Clerk's Office.
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Tax Records: Property tax information, assessment records, and tax maps are maintained by the Ulster County Real Property Tax Service Agency.
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Voting and Election Records: Voter registration data, election results, and campaign finance reports are maintained by the Ulster County Board of Elections.
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Meeting Minutes and Agendas: Records of county legislative sessions, board meetings, and public hearings are maintained by the Ulster County Legislature Clerk.
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Budget and Financial Documents: County budgets, financial statements, and audit reports are maintained by the Ulster County Comptroller's Office.
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Law Enforcement Records: Arrest logs and incident reports (where permitted by law) are maintained by the Ulster County Sheriff's Office and local police departments.
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Land Use and Zoning Records: Property information, zoning maps, and parcel data are available through the Ulster County Parcel Viewer and Planning Department.
The primary custodian for many county records is the Ulster County Clerk, who maintains court records, land records, and business filings. Other specialized records are maintained by their respective departments as noted above.
Is Ulster County an Open Records County?
Ulster County fully adheres to New York State's Freedom of Information Law (FOIL), as established under Public Officers Law Article 6, §§ 84-90. This comprehensive open records law establishes the public's right to access government records at all levels of state and local government, including Ulster County.
The law's declaration of legislative intent, found in § 84, clearly states: "The legislature hereby finds that a free society is maintained when government is responsive and responsible to the public, and when the public is aware of governmental actions... The people's right to know the process of governmental decision-making and to review the documents and statistics leading to determinations is basic to our society."
Ulster County has implemented this state mandate through its own FOIL procedures, which are designed to facilitate public access to records while protecting confidential information as required by law. The County Executive's Office maintains a Records Access Officer who coordinates responses to public records requests across county departments.
In addition to FOIL compliance, Ulster County also adheres to New York State's Open Meetings Law, which requires that meetings of public bodies be open to the public and that notice of meetings be provided in advance. This "sunshine law" ensures transparency in governmental decision-making processes.
Ulster County's commitment to open records is further demonstrated by its online records portal through the County Clerk's website, which provides digital access to many frequently requested documents, including court and land records.
How to Find Public Records in Ulster County in 2026
Members of the public seeking records in Ulster County may utilize several methods to locate and obtain the information they need:
In-Person Requests:
- Identify the appropriate county department that maintains the desired records.
- Visit the department during regular business hours.
- Complete a FOIL request form if required (available at most county offices).
- Present identification if required for certain restricted records.
- Pay any applicable fees for copies or certified documents.
Online Access:
- Visit the Ulster County Clerk's website to search digitized court and land records.
- Access the Ulster County Parcel Viewer for property information and tax maps.
- Check department-specific pages on the county website for specialized records.
- Download FOIL request forms from department websites when available.
Written FOIL Requests:
- Submit a written request to the Records Access Officer of the specific department.
- Include a clear description of the records sought.
- Provide contact information for response.
- Indicate preferred format for receiving records (paper copies, digital files, etc.).
- Allow up to five business days for an initial response as required by Public Officers Law § 89(3).
For Court Records:
- Visit the Ulster County Clerk's Office in person or search online.
- Provide case numbers when available to expedite searches.
- Request certified copies if needed for legal purposes.
For Property Records:
- Search the land records database maintained by the County Clerk.
- Provide property information such as address, owner name, or tax map number.
- Request copies of deeds, mortgages, or other property documents.
The County Clerk's Office provides public access terminals for searching records at no cost, though fees apply for printed copies or certified documents.
How Much Does It Cost to Get Public Records in Ulster County?
Ulster County follows the fee structure established under New York State's Freedom of Information Law, specifically Public Officers Law § 87(1)(b)(iii), which permits agencies to charge fees for copies of records.
The current standard fees for public records in Ulster County are:
- General Photocopies: $0.25 per page for standard letter/legal size documents
- Certified Copies: $5.00 - $10.00 per document, depending on record type
- Large Format Documents (maps, plans): $5.00 - $15.00 per sheet, depending on size
- Electronic Records: No charge for records provided via email; fees may apply for storage media
- Court Records: $0.65 per page for copies of court documents
- Land Records: $5.00 per page for copies of deeds, mortgages, and related documents
- Marriage Licenses: $10.00 for certified copies
- Business Certificates: $10.00 for certified copies
Additional specialized fees include:
- Record Searches: $5.00 per name/per year searched (when staff research is required)
- Exemplification: $10.00 (authentication of records for use in other jurisdictions)
- Apostille Preparation: $10.00 (for documents requiring state authentication)
Accepted payment methods include:
- Cash (in-person only)
- Personal checks (made payable to "Ulster County Clerk" or appropriate department)
- Money orders
- Credit/debit cards (subject to processing fees)
Fee waivers may be granted when disclosure of records primarily benefits the general public, as determined by the Records Access Officer. Government agencies requesting records for official purposes are generally exempt from fees.
All fees are subject to change based on county policy and state law amendments. The County Clerk's Office and other departments can provide current fee information for specific record types.
Does Ulster County Have Free Public Records?
Ulster County provides free access to certain public records in accordance with New York State's Freedom of Information Law. While copying fees may apply, the inspection of records is available at no cost to the public.
Free public records services in Ulster County include:
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In-Person Record Inspection: Members of the public may examine non-exempt records during regular business hours at no charge. This right is explicitly protected under Public Officers Law § 87(2), which states that agencies shall "make available for public inspection and copying all records" subject to exceptions.
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Public Access Terminals: The Ulster County Clerk's Office provides computer terminals for searching court and land records at no cost. These terminals are available during regular business hours.
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Online Record Searches: Basic searches of the following records are available online at no charge:
- Court case indices
- Land record indices
- Property information through the Ulster County Parcel Viewer
- County Legislature meeting minutes and agendas
- County budget documents
- Election results
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Public Meeting Records: Minutes of public meetings, once approved, are available for inspection at no cost and are often posted on the county website.
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County Publications: Reports, newsletters, and informational materials produced by county departments are typically available at no charge.
The Ulster County Legislature maintains a public document repository on its website where meeting agendas, resolutions, and local laws can be accessed without charge. Similarly, the County Planning Department provides free access to maps and planning documents through its online portal.
While inspection is free, fees for copies still apply as outlined in the fee schedule section. Additionally, records that require extensive staff time for research or redaction may incur fees even if the inspection itself is free.
Who Can Request Public Records in Ulster County?
Under New York State's Freedom of Information Law, specifically Public Officers Law § 89(1), any person has the right to request and receive public records from Ulster County government agencies, regardless of citizenship or residency status.
Key eligibility factors include:
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Residency Requirements: There is no residency requirement to request public records in Ulster County. Non-residents of New York State have the same rights of access as residents.
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Identification Requirements: For most general records, requestors are not required to provide identification. However, certain sensitive records may require verification of identity, particularly when:
- Requesting one's own confidential records
- Seeking vital records (birth, death, marriage certificates)
- Requesting court records with sealed components
- Accessing records with personal identifying information
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Purpose Declaration: Requestors are generally not required to state the purpose of their request or intended use of records. As established in Public Officers Law § 89(2)(b), an agency may not deny access to records based on the purpose for which the record is sought.
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Special Categories of Requestors:
- Attorneys: May request records on behalf of clients with proper authorization
- Media Representatives: Have the same rights as any member of the public
- Commercial Entities: May request public records for business purposes
- Government Agencies: May request records through interagency agreements
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Requesting Records About Oneself vs. Others: When requesting records containing personal information:
- Individuals have greater rights to access their own records
- Requests for records containing personal information about others may be subject to privacy protections and redactions
- Proper authorization is required when requesting another person's confidential records
The Ulster County Clerk's Office and other county departments may require completion of specific request forms depending on the type of record sought. These forms typically ask for contact information to facilitate communication about the request but do not restrict eligibility to make requests.
What Records Are Confidential in Ulster County?
Ulster County maintains certain records as confidential in accordance with exemptions established under New York Public Officers Law § 87(2) and other applicable state and federal statutes. These protected records include:
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Court-Related Confidential Records:
- Sealed criminal records, including youthful offender adjudications
- Family Court proceedings, including juvenile delinquency cases
- Sealed matrimonial records and divorce filings containing sensitive information
- Grand jury proceedings and materials, as referenced in cases handled by the Ulster County District Attorney's Office
- Orders of protection in domestic violence cases
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Personal Privacy Information:
- Social Security numbers, bank account details, and credit card information
- Medical and mental health records protected under HIPAA
- Personnel records containing evaluations, disciplinary actions, or medical information
- Student education records protected under FERPA
- Public assistance and welfare records containing personal information
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Law Enforcement and Public Safety Records:
- Active criminal investigation materials
- Information that would interfere with law enforcement proceedings
- Records that would endanger the life or safety of any person
- Critical infrastructure details and security plans
- Information that would impair present or imminent contract awards
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Other Protected Records:
- Trade secrets and confidential commercial information
- Inter-agency or intra-agency deliberative materials
- Attorney-client privileged communications
- Records specifically exempted from disclosure by state or federal statute
- Adoption records and related court documents
- Child protective services records and reports
When a record contains both public and confidential information, Ulster County agencies will redact the confidential portions and release the remainder, as required by Public Officers Law § 89(2)(a).
The determination of confidentiality often involves a balancing test weighing the public's right to know against individual privacy rights or governmental interests in non-disclosure. Denials of access to records must be made in writing with an explanation of the reason for denial and information about the appeal process.
Ulster County Recorder's Office: Contact Information and Hours
Ulster County Clerk's Office
244 Fair Street
Kingston, NY 12401
(845) 340-3288
Ulster County Clerk
Hours of Operation:
Monday - Friday: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Closed on weekends and county holidays
Records and Archives Division
300 Foxhall Avenue
Kingston, NY 12401
(845) 340-3415
Hours of Operation:
Monday - Friday: 9:00 AM - 4:30 PM
By appointment only
Ulster County Real Property Tax Service Agency
244 Fair Street
Kingston, NY 12401
(845) 340-3480
Hours of Operation:
Monday - Friday: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Closed on weekends and county holidays
Ulster County Board of Elections
284 Wall Street
Kingston, NY 12401
(845) 334-5470
Hours of Operation:
Monday - Friday: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Extended hours during election periods
Ulster County Department of Health
239 Golden Hill Lane
Kingston, NY 12401
(845) 340-3150
Hours of Operation:
Monday - Friday: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Closed on weekends and county holidays