Utah public records laws and regulations control the access that the public has to records on individuals such as Utah criminal records, immigration status and vital records. These laws also apply to government records such as meeting minutes and voting records.

UT public records laws may be grouped according to the aspect of public records that they address. These include the following three general areas:

1. Laws on Utah court public records that regulate the manner in which public information may be accessed. These laws may specify issues such as the length of time the state has to respond to information requests, any fees an agency is allowed to charge and whether the requestor must provide a reason for wanting the information.
2. Laws that define what information on an individual may be considered public. These laws control the personal information that may be accessed by an individual or party designated by the individual.
3. Laws that specify what government records may be accessible to the public. These laws are usually intended to permit journalists to perform a Utah court case search or to allow private citizens to provide input on government decisions.
   

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Review the procedures for accessing state of Utah public records

Access to Utah court records and public records covered by the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) in Utah is typically handled by the Attorney General. County courts may also provide access to Utah county public records.

I recommend: Farmington City provides the laws that govern requests for public records in Utah. The Utah State Legislature has the complete laws on the disclosure of public records in Utah.

Learn about the laws regulating access of Utah state public records for individuals

Public records for individuals typically include vital records such as birth certificates, marriage licenses and death certificates. Individuals may only be able to access their own personal records.

I recommend: The Salt Lake Valley Health Department provides its regulations for disclosing vital records under Utah law. The Utah Department of Health has a variety of resources on the laws that permit the disclosure of vital records in Utah.

Look for Utah public records laws on government records

Government records may include meeting minutes, budget reports and real estate sales. Some government departments provide many different types of government records, while others may be dedicated to a specific type of record.

I recommend: The Salt Lake City Recorder's Office discusses the laws that control the way it handles requests for government records. Utah's Right to Know provides specific answers to questions on the laws regarding the disclosure of government records in Utah.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Utah public records law is generally guided by the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). This federal legislation was signed into law by President Lyndon Johnson in 1966. The FOIA was amended by the Electronic Freedom of Information Act Amendments in 1996, which controls the electronic access the public has to these records.

Whether you're looking for information about a potential employee or researching facts on a property, you need to access public records in Utah. Public records are documents that have been filed or recorded by either public agencies or private individuals. Such records include birth and death records, marriage and divorce papers, criminal records, real estate documents, licenses, and so on.

Public records are held by the federal, state, and local governments, who in turn determine their availability. Although State of Utah public records are accessible to the public, you may be expected to pay for some information; the fees will vary depending on the department and state. You can always visit state departments and offices for public records, though there's a breadth of information online. When researching public records in Utah, remember the following:

1. When doing a background check on an individual, you may want to consider a nationwide search. This will cover information, not just in UT public records, but in the country as a whole.

2. Make sure that the Utah background check you get is up to date.

3. Get information from a credible source when searching Utah vital records online. You may be liable for turning someone down if you base a hiring decision on incorrect facts.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Opt for a Utah county public records search to get information on real estate

Information on real estate is always available to the public. If you're looking for specific data on a particular property, such as zoning information, assessments or building requirements, you can find those on government sites, such as county offices. Additionally, you can research title and deed information, find out who owns a property and get tax information.

I recommend: Real Marketing is an online resource that provides links to Utah county assessor's offices, county recorder's offices and county treasurer's offices. You can find comprehensive property information by visiting these online government resources.

Consider checking Utah court records before you hire

As a business owner, it's smart to run background checks on potential employees, especially if you're hiring childcare providers or teachers. Background checks can range from verifying a person's Social Security number, to a detailed account of the person's history and acquaintances. Before doing a background check, you must get permission from the individual.

I recommend: The Utah Department of Public Safety can help you obtain Utah criminal records. Additionally, public access to district court records is available through the Utah State Courts via their XChange database. You can search the sex offender registry at the Utah Department of Corrections.

Track down anyone with a Utah vital records search

With the assistance of the Internet and the right data, you can track down any individual, living or deceased. If you already know the person's Social Security number, date of birth, or last known address, you can use these to research vital records. Less information than that makes your search a little more difficult, but still possible.

I recommend: You can find Utah birth records, as well as divorce, marriage and death records at the Utah State Department of Health. People Search can help you track someone down using a variety of information, but they do require a fee.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  The federal Fair Credit Reporting Act regulates how consumer credit information, such as bankruptcy records in Utah, is collected and used by outside companies-- not employers. The act also restricts reporting on arrest records and other negative information after seven years, with the exception of Utah criminal public records.

Utah public records pricing and costs from government agencies are generally set by law for each document in the case of recent records. Copies of older records may be available for a nominal fee if the required research is minimal. Government agencies generally charge an hourly rate when they must perform a substantial amount of research.

The cost of Utah state public records also depends on the specific type of records being sought. There are three general types of public records:

1. Vital public records in Utah. These records consist of UT birth certificates, UT death records and Utah criminal records. Vital records are generally accessible by the individual or immediate family members.
   
2. Utah public records for historical research. These records may include older vital records or other public records that are of historical, rather than personal, interest. The access of historical records is generally available to the public.
3. Utah public records on government activity. These records may include budget reports, meeting minutes, voting records and Utah court records. The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) for Utah specifies the government records that are available to the public.
   

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Get prices on Utah vital records directly from official sources

Vital records in Utah are available at centralized sources and the cost is generally set by state law. The fees for Utah county public records may be set independently of the state. Paper records are generally more expensive than electronic records.

I recommend: The Utah Department of Health charges $15 for a search and $8 for each additional copy of a birth certificate. Utah County Government provides a complete fee schedule for vital records in Utah County.

Find pricing on older UT public records in state archives

Older Utah public records may be kept in state libraries or other facilities that are dedicated to historical research. The cost of obtaining historical records in Utah is generally much less than that of accessing recent vital records. The cost may be limited to the photocopying fee in many cases.

I recommend: The Utah State Archives and Records Service provides a complete list of costs for copying, certifying and delivering public records in Utah. Davis County Government offers birth certificates from 1905 for $10 per copy.

Obtain prices on Utah public records for government activity

Utah government records are available under the FOIA and other sunshine laws. The cost of these records may vary greatly, depending on the specific records that are being sought. Many of these records may be found for free on public websites.

I recommend: The Government Records Access and Management Act in Utah limits the fees for government records to the actual cost of duplicating records. The Salt Lake Tribune provides an article that addresses the $2 search fee for online records in Utah.

As a business owner, there are many reasons you may need to access Utah public records. In the hiring process, background checks and a criminal records history can help ensure full disclosure among your prospective employees. If you run a business where children frequent your store, you might need to stay on top of the sex offenders in your area to stay protected. You can access all of this information, and more, because they're public records in the state of Utah. Consider these Utah public records key terms that you may encounter during your search.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Utah State Archives and Records Service

The Utah State Archives and Records Service division is part of the Department of Administrative Services. This division keeps records that have been created by state and local government entities. Records available include death certificates, land records, legislative bills, mining claims and incorporation records.

I recommend: Check the Utah State Archives and Records Service website for more information about archives and records available.

Utah Department of Health

The Utah Department of Health specializes in vital records for the state. Vital records you can access through the Utah Department of Health include birth certificates, death certificates, marriage licenses and divorce decrees.

I recommend: The Utah Department of Health details how you can find vital records through their office.

Utah Department of Public Safety

You can use the Utah Department of Public Safety to conduct background checks or to conduct criminal records searches.

I recommend: The Utah Department of Public Safety website explains how you can reach the Bureau of Criminal Identification office for the public records you need.

XChange

XChange, a fee based subscription service available through Utah State Courts, allows you to look up court documents for all district court cases and some justice court cases.

I recommend: You can read about XChange on the Utah State Court website.

SONAR

Utah requires sex offenders to register in the SONAR (Sex and Kidnap Offender Notification and Registration) database. Maintained by the Utah Department of Corrections, SONAR maintains public information about sex offenders.

I recommend: The Utah Department of Corrections site explains SONAR.

Utah Department of Commerce

The Utah Department of Commerce handles business registrations and applications for the state of Utah. You can access public records about business licenses here.

I recommend: Check out the Utah Department of Commerce website for more information.