Find Public Records in Arvada

Public records in Arvada are split between city and county offices. Arvada is in Jefferson County, so most court cases, property records, and vital records are at county offices in Golden. City departments keep municipal records like building permits, zoning decisions, and council minutes. When you search for public records in Arvada, start by figuring out which office has what you need. Jefferson County uses an online portal for CORA requests. The city has its own process. Both follow Colorado Open Records Act rules. Response time is three working days. Fees apply for research and copies after the first free hour. Some records are online. Others need a formal written request.

Jefferson County Public Records

Arvada is part of Jefferson County. Most official records for Arvada residents are at county offices. Court cases go through the First Judicial District Court. Property deeds, liens, and mortgages are at the Clerk and Recorder office. Marriage licenses and some vital records are also at the county level. The main county offices are in Golden, which is west of Arvada.

Jefferson County uses a NextRequest portal for public records requests. This online system lets you submit a CORA request, track its status, and get documents when they are ready. The county responds within three working days under state law. If the request is complex or involves a lot of records, the county can extend this by seven more days. You will get a notice if more time is needed.

Property records for Arvada homes and businesses are searchable through the Jefferson County website. You can look up deeds, mortgages, and liens by owner name, address, or parcel number. The index is free. If you need certified copies, you must order them from the Clerk and Recorder office. Standard copies cost $0.25 per page. Oversize documents like plats cost more. Certification adds a small fee per document.

Court records for Arvada are part of the First Judicial District. This includes Jefferson and Gilpin Counties. The courthouse is in Golden at 100 Jefferson County Parkway. You can view case files in person at no cost. To get copies, contact the Clerk of Court. Many case indexes are also on LexisNexis Colorado Courts, a paid service that has summaries and some documents for civil and criminal cases.

The first hour of research and retrieval is free under state law. After that, Jefferson County charges up to $41 per hour. Paper copies cost $0.25 per page. Electronic records sent by email are usually free. Certified copies and special handling cost extra. Payment is required before records are released.

City Records and Documents

The City of Arvada maintains its own records for municipal operations. This includes city council minutes, agendas, ordinances, and resolutions. Building permits and zoning documents are at the Community Development Department. Business licenses and local tax information are kept by the City Clerk's office. These records are separate from county files.

Arvada residents can submit CORA requests to the city for municipal records. The city follows the same response timeline as the county: three working days with a possible extension. The first hour of research is free. Fees for research time and copies are similar to other Colorado cities. Contact the City Clerk's office for questions about which records the city has and how to request them.

City council meetings are public, and agendas are posted online before each meeting. Minutes are available after they are approved. You can also find city budget documents, financial reports, and annual audits on the city website. Some of these records are posted as PDFs. Others may need a formal request.

The Arvada Police Department handles records related to law enforcement within city limits. This includes incident reports, accident reports, and arrest records for cases handled by Arvada officers. These records are subject to the Colorado Criminal Justice Records Act. Some details may be withheld during active investigations or to protect victim privacy. Submit requests for police records directly to the department, not through the general CORA portal.

Online Search Resources

Several records for Arvada are online. Jefferson County has a property search database with real estate records. You can find who owns a property, when it was sold, and if there are liens. This is free to search. Court case indexes are on third-party sites like LexisNexis, which charges fees for access.

The Colorado Judicial Branch website provides general information about accessing court records. They explain which records are public and which are restricted. You can also submit a records request form online. This form goes to the appropriate court clerk based on the case type and location.

State agencies also have records that may relate to Arvada residents. The Colorado Secretary of State keeps business entity records, UCC filings, and notary information. The Colorado Bureau of Investigation has statewide criminal history records. You can run a name-based background check through the CBI online system for $5. This shows arrests and convictions in Colorado but not from other states.

Vital records like birth and death certificates are at the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. Birth certificates cost $20 for the first copy. Death certificates are the same price. You must provide ID and show that you are eligible to get the record under state law. Marriage licenses are at the county where the license was issued. Divorce decrees are at the Clerk of Court where the case was filed.

Colorado Open Records Act

Public records access in Arvada is governed by the Colorado Open Records Act, found in C.R.S. §§ 24-72-201 to 24-72-206. This law says that all public records must be open for inspection unless a specific law says otherwise. The act defines public records as any document made or kept by a government office that relates to government work.

CORA requests must be submitted to the custodian of the records. There is no single office that has all public records. You need to know which agency has what you want. For Arvada, most records are either with the city or Jefferson County. Some specialized records are with state agencies or the court system.

Under C.R.S. § 24-72-203, custodians have three working days to respond. They can extend this by seven more days if needed. The response must either provide the records, tell you when they will be ready, or explain why they are being withheld. Reasons for denial must cite a specific statute or court order.

The first hour of research and retrieval is free under state law. After that, fees can be charged. The current maximum hourly rate is $41, adjusted for inflation every five years. Copies cost $0.25 per page for standard documents. Electronic records sent by email are usually free. Certified copies and special handling cost extra.

Some records are exempt from disclosure under C.R.S. § 24-72-204. This includes personnel files, medical records, work product, and documents protected by attorney-client privilege. Law enforcement records may be withheld if releasing them would harm an investigation or endanger someone. Juvenile court records are generally not public.

Nearby Colorado Cities

Arvada is near other large cities in the Denver metro area. Westminster is to the north. Denver is east. Lakewood is south. Broomfield is northeast. All of these cities use county systems for most court and property records, but each has its own municipal records. If your search involves multiple cities or counties, you may need to submit separate requests to each jurisdiction.