Henry County Public Records

What Are Public Records in Henry County?

Public records in Henry County, Georgia, are defined under the Georgia Open Records Act, O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70, as all documents, papers, letters, maps, books, tapes, photographs, computer-based or generated information, data, data fields, or similar material prepared and maintained or received in the performance of a service or function by or on behalf of a public agency. Members of the public may inspect a broad range of record categories maintained by Henry County offices, including:

Court records — civil, criminal, probate, and family law case files maintained by the Henry County Superior Court Clerk and the Magistrate Court
Property records — deeds, mortgages, liens, and plats recorded with the Henry County Clerk of Superior Court
Vital records — birth and death certificates (Georgia Department of Public Health); marriage licenses and divorce decrees (Superior Court Clerk)
Business records — occupational tax certificates, business licenses, and trade name registrations maintained by Henry County Business License Division
Tax records — property tax assessments and valuation data searchable through the Henry County Tax Assessor
Voting and election records — voter registration rolls and election results maintained by the Henry County Board of Elections and Registration
Meeting minutes and agendas — Board of Commissioners meeting minutes, agendas, and resolutions available through the County Clerk's office
Budget and financial documents — annual budgets, audits, and expenditure reports maintained by the Henry County Finance Department
Law enforcement records — arrest logs and incident reports, where permitted by law, available through the Henry County Sheriff's Office
Land use and zoning records — zoning maps, variance applications, and planning documents maintained by the Henry County Planning and Zoning Division

Members of the public seeking guidance on locating records across multiple Henry County departments may consult the county's centralized records directory, which identifies the custodial office responsible for each record category.

Is Henry County an Open Records County?

Henry County fully complies with Georgia's statewide open records framework, which mandates public access to government documents. Under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-71, all public agencies in Georgia are required to respond to open records requests within three business days of receipt, either by providing the requested records or by notifying the requester of the estimated time and cost to fulfill the request. The statute further provides that no agency may require a requester to state a reason or purpose for seeking public records, affirming broad access rights for all members of the public.

Henry County operates in accordance with Georgia's Sunshine Laws, which govern both open records and open meetings. The Henry County Board of Commissioners posts meeting notices, agendas, and minutes consistent with the Georgia Open Meetings Act, O.C.G.A. § 50-14-1, ensuring that deliberations of public bodies remain accessible to residents and non-residents alike. The county's official open records request portal provides a standardized mechanism for submitting requests to county departments, and requesters are encouraged to review all posted guidance before submitting.

How to Find Public Records in Henry County in 2026

Members of the public may obtain Henry County public records through several official channels, depending on the record type sought. The following steps outline the standard process:

Identify the custodial office. Determine which county department or agency maintains the record. Court records are held by the Superior Court Clerk; property and vital records are also maintained there; tax records are held by the Tax Assessor; law enforcement records are held by the Sheriff's Office.
Submit a written request. Although oral requests are permissible under Georgia law, a written request is strongly recommended. Members of the public may submit open records requests online, by email, by mail, or in person at the relevant county office.
For Sheriff's Office records, submit requests directly through the Henry County Sheriff's Office open records page, which provides department-specific forms and contact information.
For E-911 records, use the dedicated E-911 open records request form or email 911openrecords@henrycountyga.gov, specifying the date, time, and nature of the incident.
Await agency response. Under current law, the agency must acknowledge the request within three business days and provide records or a timeline for production.
Inspect or receive copies. Requesters may elect to inspect records in person at no charge or request copies, which are subject to applicable fees.

How Much Does It Cost to Get Public Records in Henry County?

Current fees for public records in Henry County are governed by O.C.G.A. § 50-18-71, which permits agencies to charge for the actual cost of search, retrieval, and reproduction. Standard fees applicable to most county departments include:

Paper copies: $0.10 per page for standard letter or legal-size documents
Certified copies: Fees vary by record type; Superior Court certified copies are typically $2.50 per document plus $0.50 per page
Electronic records: Agencies may charge for the actual cost of duplication to electronic media
Staff research time: When a request requires more than one hour of staff time, agencies may charge the hourly rate of the lowest-paid employee capable of fulfilling the request
Vital records (birth/death certificates): Fees are set by the Georgia Department of Public Health and are currently $25.00 per certified copy

Accepted payment methods vary by office but generally include cash, money order, and personal check made payable to the relevant county office. Fee waivers are not broadly mandated under Georgia law; however, individual agencies retain discretion to waive fees in cases of demonstrated financial hardship or when the request serves a clear public interest.

Does Henry County Have Free Public Records?

Georgia law affirmatively provides that members of the public have the right to inspect public records at no charge. Pursuant to O.C.G.A. § 50-18-71, no fee may be charged solely for the act of inspection; charges apply only when copies or staff research time are requested. The following free inspection and access options are currently available:

In-person inspection at the custodial office during regular business hours, at no cost
Online property records search through the Henry County Tax Assessor, which provides free access to property assessment data, ownership information, and sales history
Court case status may be checked at no cost through the Henry County Superior Court Clerk's public terminals
Meeting minutes and agendas are posted at no charge on the Henry County Board of Commissioners website

Who Can Request Public Records in Henry County?

Any person, regardless of residency, citizenship, or stated purpose, is entitled to request public records from Henry County agencies under current Georgia law. O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70 does not restrict access to Georgia residents, nor does it require requesters to provide identification or explain the reason for their request. Specific eligibility provisions include:

Residency: Not required. Non-residents of Henry County and non-citizens of Georgia retain full access rights.
Identification: Agencies may not require identification as a condition of fulfilling a standard open records request.
Purpose: Requesters are not obligated to state a purpose, and agencies may not deny access based on the requester's intended use of the records.
Requesting your own records: Individuals seeking records pertaining to themselves follow the same process as any other requester, though certain records (such as criminal history) may require additional verification through the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.
Restrictions for specific record types: Certain categories of records, including sealed court files, juvenile records, and adoption records, are accessible only to authorized parties as defined by statute.

What Records Are Confidential in Henry County?

Not all government documents maintained by Henry County agencies are subject to public disclosure. Georgia law enumerates specific exemptions under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-72, which identifies categories of records that agencies are authorized or required to withhold. Confidential and exempt records in Henry County include:

Sealed court records — records sealed by judicial order are not accessible to the general public
Juvenile records — records pertaining to minors involved in delinquency or dependency proceedings are confidential under Georgia law
Ongoing criminal investigation records — records compiled for law enforcement purposes that, if disclosed, would compromise an active investigation
Personal identifying information — Social Security numbers, financial account data, and similar identifiers are redacted prior to disclosure
Medical and health records — protected under both Georgia law and the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)
Adoption records — sealed by statute and accessible only through court order or specific statutory procedures
Child welfare and protective services records — maintained as confidential by the Georgia Division of Family and Children Services
Personnel records — employee performance evaluations and certain personal data are exempt, though basic employment information (name, position, compensation) remains public
Trade secrets and proprietary business information — submitted to agencies in confidence and protected from disclosure
Security plans and critical infrastructure details — records relating to the security of public facilities or emergency response systems

Where a record contains both disclosable and exempt information, agencies are required to redact the exempt portions and release the remainder, consistent with the balancing principles embedded in O.C.G.A. § 50-18-72.

Henry County Recorder's Office: Contact Information and Hours

In Georgia, the functions of a traditional recorder's office are performed by the Clerk of Superior Court, who serves as the official custodian of land records, deeds, liens, plats, and related instruments. The Henry County Superior Court Clerk also maintains court records, marriage licenses, and other official documents.

Henry County Clerk of Superior Court 345 Phillips Drive, McDonough, GA 30253 (770) 288-8022 Henry County Superior Court Clerk Public counter hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Henry County Tax Assessor's Office 140 Henry Parkway, McDonough, GA 30253 (770) 288-7999 Henry County Tax Assessor Public counter hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Henry County Sheriff's Office 120 Henry Parkway, McDonough, GA 30253 (770) 957-9121 Henry County Sheriff's Office Public counter hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Henry County Board of Commissioners – County Administration 140 Henry Parkway, McDonough, GA 30253 (770) 288-6000 Henry County Government Public counter hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Henry County E-911 Communications 109 Zack Hinton Parkway, McDonough, GA 30253 (770) 288-8300 Henry County E-911 Open Records Records requests accepted via online form or email at 911openrecords@henrycountyga.gov