Franklin County, Ohio makes the vast majority of its government records available to every member of the public no lawyer, no court order, and no special reason required. Under Ohio Revised Code § 149.43, any person has the legal right to inspect and request copies of public records from any county office during regular business hours. This guide tells you exactly which records exist, where they are held, how to search them for free online, and what to do when you need certified copies.
Your Legal Right to Franklin County Public Records
Ohio’s Public Records Act (Ohio Revised Code § 149.43) is one of the strongest open-records laws in the United States. Here is what it guarantees you:
- Any person regardless of citizenship, residency, or reason may request public records
- Records must be promptly prepared and made available during regular business hours
- In-person inspection is free fees only apply when you request physical copies
- Electronic records provided by email or download are provided at no charge
- If a record is partially exempt, the office must release all non-exempt portions
The only people restricted from certain records are individuals incarcerated for criminal convictions, who may not access criminal investigation or prosecution records without a court order.
Copy fees currently in effect across Franklin County offices:
| Format | Fee |
|---|---|
| Standard paper copies (B&W) | $0.05 – $0.10 per page |
| Certified court document copies | $1.00 – $5.00 per document |
| Electronic records (email/download) | Free |
| Certified copies from Recorder’s Office | Varies use fee calculator at recorder.franklincountyohio.gov |
All Types of Franklin County Public Records
Franklin County maintains public records across seven major categories, each held by a specific office.
1. Property Records
Maintained by: Franklin County Auditor + Franklin County Recorder
Search portal: property.franklincountyauditor.com
Recorder portal: recorder.franklincountyohio.gov
Franklin County’s property records database covers more than 487,000 parcels across 16 cities, 17 townships, and 10 villages. Every record is free to search online.
What you can find:
- Current owner name and mailing address
- Parcel ID number
- Assessed value and fair market value
- Annual property tax amount and payment history
- Deed transfer history and legal description
- Land area and building details (square footage, year built, number of rooms)
- Zoning classification
- Photographs of the property (where available)
How to search online four methods:
By Owner Name:
Go to property.franklincountyauditor.com and select “Owner Search.” Enter the last name first. Use an asterisk () as a wildcard if you are unsure of the exact spelling for example, “Smith” returns all Smith variations.
By Address: Select “Address Search.” Enter the street number and street name without directional prefixes or suffixes for the broadest results. If no result appears, try dropping the street number and searching by street name alone.
By Parcel ID: Select “Parcel ID Search.” Enter the full parcel number as it appears on your tax bill or deed.
By Map: Select “Map Search” or use the county’s GIS portal. Click any parcel on the interactive map to pull its full record. This method is useful when you know the approximate location but not the address.
For recorded documents (deeds, mortgages, liens):
The Franklin County Recorder maintains a separate portal with over 11 million recorded documents including deeds, mortgages, liens, and plats. Search free at recorder.franklincountyohio.gov under “Public Records Search.”
Important note for 2026: The Franklin County Auditor launched a “Know Your Home Value” website in January 2026 to explain the triennial property value update currently underway. New assessed values are being mailed to all property owners on June 9, 2026. If you want to check or dispute your value before the mailing, visit franklincountyauditor.com.
2. Court Records
Maintained by: Franklin County Clerk of Courts
Address: 369 S. High St., Columbus, OH 43215
Phone: 614-525-3600
Search portal: cclerkapp.franklincountyohio.gov
Franklin County court records cover civil, criminal, domestic relations, probate, and juvenile cases. Most are searchable online for free.
What is included in a court record:
- Case number and filing date
- Party names (plaintiff, defendant, petitioner, respondent)
- Attorney names and bar numbers
- Charges or claims filed
- Court dates and hearing outcomes
- Judgments, orders, and sentencing information
- Filed documents (motions, briefs, exhibits some restricted)
Free online portals by court division:
| Court | What It Covers | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Common Pleas – Civil | Civil lawsuits, contract disputes | cclerkapp.franklincountyohio.gov |
| Common Pleas – Criminal | Felony criminal cases | cclerkapp.franklincountyohio.gov |
| Common Pleas – Domestic Relations | Divorce, custody, support | cclerkapp.franklincountyohio.gov |
| Franklin County Municipal Court | Misdemeanors, traffic, small claims | fcmcclerk.com |
| Franklin County Probate Court | Estates, guardianship, adoptions | probate.franklincountyohio.gov |
How to search:
Enter a party name, case number, or attorney name in the search field. Results show case status, filing history, and court dates. In-person inspection of physical case files is available at no charge at the Clerk of Courts office during business hours.
To request copies:
Submit a written public records request in person, by mail, or through the online form at the Clerk of Courts website. No written request is legally required under Ohio law, but submitting one in writing creates a clear paper trail.
3. Criminal Records
Maintained by: Franklin County Clerk of Courts, Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI)
Clerk portal: cclerkapp.franklincountyohio.gov
Sheriff records: sheriff.franklincountyohio.gov
Criminal records in Franklin County cover arrests, charges, convictions, and incarcerations. Felony records are held by the Clerk of Courts. Misdemeanor and traffic records are held by Municipal Court.
How to get a comprehensive criminal history:
For records specific to Franklin County court cases, search the Clerk of Courts portal by name or case number.
For a full Ohio statewide criminal history, submit a fingerprint-based background check request through the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI). This covers records from all Ohio counties and is the most complete option for employment screening or legal purposes.
Sealing and expungement:
Eligible individuals may apply to seal or expunge certain criminal records. Application forms are available on the Franklin County Clerk of Courts website. Completed forms must be submitted with the required fees to the appropriate court.
Redaction of personal information:
Under Ohio Revised Code §§ 149.45(C)(1) and (D)(1), individuals may submit a redaction request to remove personal information — including home addresses from publicly available online records. Submit the completed form to the office maintaining the records.
4. Marriage and Vital Records
Maintained by: Franklin County Probate Court
Address: 373 S. High St., Columbus, OH 43215
Phone: 614-525-3894
Marriage license search: probate.franklincountyohio.gov/record-search/marriage-license-index
Marriage license applications: probate.franklincountyohio.gov/departments/marriage
The Franklin County Probate Court’s marriage license index is searchable online and covers records from January 3, 1994 to present.
What you can search:
- Marriage licenses by name of either party
- Date of license issuance
- License number
For certified copies of marriage records, contact the Probate Court directly. Fees apply for certified documents.
Birth and death certificates are maintained by the Ohio Department of Health, not Franklin County. Request them at odh.ohio.gov or in person at the ODH Vital Statistics office in Columbus.
Divorce records are held by the Franklin County Clerk of Courts under the Domestic Relations division, searchable through the same portal as other court records.
5. Tax Records
Maintained by: Franklin County Auditor + Franklin County Treasurer
Auditor portal: franklincountyauditor.com
Treasurer portal: treasurer.franklincountyohio.gov
Auditor phone: 614-525-4663
Treasurer phone: 614-525-3438
Tax records are fully public and searchable online at no cost.
What you can find:
- Current year tax bill amount
- First and second half payment status
- Delinquent tax balances
- Historical payment records
- Tax exemptions applied to the property (Homestead, owner-occupancy credit, CAUV)
- Assessed value used for tax calculation
2026 due dates (Tax Year 2025, collected in 2026):
First half — March 2, 2026
Second half — No earlier than July 20, 2026
To look up a tax bill: search for the property at property.franklincountyauditor.com, then click through to the Treasurer’s payment record.
6. Business Records
Maintained by: Ohio Secretary of State, Franklin County Recorder
Ohio SOS portal: ohiosos.gov
Recorder portal: recorder.franklincountyohio.gov
Business registrations, fictitious name filings (DBA), and UCC (Uniform Commercial Code) filings for businesses operating in Franklin County are maintained at the state level through the Ohio Secretary of State.
What you can find:
- Business entity name and registration status
- Registered agent name and address
- Filing date and type
- Officers and statutory agents
- UCC liens and financing statements
Search free at ohiosos.gov no account required.
For recorded business-related property interests such as commercial mortgages and business liens on real property, search the Franklin County Recorder’s public records portal.
7. Voting and Election Records
Maintained by: Franklin County Board of Elections
Portal: vote.franklincountyohio.gov
Phone: 614-525-3100
Voter registration information and election results are public records in Ohio.
What is publicly available:
- Voter registration status and registered address
- Voting history (which elections a person voted in not how they voted)
- Election results by precinct and district
- Candidate filing documents and campaign finance reports
What is not public: How an individual voted in any election is never disclosed.
How to Submit a Formal Public Records Request
For records not available through the online portals, submit a formal public records request to the appropriate Franklin County office.
Step 1 — Identify the right office.
Each record type is held by a specific office. Property records go to the Auditor or Recorder. Court records go to the Clerk of Courts. Criminal records go to the Sheriff or Clerk of Courts. Marriage records go to Probate Court.
Step 2 — Submit your request.
Ohio law does not require a written request, but submitting one in writing is strongly recommended. You may submit by:
- In person at the office during business hours
- By mail
- By email (where the office provides an email address)
- Through an online request form (available at many Franklin County offices)
Step 3 — Be specific.
Requests that are vague, overly broad, or non-specific may be denied. Include names, dates, case numbers, addresses, or parcel numbers to narrow your request.
Step 4 — Provide identification if needed.
For certain records, offices may ask for identifying information about the subject full legal name, date of birth, and known case or parcel numbers.
Step 5 — Pay applicable fees.
In-person inspection is always free. Copy fees are charged at cost. Ask for a fee estimate before ordering copies.
Step 6 — If your request is denied.
Under Ohio law, if a request is denied, the agency must give you the legal basis for the denial in writing. You may file a public records complaint with the Ohio Court of Claims under Ohio Revised Code § 2743.75(D) using the complaint form at ohiocourtofclaims.gov.
Key Contacts: Franklin County Public Records Offices
| Office | Records Held | Phone | Website |
|---|---|---|---|
| Franklin County Auditor | Property values, tax assessment, exemptions | 614-525-4663 | franklincountyauditor.com |
| Franklin County Treasurer | Tax bills, payments, delinquencies | 614-525-3438 | treasurer.franklincountyohio.gov |
| Franklin County Recorder | Deeds, mortgages, liens, plats (11M+ records) | 614-525-3930 | recorder.franklincountyohio.gov |
| Franklin County Clerk of Courts | Civil, criminal, domestic relations cases | 614-525-3600 | cclerkapp.franklincountyohio.gov |
| Franklin County Probate Court | Estates, marriage licenses, adoptions | 614-525-3894 | probate.franklincountyohio.gov |
| Franklin County Sheriff | Arrest records, warrants, jail records | 614-525-3333 | sheriff.franklincountyohio.gov |
| Franklin County Board of Elections | Voter registration, election results | 614-525-3100 | vote.franklincountyohio.gov |
| Franklin County Law Library | Legal research, historical records | 614-525-4971 | fclawlib.org |
| Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation | Statewide criminal history | 877-224-0043 | ohioattorneygeneral.gov/bci |
| Ohio Secretary of State | Business registrations, UCC filings | 877-767-3453 | ohiosos.gov |
All county offices are located at or near 373 S. High St., Columbus, OH 43215. Business hours are generally Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., except legal holidays.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Franklin County public records really free to access?
Yes in-person inspection of any public record is always free under Ohio law. Fees only apply when you request physical copies, and those fees are limited to the actual cost of making copies ($0.05–$0.10 per page for standard documents). Electronic records sent by email are also free.
Do I need to give a reason to request Franklin County public records?
No. Ohio law does not require you to state a reason for your request. You also do not need to be an Ohio resident or U.S. citizen.
How quickly must Franklin County offices respond to a public records request?
Ohio Revised Code § 149.43 requires that records be “promptly prepared and made available.” There is no fixed number of days, but the clear intent of the law is as soon as practicable. Large or complex requests may take longer.
Can I search Franklin County property records for free online?
Yes. The Franklin County Auditor’s property search portal at property.franklincountyauditor.com is completely free. You can search by owner name, address, parcel ID, or map. The Recorder’s portal at recorder.franklincountyohio.gov is also free and covers over 11 million recorded documents.
How do I find out who owns a property in Franklin County?
Go to property.franklincountyauditor.com and search by address or parcel ID. The owner name, mailing address, and full property details will appear in the results.
How do I get a certified copy of a deed in Franklin County?
Contact the Franklin County Recorder’s Office at 614-525-3930 or visit recorder.franklincountyohio.gov. Fees for certified copies vary use the fee calculator on the Recorder’s website before requesting.
Where can I find Franklin County marriage records?
The Franklin County Probate Court’s marriage license index is searchable free online at probate.franklincountyohio.gov/record-search/marriage-license-index for records from January 3, 1994 to present. For certified copies, contact the Probate Court directly.
Can I get someone’s criminal record in Franklin County?
Felony and misdemeanor court records are searchable free online through the Clerk of Courts portal. For a full statewide criminal history, submit a fingerprint-based request to the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI). Certain records may be sealed or expunged and will not appear in search results.
What if a Franklin County office denies my public records request?
The office must provide the legal basis for the denial in writing. You may then file a complaint with the Ohio Court of Claims at ohiocourtofclaims.gov under the Public Records Dispute Resolution process.
How do I remove my personal information from Franklin County public records online?
Under Ohio Revised Code §§ 149.45(C)(1) and (D)(1), you may submit a redaction request to the office maintaining the records. The Ohio Attorney General’s office provides the standard redaction request forms.
