Hardin County Public Records

What Are Public Records in Hardin County?

Public records in Hardin County are defined under the Kentucky Open Records Act, codified at KRS § 61.870, as all books, papers, maps, photographs, cards, tapes, discs, diskettes, recordings, software, or other documentation regardless of physical form or characteristics that are prepared, owned, used, in the possession of, or retained by a public agency. The following record types are currently available to members of the public through various Hardin County offices:

Court records — civil, criminal, probate, and family court documents are maintained by the Hardin County Circuit Court Clerk
Property records — deeds, mortgages, liens, and property assessments are filed with the Hardin County Clerk
Vital records — birth and death certificates are issued through the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services; marriage licenses and divorce decrees are maintained by the Hardin County Clerk
Business records — occupational licenses, permits, and assumed name (DBA) filings are held by the Hardin County Clerk and the City of Elizabethtown
Tax records — property tax bills and assessment records are maintained by the Hardin County Property Valuation Administrator (PVA)
Voting and election records — voter registration data and election results are managed by the Hardin County Clerk's Elections Division
Meeting minutes and agendas — records of the Hardin County Fiscal Court, planning commission, and other boards are available through the County Clerk and individual agencies
Budget and financial documents — annual budgets, audits, and expenditure reports are maintained by the Hardin County Judge/Executive's office
Law enforcement records — arrest logs and incident reports, where permitted by law, are available through the Hardin County Sheriff's Office and the Elizabethtown Police Department
Land use and zoning records — zoning maps, variance applications, and subdivision plats are held by the Hardin County Planning and Development Commission

Is Hardin County an Open Records County?

Hardin County fully complies with the Kentucky Open Records Act, which governs public access to government documents throughout the Commonwealth. Under KRS § 61.872, all public agencies are required to permit inspection of public records during normal business hours and to provide copies upon request. The Act establishes that any person has the right to inspect public records, and agencies must respond to written requests within five business days. Kentucky's Open Meetings Act, codified at KRS § 61.805 through § 61.850, further ensures that deliberations and actions of public agencies are conducted openly. Hardin County agencies are required to designate an official custodian of records and to post their open records policies in a publicly accessible location. No county-specific ordinance currently restricts access beyond the exemptions already established under state law.

How to Find Public Records in Hardin County in 2026

Members of the public may obtain Hardin County public records through several official channels. The following steps outline the standard process:

Identify the custodial office. Determine which agency holds the record sought — the County Clerk for property and vital records, the Circuit Court Clerk for court documents, the PVA for tax assessments, or the relevant law enforcement agency for incident reports.
Submit a written open records request. Requests must be submitted in writing, either in person, by mail, or by email, to the designated open records coordinator of the relevant agency. Many offices provide a standard request form at their public counter.
Provide sufficient description. The request must describe the records sought with enough specificity to allow the agency to locate them. Requestors are not required to state a reason for the request.
Await agency response. Under current law, the agency must respond within five business days, either producing the records, denying the request with a written explanation citing the applicable exemption, or notifying the requestor that additional time is needed.
Access court records online or in person. Civil and criminal case information may be searched through the Kentucky Court of Justice online portal or by visiting the Circuit Court Clerk's office in person.
Search offender records. Members of the public may use the Kentucky Offender Online Lookup system maintained by the Kentucky Department of Corrections to search for individuals currently or previously held at facilities including the Hardin County Detention Center.
Appeal a denial. If a request is denied, the requestor may appeal to the Kentucky Attorney General's Office of Open Records within 30 days of the denial.

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

Current fees for public records in Hardin County are governed by the Kentucky Open Records Act and applicable county fee schedules. Standard fees include:

Photocopies: $0.10 per page for standard black-and-white copies, as permitted under KRS § 61.874
Certified copies: Fees vary by record type; certified copies of deeds and other instruments recorded with the County Clerk are subject to statutory recording fees
Vital records: Birth and death certificates issued through the state carry a standard fee set by the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services
Court records: Copy fees for court documents are set by the Kentucky Court of Justice and may vary by document type
Electronic records: Where records are provided in electronic format, agencies may charge the actual cost of duplication, not to exceed the standard per-page rate

Accepted payment methods vary by office but generally include cash, check, and money order payable to the respective agency. Fee waivers may be available for indigent requestors or for requests determined to be in the public interest, at the discretion of the agency custodian.

Does Hardin County Have Free Public Records?

Free inspection of public records is available to all members of the public under Kentucky law. Agencies are required to permit on-site inspection of non-exempt records at no charge during regular business hours. The following free resources are currently available:

In-person inspection at the Hardin County Clerk's office, the Circuit Court Clerk's office, and the PVA office, where members of the public may review records without charge
Online court case search through the Kentucky Court of Justice, which provides free access to case index information for civil, criminal, and family court matters statewide
Hardin County court records may be accessed at no cost through the Hardin County Circuit Court Clerk page, which provides direct access to local court information and filing details
Offender status searches are available at no cost through the Kentucky Department of Corrections' online lookup tool
Property and tax assessment data may be reviewed free of charge through the Hardin County PVA's online portal

Who Can Request Public Records in Hardin County?

Any person may request public records from Hardin County agencies under the Kentucky Open Records Act, regardless of residency, citizenship, or stated purpose. The Act does not require requestors to:

Be a resident of Hardin County or the Commonwealth of Kentucky
Provide government-issued identification (unless required for access to restricted record categories)
State the reason or intended use for the requested records

Certain record categories carry additional access requirements. Individuals requesting their own criminal history, sealed records, or records containing protected personal information may be required to provide proof of identity. Attorneys of record and parties to a case may access sealed court documents subject to court order. Non-residents retain the same rights as Kentucky residents with respect to open records requests. Requestors seeking records about themselves may submit requests directly to the custodial agency and, in some cases, may access additional information not available to the general public.

What Records Are Confidential in Hardin County?

Not all government records in Hardin County are subject to public disclosure. KRS § 61.878 sets forth the categories of records that are currently exempt from mandatory disclosure under the Open Records Act. Exempt and confidential record types include:

Sealed court records — records sealed by judicial order are not accessible to the general public
Juvenile records — records pertaining to minors in dependency, neglect, abuse, or delinquency proceedings are confidential under KRS Chapter 610
Ongoing investigation records — law enforcement records compiled in the course of an active criminal investigation are exempt to the extent that disclosure would harm the investigation
Personal identifying information — Social Security numbers, financial account data, and similar identifiers are redacted prior to disclosure
Medical records — protected under both state law and the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)
Adoption records — sealed by statute and accessible only under specific court-ordered circumstances
Child welfare and protective services records — maintained as confidential by the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services
Personnel records — employee performance evaluations and certain personnel files are exempt, with limited exceptions for public employees' compensation and titles
Trade secrets and proprietary business information — submitted to agencies in confidence and protected from disclosure
Security plans and critical infrastructure details — exempt to protect public safety

Where a record contains both exempt and non-exempt information, the custodial agency is required to separate and release the non-exempt portions. Kentucky courts apply a balancing test in disputed cases to weigh the public interest in disclosure against the privacy interests protected by the applicable exemption.

Hardin County Recorder's Office: Contact Information and Hours

The Hardin County Clerk serves as the primary custodian of recorded documents, including deeds, mortgages, liens, marriage licenses, and election records. The Circuit Court Clerk maintains all court case files for the county.

Hardin County Clerk 14 Public Square, Suite 1, Elizabethtown, KY 42701 (270) 765-2171 Hardin County Clerk Public Counter Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Hardin County Circuit Court Clerk 100 Public Square, Elizabethtown, KY 42701 (270) 769-3626 Hardin County Circuit Court Clerk Public Counter Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Hardin County Property Valuation Administrator 100 Public Square, Suite 2, Elizabethtown, KY 42701 (270) 765-2129 Hardin County PVA Public Counter Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Hardin County Sheriff's Office 100 Public Square, Elizabethtown, KY 42701 (270) 765-5133 Hardin County Sheriff Public Counter Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Hardin County Detention Center 100 Lawson Blvd., Elizabethtown, KY 42701 (270) 769-1683 Hardin County Detention Center