Door County Public Records

How to Find Public Records in Door County in 2026

DoorRecords.us aggregates publicly available information that may assist individuals seeking public records in Door County, Wisconsin. Members of the public may access a range of government-held documents through official county offices, state repositories, and authorized online portals. Available record categories include:

Court records (civil, criminal, probate, and family)
Property deeds, mortgages, and assessment records
Vital records (birth, death, marriage, and divorce)
Business licenses and permits
Property tax records
Voting and election records
County board meeting minutes and agendas
Law enforcement incident reports and arrest logs
Land use, zoning, and planning documents

Records may be searched through official court resources, clerk offices, public access terminals, and online tools.

Online Access: The Door County official website provides access to several online databases, including property records through the county's land information portal. Circuit court records for Door County are searchable through the Wisconsin Court System case search portal, which covers cases filed in Wisconsin circuit courts statewide. No registration is required to conduct a basic case search.

In-Person Requests: Members of the public may visit the Door County Clerk's Office or the Register of Deeds to inspect records in person. The County Clerk's Office is located at 421 Nebraska Street, Sturgeon Bay, WI 54235. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM.

Written/Mail Requests: Written requests may be submitted by mail to the appropriate office. Requests should include the requester's name, contact information, a description of the records sought, and the preferred format for delivery. Under Wisconsin's Open Records Law, § 19.35, custodians are required to respond to requests as soon as practicable and without delay.

Phone/Email: The Door County Clerk's Office may be reached by phone at (920) 746-2200. Email inquiries may be directed through the contact portal available on the county's official website.

What Are Public Records in Door County?

Public records in Door County are defined under Wisconsin Statutes § 19.32, which establishes that any record created or maintained by a government authority in the course of its official functions is presumed to be open to public inspection. The following record types are maintained by Door County government offices:

Court records — Civil, criminal, probate, and family court filings are maintained by the Door County Circuit Court.
Property records — Deeds, mortgages, liens, and land contracts are recorded with the Door County Register of Deeds.
Vital records — Birth and death certificates are filed with the Wisconsin Department of Health Services; marriage licenses are issued and maintained by the County Clerk.
Business records — Fictitious name registrations and business licenses are available through the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions and local municipal offices.
Tax records — Property tax and assessment records are maintained by the Door County Treasurer and the County Assessor.
Voting and election records — Maintained by the Door County Clerk under the authority of the Wisconsin Elections Commission.
Meeting minutes and agendas — County board and committee records are published on the Door County website.
Law enforcement records — Incident reports and arrest logs are maintained by the Door County Sheriff's Office, subject to applicable exemptions.
Land use and zoning records — Maintained by the Door County Planning and Zoning Department.

Is Door County an Open Records County?

Door County fully complies with Wisconsin's statewide open records framework. Under Wisconsin's Open Records Law, § 19.31–19.39, all government records are presumed open to public inspection unless a specific statutory exemption applies. The law establishes a strong public policy in favor of transparency, stating that "the public is entitled to the fullest and most complete information regarding the affairs of government as is compatible with the conduct of governmental business."

The Wisconsin Department of Justice, which oversees open records compliance, notes that "the denial of public access generally is contrary to the public interest, and only in an exceptional case may access be denied." Door County government offices are bound by this standard and are required to provide access to records upon request without requiring requesters to state a reason for their inquiry. The county does not maintain a separate local open records ordinance; state law governs all public records access uniformly across Wisconsin jurisdictions.

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

Current fees for public records in Door County are governed by Wisconsin Statutes and individual office fee schedules. The following standard fees apply:

Record Type	Fee
Paper copies (standard)	$0.25 per page
Certified copies (vital records)	$20.00 per copy (first); $3.00 each additional
Real estate document copies	$2.00 per page (Register of Deeds)
Electronic records	Actual cost of reproduction
Record search fees	Actual staff time, if applicable

Inspection fees: No fee is charged for in-person inspection of records.
Copy fees: Standard paper copies are $0.25 per page at most county offices.
Certification fees: Certified copies of vital records carry a statutory fee set by the Wisconsin Department of Health Services.
Electronic format fees: Fees reflect the actual cost of reproduction and transmission.
Fee waivers: Wisconsin law does not mandate a blanket fee waiver provision, but custodians retain discretion to reduce or waive fees in certain circumstances.

Accepted payment methods at Door County offices include cash, check, and money order. Credit card acceptance varies by department.

Does Door County Have Free Public Records?

Free inspection of public records is available at Door County government offices during regular business hours. Under Wisconsin's open records framework, no fee may be charged solely for the act of inspecting a record in person. The following resources provide free access to certain records:

The Door County land records portal allows free online access to property and assessment data.
The Wisconsin Court System's case search tool provides free access to circuit court case information statewide.
County board meeting minutes, agendas, and budget documents are published at no cost on the Door County website.
The Wisconsin Elections Commission provides free access to voter registration and election results data.

Free inspection differs from free copies. While members of the public may inspect records at no charge, reproduction of those records is subject to the fee schedule described above.

Who Can Request Public Records in Door County?

Any person may request public records in Door County, regardless of residency, citizenship, or stated purpose. Wisconsin's open records law does not require requesters to be Wisconsin residents, to provide identification, or to explain the reason for their request. This broad access right applies to individuals, organizations, businesses, and members of the media equally.

Certain record types carry additional access requirements. For example, obtaining a certified copy of a vital record — such as a birth or death certificate — requires the requester to demonstrate a qualifying relationship or legal interest, as established by Wisconsin administrative rules. Individuals requesting their own records are subject to the same general procedures as any other requester, though identity verification may be required when accessing records containing sensitive personal information.

Non-residents retain the same rights as Wisconsin residents under state law. There is no provision in Wisconsin's open records statutes that limits access based on the geographic location of the requester.

What Records Are Confidential in Door County?

Not all government records in Door County are open to public inspection. Wisconsin Statutes § 19.36 identifies categories of records that are exempt from mandatory disclosure, including:

Sealed court records — Records sealed by judicial order are not accessible to the general public.
Juvenile records — Records pertaining to juveniles in delinquency or child welfare proceedings are confidential under Wisconsin law.
Ongoing investigation records — Law enforcement records related to active investigations may be withheld to protect the integrity of the investigation.
Personal identifying information — Social Security numbers, financial account data, and similar identifiers are redacted from disclosed records.
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 legal circumstances.
Child welfare and protective services records — Maintained as confidential to protect the privacy of minors and families.
Personnel records — Employee records are partially exempt, with certain information such as disciplinary records subject to disclosure under defined conditions.
Trade secrets and proprietary business information — Exempt when disclosure would harm a competitive business interest.
Security plans and infrastructure details — Withheld to protect public safety.

Wisconsin applies a balancing test when evaluating borderline disclosure decisions, weighing the public interest in transparency against the potential harm of disclosure.

Door County Recorder's Office: Contact Information and Hours

Door County Register of Deeds
421 Nebraska Street
Sturgeon Bay, WI 54235
(920) 746-2260
Door County Register of Deeds

Office Hours:
Monday – Friday: 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM
Closed on state and federal holidays.

Door County Clerk's Office
421 Nebraska Street
Sturgeon Bay, WI 54235
(920) 746-2200
Door County Clerk

Office Hours:
Monday – Friday: 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM

Door County Circuit Court Clerk
1009 Green Bay Road
Sturgeon Bay, WI 54235
(920) 746-2206
Door County Circuit Court

Office Hours:
Monday – Friday: 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM

Door County Sheriff's Office
1004 S. 4th Avenue
Sturgeon Bay, WI 54235
(920) 746-2400
Door County Sheriff's Office

Office Hours:
Monday – Friday: 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM

Lookup Public Records in Door County

Wisconsin court case search — Public access to Wisconsin court records, including cases from the Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, and circuit courts statewide.