Salt Lake City Public Records

Salt Lake City public records are held by multiple city and county offices. As the state capital and Utah's largest city, Salt Lake City maintains a wide range of documents you can request under the Government Records Access and Management Act (GRAMA). This guide covers where to find city recorder files, police reports, court documents, and criminal background records in Salt Lake City. Whether you search online or visit in person, most records are open to the public.

Salt Lake City Recorder Records

The Salt Lake City Recorder's office is the primary custodian of official city records. This office keeps City Council minutes, ordinances, resolutions, contracts, and election records. The Recorder processes all GRAMA requests for city-level documents. You can submit a request online through the city's NextRequest portal or visit in person at the City and County Building.

City Council meeting agendas, minutes, and videos are posted online at the city's website. For older records or documents not posted online, a GRAMA request through the Salt Lake City Clerk's office is the standard path. The city uses NextRequest to manage and track incoming public records requests. You can submit your request, check its status, and download files all through that portal. Most routine requests get a response within 10 business days as required by Utah Code section 63G-2.

Records held by the Recorder include codified ordinances, resolutions going back many years, signed contracts between the city and vendors, and board and commission minutes. Copies are free to inspect in person. Printed or digital copies cost $0.25 per page. If your request is large, the city may charge for staff time spent compiling documents. Call the office at (801) 535-7600 to ask about fees before you file a big request.

Salt Lake City Police Department Records

The Salt Lake City Police Department maintains incident reports, accident reports, and arrest records. The Records Division handles public requests for these documents. You can request reports in person, by mail, or online through the department's request portal. Body camera footage requires a separate request and may be subject to review before release.

Incident reports and accident reports are among the most common requests the police department handles. To get a copy, contact the Records Division directly at (801) 799-3604. You will need to know the date of the incident and the names of the people involved. Fees vary by report type. Some basic reports have a small flat fee. Traffic accident reports may have different costs. The department can tell you the current fee when you call to request a report.

Arrest records from Salt Lake City police go into the Utah Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) database. For a full background check that includes statewide arrest data, you will need to go through BCI rather than the local police department. The police department's own records are limited to incidents handled by their officers. If you need records from the Salt Lake County Sheriff or other agencies, contact those offices directly.

Court Records in Salt Lake City

Salt Lake City has both a Justice Court and is served by the Third District Court (Salt Lake County). The Justice Court handles misdemeanor criminal cases, traffic violations, and city ordinance violations. The Third District Court handles felony cases, civil matters, domestic cases, and probate. Both courts keep records you can search and copy.

The Third District Court is located at 450 South State Street, Salt Lake City, UT 84114, and can be reached at (801) 238-7300. This court keeps records for all major civil and criminal cases filed within Salt Lake County. You can search case records through the Utah Courts XChange system. XChange lets you search by name or case number and view docket entries, party information, and case status. Searches cost $0.35 each, or you can pay $40 per month for unlimited searches. Free public terminals are available at all courthouses if you prefer not to pay the online fee.

For copies of actual court documents, contact the clerk of the court directly. Certified copies cost more than plain copies. Most court records in Salt Lake City are public. A small number of case types, including sealed juvenile records and certain protective order files, are restricted. The clerk can tell you if a specific record is available for public access.

Criminal Background Records

Statewide criminal background checks in Utah go through the Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI). BCI maintains the Utah Criminal History database, which covers arrests, charges, and convictions from agencies throughout the state. Salt Lake City residents and employers can request a name-based check or a fingerprint-based check depending on the purpose.

A name-based check costs $15 and can be done online or by mail through the Utah BCI website. BCI is reachable by phone at (801) 965-4445. A fingerprint-based check costs $33.25 and is more thorough. It can be used for employment and licensing where a higher level of accuracy is required. Fingerprints can be taken at many local law enforcement offices, including Salt Lake City Police Department locations.

Note: BCI criminal history records cover Utah only. For federal criminal records, you would need to contact the FBI through their own background check process.

Salt Lake City Public Records Resources

The Salt Lake City Justice Court website shows the court's services, fee schedules, and how to access records for cases handled at the municipal level.

You can use the Justice Court's site to find forms, check court dates, and learn how to request copies of case records for misdemeanor and traffic cases handled in Salt Lake City.

The Utah GRAMA statutes page outlines the rules that govern public records access across all government agencies in the state, including Salt Lake City departments.

GRAMA gives every person the right to inspect and copy government records. Salt Lake City agencies must follow these rules when they handle your records request.

Vital Records and State Archives

Birth and death records for Salt Lake City residents are held by the Utah Office of Vital Records. You can order a certified copy online through the SILVER system. Birth certificates cost $18 and death certificates cost $16. The office is part of the Utah Department of Health and Human Services.

Older records and historical government documents are kept at the Utah State Archives, located in Salt Lake City. The Archives holds records from state agencies, counties, and municipalities going back to Utah's territorial period. Research staff can help you locate documents. The Archives can be reached at (801) 531-3847. Walk-in research is available, and many collections have online finding aids to help you plan your visit.

Salt Lake City is also home to the Family History Library, the largest genealogy library in the world. While the library is privately run, it holds billions of records from Utah and around the globe, and access is free to the public.

Legal Help in Salt Lake City

If you have trouble getting public records in Salt Lake City or face a denial, legal help is available. Utah Legal Services provides free help to people who qualify based on income. They serve Salt Lake City and the surrounding county. The Utah State Bar runs a lawyer referral service at (801) 531-9077. Many Salt Lake City attorneys offer free or low-cost initial consultations for records disputes or GRAMA appeals.

If a city agency denies your GRAMA request, you have the right to appeal. Appeals first go to the agency's chief administrative officer. If still denied, you can appeal to the State Records Committee. The committee holds hearings and can order agencies to release records. The process is outlined in Utah Code section 63G-2.

Salt Lake County Public Records

Salt Lake City sits within Salt Lake County. The county maintains its own set of public records separate from city records. These include property records, county court filings, county commission minutes, and records from county-run agencies. For a full look at county-level public records resources, visit the Salt Lake County page.

View Salt Lake County Public Records

Nearby Utah Cities

Other Salt Lake County cities have their own city-level public records offices. Select a city below to find local public records resources.

View Major Utah Cities