Garfield County Public Records
Garfield County public records are maintained by the county courthouse offices in Panguitch and by Utah state agencies that serve all 29 counties. This page describes where records are held in Garfield County, how to contact the right office, and how to make a request under Utah's open records law. Whether you need property deeds, court filings, or criminal history checks, the information here will help you start your search in Garfield County.
Garfield County Quick Facts
Garfield County Recorder
The Garfield County Recorder's office is located in the Garfield County Courthouse at 55 South Main Street, Panguitch, UT 84759. The phone number is (435) 676-1116, and the office is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. The website is at garfieldcounty.utah.gov/recorder. This office is the official custodian of all recorded real property instruments in the county, including deeds, mortgages, liens, easements, plats, and mining claims.
Garfield County covers a large geographic area in southern Utah. A significant portion of the county is federal land, including parts of Dixie National Forest and adjacent Bureau of Land Management areas. The Recorder's office handles property records for the private land in the county. For federal land records or mining claims on BLM land, you may also need to contact the BLM field office that covers the area.
Recording fees follow the state schedule: $40 for the first page and $2 for each additional description. Certified copies are $5 plus $1 per page. Because the office is small and serves a low-population county, calling ahead before visiting is a good idea, especially for extensive records research.
Utah GRAMA statutes govern public records access in Garfield County and across the state. The image below is from the official Utah Legislature site where these laws are published.
The Utah Legislature site at le.utah.gov publishes the full text of Utah Code § 63G-2, which sets out the rules for accessing public records in Garfield County and statewide.
Garfield County Clerk and Auditor
The Garfield County Clerk-Auditor office is also in the courthouse at 55 South Main Street, Panguitch, UT 84759. The phone number is (435) 676-1100, and hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. The website is at garfieldcounty.utah.gov/clerk-auditor. The Clerk-Auditor serves as the official keeper of county records, manages elections, issues marriage licenses, and acts as clerk to the Garfield County Commission.
Because Garfield County has a small population spread across a large geographic area, the Clerk-Auditor office provides essential administrative services that residents may not be able to access easily in person. For those who cannot visit Panguitch, many records requests can be handled by phone or mail. Describe the record you need as clearly as possible when contacting the office remotely.
GRAMA requests for Garfield County records go to the Clerk-Auditor or to the specific department that holds the records you need. Under Utah Code § 63G-2-201, any person may request to inspect or copy public records without giving a reason. The agency must respond within 10 business days. Copy fees are $0.25 per page for black and white and $0.50 for color. The first 15 minutes of staff time to locate records is free.
Garfield County Sheriff and Criminal Records
The Garfield County Sheriff's Office provides law enforcement services for unincorporated areas of the county and operates the county jail. Incident reports and arrest records are available through a formal records request to the Sheriff's Office. Fees depend on the type and length of the report. Call the office for current fee information before submitting a request.
For statewide criminal history checks, the Utah Bureau of Criminal Identification handles both name-based and fingerprint-based background checks. The BCI is at 3888 West 5400 South, Taylorsville, Utah. Phone: (801) 965-4445. Name-based checks cost $15, and fingerprint checks cost $33.25. Anyone may request a check through the BCI. The BCI website at bci.utah.gov has full details on how to submit a request and what identification is needed.
The screenshot below is from the Utah BCI website, which handles criminal history checks for Garfield County residents and for people researching individuals who have lived or worked in the county.
The Utah BCI site explains the types of background checks available and lets you download the forms needed to submit a criminal history request.
Garfield County Court Records
The Sixth District Court serves Garfield County. The court handles civil disputes, criminal cases, family law matters including divorce and custody, probate, and juvenile proceedings. Court records are public under GRAMA with standard exceptions for sealed matters and juvenile records. Public access terminals at the courthouse in Panguitch allow free index searches. For document copies, contact the District Court Clerk office directly.
The Utah Courts' XChange system provides remote access to case records across all district courts in the state, including the Sixth District. Each search costs $0.35, or users can subscribe for $40 per month for unlimited access. Go to utcourts.gov to set up an account. For historical cases not yet digitized, a written request to the District Court Clerk is the best route. Staff can confirm whether older files are available and how long retrieval may take.
Garfield County Property and Assessor Records
The Garfield County Assessor determines assessed values for all taxable property in the county. Assessor data is public and free to review. Records show legal descriptions, ownership names, assessed values, and tax payment history. Because much of Garfield County is federal or state land, the Assessor's records cover a smaller number of privately owned parcels than you would find in more urbanized Utah counties.
When researching property in Garfield County, use both the Assessor records and the Recorder's document index. The Assessor holds valuation and tax data, while the Recorder holds the actual instruments such as deeds and mortgages. Both offices are in the Garfield County Courthouse in Panguitch. For properties near national forest or BLM boundaries, also check with the relevant federal land management office to confirm parcel boundaries and any easements that cross between private and public land.
How to Request Garfield County Public Records
Utah's GRAMA law at Utah Code § 63G-2-201 gives any person the right to inspect and copy public records. You do not need to be a county resident or provide a reason for your request. Write a clear description of the records you want and submit it to the office that holds them. The Clerk-Auditor office can direct you to the right department if you are not sure where to start.
Agencies in Garfield County must respond within 10 business days. They may grant access, deny it with a written explanation, or ask for additional time if the request is complex. Copies are $0.25 per page black and white and $0.50 per page color. Staff research time beyond 15 minutes may be billed. If denied, you may appeal to the agency's chief administrative officer and then to district court under Utah Code § 63G-2-802.
Historical Garfield County records that predate current county systems may be held at the Utah State Archives, 346 South Rio Grande Street, Salt Lake City, UT 84101. Phone: (801) 531-3847. Their online catalog at archives.utah.gov can show you what older Garfield County records have been transferred to the state repository and how to request them.
Note: For records tied to federal land in Garfield County, including grazing permits, mining claims on BLM land, or national forest use authorizations, contact the relevant federal agency directly rather than the county offices.
Cities in Garfield County
Garfield County does not have any cities that meet the population threshold for a dedicated public records page. The county seat is the city of Panguitch. All public records for Garfield County residents and properties are processed through the county offices described on this page.
Nearby Counties
Garfield County is in southern Utah. The links below go to public records pages for counties that share its borders.