Grand County Public Records Lookup
Grand County public records are kept by offices in the county courthouse in Moab and by state agencies that serve all Utah counties. This guide covers the main offices that hold records in Grand County, how to reach each one, and how to submit a request under Utah's public records law. Whether you need property deeds, court case files, or government documents, this page gives you a clear path to searching Grand County public records.
Grand County Quick Facts
Grand County Recorder
The Grand County Recorder's office is in the Grand County Courthouse at 125 East Center Street, Moab, UT 84532. The phone number is (435) 259-1341, and office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. The website is at grandcountyutah.net/recorder. This office records and maintains all real property instruments for Grand County, including deeds, mortgages, liens, plats, easements, and mining documents.
Grand County sees an active real estate market tied in large part to the outdoor recreation industry centered around Moab. Property transfers happen at a higher rate relative to the county's population than in many rural Utah counties. The Recorder's office handles these transactions along with vacation rental registrations and short-term rental-related instruments that have become more common in recent years. Plat records cover both established neighborhoods and newer subdivision developments on the Moab area's edges.
Mining documents are also a notable part of the Grand County Recorder's holdings. The county has a history of uranium, potash, and other mineral extraction. Mineral rights can be severed from surface rights in Utah, so the document index may show separate ownership for the surface and the minerals under a given parcel. Searching both grantor-grantee and property description indexes helps ensure you see the full record for any parcel.
Recording fees are $40 for the first page and $2 for each additional description. Certified copies cost $5 plus $1 per page. Staff at the Recorder's office can assist with searches and answer questions about specific documents in the index.
Utah's GRAMA statutes set the rules for public records access in Grand County and across the state. The image below is from the official Utah Legislature website where those rules are published.
The full text of Utah Code § 63G-2 is available at the Utah Legislature site and explains how anyone can request public records in Grand County and throughout Utah.
Grand County Clerk and Auditor
The Grand County Clerk-Auditor office is at 125 East Center Street, Moab, UT 84532. The phone number is (435) 259-1321, and hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. The website is at grandcountyutah.net/clerk-auditor. The Clerk-Auditor is the official keeper of county records, runs elections, issues marriage licenses, and serves as clerk to the Grand County Council.
GRAMA requests for Grand County government records should be directed to the Clerk-Auditor or to the specific department that holds the record. Under Utah Code § 63G-2-201, any person may inspect or copy public records without giving a reason. The county must respond within 10 business days. Copies cost $0.25 per page for black and white and $0.50 per page for color. The first 15 minutes of staff time spent locating records is free. Additional staff time may be billed at the agency's established rate.
The Clerk-Auditor office maintains Grand County Commission and County Council minutes, resolutions, ordinances, and other official government records. These are useful for researching local land use decisions, county contracts, and regulatory actions. Commission records going back many years may be available, though some older materials may have been transferred to the Utah State Archives.
Grand County Sheriff and Criminal Records
The Grand County Sheriff's Office handles law enforcement in unincorporated parts 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. Contact the office directly for current fee information and expected turnaround times before submitting your request.
For statewide criminal history checks, the Utah Bureau of Criminal Identification provides both name-based and fingerprint-based checks. The BCI is at 3888 West 5400 South, Taylorsville. Phone: (801) 965-4445. A name check costs $15, and a fingerprint check costs $33.25. The website at bci.utah.gov explains the process and required forms. Anyone may request a background check through the BCI, not just employers or law enforcement. Results cover statewide criminal history, not just Grand County records.
Grand County Court Records
The Seventh District Court serves Grand County and handles civil, criminal, family law, probate, and juvenile matters for the county. Court records in Grand County are generally public under GRAMA. Exceptions include sealed matters, juvenile records, and certain protected financial information. Public access terminals at the courthouse in Moab allow free case index searches. For document copies or certified records, contact the District Court Clerk directly or visit in person with a valid photo ID.
The Utah Courts' XChange system gives remote access to court records across all district courts including the Seventh District. Each search costs $0.35, or subscribers can pay $40 per month for unlimited access. Start at utcourts.gov to create an account and search. For older cases or records from before the digital era, a written request to the District Court Clerk in Moab is the best path. Staff can confirm what files are available and how to obtain copies.
Grand County Property and Assessor Records
The Grand County Assessor sets taxable values for all real and personal property in the county. Assessor data is public and free to review. Records show ownership names, legal descriptions, assessed values, and tax history for each parcel. Grand County's property market is shaped heavily by vacation and investment properties, which can result in more frequent ownership changes and a wider spread between assessed values and market prices compared to other Utah counties.
For a complete property research picture in Grand County, use both the Assessor records and the Recorder's document index. The Assessor holds value and tax data, while the Recorder holds the actual deed, mortgage, and lien instruments. Both offices are in the Grand County Courthouse at 125 East Center Street in Moab. If you are researching mineral rights, be sure to search the Recorder's mineral document index separately from the surface property records, since mineral and surface ownership can be held by different parties.
The Utah State Archives holds historical records for Grand County that predate modern county systems. Those records can be searched through the online catalog at archives.utah.gov. The Archives is at 346 South Rio Grande Street, Salt Lake City. Phone: (801) 531-3847.
The Utah State Archives website provides access to historical records from Grand County and all other Utah counties. The screenshot below is from the official Archives site.
The Utah State Archives online catalog lets you search for older Grand County records including pre-digital property instruments, county government documents, and historical court materials.
Requesting Grand County Public Records Under GRAMA
Utah's Government Records Access and Management Act at Utah Code § 63G-2-201 gives any person the right to inspect and copy government records. You do not need to be a Grand County resident or explain why you want the records. Describe the document clearly enough that staff can find it, then submit your request to the office that holds it. The Clerk-Auditor can redirect your request if you are unsure which department is the right custodian.
Grand County agencies must respond within 10 business days. They may grant full access, provide partial access, deny the request with a written explanation, or ask for an extension if more review time is needed. Copy fees are $0.25 per page for black and white and $0.50 per page for color. The first 15 minutes of staff research time is free. If a request is denied, you may appeal to the agency's chief administrative officer and then to district court under Utah Code § 63G-2-802.
Many Grand County records are available online or by phone, which can save a trip to Moab for requesters who are not local. Ask the office whether electronic delivery is possible when you submit your request. For older historical records, the Utah State Archives at archives.utah.gov may have what you need.
Note: Records involving land managed by the National Park Service, including Arches or Canyonlands, are federal records and must be requested through the NPS using the federal Freedom of Information Act process, not through Grand County offices under GRAMA.
Cities in Grand County
Grand County does not have any cities that meet the population threshold for a dedicated public records page. The county seat is Moab. All public records for Grand County residents and properties are handled through the county offices described on this page.
Nearby Counties
Grand County is in southeastern Utah. The links below go to public records pages for neighboring counties in the region.