Kewaunee County Public Records

How to Find Public Records in Kewaunee County in 2026

Members of the public seeking government documents in Kewaunee County, Wisconsin, may access a broad range of publicly available information through official county offices, state databases, and online portals. KewauneeRecords.us aggregates publicly available data that may relate to records maintained by Kewaunee County agencies, though completeness and currency of information may vary. The categories of records that members of the public may encounter include:

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

Records may be searched through official court resources, county clerk offices, public access terminals, and online tools maintained by state and county agencies.

Online Access: Members of the public may access many Kewaunee County records through the official Kewaunee County government portal, which provides access to forms, documents, tax information, ordinances, election data, and land records. Wisconsin circuit court records, including those filed in Kewaunee County, are searchable through the Wisconsin Court System case search tool, which covers the Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, and all circuit courts. No registration is required to conduct a basic case search.

In-Person Requests: Members of the public may visit the Kewaunee County Clerk's Office to inspect or request copies of county records. The office is located at 613 Dodge Street, Kewaunee, WI 54216. Standard business hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. Requestors should identify the specific record sought and the approximate date range when submitting an in-person request.

Written/Mail Requests: Written requests may be submitted by mail to the Kewaunee County Clerk's Office at 613 Dodge Street, Kewaunee, WI 54216. Requests should include the requestor's name, contact information, a description of the record sought, and the preferred format for response. Under Wis. Stat. § 19.35, custodians are required to respond to records requests as soon as practicable and without delay.

Phone/Email: The Kewaunee County Clerk's Office may be reached by telephone at (920) 388-7141. Email contact information is available through the county directory on the official county website.

What Are Public Records in Kewaunee County?

Public records in Kewaunee County are defined under Wisconsin's open records law as any material on which written, drawn, printed, spoken, visual, or electromagnetic information is recorded or preserved, regardless of physical form or characteristics, that has been created or is being kept by a government authority. Under Wis. Stat. § 19.32, a "record" includes any document, paper, letter, map, book, tape, photograph, film, or other documentary material.

The following record types are maintained by Kewaunee County offices:

Record Type	Maintaining Office
Court records (civil, criminal, probate, family)	Kewaunee County Circuit Court Clerk
Property deeds, mortgages, liens	Kewaunee County Register of Deeds
Vital records (birth, death, marriage)	Kewaunee County Clerk / Wisconsin Vital Records
Business licenses and permits	Kewaunee County Clerk
Property tax and assessment records	Kewaunee County Treasurer / Assessor
Voting and election records	Kewaunee County Clerk
Meeting minutes and agendas	Kewaunee County Clerk
Budget and financial documents	Kewaunee County Finance Office
Law enforcement records	Kewaunee County Sheriff / City of Kewaunee Police
Land use and zoning records	Kewaunee County Planning and Zoning

The Wisconsin State Law Library's Kewaunee County legal resources page provides additional guidance on locating criminal background and arrest records from civil and municipal court proceedings.

Is Kewaunee County an Open Records County?

Kewaunee County fully complies with Wisconsin's statewide open records law, which establishes a presumption of public access to government records. Under Wis. Stat. § 19.31, the legislature declares that "the public is entitled to the greatest possible information regarding the affairs of government and the official acts of those officers and employees who represent them." This declaration establishes the foundational principle that all government records are presumed open unless a specific statutory exemption applies.

The Wisconsin Department of Justice, which oversees open records compliance statewide, states that "the legal custodian of a record has a duty to provide access to records unless there is a clear statutory basis for withholding them." The Wisconsin Department of Justice publishes open records guidance and handles complaints related to records access denials. Kewaunee County does not maintain a separate county-level open records ordinance that supersedes state law; the Wisconsin Open Records Law governs all public records requests submitted to county offices.

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

The fee structure for public records in Kewaunee County is governed by state law and the policies of the individual custodial office. Standard fees that members of the public may encounter include:

Paper copies: $0.25 per page (standard rate for black-and-white copies)
Certified copies of vital records: $20.00 per certified copy (birth, death, marriage certificates issued by the Wisconsin Vital Records Office)
Certified copies of recorded documents: Fees set by the Register of Deeds, typically $1.00–$2.00 per page plus a certification fee
Electronic records: Fees may apply for the cost of reproduction; inspection of electronic records is not subject to a per-page fee
Search fees: Permitted only when a search requires substantial time; the custodian must notify the requestor in advance

Under Wisconsin law, the fee charged for copies may not exceed the actual, necessary, and direct cost of reproduction. Inspection of records in person does not carry a fee. Accepted payment methods at county offices include cash, check, and money order; individual offices may also accept credit or debit cards. Fee waivers are not broadly mandated by state statute, though custodians retain discretion to reduce or waive fees in appropriate circumstances.

Does Kewaunee County Have Free Public Records?

Free inspection of public records is available to any member of the public at the offices of the relevant custodian during regular business hours. Wisconsin law requires that records custodians permit inspection without charge; fees apply only when copies are requested. The following resources provide free access to Kewaunee County records:

The Kewaunee County government website provides free online access to ordinances, meeting minutes, agendas, tax information, election results, and land records without requiring registration or payment.
The Wisconsin Court System case search portal allows free online searching of circuit court case records, including those from Kewaunee County Circuit Court.
Public access terminals are available at the Kewaunee County Courthouse for in-person inspection of recorded land documents and court filings at no charge.
The Wisconsin Vital Records Office provides free access to death records that are more than 50 years old through the Wisconsin Historical Society.

The distinction between free inspection and free copies is significant: members of the public may view records at no cost, but obtaining physical or electronic copies is subject to the fee schedule described above.

Who Can Request Public Records in Kewaunee County?

Any person may request public records in Kewaunee County, regardless of residency, citizenship, or stated purpose. Wisconsin's open records law does not restrict access to residents of the state, and non-residents retain the same rights as Wisconsin residents to inspect and copy government records. Requestors are not required to provide identification or explain the reason for their request when seeking records that are presumed open under state law.

Specific restrictions apply to certain record categories. Juvenile court records, sealed court files, and records containing protected personal information require the requestor to demonstrate a legal basis for access, such as being a party to the proceeding or holding a court order. Individuals requesting their own records—such as personal criminal history or vital records—may be required to provide proof of identity to verify their entitlement to the specific document. Third-party requests for records containing another individual's personal information are subject to the balancing test described under Wisconsin's exemptions framework.

Law enforcement records, including incident reports and arrest logs, are accessible to the public through the Kewaunee Police Department and the Kewaunee County Sheriff's Office, subject to applicable exemptions for ongoing investigations or protected personal data.

What Records Are Confidential in Kewaunee County?

Certain categories of records are exempt from public disclosure under Wisconsin law. The following records are withheld from public access in Kewaunee County:

Sealed court records: Records sealed by court order are not accessible to the general public.
Juvenile records: Records relating to juvenile court proceedings are confidential under Wisconsin statutes.
Ongoing investigation records: Law enforcement records compiled as part of an active criminal investigation 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 publicly released documents.
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: Confidential under Wisconsin child welfare statutes.
Personnel records: Employee records are exempt from disclosure except for information relating to the employee's name, position, and compensation.
Trade secrets and proprietary business information: Exempt when disclosure would harm a competitive business interest.
Security plans and critical infrastructure details: Withheld to protect public safety.

Wisconsin law requires custodians to apply a balancing test when determining whether to withhold records: the public interest in disclosure must be weighed against the harm that disclosure would cause. The Wisconsin State Law Library provides legal research assistance to members of the public seeking to understand the scope of applicable exemptions.

Kewaunee County Recorder's Office: Contact Information and Hours

Kewaunee County Register of Deeds
613 Dodge Street, Kewaunee, WI 54216
Phone: (920) 388-7131
Kewaunee County Register of Deeds

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

Kewaunee County Clerk's Office
613 Dodge Street, Kewaunee, WI 54216
Phone: (920) 388-7141
Kewaunee County Clerk

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

Kewaunee County Circuit Court Clerk
613 Dodge Street, Kewaunee, WI 54216
Phone: (920) 388-7149
Wisconsin Court System case search