Howard County Public Records

What Are Public Records in Howard County?

Public records in Howard County, Indiana, are defined under Indiana Code § 5-14-3-2 as any writing, paper, report, study, map, photograph, book, tape, recording, or other material that is created, received, retained, maintained, or filed by or with a public agency. Members of the public may inspect a broad range of documents maintained by county offices, courts, and administrative bodies.

The following categories of records are currently available through various Howard County agencies:

Court records — civil, criminal, probate, and family court filings maintained by the Howard County Courts
Property records — deeds, mortgages, liens, and property assessments maintained by the Howard County Recorder and Assessor
Vital records — birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates maintained by the Howard County Health Department and Clerk of Courts
Business records — licenses, permits, and fictitious name registrations maintained by the County Clerk and relevant municipal offices
Tax records — property tax bills and assessment records maintained by the Howard County Auditor and Treasurer
Voting and election records — voter registration data and election results maintained by the Howard County Election Board
Meeting minutes and agendas — county commission and board meeting documents maintained by the County Auditor
Budget and financial documents — annual budgets and expenditure reports maintained by the Howard County Auditor
Law enforcement records — arrest logs and incident reports, where permitted by law, maintained by the Howard County Sheriff's Office
Land use and zoning records — zoning maps, permits, and variance applications maintained by the Howard County Plan Commission

The Howard County Recorder serves as the primary custodian of real property documents, while the Howard County Clerk of Courts maintains judicial filings and vital records related to court proceedings.

Is Howard County an Open Records County?

Howard County fully complies with Indiana's statewide open records framework, which governs public access to government documents. Under Indiana Code § 5-14-3-3, any person may inspect and copy the public records of any public agency during regular business hours. This statute establishes a strong presumption in favor of disclosure, placing the burden on the agency to demonstrate that a record qualifies for an exemption rather than on the requester to justify access.

Key provisions of Indiana's Access to Public Records Act (APRA) currently in effect include:

Public agencies must respond to a request for inspection or copies within 24 hours if the request is made in person or by telephone, or within 7 days if submitted in writing
Agencies may not require a requester to state the purpose of the request as a condition of access
Each public agency is required to designate an official records custodian responsible for processing requests

Howard County does not maintain a separate county-level open records ordinance; all access rights and procedures are governed by Indiana state law. The county's compliance with Indiana's "sunshine laws" extends to public meetings, which are subject to the Indiana Open Door Law under Indiana Code § 5-14-1.5, requiring that deliberations and actions of public agencies be conducted openly.

How to Find Public Records in Howard County in 2026

Members of the public may obtain Howard County records through several channels, depending on the record type and the maintaining agency.

In-Person Requests Individuals may visit the relevant county office during public counter hours and request to inspect or obtain copies of records. Staff at each office are available to assist in identifying the appropriate documents.

Written or Email Requests Requesters may submit a written request addressed to the designated public records custodian of the relevant agency. Requests should identify the record sought with reasonable particularity, including relevant dates, names, or document types.

Online Access The Howard County Recorder's Office provides an online records search portal through which members of the public may search and retrieve recorded land documents without visiting a physical office. Court records may be accessed statewide through MyCase Indiana Courts Case Search, the official public access portal of the Indiana Supreme Court.

Law Enforcement Records Requests for incident reports, arrest logs, and related documents should be directed to the Howard County Sheriff's Office, which maintains a dedicated public records request process on its official website.

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

Standard fees apply to the reproduction of public records in Howard County, consistent with the fee schedule authorized under Indiana state law. Under Indiana Code § 5-14-3-8, public agencies may charge fees for copies, provided such fees do not exceed the actual cost of reproduction.

Current standard fees include:

Paper copies — typically $0.10 per page for standard black-and-white reproductions, though individual offices may set rates reflecting actual costs
Certified copies — fees vary by record type; certified copies of recorded documents through the Recorder's Office are subject to a per-page certification fee
Electronic copies — where available, electronic records may be provided at no charge or at a reduced rate reflecting the cost of the electronic medium used
Recorder document recording fees — recording fees for instruments submitted to the Howard County Recorder are set by Indiana statute and vary by document type and page count

Accepted payment methods at county offices generally include cash, check, and money order; individual offices may also accept credit or debit cards. Fee waivers are not broadly available under Indiana law, though agencies retain discretion to waive fees in limited circumstances, such as when the requester is a governmental entity or when disclosure serves a demonstrable public interest.

Does Howard County Have Free Public Records?

Free inspection of public records is available to any person under Indiana law, which requires public agencies to permit in-person inspection of non-exempt records at no charge during regular business hours. Fees apply only when copies are requested.

The following free access resources are currently available:

In-person inspection at any Howard County office during public counter hours, at no cost
Howard County Recorder's online records search — the Howard County online records portal allows members of the public to search recorded land documents at no charge
MyCase Indiana — the Indiana Courts Case Search system provides free public access to court case information statewide, including Howard County civil, criminal, and probate matters
Howard County Sheriff's Office — basic public records information is accessible through the Sheriff's Office website without charge

Who Can Request Public Records in Howard County?

Any person may request public records from Howard County agencies under Indiana's Access to Public Records Act. The statute does not restrict access based on residency, citizenship, or organizational affiliation.

Specifically, under current Indiana law:

Residency is not required — non-residents of Howard County and Indiana retain the same access rights as county residents
Identification is generally not required — agencies may not condition access on the requester providing personal identification, except in limited circumstances involving records that contain sensitive personal information
Purpose need not be stated — requesters are not obligated to explain why they are seeking a record as a condition of access
Requesting one's own records — individuals seeking records pertaining to themselves, such as criminal history or personal court filings, follow the same general process, though certain records (such as sealed files) remain restricted regardless of the subject's identity
Restrictions for specific record types — certain categories of records, including juvenile court records, adoption files, and law enforcement investigative materials, are subject to access restrictions that apply to all requesters

What Records Are Confidential in Howard County?

Indiana law identifies specific categories of records that are exempt from public disclosure. Under Indiana Code § 5-14-3-4, the following types of records are currently confidential or restricted from general public access:

Sealed court records — records sealed by judicial order are not available for public inspection
Juvenile records — records pertaining to juvenile court proceedings are confidential under Indiana law
Ongoing investigation records — law enforcement investigative records compiled as part of an active investigation are exempt from disclosure
Personal identifying information — Social Security numbers, financial account data, and similar identifiers are redacted or withheld
Medical records — protected under both Indiana law and the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)
Adoption records — adoption files are sealed and accessible only under specific statutory conditions
Child welfare and protective services records — records of the Indiana Department of Child Services are confidential
Personnel records — employee personnel files are generally exempt, with limited exceptions for certain public employees
Trade secrets and proprietary business information — submitted to agencies in confidence and protected from disclosure
Security plans and infrastructure details — records relating to the security of public facilities or critical infrastructure are withheld in the interest of public safety
Veterans' military discharge records — as noted by the Howard County Recorder, DD-214 military discharge records are specifically protected from public inspection under Indiana law, distinguishing them from other recorded documents

Where a record contains both disclosable and exempt information, agencies are required to redact the exempt portions and provide access to the remainder.

Howard County Recorder's Office: Contact Information and Hours

The Howard County Recorder's Office serves as the official repository for real property records, including deeds, mortgages, liens, and other instruments affecting title to land in Howard County.

Howard County Recorder's Office 220 N. Main Street, Room 226, Kokomo, IN 46901 (765) 456-2204 Howard County Recorder

Public counter hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., excluding state and federal holidays.

Howard County Courts Howard County Courthouse, 104 N. Buckeye Street, Kokomo, IN 46901 (765) 456-2204 Howard County Courts — Indiana Judicial Branch

Howard County Sheriff's Office 120 E. Mulberry Street, Kokomo, IN 46901 (765) 456-2020 Howard County Sheriff's Office