Pike County Public Records

What Are Public Records in Pike County?

Public records in Pike County are defined under the Kentucky Open Records Act as all documents, papers, maps, photographs, cards, tapes, discs, diskettes, recordings, and other documentary materials, regardless of physical form or characteristics, prepared, owned, used, or retained by a public agency. Under KRS § 61.870, any record created or maintained by a public agency in the course of its official duties is presumed to be open and accessible to the public unless a specific statutory exemption applies.

Members of the public may access a broad range of record types maintained by various Pike County offices:

Court records — Civil, criminal, probate, and family court records are maintained by the Pike County Circuit Court Clerk. The Kentucky Court of Justice provides statewide access to court record information, and county-specific case records are available through the Pike County Circuit Court Clerk.
Property records — Deeds, mortgages, liens, and related instruments are recorded and maintained by the Pike County Clerk's Office.
Vital records — Birth and death certificates are maintained by the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services, Vital Statistics Branch. Marriage licenses are issued and recorded by the Pike County Clerk. Divorce decrees are filed with the Circuit Court Clerk.
Business records — Fictitious name registrations, business licenses, and permits are maintained by the Pike County Clerk and the City of Pikeville.
Tax records — Property tax assessments and payment records are maintained by the Pike County Property Valuation Administrator (PVA) and the Pike County Sheriff's Office.
Voting and election records — Voter registration data and election results are maintained by the Pike County Clerk.
Meeting minutes and agendas — Records of Pike County Fiscal Court meetings, board proceedings, and public commission sessions are maintained by the County Clerk and individual agencies.
Budget and financial documents — Annual budgets, expenditure reports, and audit records are maintained by the Pike County Judge/Executive's Office.
Law enforcement records — Arrest logs and incident reports, where permitted by law, are maintained by the Pike County Sheriff's Office and the Pikeville Police Department.
Land use and zoning records — Zoning maps, permits, and land use decisions are maintained by the Pike County Planning Commission and the City of Pikeville.

Is Pike County an Open Records County?

Pike County fully operates under Kentucky's statewide open records framework, which mandates public access to government documents. Under KRS § 61.872, all public agencies in the Commonwealth, including those in Pike County, are required to permit inspection of public records during regular office hours and to provide copies upon request. The law establishes that the fundamental policy of the Commonwealth is that free and open examination of public records is in the public interest.

Key provisions of the Kentucky Open Records Act applicable to Pike County include:

Public agencies must respond to a written request for records within five business days of receipt.
Agencies may not require a requester to state the purpose of the request as a condition of access, except in limited circumstances involving records containing personal information.
Any denial of a records request must be accompanied by a written explanation citing the specific statutory exemption relied upon.

Pike County agencies are also subject to Kentucky's Open Meetings Act, codified at KRS § 61.805 et seq., which requires that deliberations and actions of public bodies be conducted openly. Members of the public who believe a Pike County agency has improperly denied a records request may appeal to the Kentucky Attorney General's Office, which has authority to review such denials and issue binding decisions.

How to Find Public Records in Pike County in 2026

Locating public records in Pike County involves identifying the appropriate custodial office and submitting a request through the proper channel. The following steps outline the standard process:

Identify the record type and custodial agency. Determine which office maintains the record sought — for example, court records are held by the Circuit Court Clerk, while property records are held by the County Clerk.
Submit a written request. Under KRS § 61.872, requests must be submitted in writing. Requests may be delivered in person, by mail, or by electronic means where accepted by the agency.
Use official request forms where available. The City of Pikeville provides a dedicated open records request form that may be hand-delivered, mailed, or submitted electronically to the designated records custodian.
Await agency response. The agency must respond within five business days, either providing the records, requesting additional time, or issuing a written denial with statutory justification.
Access court records online or in person. The Kentucky Court of Justice maintains an online portal for certain court record inquiries. In-person access to Pike County case records is available through the Circuit Court Clerk's office.
Appeal a denial if necessary. If a request is denied, the requester may appeal to the Kentucky Attorney General's Office within 30 days of the denial.

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

Current fees for public records in Pike County are governed by state statute and individual agency fee schedules. Under KRS § 61.874, public agencies may charge a reasonable fee for copies of public records, provided that such fees do not exceed the actual cost of reproduction.

Standard fees applicable to Pike County records requests include:

Paper copies: Agencies typically charge $0.10 per page for standard black-and-white copies, consistent with the fee schedule established by the Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives.
Certified copies: Certified copies of vital records, court documents, and recorded instruments carry higher fees set by the respective custodial office. Certified copies of deeds and other recorded instruments from the County Clerk's Office are generally subject to a per-page fee plus a certification charge.
Electronic records: Where records are provided in electronic format, agencies may charge for the actual cost of the medium used (e.g., a USB drive or CD), but may not charge a per-page fee for electronic transmission.
Court record copies: Fees for copies of court records are set by the Kentucky Court of Justice and vary by document type.

Accepted payment methods vary by office but generally include cash, check, and money order. Some offices may accept credit or debit card payments. Fee waivers may be available in limited circumstances, such as when the requester demonstrates that disclosure is in the public interest and that the requester lacks the financial means to pay.

Does Pike County Have Free Public Records?

Free inspection of public records is available in Pike County, as Kentucky law guarantees the right to inspect records without charge. Members of the public may inspect original records in person at the custodial agency's office during regular business hours at no cost; fees apply only when copies are requested.

The following free public records resources are currently available:

In-person inspection at the Pike County Clerk's Office, the Circuit Court Clerk's Office, and other county agencies during posted public counter hours.
Online court record searches through the Kentucky Court of Justice, which provides free access to certain case information and docket entries.
Pike County Circuit Court records may be searched at no cost through the Pike County court information page.
City of Pikeville records are accessible through the city's open records process; the City of Pikeville provides information on available records and the request process at no charge for inspection.

Who Can Request Public Records in Pike County?

Any person, regardless of residency, citizenship, or stated purpose, is entitled to request public records from Pike County agencies under the Kentucky Open Records Act. The Act does not restrict access based on the requester's identity or affiliation, and agencies may not require requesters to identify themselves or explain the reason for their request as a general condition of access.

Specific eligibility considerations include:

Residency: Non-residents of Pike County and Kentucky are equally entitled to request public records.
Identification: Agencies may not require identification as a precondition to accessing public records, though identification may be required for certain sensitive record types.
Purpose: Requesters are generally not required to state the purpose of their request. However, for records containing personal information, agencies may ask for the purpose in order to determine whether a statutory exemption applies.
Requesting your own records: Individuals requesting records pertaining to themselves may be entitled to access records that would otherwise be exempt from disclosure to third parties, such as certain personnel or medical records.
Restrictions for specific record types: Certain records, such as adoption records, juvenile court records, and sealed court files, are restricted regardless of the requester's identity and require a court order or other legal authorization for access.

What Records Are Confidential in Pike County?

Certain categories of records maintained by Pike County agencies are exempt from public disclosure under Kentucky law. KRS § 61.878 enumerates the specific exemptions to the Open Records Act and establishes the categories of records that public agencies may withhold from inspection.

Exempt and confidential record categories in Pike County include:

Sealed court records — Records sealed by judicial order are not accessible to the public.
Juvenile records — Records pertaining to juvenile court proceedings are confidential under Kentucky law.
Ongoing investigation records — Records compiled in the course of an active law enforcement investigation are exempt to the extent that disclosure would harm the investigation.
Personal identifying information — Social Security numbers, financial account data, and similar personally identifiable information are protected from disclosure.
Medical records — Records containing protected health information are exempt under both state law and the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).
Adoption records — Adoption proceedings and related records are sealed by statute.
Child welfare and protective services records — Records maintained by child protective services agencies are confidential.
Personnel records — Employee personnel files are generally exempt, with limited exceptions for records relating to public employees' official duties and compensation.
Trade secrets and proprietary business information — Confidential commercial or financial information submitted to a public agency is exempt from disclosure.
Security plans and infrastructure details — Records containing information that could compromise public safety or critical infrastructure security are withheld.

Where an agency withholds a record based on an exemption, it must provide a written explanation identifying the specific provision of KRS § 61.878 upon which the denial is based. Kentucky courts apply a balancing test in certain cases to weigh the public interest in disclosure against the privacy or security interests protected by the exemption.

Pike County Recorder's Office: Contact Information and Hours

The Pike County Clerk's Office serves as the primary repository for recorded documents, including deeds, mortgages, liens, marriage licenses, and other official instruments. The Circuit Court Clerk's Office maintains court records for all case types heard in Pike County.

Pike County Clerk's Office 146 Main Street, Suite 203, Pikeville, KY 41501 (606) 432-6211 Pike County Clerk

Public counter hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Pike County Circuit Court Clerk 172 Division Street, Pikeville, KY 41501 (606) 433-7550 Pike – Kentucky Court of Justice

Public counter hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

City of Pikeville – Open Records 118 College Street, Pikeville, KY 41501 (606) 437-5113 City of Pikeville Open Records Request

Open records requests must be hand-delivered, mailed, or submitted electronically using the city's official request form.

Kentucky Attorney General – Open Records Division 700 Capital Avenue, Suite 118, Frankfort, KY 40601 (502) 696-5300 Kentucky Attorney General Open Records Requests