Sheboygan County Public Records
What Are Public Records in Sheboygan County?
Public records in Sheboygan County are defined under Wisconsin Statute § 19.32(2) as "any material on which written, drawn, printed, spoken, visual, or electromagnetic information or electronically generated or stored data is recorded or preserved, regardless of physical form or characteristics, that has been created or is being kept by an authority." These records document government activities and are maintained by various county and municipal offices throughout Sheboygan County.
Sheboygan County maintains numerous types of public records, including:
- Court Records: Civil, criminal, probate, family court proceedings maintained by the Sheboygan County Clerk of Circuit Court
- Property Records: Deeds, mortgages, liens, assessments, and property transfers maintained by the Register of Deeds
- Vital Records: Birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates maintained by the Register of Deeds
- Business Records: Licenses, permits, and fictitious business names filed with the County Clerk
- Tax Records: Property tax information, assessment records, and tax payment history maintained by the Treasurer's Office
- Voting and Election Records: Voter registration, election results, and campaign finance reports maintained by the County Clerk
- Meeting Minutes and Agendas: Records of county commission meetings, board proceedings, and committee meetings
- Budget and Financial Documents: County expenditures, financial reports, and budget documents
- Law Enforcement Records: Arrest logs, incident reports (with certain restrictions), and jail records
- Land Use and Zoning Records: Building permits, zoning applications, and land use plans
The Sheboygan County Clerk's Office serves as the primary custodian for many county records, while specialized departments maintain records specific to their functions. The City of Sheboygan Clerk's Office maintains municipal records for the city itself.
Is Sheboygan County an Open Records County?
Sheboygan County fully adheres to Wisconsin's open records laws. Under the Wisconsin Public Records Law § 19.31-19.39, all records created or maintained by government authorities are presumed to be accessible to the public unless specifically exempted by statute.
The Wisconsin Public Records Law explicitly states in § 19.31 that providing citizens with the "greatest possible information regarding the affairs of government and the official acts of those officers and employees who represent them" is an "essential function of a representative government and an integral part of the routine duties of officers and employees."
Sheboygan County has implemented policies to ensure compliance with these state requirements. The county follows the Wisconsin Department of Justice Public Records compliance guidelines, which provide direction on proper records management and disclosure procedures.
County departments are required to respond to records requests "as soon as practicable and without delay" as mandated by § 19.35(4)(a) of the Wisconsin Statutes. Each department designates a records custodian responsible for processing requests and ensuring compliance with state law.
How to Find Public Records in Sheboygan County in 2026
Members of the public seeking records in Sheboygan County may follow these steps to obtain the information they need:
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Identify the appropriate department that maintains the desired records:
- For court records, contact the Clerk of Circuit Court
- For property records, contact the Register of Deeds
- For vital records, contact the Register of Deeds
- For county board records, contact the County Clerk
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Submit a records request to the appropriate department:
- In person at the department's office
- By mail to the department's address
- By email to the designated records custodian
- Through the department's online request portal, if available
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Complete any required forms:
- The Town of Sheboygan offers a records request form for municipal records
- The City of Sheboygan has a similar process for city records
- County departments may have specific forms for their records
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Provide sufficient detail to identify the records being requested:
- Include names, dates, case numbers, or property information when applicable
- Specify the format desired (paper copies, electronic files, inspection only)
- Include contact information for follow-up questions
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Pay any applicable fees as determined by the records custodian
For court records, the Wisconsin Circuit Court Access portal (WCCA) provides online access to many court records at wicourts.gov.
Property records can be searched through the Sheboygan County Land Records portal maintained by the Register of Deeds.
For law enforcement records, requestors should contact the specific agency that created the record, such as the Sheboygan County Sheriff's Department or local police departments. The Wisconsin State Patrol maintains a separate process for state patrol records.
How Much Does It Cost to Get Public Records in Sheboygan County?
Sheboygan County charges fees for public records in accordance with Wisconsin Statute § 19.35(3), which permits agencies to charge "the actual, necessary and direct cost" of reproduction and transcription of records.
Current standard fees for public records in Sheboygan County include:
- Photocopies: $0.25 per page for standard black and white copies
- Color copies: $0.50 per page
- Large format documents (maps, plans): Actual cost of reproduction
- Electronic records: Actual cost of reproduction media (CD, DVD, flash drive)
- Staff time: Fees may be charged for extensive searches requiring more than 30 minutes of staff time
- Certified copies of vital records: $20 for the first copy, $3 for each additional copy of the same record ordered at the same time
Payment methods accepted by most county offices include:
- Cash (in-person requests only)
- Personal checks
- Money orders
- Credit cards (in some departments)
The Wisconsin Public Records Law allows for fee waivers or reductions when the custodian determines that waiver or reduction is in the public interest. Requestors may ask for a fee waiver when submitting their request, particularly for requests related to matters of public interest or submitted by news media.
No fees may be charged for the inspection of records unless reproduction is requested or if records must be reproduced to allow for redaction of confidential information.
Does Sheboygan County Have Free Public Records?
Sheboygan County provides free access to certain public records as required by Wisconsin law. Under Wisconsin Statute § 19.35(1), any requester has the right to inspect any record during the regular business hours of the custodian's office.
Free public records services in Sheboygan County include:
- In-person inspection of records during regular business hours (no fee may be charged)
- Online access to certain records through county websites
- Basic record searches that do not require extensive staff time
- County Board meeting minutes and agendas available on the county website
- Budget documents and financial reports published online
- Election results and voter information available through the County Clerk's website
The Sheboygan County website provides free access to:
- County Board meeting agendas and minutes
- County ordinances and regulations
- Budget documents and financial reports
- Property assessment information through the Land Records portal
- Public notices and announcements
The Wisconsin Circuit Court Access (WCCA) website provides free access to court records from Sheboygan County Circuit Court.
The Sheboygan County Register of Deeds offers limited online search capabilities for property records, though obtaining certified copies or detailed documents may incur fees.
Who Can Request Public Records in Sheboygan County?
Under Wisconsin's Public Records Law, any person may request access to public records maintained by Sheboygan County. According to Wisconsin Statute § 19.35(1)(a), "any requester has a right to inspect any record."
Key eligibility information for records requestors:
- Wisconsin residency is not required to request public records
- Requestors do not need to provide identification for most record requests
- Requestors are not required to state the purpose of their request or intended use of the records
- Requestors may remain anonymous for most record requests, though providing contact information facilitates communication about the request
Exceptions to these general rules include:
- Vital records (birth, death, marriage certificates) require the requestor to have a "direct and tangible interest" in the record or meet specific relationship criteria
- Certain law enforcement records may have restricted access
- Requestors seeking their own confidential records may need to verify their identity
- Certain property records may require identification to prevent fraud
Government agencies, businesses, media organizations, and individuals all have equal rights to access public records under Wisconsin law. The identity of the requestor may only be considered when the requested records are subject to a balancing test where public interest in disclosure is weighed against public interest in nondisclosure.
What Records Are Confidential in Sheboygan County?
While Wisconsin's Public Records Law presumes that government records are open to public inspection, Wisconsin Statute § 19.36 and other statutes exempt certain records from disclosure. Sheboygan County maintains the following types of confidential records that are not available for public inspection:
- Records related to ongoing law enforcement investigations
- Juvenile court records (with limited exceptions)
- Child welfare and protective services records
- Mental health commitment records
- Certain healthcare records protected under HIPAA
- Records containing personally identifiable information, including:
- Social Security numbers
- Driver's license numbers
- Financial account information
- Medical information
- Personnel records containing employee evaluations or disciplinary information
- Records subject to attorney-client privilege
- Computer programs and trade secrets
- Preliminary drafts, notes, and communications prior to decision-making
- Sealed court records and expunged criminal records
- Confidential informant information
- Critical infrastructure and security information
- Competitive or proprietary information that would provide advantage to competitors
When a record contains both confidential and public information, the record custodian will redact the confidential information and release the remainder of the record.
Wisconsin law requires records custodians to perform a "balancing test" when determining whether to release certain records. This test weighs the public interest in disclosure against the public interest in keeping information confidential. The Wisconsin Department of Justice provides guidance to records custodians on applying this balancing test appropriately.
Sheboygan County Recorder's Office: Contact Information and Hours
Sheboygan County Register of Deeds
508 New York Avenue, Room 128
Sheboygan, WI 53081
(920) 459-3023
Sheboygan County Register of Deeds
Office Hours:
Monday through Friday: 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Closed on weekends and county-observed holidays
Sheboygan County Clerk of Circuit Court
615 North 6th Street
Sheboygan, WI 53081
(920) 459-3068
Sheboygan County Clerk of Circuit Court
Office Hours:
Monday through Friday: 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Closed on weekends and county-observed holidays
Sheboygan County Clerk
508 New York Avenue, Room 120
Sheboygan, WI 53081
(920) 459-3003
Sheboygan County Clerk
Office Hours:
Monday through Friday: 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Closed on weekends and county-observed holidays
City of Sheboygan Clerk's Office
City Hall, 828 Center Avenue
Sheboygan, WI 53081
(920) 459-3361
City of Sheboygan Clerk
Office Hours:
Monday through Friday: 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM
Closed on weekends and city-observed holidays
Lookup Public Records in Sheboygan County
Town of Sheboygan Records Request