Dane County Public Records
What Are Public Records in Dane County?
Public records in Dane County are defined according to Wisconsin's Public Records Law § 19.31-19.39, which establishes that "all persons are entitled to the greatest possible information regarding the affairs of government and the official acts of those officers and employees who represent them." Under this statute, public records include any material on which written, drawn, printed, spoken, visual, or electromagnetic information or data is recorded or preserved, regardless of physical form or characteristics, which has been created or is being kept by an authority.
Dane County maintains numerous types of public records, including:
- Court records (civil, criminal, probate, family)
- Property records (deeds, mortgages, liens, assessments)
- Vital records (birth, death, marriage, divorce certificates)
- Business records (licenses, permits, fictitious names)
- Tax records (property tax, assessment records)
- Voting and election records
- Meeting minutes and agendas (county board, committees)
- Budget and financial documents
- Law enforcement records (arrest logs, incident reports - where allowed)
- Land use and zoning records
The Dane County public records portal serves as the primary gateway for accessing many of these records. Different departments maintain specific record types:
- The Dane County Clerk of Courts maintains court records
- The Register of Deeds maintains property and vital records
- The County Clerk maintains voting records, meeting minutes, and ordinances
- The Sheriff's Office maintains law enforcement records
- The Planning and Development Department maintains land use records
Pursuant to Wisconsin Statute § 19.35(1)(a), any requester has a right to inspect any record except as otherwise provided by law. Inspection shall be permitted at reasonable times during normal office hours and under supervision by the legal custodian of the records.
Is Dane County an Open Records County?
Dane County fully adheres to Wisconsin's Public Records Law, making it an open records county. Under Wisconsin Statute § 19.31, the legislature has declared that providing citizens with information on the affairs of government is "an essential function of a representative government and an integral part of the routine duties of officers and employees whose responsibility it is to provide such information."
The statute further states: "To that end, ss. 19.32 to 19.37 shall be construed in every instance with a presumption of complete public access, consistent with the conduct of governmental business. The denial of public access generally is contrary to the public interest, and only in an exceptional case may access be denied."
Dane County has implemented this state mandate through its own public records policy, which affirms that Dane County records are presumed to be open for inspection and copying. Each elected official and County Department is responsible for providing the public with access to records in their custody.
The Wisconsin Attorney General has published a Public Records Law Compliance Guide that further clarifies the obligations of government entities, including counties like Dane, to provide access to public records.
How to Find Public Records in Dane County in 2026
Members of the public seeking records in Dane County may utilize several methods to locate and obtain the information they need:
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Online Access: Many records are available through Access Dane, the county's comprehensive online portal. This resource provides access to property records, tax information, and other frequently requested documents.
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Submit a Records Request Form: For records not available online, individuals may submit a public records request form to the appropriate department. Requests should be as specific as possible to facilitate prompt processing.
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Visit in Person: Records may be inspected in person at the appropriate county office during normal business hours. The legal custodian of the records will provide supervision during inspection.
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Court Records: The Wisconsin Court System provides online access to court records through the Circuit Court Access Program (CCAP). Additionally, the Dane County Clerk of Courts maintains records dating back to approximately 1984.
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Property Records: The Register of Deeds offers an online real estate record search for property transactions, as well as a land records search through Access Dane.
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Vital Records: Birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates can be requested through the Register of Deeds vital records division or the Wisconsin Department of Health Services.
When making a request, individuals should include their name, contact information, and a clear description of the records sought. Pursuant to Wisconsin Statute § 19.35(4)(a), most record requests must receive a response "as soon as practicable and without delay."
How Much Does It Cost to Get Public Records in Dane County?
Dane County follows the fee structure guidelines established in Wisconsin Statute § 19.35(3), which permits authorities to charge only the "actual, necessary and direct cost" of reproduction and transcription of records, unless a fee is otherwise specifically established by law.
Current standard fees for public records in Dane County include:
- Photocopies: $0.25 per page for standard letter/legal size
- Large format copies (maps, plans): $2.00-$5.00 per page depending on size
- Electronic records: Actual cost of reproduction (CD/DVD/flash drive)
- Staff time: Fees may be charged for location costs if exceeding $50.00 (approximately 1 hour of staff time)
- Certified copies of vital records: $20.00 for the first copy, $3.00 for each additional copy of the same record requested at the same time
The following payment methods are currently accepted:
- Cash (in-person requests only)
- Check or money order
- Credit/debit cards (for certain departments and online services)
Pursuant to Wisconsin Statute § 19.35(3)(f), an authority may require prepayment of any fee if the total amount exceeds $5.00. Requesters should note that fees may vary by department and record type. The Dane County Register of Deeds and Clerk of Courts maintain specific fee schedules for their specialized records.
Does Dane County Have Free Public Records?
Dane County provides free access to certain public records in accordance with Wisconsin's Public Records Law. Under Wisconsin Statute § 19.35(1), any requester has the right to inspect a record free of charge during normal business hours. The law only permits charging for copies, not for inspection.
Free public records resources in Dane County include:
- In-person inspection of physical records at the appropriate county office
- Access Dane - the county's online portal providing free access to property information, tax data, and GIS mapping
- Wisconsin Circuit Court Access (CCAP) - free online access to court records
- County Board meeting agendas and minutes available on the county website
- Budget documents and financial reports published online
The Dane County Register of Deeds office allows free in-person viewing of most records in their custody. As stated on their website, "Most records are available for viewing in our office free of charge."
Additionally, many departments provide certain information free of charge on their websites, though fees may apply for certified copies, extensive searches, or large document reproduction.
Who Can Request Public Records in Dane County?
Under Wisconsin's Public Records Law § 19.35(1)(a), "any requester has a right to inspect any record." The term "requester" is defined in § 19.32(3) as "any person who requests inspection or copies of a record," except that it specifically excludes committed or incarcerated persons, unless the requested record pertains to that person's conviction, contains specific references to that person, or the record concerns the conditions of the person's confinement.
Key points regarding eligibility to request public records in Dane County:
- Wisconsin residency is not required to request public records
- Requesters do not need to provide identification for most record requests
- Requesters generally do not need to state the purpose of their request
- Anonymous requests are permitted, though providing contact information facilitates processing
- Requests may be made in person, by mail, email, or fax
Certain record types do have specific eligibility restrictions:
- Vital records (birth, death, marriage certificates) require the requester to have a "direct and tangible interest" in the record, as defined in Wisconsin Statute § 69.20
- Confidential law enforcement records may be restricted to specific parties
- Medical records are subject to HIPAA regulations and state privacy laws
- Juvenile records have special confidentiality protections
When requesting records about oneself versus records about others, different standards may apply, particularly for records containing personally identifiable information.
What Records Are Confidential in Dane County?
While Wisconsin's Public Records Law presumes that all government records are open to public inspection, Wisconsin Statute § 19.36 and various other state and federal laws establish specific exemptions. The following records are generally confidential in Dane County:
- Sealed court records and expunged records
- Juvenile records (with limited exceptions)
- Records related to ongoing law enforcement investigations
- Personal identifying information (Social Security numbers, financial account numbers)
- Medical and mental health records (protected by HIPAA and state law)
- Adoption records
- Child welfare and protective services records
- Personnel records (though certain information remains public)
- Trade secrets and proprietary business information
- Critical infrastructure and security plans
- Records where the public interest in nondisclosure outweighs the public interest in disclosure
Wisconsin law requires authorities 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 nondisclosure, as established in Woznicki v. Erickson and subsequent court decisions.
Records custodians must specifically cite the applicable exemption when denying access to records. Pursuant to Wisconsin Statute § 19.35(4)(b), a denial of a written request must be in writing and must inform the requester that the denial is subject to review by mandamus or upon application to the attorney general or district attorney.
Dane County Recorder's Office: Contact Information and Hours
Dane County Register of Deeds
City-County Building, Room 110
210 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
Madison, WI 53703
(608) 266-4141
Dane County Register of Deeds
Hours of Operation: Monday through Friday: 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM Closed on weekends and county-observed holidays
Dane County Clerk of Courts
Dane County Courthouse
215 S. Hamilton St., Room 1000
Madison, WI 53703
(608) 266-4311
Dane County Clerk of Courts
Hours of Operation: Monday through Friday: 7:45 AM to 4:30 PM Closed on weekends and county-observed holidays
Dane County Clerk
City-County Building, Room 106A
210 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
Madison, WI 53703
(608) 266-4121
Dane County Clerk
Hours of Operation: Monday through Friday: 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM Closed on weekends and county-observed holidays
Lookup Public Records in Dane County
Public Record Requests in Dane County
Court Records from the Dane County Clerk of Courts
Wisconsin Court System Case Search
County Clerk Records Request Form
Access Dane - County Information Portal
Online Real Estate Record Search