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Harrison County Public Records

What Are Public Records in Harrison County?

Public records in Harrison County, West Virginia, are documents, files, and data created or maintained by government agencies in the course of official business and made available to members of the public under state law. Pursuant to W. Va. Code § 29B-1-2, a "public record" includes any writing containing information relating to the conduct of the public's business, prepared, owned, or retained by a public body. The Harrison County WV official portal provides access to county departments and their respective record holdings.

The following categories of records are currently maintained and available through various Harrison County offices:

  • Court records — civil, criminal, probate, and family court filings, maintained by the Harrison County Circuit Court Clerk and the Magistrate Court
  • Property records — deeds, mortgages, liens, and property assessments, maintained by the Harrison County Clerk and the Assessor's Office
  • Vital records — birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates, maintained by the Harrison County Clerk
  • Business records — business licenses, permits, and fictitious name registrations, maintained by the County Clerk
  • Tax records — property tax bills and assessment records, maintained by the Sheriff's Tax Office and the Assessor's Office
  • Voting and election records — voter registration data and election results, maintained by the Harrison County Clerk
  • Meeting minutes and agendas — Harrison County Commission meeting minutes, agendas, and resolutions, maintained by the County Commission office
  • Budget and financial documents — annual budgets, expenditure reports, and audit records, maintained by the County Commission
  • Law enforcement records — arrest logs and incident reports, available through the Harrison County Sheriff's Office where permitted by law
  • Land use and zoning records — zoning maps, permits, and variance applications, maintained by the Harrison County Planning Commission

Members of the public may access many of these records through the Harrison County Clerk's online records portal, which utilizes the CCLIX system to provide rapid access to land and property-related documents.

Is Harrison County an Open Records County?

Harrison County fully operates under West Virginia's open records framework, which mandates public access to government documents. Under W. Va. Code § 29B-1-3, every person has the right to inspect or copy any public record of a public body in the state, subject only to specific statutory exemptions. This statute establishes that all public records shall be available for inspection and copying during regular business hours, and that any denial of access must be made in writing with a stated legal basis.

West Virginia's Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), codified at W. Va. Code Chapter 29B, serves as the governing framework for public records access throughout the state, including Harrison County. Key provisions of the law include:

  • The presumption that all government records are open to the public unless a specific exemption applies
  • The requirement that public bodies respond to records requests promptly
  • The right of any person — regardless of residency — to submit a records request
  • The obligation of agencies to provide written denial notices citing the applicable exemption when access is refused

Harrison County agencies are currently required to comply with the West Virginia Sunshine Law as well, which governs open meetings of public bodies and ensures that meeting minutes and agendas are made available to the public.

How to Find Public Records in Harrison County in 2026

Members of the public may obtain Harrison County public records through several channels, depending on the record type sought. The following steps outline the standard process:

  1. Identify the custodial office — Determine which county agency maintains the record. Property and vital records are held by the County Clerk; court records are held by the Circuit Court Clerk or Magistrate Court; tax records are held by the Sheriff's Tax Office.
  2. Search online portals first — Many records are accessible without a formal request. The Harrison County Clerk's online records system provides searchable access to land records. Circuit court records may be searched through the West Virginia court record access portal, which covers all fifty-five counties statewide.
  3. Submit a written FOIA request — For records not available online, members of the public may submit a written request to the appropriate agency, identifying the record with reasonable specificity. Requests may be submitted in person, by mail, or by email where accepted.
  4. Visit the office in person — Members of the public may inspect records in person during regular business hours at the relevant county office without submitting a formal written request in many cases.
  5. Request certified copies — When official certified copies are required for legal purposes, requestors must submit a formal request and pay applicable fees.

For magistrate court case information, members of the public may use the West Virginia Magistrate Case Record Search or consult the Magistrate Record Search page maintained by the West Virginia Judiciary.

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

Standard fees apply to the reproduction and certification of public records in Harrison County, consistent with the fee schedule authorized under state law. Under W. Va. Code § 29B-1-3(5), agencies may charge reasonable fees for the actual cost of reproducing records, but may not charge for the time spent locating or reviewing records in most circumstances.

Current fees for common record types are as follows:

  • Photocopies — Generally $0.50 to $1.00 per page, depending on the office
  • Certified copies of vital records — $12.00 per certified copy for birth and death certificates issued through the County Clerk
  • Deed and land record copies — Fees vary; the County Clerk's office charges per page for document reproduction
  • Court record copies — Set by the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals; standard copy fees apply per page
  • Certification fees — An additional fee is charged per document for official certification

Accepted payment methods at Harrison County offices typically include cash, check, and money order. Some offices may accept credit or debit cards; members of the public are advised to confirm accepted payment methods with the specific office prior to visiting. Fee waivers may be available for indigent requestors or in cases where disclosure is determined to be in the public interest, at the discretion of the custodial agency.

Does Harrison County Have Free Public Records?

Free inspection of public records is available to members of the public under West Virginia law, which does not require payment simply to view records on-site. Several categories of records are also accessible at no cost through official online portals:

Fees apply only when physical copies or certified documents are requested. In-person inspection of records during regular business hours is provided at no charge at all principal county offices.

Who Can Request Public Records in Harrison County?

Any person may request public records in Harrison County, regardless of residency, citizenship, or stated purpose. West Virginia's Freedom of Information Act does not restrict access to state residents, and requestors are not required to provide identification or explain the reason for their request when seeking non-restricted records.

Specific eligibility provisions under current law include:

  • No residency requirement — Non-residents of West Virginia and Harrison County retain full rights to request public records
  • No identification requirement — Requestors are generally not required to present identification for standard public records requests
  • No purpose requirement — Agencies may not condition access on the requestor's stated reason for seeking records, except in limited circumstances involving sensitive record categories
  • Requesting your own records — Individuals seeking records pertaining to themselves, such as personal court filings or vital records, follow the same process as any other requestor, though additional verification may be required for certified vital records
  • Requesting records about others — Members of the public may request records about other individuals, subject to applicable exemptions protecting personal privacy

Certain record categories, such as sealed court files, juvenile records, and records containing protected personal information, impose additional access restrictions regardless of the requestor's identity.

What Records Are Confidential in Harrison County?

Not all government records in Harrison County are subject to public disclosure. West Virginia Code § 29B-1-4 enumerates specific categories of records exempt from mandatory disclosure under the state FOIA. The following record types are currently withheld from public access, in whole or in part:

  • Sealed court records — Records sealed by judicial order are not available for public inspection
  • Juvenile records — Records pertaining to minors involved in delinquency or abuse and neglect proceedings are confidential under state law
  • Ongoing investigation records — Law enforcement records related to active criminal investigations are exempt to the extent that disclosure would compromise 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 exemptions and the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)
  • Adoption records — Sealed by statute and accessible only through court order or specific statutory procedures
  • Child welfare and protective services records — Records maintained by child protective agencies are confidential under state and federal law
  • Personnel records — Employee records are exempt from disclosure, with limited exceptions for information such as job titles and compensation of public employees
  • Trade secrets and proprietary business information — Submitted to government agencies under confidentiality agreements or statutory protections
  • Security plans and critical infrastructure details — Documents relating to the security of public facilities and infrastructure are withheld in the interest of public safety

When an agency denies a records request based on an exemption, the denial must be issued in writing and must cite the specific statutory basis for withholding the record, consistent with the requirements of W. Va. Code § 29B-1-3.

Harrison County Recorder's Office: Contact Information and Hours

The Harrison County Clerk serves as the primary custodian of official county records, including land records, vital records, and election documents. The office is open to the public during regular business hours on weekdays.

Harrison County Clerk's Office 301 W. Main Street, Clarksburg, WV 26301 (304) 624-8610 Harrison County Clerk

Harrison County Circuit Court Clerk 301 W. Main Street, Clarksburg, WV 26301 (304) 624-8630 West Virginia Court Record Access

Harrison County Magistrate Court 301 W. Main Street, Clarksburg, WV 26301 (304) 624-8650 Magistrate Record Search — West Virginia Judiciary

Harrison County Assessor's Office 301 W. Main Street, Clarksburg, WV 26301 (304) 624-8510 Harrison County WV

Harrison County Sheriff's Tax Office 301 W. Main Street, Clarksburg, WV 26301 (304) 624-8685 Harrison County WV

Public counter hours for principal offices are generally Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., excluding state and federal holidays. Members of the public are advised to confirm current hours directly with each office prior to visiting, as hours may be subject to change.

Lookup Public Records in Harrison County