Davison County Public Records
How to Find Public Records in Davison County in 2026
DavisonRecords.us provides publicly available information and data related to public records maintained by government agencies in Davison County, South Dakota. Members of the public seeking official documentation may find references to a range of record categories, including court filings, property documents, vital records, law enforcement logs, and county commission materials. The information presented reflects what is accessible through government custodians and official channels; completeness and availability may vary depending on the record type, the custodian agency, and applicable legal restrictions.
Records in Davison County may be searched through official court resources, clerk offices, public access terminals, and online tools maintained by state and county agencies.
Online Access:
The South Dakota Unified Judicial System provides several digital tools for accessing court-related records. The Public Access Record System (PARS) allows members of the public to search docket entries in criminal cases, domestic protection orders, and stalking protection matters without charge. The court records search portal supports case lookups for filings from 1989 onward. No registration is required to use the public search tools, though certain case types may be restricted from online display.
In-Person Requests:
Members of the public may inspect records in person at the Davison County Clerk of Courts office, located at 200 East 4th Avenue, Mitchell, SD 57301. Office hours are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Requestors should identify the case number or party name when possible to facilitate retrieval.
Written/Mail Requests:
Written requests may be submitted to the Clerk of Courts at the same mailing address: 200 East 4th Avenue, Mitchell, SD 57301-0927. Requests should include the full name of the party, the approximate date of the record, the case type, and the requestor's contact information. Under South Dakota Codified Laws § 1-27-1.1, agencies are required to respond to public records requests in a reasonable and timely manner.
Phone/Email:
The Davison County Clerk of Courts may be reached by telephone at (605) 995-8165 during regular business hours.
What Are Public Records in Davison County?
Public records in Davison County are documents, data, and other recorded information created or received by government agencies in the course of official business and maintained for public inspection under state law. Under South Dakota Codified Laws § 1-27-1, all government records are presumed open to public inspection unless a specific statutory exemption applies.
The following record types are maintained by county and state agencies:
- Court records — civil, criminal, probate, and family court filings maintained by the Davison County Clerk of Courts and searchable through the South Dakota court records access portal
- Property records — deeds, mortgages, liens, and assessments maintained by the Davison County Register of Deeds and Assessor's Office
- Vital records — birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates maintained by the South Dakota Department of Health; the Davison County Public Health Nursing office serves as a local point of contact
- Business records — licenses, permits, and fictitious business name registrations maintained by the county auditor and the South Dakota Secretary of State
- Tax records — property tax assessments and payment records maintained by the Davison County Treasurer
- Voting and election records — voter registration data and election results maintained by the Davison County Auditor
- Meeting minutes and agendas — county commission and board records maintained by the county auditor
- Budget and financial documents — annual budgets and expenditure reports maintained by the county auditor
- Law enforcement records — arrest logs and incident reports, subject to applicable exemptions, maintained by the Davison County Sheriff's Office
- Land use and zoning records — maintained by the Davison County Planning and Zoning Department
- Child support records — the South Dakota Division of Child Support maintains enforcement and payment records for court-ordered support obligations
Is Davison County an Open Records County?
Davison County operates in full compliance with South Dakota's open records laws, which establish a broad presumption of public access to government documents. Under South Dakota Codified Laws § 1-27-1, all records maintained by state and local government entities are open to inspection by any person during regular business hours unless a specific statutory exemption applies.
As stated in the South Dakota open records statute, "all records of public bodies and public officials of this state are public records and are open for inspection by any person." This provision applies to county-level agencies in Davison County, including the clerk of courts, auditor, register of deeds, treasurer, and sheriff.
The South Dakota Unified Judicial System further affirms that court records are accessible to the public through multiple channels, including in-person inspection and online search tools. Davison County does not maintain a separate county-level open records ordinance; the state statute governs all public records requests submitted to county offices.
South Dakota's open records framework is complemented by the state's open meetings law, codified at SDCL § 1-25-1, which requires that meetings of public bodies be open to the public and that agendas and minutes be made available for inspection.
How Much Does It Cost to Get Public Records in Davison County?
The cost to obtain public records in Davison County varies by record type and the office maintaining the record. Standard fees applicable to most county offices are as follows:
| Record Type | Standard Fee |
|---|---|
| Paper copies (per page) | $0.10 – $1.00 depending on office |
| Certified copies of court records | $2.00 per document (plus copy fees) |
| Certified vital records (birth/death) | $15.00 per certified copy (state fee) |
| Electronic records | Fees may apply depending on format and volume |
| Record search (staff time) | Fees may apply for extensive searches |
- Inspection fees: Members of the public may inspect records at no charge during regular business hours.
- Copy fees: Per-page copy fees are set by each custodian office and may not exceed the actual cost of reproduction under state guidelines.
- Certification fees: Certified copies carry an additional fee per document.
- Payment methods: Accepted payment methods at county offices include cash, check, and money order; some offices accept credit or debit cards.
- Fee waivers: No blanket fee waiver provision exists under current South Dakota law for general public records requests, though individual offices may exercise discretion in certain circumstances.
Does Davison County Have Free Public Records?
Free inspection of public records is available in Davison County at the offices of the relevant custodian agencies during regular business hours. Members of the public are not required to pay a fee to view records in person; fees apply only when copies or certified documents are requested.
The following free access options are currently available:
- In-person inspection at the Davison County Clerk of Courts, Register of Deeds, Auditor, and Treasurer offices during posted business hours
- Online court record searches through the PARS public access system, which provides free access to docket entries in criminal, protection order, and stalking cases
- Online case lookups through the South Dakota court records search tool for cases filed from 1989 onward
- Sex offender registry searches through the South Dakota Sex Offender Registry, maintained by the Office of the Attorney General, Division of Criminal Investigation, at no charge to the public
The distinction between free inspection and free copies is significant: while viewing records at a government office carries no fee, obtaining physical or electronic copies is subject to the applicable per-page or per-document charges described above.
Who Can Request Public Records in Davison County?
Any person may request public records in Davison County, regardless of residency, citizenship, or stated purpose. South Dakota law does not require a requestor to be a state resident, to provide identification, or to explain the reason for the request when seeking access to records that are open by statute.
Specific conditions applicable to records requests include:
- Residency: Not required. Non-residents of South Dakota retain the same right of access as residents.
- Identification: Not required for inspection of open records, though some offices may request identification for administrative purposes when processing copy requests.
- Purpose: Requestors are not required to state a purpose for most public records requests under current South Dakota law.
- Restrictions by record type: Certain record categories, including juvenile records, sealed court files, and records subject to HIPAA protections, are restricted regardless of who is requesting them.
- Personal records: Individuals requesting their own records, such as criminal history or vital records, may be required to provide proof of identity and, in some cases, a notarized authorization.
The First Judicial Circuit, which serves Davison County, notes that court records are accessible to the public through both in-person and online channels, subject to applicable court rules governing sealed or restricted case types.
What Records Are Confidential in Davison County?
Certain records maintained by Davison County agencies are exempt from public disclosure under state and federal law. South Dakota Codified Laws § 1-27-1.5 enumerates specific categories of records that are not subject to mandatory public inspection. The following record types are currently exempt or restricted:
- Sealed court records — records sealed by court order are not accessible to the general public
- Juvenile records — records pertaining to minors involved in delinquency or abuse and neglect proceedings are confidential under SDCL § 26-7A-36
- Ongoing investigation records — law enforcement records related to active criminal investigations may be withheld to protect the integrity of the investigation
- Personal identifying information — Social Security numbers, financial account data, and similar identifiers are redacted from publicly released documents
- Medical and health records — protected under the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and not subject to public disclosure
- Adoption records — sealed by statute and accessible only through a court order or specific statutory process
- Child welfare and protective services records — maintained confidentially by the South Dakota Department of Social Services
- Personnel records — employee records of government workers are exempt from disclosure except for information such as name, title, and compensation
- Trade secrets and proprietary business information — submitted to government agencies under confidentiality protections
- Security plans and critical infrastructure details — withheld to protect public safety
As stated in the South Dakota open records law, "the right of the public to inspect and copy public records shall be liberally construed," while exemptions are to be narrowly applied to protect only those interests specifically identified by the legislature.
Davison County Recorder's Office: Contact Information and Hours
Davison County Register of Deeds
200 East 4th Avenue, Mitchell, SD 57301
(605) 995-8160
Davison County Register of Deeds
Office Hours:
Monday – Friday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Closed on state and federal holidays
Davison County Clerk of Courts
200 East 4th Avenue, Mitchell, SD 57301-0927
(605) 995-8165
Davison County Circuit Court
Office Hours:
Monday – Friday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Davison County Auditor
200 East 4th Avenue, Mitchell, SD 57301
(605) 995-8605
Davison County Auditor
Office Hours:
Monday – Friday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Davison County Public Health Nursing Office
1420 North Main Street, Mitchell, SD 57301
(605) 995-8170
South Dakota Department of Health – Public Health Nursing Offices
Office Hours:
Monday – Friday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Lookup Public Records in Davison County
- Davison County circuit court information
- South Dakota court case access
- First Judicial Circuit court directory
- South Dakota Public Access Record System
- South Dakota online court records search
- South Dakota Unified Judicial System home
- Davison County public health nursing services
- South Dakota child support enforcement
- South Dakota sex offender registry search