Haywood County Public Records

What Are Public Records in Haywood County?

Public records in Haywood County are defined under N.C. Gen. Stat. § 132-1 as all documents, papers, letters, maps, books, photographs, films, sound recordings, magnetic or other tapes, electronic data-processing records, artifacts, or other documentary material, regardless of physical form or characteristics, made or received pursuant to law or ordinance in connection with the transaction of public business by any agency of North Carolina government or its subdivisions. Haywood County, as a political subdivision of the State of North Carolina, is subject to this definition in full.

The following categories of records are currently maintained and available to members of the public through the appropriate county or state office:

Court records (civil, criminal, probate, and family law matters) — maintained by the Clerk of Superior Court at the Haywood County Justice Center
Property records (deeds, mortgages, liens, and property assessments) — maintained by the Haywood County Register of Deeds and the Tax Assessor's Office
Vital records (birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates) — maintained by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, with local access through the Register of Deeds
Business records (licenses, permits, and assumed name filings) — maintained by the Register of Deeds and the Haywood County Planning Department
Tax records (property tax bills, assessment records, and payment histories) — maintained by the Haywood County Tax Collector's Office
Voting and election records — maintained by the Haywood County Board of Elections
Meeting minutes and agendas (county commission and advisory boards) — maintained by the Haywood County Clerk to the Board
Budget and financial documents — maintained by the Haywood County Finance Department
Law enforcement records (arrest logs and incident reports, where permitted by law) — maintained by the Haywood County Sheriff's Office
Land use and zoning records — maintained by the Haywood County Planning and Development Department; spatial data is accessible through the Haywood County GIS mapping portal

Is Haywood County an Open Records County?

Haywood County fully complies with North Carolina's open records framework, which establishes a broad public right of access to government documents. Under N.C. Gen. Stat. § 132-6, every custodian of public records shall permit any record in the custodian's custody to be inspected and examined at reasonable times and under reasonable supervision by any person. The statute further provides that the custodian shall, as promptly as possible, furnish copies of the records upon payment of any fees authorized by law.

North Carolina's Public Records Law, codified in Chapter 132 of the General Statutes, operates on a presumption of openness: all government records are presumed to be public unless a specific statutory exemption applies. Haywood County government agencies are required to comply with this presumption and may not withhold records without citing a recognized legal basis for doing so. The county also operates in accordance with the North Carolina Open Meetings Law, which requires that meetings of public bodies be open to the public and that minutes be maintained as public records. Members of the public seeking judicial branch records may submit a formal request through the North Carolina Judicial Branch's public records request portal.

How to Find Public Records in Haywood County in 2026

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

Identify the custodial office. Determine which county or state agency maintains the record being sought. Property records are held by the Register of Deeds; court records are held by the Clerk of Superior Court; vital records are accessible through the NC Vital Records certificate ordering system or the local Register of Deeds.
Search available online databases. Many records are currently accessible without a formal request. The Haywood County GIS portal provides parcel data, land records, and mapping information. The North Carolina Department of Administration also maintains a directory of public records available online that do not require a formal request.
Submit a written or in-person request. For records not available online, members of the public may submit a written request to the appropriate custodial office. Requests should identify the record with reasonable specificity, including the subject matter, date range, and any known identifiers such as case numbers or parcel identification numbers.
Visit the office in person. Members of the public may inspect records in person during regular business hours at the relevant county office. No appointment is required for routine inspection under current law.
Request copies. If physical or electronic copies are needed, the requesting party may ask the custodian to produce them upon payment of applicable fees.

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

Standard fees apply to the reproduction of public records in Haywood County, consistent with the fee schedule authorized under N.C. Gen. Stat. § 132-6.2, which permits agencies to charge the actual cost of reproducing records. Current fees vary by office and record type:

Standard paper copies: Typically $0.05 to $0.25 per page, depending on the custodial office
Certified copies of vital records: The Register of Deeds charges a standard fee per certified copy of birth, death, or marriage records, consistent with state schedule
Register of Deeds document copies: Fees are set per page for recorded instruments such as deeds and deeds of trust
Court record copies: Fees are established by the North Carolina Administrative Office of the Courts and are collected by the Clerk of Superior Court
Electronic records: Agencies may charge the actual cost of producing electronic copies, including staff time for retrieval and formatting where applicable

Accepted payment methods vary by office but generally include cash, check, and money order. Some offices accept credit or debit cards. Fee waivers are not broadly established by statute for routine requests, though agencies retain discretion to waive fees in cases where the cost of collection would exceed the fee amount.

Does Haywood County Have Free Public Records?

Free inspection of public records is available to all members of the public under North Carolina law. Pursuant to N.C. Gen. Stat. § 132-6, no fee may be charged solely for the act of inspecting a public record; fees apply only when copies are requested. The following resources are currently available at no cost:

In-person inspection at any custodial county office during regular business hours
Haywood County GIS portal at maps.haywoodcountync.gov, which provides free access to parcel maps, land records, and property data
North Carolina Judicial Branch online case information, accessible through the court system's public-facing search tools for Haywood County court locations and services
Online public records maintained by state agencies, accessible through the NC Department of Administration's public records directory
County commission meeting minutes and agendas, posted on the Haywood County government website at no charge

Who Can Request Public Records in Haywood County?

Any person may request public records in Haywood County, regardless of residency, citizenship, or stated purpose. North Carolina's Public Records Law does not restrict access based on the identity or affiliation of the requester. Specifically:

Residency is not required. Non-residents of Haywood County and North Carolina retain full rights to request and inspect public records.
Identification is generally not required for routine inspection of public records, though some offices may request identification for administrative purposes when producing certified copies.
Purpose need not be stated. Under current law, custodians may not require a requester to explain the reason for seeking a record as a condition of access, except in limited circumstances involving records with statutory restrictions.
Restrictions apply to certain record types. Access to records such as juvenile court files, sealed court documents, and certain law enforcement investigative materials may be limited to parties with a demonstrated legal interest or court authorization.
Requesting one's own records. Individuals seeking records pertaining to themselves, such as criminal history or personnel files, may be subject to identity verification requirements to protect against unauthorized disclosure of personal information.

What Records Are Confidential in Haywood County?

Not all government records in Haywood County are subject to public disclosure. North Carolina law identifies numerous categories of records that are exempt from the Public Records Law or subject to restricted access. N.C. Gen. Stat. § 132-1.4 and related statutes establish the following principal exemptions:

Sealed court records — records sealed by judicial order are not accessible to the general public
Juvenile records — records pertaining to juveniles in delinquency or dependency proceedings are confidential under N.C. Gen. Stat. § 7B-3000
Ongoing criminal investigation records — records compiled for law enforcement purposes that would compromise an active investigation are exempt under § 132-1.4
Personal identifying information — Social Security numbers, financial account data, and similar identifiers are redacted from public records pursuant to state and federal law
Medical and health records — protected under the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and state health privacy statutes
Adoption records — sealed by statute and accessible only through court order
Child welfare and protective services records — confidential under N.C. Gen. Stat. § 7B-2901
Personnel records — employee personnel files are generally confidential, with limited exceptions for certain information such as an employee's name, position, and compensation
Trade secrets and proprietary business information — exempt where disclosure would cause competitive harm
Security plans and critical infrastructure details — withheld to protect public safety

Where a record contains both exempt and non-exempt information, the custodial agency is required to redact the exempt portions and release the remainder, consistent with the principle of maximum disclosure.

Haywood County Recorder's Office: Contact Information and Hours

The principal offices responsible for maintaining and providing access to public records in Haywood County are listed below. Members of the public may visit these offices in person during posted business hours or contact them by telephone or written correspondence.

Haywood County Register of Deeds 215 N. Main Street, Waynesville, NC 28786 (828) 452-6635 Haywood County Register of Deeds Public counter hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Haywood County Tax Assessor's Office 215 N. Main Street, Waynesville, NC 28786 (828) 452-6734 Haywood County Tax Assessor Public counter hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Haywood County Clerk of Superior Court 285 N. Main Street, Waynesville, NC 28786 (828) 454-6500 Clerk of Court – Haywood County Justice Center Public counter hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Haywood County Sheriff's Office 170 Haywood County Courthouse, Waynesville, NC 28786 (828) 452-6666 Haywood County Sheriff's Office Public counter hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

NC Vital Records (State Office) 1903 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1903 (919) 733-3526 NC Vital Records – Order a Certificate

Haywood County Board of Elections 1 Historic Courthouse Square, Suite 6, Waynesville, NC 28786 (828) 452-6633 Haywood County Board of Elections Public counter hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.