Nassau County Public Records
What Are Public Records in Nassau County?
Public records in Nassau County are defined as information or documents created, received, or maintained by a government agency in the course of official business, pursuant to New York Public Officers Law § 86. These records document the activities and functions of government and are generally accessible to the public unless specifically exempted by law.
Nassau County maintains a comprehensive collection 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 legislature, boards, commissions)
- Budget and financial documents
- Law enforcement records (arrest logs, incident reports - where allowed)
- Land use and zoning records
The Nassau County Clerk's Office serves as the primary custodian for many county records, particularly those related to property transactions, court filings, and business registrations. Other records are maintained by specific departments:
- Vital records (birth and death certificates) are maintained by the Nassau County Department of Health
- Property tax records are maintained by the Nassau County Department of Assessment
- Court records are maintained by the Nassau County Courts
- Law enforcement records are maintained by the Nassau County Police Department
Members of the public seeking access to these records must direct their requests to the appropriate agency responsible for maintaining the specific record type.
Is Nassau County an Open Records County?
Nassau County adheres to the New York State Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) as codified in Public Officers Law Article 6, §§ 84-90. This law establishes the presumption that all government records are accessible to the public unless specifically exempted by statute.
Under Public Officers Law § 84, the legislature declares that "government is the public's business and that the public, individually and collectively and represented by a free press, should have access to the records of government." This foundational principle guides Nassau County's approach to records access.
Nassau County has established specific procedures for handling FOIL requests in compliance with state law. Each county department has designated a Records Access Officer responsible for receiving and responding to requests for records. The county maintains a FOIL Request Center to facilitate public access to government information.
Additionally, Nassau County complies with New York State's Open Meetings Law, which requires that meetings of public bodies be open to the public and that minutes be taken and made available. This commitment to transparency extends to the publication of county legislature proceedings, budget documents, and other materials of public interest.
How to Find Public Records in Nassau County in 2026
Members of the public seeking access to Nassau County records may utilize several methods to locate and obtain the information they need:
-
Submit a FOIL request through the Nassau County FOIL Request Center
- Complete the online FOIL request form
- Clearly identify the records being sought
- Provide contact information for response
-
Visit the appropriate county office in person:
- For property records, business filings, and court records, visit the Nassau County Clerk's Office
- For vital records, visit the Department of Health
- For tax records, visit the Department of Assessment
-
Search online databases:
- Property records can be searched through the Nassau County Land Records Viewer
- Court records can be accessed through the New York State Unified Court System
- Tax records can be viewed through the Nassau County Land Record Viewer
-
Contact the Records Access Officer for the specific department:
- Each department has a designated officer responsible for FOIL requests
- Contact information is available on the county website
- Officers must respond to requests within 5 business days
-
Attend public meetings:
- County Legislature meetings are open to the public
- Meeting schedules are posted on the Nassau County Legislature website
- Minutes and recordings of meetings are available as public records
When requesting records, individuals should provide specific information about the records sought, including relevant dates, names, and document types to facilitate efficient processing of the request.
How Much Does It Cost to Get Public Records in Nassau County?
Nassau County assesses fees for public records in accordance with New York Public Officers Law § 87(1)(b)(iii), which permits agencies to charge reasonable fees for copying or reproducing records. The current fee structure for Nassau County public records is as follows:
- Standard photocopies: $0.25 per page
- Certified copies of documents: $10.00 per document
- Land records: $5.00 per page
- Court records: $1.00 per page for copies
- Certified court records: $8.00 per document
- Marriage licenses: $40.00
- Birth certificates: $30.00 per certified copy
- Death certificates: $30.00 per certified copy
- Business certificates (DBA): $120.00 for filing
Nassau County accepts the following payment methods:
- Cash (in-person requests only)
- Credit cards (Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express)
- Money orders
- Certified checks
- Personal checks (for certain transactions)
Fees may be waived or reduced if the requesting party demonstrates financial hardship and the records will be used for a public purpose, not a commercial interest. This determination is made on a case-by-case basis by the Records Access Officer.
For electronic records that do not require printing, fees may be assessed based on the actual cost of reproducing the record, including the hourly salary of the lowest paid employee capable of performing the task.
Does Nassau County Have Free Public Records?
Nassau County provides free inspection of public records in accordance with state law. Pursuant to Public Officers Law § 87(1)(b), while agencies may charge for copies, they must provide access to records for inspection at no cost during regular business hours.
The following records are available for free inspection:
- County Legislature meeting minutes and agendas
- Budgets and financial reports
- Environmental impact statements
- Building permits and applications
- Zoning maps and regulations
- Public hearing notices
- Election results
Additionally, Nassau County provides free online access to several record databases:
- Nassau County Land Records Viewer for property records
- Nassau County Legislature proceedings
- Nassau County budget documents
- Nassau County Code
Members of the public wishing to inspect records without charge should contact the appropriate department to schedule an appointment. While inspection is free, any requests for copies or certified documents will incur the standard fees outlined in the fee schedule.
Who Can Request Public Records in Nassau County?
Under New York Public Officers Law § 84, any person, regardless of citizenship or residency status, may request access to public records in Nassau County. The law specifically states that "government is the public's business" and that access to records should not be restricted based on the identity or status of the requestor.
Key points regarding eligibility to request records:
- Requestors do not need to be Nassau County residents
- Requestors do not need to be New York State residents
- Requestors do not need to be U.S. citizens
- Requestors do not need to state a reason or purpose for their request
- Requestors do not need to show identification for most record types
However, certain exceptions apply to specific record types:
- Vital records (birth, death, marriage certificates) require proof of eligibility based on relationship to the subject
- Medical records require authorization from the patient or legal representative
- Some court records may require party status or judicial approval
- Juvenile records have restricted access under Family Court Act § 166
For records pertaining to oneself, additional verification may be required to protect privacy and prevent identity theft. This typically involves providing identification to confirm the requestor's identity.
Government agencies, businesses, and organizations have the same rights as individuals to request public records, though commercial use of records may be subject to different fee structures in some cases.
What Records Are Confidential in Nassau County?
While Nassau County operates under the presumption of openness, certain records are exempt from disclosure under New York Public Officers Law § 87(2). These exemptions protect important privacy, safety, and governmental interests. Records that are confidential or exempt from disclosure include:
- Records that would impair present or imminent contract awards or collective bargaining negotiations
- Records that would endanger the life or safety of any person
- Records that would interfere with law enforcement investigations or judicial proceedings
- Records protected by state or federal statute, including:
- Medical records (protected by HIPAA)
- Educational records (protected by FERPA)
- Social Security numbers (protected by federal law)
- Records that would constitute an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy, including:
- Personnel, medical, or credit histories
- Personal contact information
- Information that would result in economic or personal hardship
- Trade secrets or information that would cause substantial injury to competitive position
- Inter-agency or intra-agency materials that are not:
- Statistical or factual tabulations
- Instructions to staff affecting the public
- Final agency policy determinations
- External audits
- Examination questions or answers
- Computer access codes
- Critical infrastructure information
- Sealed court records and juvenile records
- Adoption records
- Child welfare and protective services records
Nassau County applies a balancing test when considering disclosure of potentially exempt records, weighing the public's right to know against protected interests. In some cases, records may be released with redactions to protect confidential information while providing access to the remainder of the record.
Nassau County Recorder's Office: Contact Information and Hours
Nassau County Clerk's Office
240 Old Country Road
Mineola, NY 11501
(516) 571-2664
Nassau County Clerk
Public Counter Hours:
Monday - Friday: 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Closed on weekends and legal holidays
Records Room Hours:
Monday - Friday: 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Closed on weekends and legal holidays
Additional Service Locations:
Nassau County Clerk's Office - Satellite Location
40 Main Street
Hempstead, NY 11550
(516) 572-2368
Hours:
Monday - Friday: 9:00 AM - 4:45 PM
Closed on weekends and legal holidays
The Nassau County Clerk serves as the county recorder and is responsible for maintaining and providing access to vital records including deeds, mortgages, judgments, liens, business certificates, and court records. The office processes approximately 600,000 documents annually and maintains records dating back to the county's formation in 1899.
Services available at the County Clerk's Office include:
- Recording of deeds, mortgages, and property documents
- Filing of business certificates and assumed names
- Processing of court records and legal documents
- Issuance of certified copies of recorded documents
- Passport application processing
- Naturalization and citizenship services
- Notary public registration
Appointments are recommended for certain services but not required for general records requests. The office maintains both physical and electronic records, with many recent documents available through the online Land Records Viewer.