Dickson County Public Records

What Are Public Records in Dickson County?

Public records in Dickson County are defined under Tennessee Code Annotated § 10-7-503 as all documents, papers, letters, maps, books, photographs, microfilms, electronic data processing files, and other material made or received pursuant to law or ordinance in connection with the transaction of official business by any governmental entity. The following record types are currently available to members of the public through various county offices:

Court records — civil, criminal, probate, and family court filings are maintained by the Dickson County Circuit and General Sessions Courts
Property records — deeds, mortgages, liens, and recorded instruments are held by the Register of Deeds office, where all recorded documents are a matter of public record, with the exception of military discharges
Vital records — birth and death certificates are issued through the Tennessee Department of Health; marriage licenses are processed through the County Clerk's office
Business records — business licenses, permits, and fictitious name registrations are administered by the County Clerk
Tax and assessment records — property tax and assessment data are maintained by the Dickson County Assessor of Property and are accessible via the Tennessee Property Viewer
Voting and election records — maintained by the Dickson County Election Commission
Meeting minutes and agendas — county commission minutes, board agendas, and related documents are available through the County Clerk
Budget and financial documents — fiscal records are maintained by the Dickson County Finance Department
Law enforcement records — arrest logs and incident reports, where permitted by law, are available through the Dickson County Sheriff's Office
Land use and zoning records — maintained by the Dickson County Planning and Zoning Department

Is Dickson County an Open Records County?

Dickson County fully complies with Tennessee's open records framework, which establishes a broad public right of access to government documents. Under Tennessee Code Annotated § 10-7-503, all state, county, and municipal records are open for personal inspection by any citizen of Tennessee unless otherwise provided by state law. The statute further provides that the custodian of records shall promptly make available for inspection any public record not specifically exempt from disclosure. Tennessee's open records law is commonly referred to as the Tennessee Public Records Act (TPRA), and it operates in conjunction with the state's Open Meetings Act — collectively forming the foundation of government transparency in the state. Dickson County does not maintain a separate county-level public records ordinance that supersedes state law; all access requests are governed by the TPRA as enacted by the Tennessee General Assembly.

How to Find Public Records in Dickson County

Members of the public may obtain Dickson County public records through several official channels, depending on the record type sought.

In person — Requestors may visit the appropriate county office during regular business hours and submit a verbal or written request to the records custodian. Most offices respond to routine requests at the counter without requiring a formal written submission.
By mail — Written requests may be mailed directly to the relevant office. Requestors should include a clear description of the records sought, preferred format, and return mailing address.
By telephone — Many offices accept preliminary inquiries by phone to confirm record availability before an in-person or written request is submitted.
Online — Property assessment data is currently accessible through the Tennessee Property Viewer, which allows users to search parcel records statewide. Felony offender status may be verified through the Tennessee Felony Offender Information portal maintained by the Tennessee Department of Correction.
Through the County Clerk — The County Clerk serves as the clerk of the county legislative body and maintains minutes, licenses, and vehicle titling records accessible to the public.

Requestors are not required to submit requests on a specific form unless the custodian has established one for administrative convenience. The custodian must respond promptly, and under current law, a delay of more than seven business days requires written explanation.

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

Standard fees apply to the reproduction of public records in Dickson County, consistent with the fee schedule authorized under Tennessee law. Current fees vary by office and record type:

Photocopies — Standard paper copies are generally assessed at $0.15 per page for letter or legal size documents, consistent with the cost-of-copies standard established under Tennessee's public records statutes
Certified copies — Certified copies of recorded instruments through the Register of Deeds office are subject to a per-page fee plus a certification charge
Vital records — Certified copies of marriage licenses issued by the County Clerk carry a standard fee set by state statute
Recording fees — Documents submitted for recording with the Register of Deeds are subject to fees established under Tennessee Code Annotated § 8-21-1001
Accepted payment methods — Most offices accept cash, check, and money order; select offices may accept credit or debit cards

Fee waivers are not broadly available under current Tennessee law, though indigent requestors may petition the court for relief in specific circumstances. Fees may not exceed the actual cost of producing the records.

Does Dickson County Have Free Public Records?

Free inspection of public records is available to members of the public under Tennessee law, which guarantees the right to personally inspect records without charge. Reproduction fees apply only when copies are requested. The following resources are currently available at no cost:

In-office inspection — Any person may inspect public records at the custodian's office during regular business hours without paying a fee
Tennessee Property Viewer — The TN Property Viewer provides free online access to property assessment data for all Tennessee counties, including Dickson County
Tennessee Felony Offender Information — The state's felony offender lookup tool is available at no charge to members of the public seeking information on individuals who are or have been in the custody of the Tennessee Department of Correction
County Clerk records — Basic record lookups through the Dickson County Clerk's office may be conducted in person without a fee for inspection

Who Can Request Public Records in Dickson County?

Under the Tennessee Public Records Act, any citizen of Tennessee has the right to inspect public records. The statute does not require requestors to be residents of Dickson County specifically, but does reference Tennessee citizenship as the baseline eligibility standard. In practice, the following provisions apply:

Residency — Requestors must be citizens of Tennessee; non-residents of the state may face limitations under the strict reading of the TPRA, though many offices extend access as a matter of policy
Identification — Custodians may request identification to verify Tennessee residency, particularly for sensitive record categories
Purpose — Members of the public are generally not required to state the purpose of their request for most record types
Restrictions by record type — Certain records, such as sealed court files, juvenile records, and adoption records, carry additional access restrictions regardless of the requestor's identity
Requesting one's own records — Individuals seeking their own records, such as personal court filings or tax records, follow the same process as any other public records request, though additional verification may be required for records containing sensitive personal data

What Records Are Confidential in Dickson County?

Not all government records in Dickson County are subject to public disclosure. Tennessee law identifies numerous categories of exempt records, and Tennessee Code Annotated § 10-7-504 enumerates specific exemptions from the general right of public access. The following record types are currently treated as confidential or restricted:

Sealed court records — Records sealed by judicial order are not available for public inspection
Juvenile records — Records pertaining to minors involved in delinquency or dependency 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 law 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 — Maintained as confidential by the Tennessee Department of Children's Services
Personnel records — Employee records are generally exempt, with limited exceptions for certain public officials
Trade secrets and proprietary business information — Exempt when submitted to government agencies under confidentiality protections
Security plans and critical infrastructure details — Exempt to protect public safety

Where a record contains both exempt and non-exempt information, the custodian is required to redact the exempt portions and release the remainder.

Dickson County Recorder's Office: Contact Information and Hours

The Dickson County Register of Deeds serves as the primary repository for recorded land and property documents. All recorded instruments are a matter of public record, excluding military discharges, and the office provides access to attorneys, realtors, title companies, and members of the general public.

Dickson County Register of Deeds 4 Court Square, Suite 201, Charlotte, TN 37036 (615) 789-7011 Shelly Yates, Register of Deeds

Public counter hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., excluding state and federal holidays.

Dickson County Clerk 4 Court Square, Charlotte, TN 37036 (615) 789-7015 Luanne Greer, County Clerk

The County Clerk's office is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The office handles marriage licenses, notary public issuances, vehicle titling, and serves as the clerk of the county legislative body.

Dickson County Sheriff's Office 182 Highway 70 East, Dickson, TN 37055 (615) 446-4441 Dickson County Sheriff's Office

Dickson County Circuit Court Clerk 4 Court Square, Charlotte, TN 37036 (615) 789-7010 Dickson County Circuit Court Clerk