Knox County Public Records

How to Find Public Records in Knox County in 2026

KnoxCountyRecords.org provides publicly available information related to public records maintained by government agencies in Knox County, Maine. Members of the public seeking official documentation may find records pertaining to property ownership, court proceedings, vital statistics, business registrations, and other government-generated documents through the resources described on this page. The availability and completeness of any particular record depends on the maintaining agency, the nature of the document, and applicable state law.

Records in Knox County may be searched through official court resources, county clerk offices, public access terminals, and online government portals.

Online Access:

The Knox County Registry of Deeds maintains a searchable database of land records and property documents, including deeds, mortgages, and liens recorded under Maine State Law.
The Maine Judicial Branch provides electronic access to court records through its eCourts portal; availability varies by case type and county.
The Maine Department of Corrections operates a public corrections client search tool for locating individuals currently or previously under supervision.
No registration is required to conduct basic searches on most county portals, though certified copies require a formal request.

In-Person Requests: Members of the public may visit the Knox County Registry of Deeds at 62 Union Street, Rockland, ME 04841 to inspect land records. Staff are available to assist with document retrieval during regular business hours, Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM.

Written/Mail Requests: Written requests may be submitted to the Knox County Registry of Deeds at 62 Union Street, Rockland, ME 04841. Requests should include the full name of the parties involved, the approximate date of the document, the type of record sought, and the requester's contact information. Under 1 M.R.S. § 408-A, agencies are required to respond to public records requests within five business days of receipt.

Phone/Email: The Knox County Registry of Deeds may be reached by telephone at (207) 594-0422. The Knox County administrative offices may be contacted through the county's official website for department-specific inquiries.

What Are Public Records in Knox County?

Public records in Knox County are defined under Maine's Freedom of Access Act, codified at 1 M.R.S. Chapter 13, as any written, printed, or graphic matter, or any mechanical or electronic data compilation, prepared, owned, or used by a government agency in the conduct of its official business. The following categories of records are maintained by various Knox County offices and state agencies:

Court records: Civil, criminal, probate, and family court documents maintained by the Knox County Superior Court and District Court
Property records: Deeds, mortgages, liens, and assessments held by the Knox County Registry of Deeds
Vital records: Birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates maintained by the Maine Center for Disease Control & Prevention, Vital Records unit and local town clerks
Business records: Licenses, permits, and fictitious name registrations held by the Maine Secretary of State
Tax records: Property tax assessments maintained by individual municipal assessors within Knox County
Voting and election records: Maintained by the Knox County Clerk and individual town clerks
Meeting minutes and agendas: County commission and board records available through the Knox County administrative offices
Budget and financial documents: Available through the Knox County Finance Department
Law enforcement records: Arrest logs and incident reports, subject to applicable exemptions, maintained by the Knox County Sheriff's Office
Land use and zoning records: Maintained by individual municipal planning and code enforcement offices within Knox County

Is Knox County an Open Records County?

Knox County operates in full compliance with Maine's open records framework. Under 1 M.R.S. Chapter 13, the Freedom of Access Act (FOAA), all public proceedings and public records are to be open to the public. As stated in the county's official policy, "Maine's Freedom of Access Law as outlined in 1 M.R.S. Chapter 13 provides that public proceedings and public records are to be open to the public."

The law establishes a presumption of openness, meaning that any record created or maintained by a government agency is presumed to be a public record unless a specific statutory exemption applies. Knox County's FOAA coordinator is designated to receive and process public records requests submitted to county departments. The county does not impose additional local ordinances that restrict access beyond what state law permits. Maine's sunshine laws further require that meetings of public bodies be open to the public, with limited exceptions for executive sessions.

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

The fee structure for public records in Knox County is governed by Maine state law and the policies of the individual maintaining office. Under current law, agencies may charge reasonable fees for the actual cost of providing records.

Record Type	Standard Fee
Document copies (paper)	$1.00 per page (Registry of Deeds)
Certified copies of deeds	$1.00 per page + $1.00 certification fee
Vital records (birth, death, marriage)	$15.00 per certified copy (state fee)
Electronic document copies	Fees vary by office
Search fees	No separate search fee for most county records

Inspection fees: No fee is charged for in-person inspection of public records.
Copy fees: The Knox County Registry of Deeds charges $1.00 per page for paper copies of recorded documents.
Certification fees: An additional fee applies for certified copies of recorded instruments.
Electronic format fees: Fees for electronic copies are determined by the maintaining office and reflect the actual cost of duplication.
Fee waivers: Under state law, agencies may waive fees when disclosure is in the public interest and the requester demonstrates financial hardship or the records serve a public benefit.

Accepted payment methods at the Knox County Registry of Deeds include cash, check, and money order. Members of the public should confirm accepted payment methods with the specific office prior to submitting a request.

Does Knox County Have Free Public Records?

Free inspection of public records is available in Knox County. Maine law does not permit agencies to charge a fee for the in-person inspection of public records; fees apply only when copies are requested. Members of the public may visit the Knox County Registry of Deeds to inspect land records and deed documents at no cost during regular business hours.

Several categories of records are accessible at no charge through official online portals:

The Knox County Registry of Deeds online database allows free searching of recorded land instruments.
The Maine Judicial Branch's electronic court records portal provides free access to certain case information without requiring payment.
The Maine Department of Corrections corrections client search is available to the public at no charge.
The Maine CDC vital records information page provides guidance on obtaining vital records, with certified copies subject to the standard state fee.

Free inspection differs from free copies. While inspection at a public counter carries no charge, obtaining a physical or certified copy of a document is subject to the fee schedule described above.

Who Can Request Public Records in Knox County?

Any person may request public records in Knox County, regardless of residency, citizenship, or stated purpose. Maine's Freedom of Access Act does not require requesters to be Maine residents, to provide identification, or to explain the reason for their request. As the Knox County FOAA policy states, the law "provides that public proceedings and public records are to be open to the public."

The following conditions apply under current law:

Residency: Not required. Non-residents retain the same right of access as Maine residents.
Identification: Not required for most public records requests, though some offices may request contact information for processing purposes.
Purpose: Requesters are not required to state a purpose for most public records requests.
Restrictions by record type: Certain records, such as juvenile court records, adoption records, and sealed court files, are restricted regardless of the requester's identity.
Requesting personal records: Individuals requesting their own records, such as criminal history or vital records, may be required to provide proof of identity to protect against unauthorized disclosure.

Members of the public seeking their own criminal history may submit a request through the Maine Bureau of Investigation's public criminal history request service.

What Records Are Confidential in Knox County?

Not all government records in Knox County are subject to public disclosure. Maine's Freedom of Access Act enumerates specific categories of exempt records under 1 M.R.S. § 402 and related statutes. The following records are exempt from public disclosure under current law:

Sealed court records: Records sealed by judicial order are not accessible to the general public.
Juvenile records: Records pertaining to juvenile proceedings are confidential under Maine law.
Ongoing investigation records: Law enforcement records compiled as part of an active investigation are exempt to the extent that disclosure would interfere with enforcement proceedings.
Personal identifying information: Social Security numbers, financial account data, and similar identifiers are protected from disclosure.
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 under specific legal circumstances.
Child welfare and protective services records: Maintained as confidential by the Maine Department of Health and Human Services.
Personnel records: Employee records are exempt with limited exceptions for certain public employee information.
Trade secrets and proprietary business information: Exempt when submitted to a government agency under a claim of confidentiality.
Security plans and critical infrastructure details: Exempt to protect public safety.

When an agency denies a public records request, it is required to identify the specific statutory exemption upon which the denial is based. Requesters who believe a denial is improper may seek review through the Maine Attorney General's office or pursue judicial review.

Knox County Recorder's Office: Contact Information and Hours

Knox County Registry of Deeds
62 Union Street
Rockland, ME 04841
(207) 594-0422
Knox County Registry of Deeds

Office Hours:
Monday – Friday: 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Closed on state and federal holidays.

Additional Offices:

Knox County Superior Court (Court Records)
62 Union Street
Rockland, ME 04841
(207) 596-2240
Maine Judicial Branch – Electronic Court Records Access

Knox County Administrative Offices (FOAA Requests)
62 Union Street
Rockland, ME 04841
(207) 594-0420
Freedom of Access Information Requests – Knox County

Maine CDC Vital Records (Birth, Death, Marriage, Divorce Certificates)
11 State House Station
Augusta, ME 04333
(207) 287-3771
Maine Vital Records – Maine CDC

As the Knox County Registry of Deeds notes, "The purpose of the Registry of Deeds is to record and preserve all land records in Knox County. Documents are accepted for recording based on Maine State Law." Members of the public with questions about specific record types are encouraged to contact the maintaining office directly prior to submitting a formal request.