Wyandotte County Public Records

What Are Public Records in Wyandotte County?

Public records in Wyandotte County are defined according to the Kansas Open Records Act (KORA), K.S.A. § 45-215 et seq., as any recorded information, regardless of form or characteristics, which is made, maintained, or kept by or is in the possession of any public agency. This definition encompasses a wide variety of documents created, used, or maintained by government entities serving Wyandotte County residents.

The following types of records are available to the public in Wyandotte County:

Court Records: Civil, criminal, probate, and family court cases maintained by the Wyandotte County District Court
Property Records: Deeds, mortgages, liens, and property assessments
Vital Records: Birth certificates, death certificates, marriage licenses, and divorce decrees
Business Records: Business licenses, permits, and fictitious name registrations
Tax Records: Property tax information and assessment records
Voting and Election Records: Voter registration data and election results
Meeting Minutes and Agendas: Records from County Commission meetings and various boards
Budget and Financial Documents: County financial reports and budgetary information
Law Enforcement Records: Arrest logs and incident reports (with certain restrictions)
Land Use and Zoning Records: Planning documents, zoning maps, and building permits

The Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kansas maintains the majority of these records through various departments. The Wyandotte County Register of Deeds maintains property records, while the District Court maintains court records. Vital records are primarily maintained by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, though certified copies can be obtained through the Wyandotte County Health Department.

Is Wyandotte County an Open Records County?

Wyandotte County fully complies with the Kansas Open Records Act (KORA), K.S.A. § 45-216, which declares that "it is the public policy of the state that public records shall be open for inspection by any person unless otherwise provided by this act." This statute establishes the presumption that government records are open to public inspection unless specifically exempted by law.

Under K.S.A. § 45-218(a), "All public records shall be open for inspection by any person, except as otherwise provided by this act, and suitable facilities shall be made available by each public agency for this purpose." This provision ensures that Wyandotte County residents have the legal right to access government information.

The Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kansas has established specific procedures for handling open records requests in accordance with state law. These procedures are designed to facilitate public access while protecting confidential information as required by statute.

Wyandotte County also adheres to the Kansas Open Meetings Act (KOMA), K.S.A. § 75-4317 et seq., which requires that meetings of public bodies be open to the public. This "sunshine law" works in conjunction with KORA to ensure transparency in government operations.

The Unified Government's Open Records Policy provides detailed guidance on how to submit requests and what information is available to the public.

How to Find Public Records in Wyandotte County in 2026

Members of the public seeking records in Wyandotte County may follow these steps to obtain the information they need:

Identify the appropriate department: Determine which department maintains the records you seek. The Unified Government's website provides a department directory to assist with this process.
Submit a formal request: Complete the Open Records Request Form available on the Unified Government's website. Requests may be submitted in person, by mail, or electronically.
Provide specific information: Include detailed information about the records being requested, such as date ranges, names, addresses, or case numbers to facilitate efficient processing.
For court records: Visit the Wyandotte County District Court located in the Wyandotte County Courthouse. Many court records can be accessed through public terminals in the clerk's office.
For property records: Search the Wyandotte County Register of Deeds database, which provides online access to property records dating back to 1859.
For vital records: Contact the Wyandotte County Health Department for birth and death certificates or the District Court for marriage and divorce records.
For law enforcement records: Submit requests to the Kansas City, Kansas Police Department or the Wyandotte County Sheriff's Office depending on jurisdiction.

The Unified Government currently provides an online portal for certain records, allowing immediate access to public information such as property records, meeting minutes, and some financial documents. For records not available online, the County Clerk serves as the official custodian of records and coordinates responses to open records requests.

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

The Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kansas charges fees for public records in accordance with K.S.A. § 45-219, which permits agencies to charge reasonable fees for providing access to or copies of public records.

Current standard fees for public records in Wyandotte County include:

Photocopies: $0.25 per page for standard letter/legal size documents
Certified Copies: $1.00 per certification plus copy costs
Electronic Records: $25.00 per hour for staff time to compile, plus the cost of any storage media
Research Fee: $25.00 per hour for requests requiring more than one hour of staff time (first hour is typically free)
Specialized Documents: Variable fees based on size and format (e.g., maps, blueprints, photographs)

Specific record types have standardized fees:

Birth/Death Certificates: $15.00 for the first copy, $15.00 for each additional copy
Marriage Licenses: $85.00 application fee; $15.00 for certified copies
Property Records: $8.00 per page for recorded documents
Court Records: $0.25 per page for copies; additional fees for certified copies and searches

The Unified Government accepts payment by cash, check, money order, and major credit cards for most transactions. Some departments may have limited payment options.

Under K.S.A. § 45-219(c), fees may be waived or reduced when providing the records "is in the public interest because it is likely to contribute significantly to public understanding of the operations or activities of the government and is not primarily in the commercial interest of the requester."

Does Wyandotte County Have Free Public Records?

Wyandotte County provides free inspection of public records in accordance with K.S.A. § 45-218, which states that "All public records shall be open for inspection by any person." No fee may be charged for simply viewing records during regular business hours, though advance notice may be required for voluminous records.

The following records are currently available at no cost:

Online Property Information: Basic property information through the Unified Government's Property Search
Meeting Agendas and Minutes: Available on the Unified Government's website
County Budget Documents: Financial reports and budgets published online
Election Results: Available through the Election Commissioner's Office
Public Notices: Legal notices and announcements published on the county website
County Commission Proceedings: Video recordings of meetings streamed online

The Unified Government maintains public access terminals at several locations where residents can view electronic records at no charge:

Wyandotte County Courthouse
710 N. 7th Street
Kansas City, KS 66101
(913) 573-5260
Unified Government of Wyandotte County

Wyandotte County Election Office
850 State Avenue
Kansas City, KS 66101
(913) 573-8500
Wyandotte County Election Office

While inspection is free, fees apply for copies, certifications, and extensive research as detailed in the previous section.

Who Can Request Public Records in Wyandotte County?

Under K.S.A. § 45-217(d), "any person" may request public records in Wyandotte County. This broad definition includes:

Kansas residents and non-residents
Individuals and organizations
Media representatives
Businesses and corporations
Non-profit organizations
Government agencies

The Kansas Open Records Act does not require requestors to:

Provide identification (except for certain restricted records)
State the purpose of their request
Explain how the information will be used
Be a resident of Kansas or Wyandotte County

However, certain record types have specific eligibility restrictions:

Vital Records: Birth and death certificates are restricted to the person named on the record, immediate family members, legal representatives, or those with a direct interest as defined in K.S.A. § 65-2422d.
Criminal History Information: Complete criminal histories are available only to authorized agencies, though limited information is available to the public through the Kansas Bureau of Investigation.
Juvenile Records: Generally confidential under K.S.A. § 38-2309, with access limited to specific parties involved in the case.
Driver's License Information: Protected under the federal Driver's Privacy Protection Act and K.S.A. § 74-2012.

For records concerning oneself, additional identification may be required to verify identity and prevent unauthorized disclosure of personal information. Government-issued photo identification is typically required when requesting personal records.

What Records Are Confidential in Wyandotte County?

While Wyandotte County operates under the presumption of openness, K.S.A. § 45-221 exempts certain records from mandatory disclosure. The following records are generally confidential and not available for public inspection:

Personnel Records: Employee evaluations, medical information, and personal contact information, though certain employment information remains public under K.S.A. § 45-221(a)(4)
Medical Records: Protected health information under both HIPAA and K.S.A. § 45-221(a)(3)
Juvenile Records: Court and law enforcement records involving minors as specified in K.S.A. § 38-2309
Social Security Numbers: Protected personal identifiers under K.S.A. § 45-221(a)(49)
Criminal Investigation Records: Active investigations that would interfere with law enforcement proceedings if disclosed under K.S.A. § 45-221(a)(10)
Attorney-Client Privileged Communications: Legal advice and work product under K.S.A. § 45-221(a)(2)
Sealed Court Records: Records sealed by judicial order
Adoption Records: Confidential under K.S.A. § 59-2122
Child In Need of Care Records: Protected under K.S.A. § 38-2212
Library Patron Records: Reading histories and borrowing records under K.S.A. § 45-221(a)(23)
Security Information: Details about security systems, emergency response plans, or infrastructure vulnerabilities under K.S.A. § 45-221(a)(12)
Trade Secrets: Proprietary business information submitted to government agencies under K.S.A. § 45-221(a)(2)
Tax Information: Individual tax returns and financial information under K.S.A. § 45-221(a)(46)

Under K.S.A. § 45-221(d), public agencies must apply a "public interest" balancing test for certain discretionary exemptions, weighing whether "the public interest in disclosure outweighs the interest protected by the exemption."

The Unified Government may redact exempt information from records while providing access to the non-exempt portions, as required by K.S.A. § 45-221(d).

Wyandotte County Recorder's Office: Contact Information and Hours

Wyandotte County Register of Deeds
710 N. 7th Street, Suite 120
Kansas City, KS 66101
(913) 573-2841
Wyandotte County Register of Deeds

Regular Office Hours:
Monday - Friday: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Closed on weekends and county-observed holidays

The Register of Deeds office maintains and provides access to property records including:

Deeds and property transfers
Mortgages and releases
Liens and satisfactions
Plats and surveys
Military discharge records (DD-214)
Tax liens and releases
Miscellaneous property-related documents

For general county records not maintained by the Register of Deeds:

Wyandotte County Clerk's Office
710 N. 7th Street, Suite 323
Kansas City, KS 66101
(913) 573-5260
Wyandotte County Clerk