About Ohio Public Records

Ohio public records are governed by the Ohio Public Records Act, R.C. § 149.43, which presumes all records of every public office are open to inspection and copying unless covered by an enumerated exemption. County recorders hold land records, the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) within the Attorney General’s office handles statewide criminal history, and the Supreme Court of Ohio publishes appellate dockets.

Ohio Public Records

Court Records

Constitution
Official Free
Ohio Constitution listed by article and section, or search by keyword.
🌐 ohio.gov
School Conflict Management Trainers
Official Free
Browse the Ohio Commission on Dispute Resolution and Conflict Management Directory of School Conflict Management Trainers to view trainer name, address, contact info, educational background, professional experience, fees and references.
🌐 supremecourt.ohio.gov
Court Records
Official Free
Ohio courts, court records, forms, and rules, including: Federal District court records; Ohio Supreme Court and Court of Appeals records; and county records from all available Ohio county common pleas, probate, juvenile, domestic relations municipal, county, and mayor's courts.
🌐 publicrecords.searchsystems.net

Criminal Records

Drivers
Official Free
Check your Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicle driver license information against BMV records.
🌐 ohio.gov
Erie County Most Wanted
Official Free
Provided by the Erie County Sheriff's Office. Browse photos of most wanted criminals & view information including name, age, physical description, charges, and last known street address.
🌐 eriecounty.oh.gov
Ohio Criminal Histories
Official Free
Information from the Ohio Attorney General on how to order an Ohio Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation (BCI&I) criminal history check.
🌐 ocjs.ohio.gov
Sex Offenders
Official Free
Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction sex offender registry.
🌐 ohio.gov
Inmates | Southeast Ohio Regional Jail
Official Free
Inmates currently incarcerated, booked today, or released today from the Southeast Ohio Regional Jail facility, serving Athens, Hocking, Morgan, Perry, and Vinton counties.
🌐 seorj.com
Criminal Records
Official Free
Search Systems Premium criminal records statewide records combined, including court records from 169 Ohio Common Pleas and Municipal Courts, Department of Corrections current and historic inmate records, registered habitual offenders, registered sex offenders, and the Department of Developmental Disabilities abuser registry.
🌐 searchsystems.net
Inmates
Official Free
Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections current inmates and those under Dept. supervision by name or offender number. Provides name, offender number, offense, committing county, date of admission, institution, status, etc.
🌐 icrimewatch.net

Property Records

Lake County
Official Free
Search this Lake County Board of Elections voter registration database by name to determine if you're registered to vote and to find your polling station.
🌐 sos.state.oh.us
Real Estate | State
Official Free
Real estate agent and broker license lookup from the Ohio Department of Commerce Division of Real Estate.
🌐 ohio.gov
Unclaimed Property
Official Free
Ohio Department of Commerce Unclaimed Funds Division. Find missing money or check the status of a claim.
🌐 com.ohio.gov

Vital Records

Akron Births
Official Free
Search the Akron public library database of birth notices published in local papers such as the Akron Globe, Akron Echo, Akron News, and the Rochester Sentinel.
🌐 akron.lib.in.us
Akron Deaths
Official Free
Akron public library database of death notices published in local papers such as the Akron Globe, Akron Echo, Akron News, Akron/Mentone News, and the Rochester Sentinel.
🌐 akron.lib.in.us
Deaths
Official Free
Ohio History Connection death certificates 1913-1944 and 1954-1963, stillborn death certificates 1913-1935 and 1942-1949, Columbus 1904-1908 death certificates, Ohio Boys and Girls Industrial Schoo...
🌐 resources.ohiohistory.org
Obituaries
Official Free
Search the Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Library database by name and/or year of death for Northwest Ohio obituaries from the 1830's to the present.
🌐 index.rbhayes.org
Equal Opportunity Reports
Official Free
Department of Administrative Services' Equal Opportunity Division databases, including affirmative action approvals, certificates of compliance, EDGE certified providers, I-29 reports, and MBE certified providers.
🌐 development.my.site.com

Licenses

Business

Backflow Testers
Official Free
Ohio Department of Commerce, Division of Industrial Compliance database of certified backflow testers.
🌐 ohio.gov
Business Search
Official Free
Ohio Secretary of State database of corporations, LLPs, LLCs, fictitious & assumed business names, trade names, trademarks, trusts, and even church names. Search by current or former business name,...
🌐 sos.state.oh.us
Campaign Finance
Official Free
Campaign Finance records in Ohio, including contributions, expenditures, candidates, committees, PACs, PCE & LCF committees, and cover pages.
🌐 sos.state.oh.us
Ministers
Official Free
Ohio Secretary of State database of ministers approved by the Ohio Secretary of State to solemnize marriages in Ohio.
🌐 www5.sos.state.oh.us
Police Officers | Special
Official Free
Database of Special Police Officers who are appointed by the Ohio Secretary of State and provide law enforcement support to banks, railroad companies, hospitals, and companies under contract with t...
🌐 sos.state.oh.us
Uniform Commercial Code
Official Free
Ohio Uniform Commercial Code Filings (Secured Loan Transactions) searchable by debtor, secured party, or filing number. Searches, search results, and document copies are free.
🌐 ucc.sos.state.oh.us
Voters
Official Free
Look up your voter registration in Ohio by name, street name, zip code and county. Also provides polling place search and other election-related information.
🌐 sos.state.oh.us
Yellow Pages
Official Free
Let your fingers do the tapping through the Ohio Yellow Pages by category or business name and/or city to view businesses and contact information.
🌐 yellowpages.com

Civic

Legislation
Official Free
Searchable database of Ohio General Assembly legislation.
🌐 ohio.gov
Legislators
Official Free
Ohio Directory of House of Representatives and Senate Legislators.
🌐 ohio.gov
Liquor - Authorized Agencies
Official Free
Browse the Ohio Department of Commerce directory of liquor licenses to view type, store number, address, phone, county, agent and contract date.
🌐 ohio.gov
Alcohol, Drug & Mental Health Services
Official Free
Ohio Department of Alcohol & Drug Addiction Services and Ohio Department of Mental Health database (MAC-Search) of Alcohol, Drug & Mental Health Services by county.
🌐 ohio.gov
Ohio Home Page
Official Free
Visit the official site for the State of Ohio, where you can find government offices, officials, services, jobs, and other resources.
🌐 ohio.gov

Other

Bedding Chemicals
Official Free
Ohio Department of Commerce authorized bedding, upholstered furniture, and stuffed toy chemical distributors.
🌐 ohio.gov
Fireworks
Official Free
Ohio State Fire Marshall licensed fireworks wholesalers, exhibitors, exhibitor assistants, shippers, and manufacturers.
🌐 elicense7.com.ohio.gov
Audit Reports
Official Free
Search this database of the Auditor of State of Ohio by entity name or report title, or use the Advanced Search to query by entity type, report description, county, fiscal years and/or released dat...
🌐 auditor.state.oh.us
Beer, Wine, Liquor
Official Free
Ohio Department of Commerce Liquor Control licensed liquor agencies, permits, brands, stores, solicitors, manufacturers, distributors, retailers, and special event permits.
🌐 com.ohio.gov
Codes
Official Free
Search the Ohio Revised Code by keyword or phrase, or browse the Table of Contents by Title.
🌐 codes.ohio.gov
Construction Projects
Official Free
Ohio Department of Commerce, Division of Industrial Commerce, Bureau of Building Code Compliance database of construction projects.
🌐 ohio.gov
Elevator Safety
Official Free
Ohio Department of Commerce Division of Industrial Compliance elevator safety database, including test, permit, and inspection records.
🌐 apps.com.ohio.gov
Libraries
Official Free
Search the State Library of Ohio directories of Ohio libraries to view library information including name, address, county, phone, fax, and e-mail..
🌐 oplin.org
Schools & School District Directory Reports
Official Free
Search the Ohio Department of Education database listing by district or county to view information on districts, schools and other institutions including IRN, district name and county. Custom reports by building and district available.
🌐 education.ohio.gov
Newspaper Index 1793-1996
Official Free
Search this catalog of microfilmed Ohio newspapers for use in an Ohio archives/library reading room, or through an interlibrary loan. Search by Newspaper Title, City of Publication, or County of Publication. Individual articles not indexed.
🌐 ohiomemory.ohiohistory.org
History | Ohio Memory
Official Free
Search the Ohio Memory project for Ohio history information. Database includes "primary sources from archives, historical societies, libraries, and museums that document Ohio's past from prehistory through the present."
🌐 ohiomemory.org
Maps
Official Free
Browse the Ohio Department of Natural Resources listing of specialized Ohio maps to view maps of such resources as parks, archaeology, geology, wildlife, canals, forests, lakes and roads.
🌐 ohiodnr.gov

Frequently Asked Questions

What public records are available in Ohio?

Ohio provides public access to court records, criminal histories, vital records (birth/death/marriage), property records, professional licenses, voter registration, and business filings. Each record type has its own page on SearchSystems.net.

Are Ohio public records free?

Most online lookups — court calendars, property assessor portals, license verification, voter status — are free. Certified copies and fingerprint-based criminal-history checks typically carry a state fee.

What law governs public records in Ohio?

Ohio public records are governed by the Ohio Public Records Act, R.

How do I request a record not available online?

File a written records request with the state or local agency that maintains the record. Most Ohio agencies must respond within a fixed statutory window (typically 3–15 business days).