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How to Find Public Records in Yates County in 2026
Members of the public seeking government documents in Yates County, New York, may access a range of publicly available information through official county offices, online portals, and authorized third-party tools. YatesRecords.us provides data and publicly available information related to public records maintained by Yates County agencies. The records accessible through official channels may include property documents, court filings, vital records, law enforcement logs, and administrative files, subject to applicable exemptions under state law.
Record categories available through Yates County offices include:
- Land records, deeds, and mortgages
- Court records (civil, criminal, and probate)
- Vital records (births, deaths, and marriages)
- Tax assessment and property records
- Business licenses and permits
- Meeting minutes and county board agendas
- Law enforcement incident reports (where permitted)
Online Access:
The Yates County government website provides access to land and court records through its vendor portal, IQS. Members of the public may search Yates County public records through the IQS platform at searchiqs.com/NYYAT/Login.aspx. Deeds, mortgages, and related instruments are searchable online without requiring in-person attendance. Some records may require account registration through the IQS system prior to access.
In-Person Requests:
Members of the public may visit the Yates County Clerk's Office to inspect records at the public counter. The office is located at 417 Liberty Street, Suite 1107, Penn Yan, NY 14527. Counter hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. Requestors should identify the record type, approximate date range, and names of parties involved when presenting a request at the counter.
Written/Mail Requests:
Written requests may be submitted by mail to the Yates County Clerk's Office at 417 Liberty Street, Suite 1107, Penn Yan, NY 14527. Requests must include the requestor's name, mailing address, a description of the records sought, and any applicable fees. Under New York Public Officers Law § 89, agencies are required to respond to Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) requests within five business days of receipt.
Phone/Email:
The Yates County Clerk's Office may be reached by telephone at (315) 536-5120. Contact information for specific departments is available through the Yates County Clerk's office page.
What Are Public Records in Yates County?
Public records in Yates County are defined under New York's Freedom of Information Law (FOIL), codified at New York Public Officers Law § 84–90, as all records made or kept by any state or municipal agency, unless specifically exempted. The following record types are maintained by Yates County offices:
| Record Type | Maintaining Office |
|---|---|
| Deeds, mortgages, liens | County Clerk's Office |
| Civil and criminal court records | County Clerk's Office / NYS Courts |
| Vital records (births, deaths, marriages) | Yates County Vital Records / NYS Dept. of Health |
| Property tax assessments | County Real Property Tax Office |
| Business licenses and permits | County Clerk's Office |
| Law enforcement incident reports | Yates County Sheriff's Office |
| Meeting minutes and agendas | County Administrator's Office |
| Budget and financial documents | County Treasurer's Office |
| Land use and zoning records | Planning and Zoning Department |
| Voting and election records | Yates County Board of Elections |
The Yates County Clerk's office serves as the primary repository for land records, court filings, and business documents. Vital records, including birth and death certificates, are maintained separately through the county's vital records division. Law enforcement records are held by the Yates County Sheriff's Office.
Is Yates County an Open Records County?
Yates County operates in full compliance with New York State's Freedom of Information Law (FOIL), which governs public access to government records across all counties and municipalities in the state. Under New York Public Officers Law § 84, the legislature declared that "a free society is maintained when government is responsive and responsible to the public, and when the public is aware of governmental actions." This statutory framework establishes a presumption of openness: all records are accessible unless a specific exemption applies.
The New York State Committee on Open Government, operating under the Department of State, provides guidance to both agencies and the public on FOIL compliance. As the Committee has stated, "the standard that should be applied is whether disclosure would constitute an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy." Yates County agencies are required to designate a FOIL Records Access Officer (RAO) responsible for processing requests and issuing determinations. Appeals of denied requests may be directed to the agency head within 30 days of a denial, pursuant to § 89(4) of the Public Officers Law.
How Much Does It Cost to Get Public Records in Yates County?
The standard fee structure for public records in Yates County follows the limits established under New York Public Officers Law § 87(1)(b), which caps copy fees at twenty-five cents ($0.25) per page for records up to nine inches by fourteen inches. The following fee schedule applies at present:
| Service | Standard Fee |
|---|---|
| Paper copies (up to 9" x 14") | $0.25 per page |
| Certified copies of land records | Varies by document type |
| Birth certificate (certified) | $30.00 per copy |
| Death certificate (certified) | $30.00 per copy |
| Marriage certificate (certified) | $30.00 per copy |
| Electronic record reproduction | Actual cost of storage medium |
| Record search (when permitted) | Varies by office |
Inspection of records at a public counter does not carry a fee. Certification fees for vital records are set by the New York State Department of Health and are subject to change. Accepted payment methods at the Yates County Clerk's Office include cash, check, and money order payable to the Yates County Clerk. Fee waivers may be available for indigent requestors or for records sought in the public interest, at the discretion of the Records Access Officer.
Does Yates County Have Free Public Records?
Free inspection of public records is available to any member of the public at the Yates County Clerk's Office during regular business hours. Under New York's FOIL framework, agencies may not charge a fee solely for inspecting records; fees apply only when copies are requested. The following resources are available at no cost:
- Online land and court record searches through the IQS portal, accessible via the Yates County public records portal
- In-person inspection at the County Clerk's public counter, 417 Liberty Street, Suite 1107, Penn Yan, NY 14527
- Vital records index searches through the searchable PDF indices available on the Yates County vital records page
- Public access terminals available at the County Clerk's Office for on-site record review
The distinction between free inspection and free copies is significant: members of the public may view records without charge, but obtaining physical or certified copies requires payment of applicable fees.
Who Can Request Public Records in Yates County?
Any person may submit a public records request in Yates County, regardless of residency, citizenship, or stated purpose. New York's FOIL does not require requestors to be New York State residents, to provide identification, or to explain the reason for their request. This broad access right applies to individuals, organizations, businesses, and members of the press equally.
Certain record types carry additional eligibility requirements. Certified copies of vital records—including birth, death, and marriage certificates—are restricted under New York Public Health Law to the registrant, immediate family members, legal representatives, and others with a documented legal interest. Members of the public seeking their own records may present identification to expedite processing. Non-residents retain the same FOIL rights as residents for all non-restricted record categories.
What Records Are Confidential in Yates County?
Not all government records in Yates County are subject to public disclosure. New York Public Officers Law § 87(2) enumerates specific categories of records that agencies may withhold from public access. Exempt and confidential record types include:
- Sealed court records, including those sealed pursuant to court order or statute
- Juvenile delinquency records, protected under New York Family Court Act
- Adoption records, sealed under New York Domestic Relations Law
- Ongoing criminal investigation records, where disclosure would interfere with law enforcement
- Personal identifying information, including Social Security numbers, financial account data, and home addresses of protected individuals
- Medical and health records, protected under HIPAA and state health privacy law
- Child protective services records, maintained under strict confidentiality by the Department of Social Services
- Personnel records, exempt to the extent that disclosure would constitute an unwarranted invasion of privacy
- Trade secrets and proprietary business information submitted to government agencies
- Security plans and critical infrastructure details
The New York State Committee on Open Government has noted that "the exemptions are to be narrowly construed," meaning agencies bear the burden of demonstrating that a specific exemption applies before withholding a record. Partial disclosure is required when only portions of a record are exempt; non-exempt portions must be provided with exempt material redacted.
Yates County Recorder's Office: Contact Information and Hours
Yates County Clerk's Office
417 Liberty Street, Suite 1107
Penn Yan, NY 14527
(315) 536-5120
Yates County Clerk
Office Hours:
Monday – Friday: 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM
Closed on state and federal holidays
As stated on the office's official page, "the mission of the County Clerk's Office is to record, file and preserve a variety of records and to process and issue a variety of documents." The office maintains land records, court filings, business certificates, and related instruments.
Yates County Vital Records Office
417 Liberty Street
Penn Yan, NY 14527
(315) 536-5130
Yates County Vital Records
Office Hours:
Monday – Friday: 8:30 AM – 4:00 PM
Yates County Sheriff's Office
227 Main Street
Penn Yan, NY 14527
(315) 536-4438
Yates County Sheriff's Office
Office Hours:
Open 24 hours, 7 days a week (dispatch and corrections)
Administrative offices: Monday – Friday, 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM
The Sheriff's Office, as described in its official mission statement, serves as a "conservator of the peace and public safety in Yates County" and processes requests for law enforcement records, including incident reports and arrest logs, in accordance with FOIL and applicable exemptions.