Orleans County Public Records
What Are Public Records in Orleans County?
Public records in Orleans Parish (also known as Orleans County) are defined under the Louisiana Public Records Law, specifically in Louisiana Revised Statutes § 44:1 et seq. According to this statute, public records include "all books, records, writings, accounts, letters and letter books, maps, drawings, photographs, cards, tapes, recordings, memoranda, and papers...prepared, possessed, or retained for use in the conduct of public business."
Orleans Parish maintains numerous types of public records, including:
- Court Records: Civil, criminal, probate, and family court records maintained by the Orleans Parish Civil District Court and Orleans Parish Criminal District Court
- Property Records: Deeds, mortgages, liens, and property assessments maintained by the Orleans Parish Assessor's Office
- Vital Records: Birth certificates, death certificates, marriage licenses, and divorce decrees (older vital records are housed at the Louisiana State Archives)
- Business Records: Business licenses, permits, and fictitious name registrations
- Tax Records: Property tax information and assessment records
- Voting and Election Records: Voter registration and election results maintained by the Orleans Parish Registrar of Voters
- Meeting Minutes and Agendas: Records from the New Orleans City Council and various boards and commissions
- Budget and Financial Documents: City and parish financial records, audits, and budgets
- Law Enforcement Records: Arrest logs and incident reports (with certain restrictions) from the New Orleans Police Department
- Land Use and Zoning Records: Building permits, zoning applications, and code enforcement records
The City of New Orleans serves as the primary custodian for many Orleans Parish public records, with specific departments maintaining different record types.
Is Orleans County an Open Records County?
Orleans Parish fully adheres to the Louisiana Public Records Law as established in Louisiana Revised Statutes § 44:1-44 et seq. This comprehensive statute guarantees the public's right to access government records with certain exceptions.
Under La. R.S. § 44:31, "any person of the age of majority may inspect, copy, or reproduce any public record" and "any person may obtain a copy or reproduction of any public record," establishing a presumption of openness for government records.
The City of New Orleans has implemented specific procedures to comply with these state requirements. According to the official public records policy, the city is committed to transparency and providing timely access to public records.
Orleans Parish also complies with Louisiana's Open Meetings Law (La. R.S. § 42:11-28), often referred to as the "Sunshine Law," which requires public bodies to conduct business in open meetings with proper notice to the public.
The parish has established a centralized public records request system to facilitate access to government information, demonstrating its commitment to open government principles.
How to Find Public Records in Orleans County in 2026
Members of the public seeking records from Orleans Parish may follow these procedures to obtain the information they need:
-
Determine the appropriate custodian: Identify which agency or department maintains the records you seek. The Orleans Parish government website provides a directory of departments.
-
Submit a formal request: Public records requests can be submitted through several methods:
- Online: Use the City of New Orleans Public Records Request Portal
- In person: Visit the appropriate agency during business hours
- By mail: Send a written request to the relevant department
- By email: Contact the records custodian at the email address listed on the department website
-
Provide specific information: Clearly identify the records you seek with as much detail as possible, including:
- Type of record
- Date range
- Names of involved parties
- Case numbers (if applicable)
- Any other identifying information
-
For court records: The Orleans Parish Civil District Court and Criminal District Court maintain separate systems for accessing court records:
- Civil cases: Available through the Civil District Court Clerk's Office
- Criminal cases: Available through the Criminal District Court Clerk's Office
- Traffic violations: Available through the Municipal and Traffic Court of New Orleans
-
For property records: The Orleans Parish Assessor's Office maintains property assessment records, while property deeds and mortgages are available through the Clerk of Civil District Court.
-
For vital records: Recent vital records (birth, death, marriage certificates) are available through the Orleans Parish Clerk of Court, while older records are maintained by the Louisiana State Archives.
-
Follow up if necessary: If you do not receive a response within the statutory timeframe (generally 3-5 business days), contact the records custodian for a status update.
How Much Does It Cost to Get Public Records in Orleans County?
Orleans Parish follows the fee structure established by the Louisiana Public Records Law. According to La. R.S. § 44:32(C), agencies may charge reasonable fees for copies of public records.
Current standard fees for public records in Orleans Parish include:
- Paper copies: $0.25-$1.00 per page, depending on the agency and document type
- Certified copies: Additional $5.00-$10.00 certification fee
- Electronic records: Variable fees based on storage medium and staff time
- Research fees: Some agencies may charge for extensive research time (typically after the first 15-30 minutes)
- Specialized documents: Higher fees for maps, blueprints, and oversized documents
Specific fee schedules by department:
-
Orleans Parish Civil District Court:
- Regular copies: $1.00 per page
- Certified copies: $5.00 per document plus copy fees
- Case searches: $20.00 per name
-
Orleans Parish Criminal District Court:
- Regular copies: $0.50 per page
- Certified copies: $10.00 per document
- Background checks: $20.00 per name
-
Orleans Parish Clerk of Court (Vital Records):
- Birth certificates: $15.00 for first copy, $15.00 for each additional copy
- Death certificates: $15.00 for first copy, $15.00 for each additional copy
- Marriage licenses: $25.00 for first copy, $15.00 for each additional copy
Accepted payment methods typically include:
- Cash (in person only)
- Credit/debit cards
- Money orders
- Cashier's checks
- Personal checks (some agencies)
Fee waivers may be available in certain circumstances, particularly for indigent requestors or those seeking records for public interest purposes, as provided in La. R.S. § 44:32(C)(1)(a).
Does Orleans County Have Free Public Records?
Orleans Parish provides free inspection of public records in accordance with La. R.S. § 44:32(A), which states that "the custodian shall present any public record to any person of the age of majority who so requests." While copies typically incur fees, the public has the right to examine records at no cost during regular business hours.
Several Orleans Parish agencies offer free online access to certain public records:
-
The Orleans Parish Assessor's Office provides free online access to property assessment records, including property values, ownership information, and tax assessment data.
-
The Orleans Parish Civil District Court offers limited free case information through its online portal, though detailed documents may require fees.
-
The Orleans Parish Sheriff's Office maintains an inmate lookup system that provides basic information about current inmates at no cost.
-
The New Orleans City Council publishes meeting agendas, minutes, and ordinances on its website free of charge.
-
The City of New Orleans Open Data Portal provides free access to various datasets, including crime statistics, building permits, and code enforcement actions.
Members of the public may also inspect records in person at the respective agency offices during normal business hours without paying fees, though appointments may be recommended for extensive research.
Who Can Request Public Records in Orleans County?
Under the Louisiana Public Records Law, specifically La. R.S. § 44:31, "any person of the age of majority" may request public records in Orleans Parish. This broad eligibility includes:
- Louisiana residents
- Non-residents of Louisiana
- U.S. citizens
- Foreign nationals
- Media representatives
- Businesses and organizations
- Attorneys and legal representatives
Key provisions regarding requestor eligibility include:
- Age requirement: Requestors must be at least 18 years old (the age of majority in Louisiana)
- Identification: While basic identification may be required to verify age, requestors generally do not need to provide extensive personal information
- Purpose disclosure: In most cases, requestors are not required to state the purpose of their request or how they intend to use the records
- Anonymous requests: The law does not explicitly permit anonymous requests; most agencies require at least a name and contact information
For certain restricted records, additional eligibility requirements may apply:
- Vital records: Birth certificates, death certificates, and other vital records may only be available to the person named in the record, immediate family members, legal representatives, or those with a legitimate legal interest
- Criminal history information: Complete criminal history records may be restricted to the subject of the record, law enforcement agencies, or those with court orders
- Medical records: Access is typically limited to the patient or their authorized representative
When requesting records about oneself versus records about others, different standards may apply. Personal records often require identity verification to protect privacy, while general public records are available to any eligible requestor.
What Records Are Confidential in Orleans County?
While Orleans Parish adheres to the presumption of openness established by the Louisiana Public Records Law, La. R.S. § 44:4.1 and other statutes exempt numerous categories of records from public disclosure. These confidential records include:
- Juvenile records: Court records involving minors, except in specific circumstances outlined in the Children's Code
- Sealed court records: Records sealed by court order, including expunged criminal records and certain civil matters
- Ongoing criminal investigations: Records related to pending criminal investigations, as protected under La. R.S. § 44:3
- Personal identifying information: Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, and other personal identifiers contained within otherwise public records
- Medical records: Health information protected under HIPAA and state medical privacy laws
- Adoption records: Sealed adoption proceedings and related documents
- Child welfare records: Reports and investigations by child protective services
- Personnel records: Certain employment records, including personal information about public employees, though job titles, salaries, and qualifications remain public
- Attorney-client privileged communications: Legal advice and strategy documents between government agencies and their attorneys
- Trade secrets and proprietary information: Confidential business information submitted to government agencies
- Security information: Details about critical infrastructure, security systems, and emergency response plans
- Certain tax records: Individual tax return information and confidential tax data
- Victim information: Personal details about crime victims, particularly in sensitive cases
- Educational records: Student records protected under FERPA
The law requires agencies to apply a balancing test in some cases, weighing the public's right to know against individual privacy interests. When records contain both public and confidential information, agencies must redact the confidential portions and release the remainder.
Requestors seeking access to records that may contain exempt information should be specific about the information they seek, as this may help the agency determine if partial disclosure is possible.
Orleans County Recorder's Office: Contact Information and Hours
Orleans Parish Clerk of Civil District Court
1340 Poydras Street, Suite 400
New Orleans, LA 70112
(504) 407-0000
Orleans Parish Clerk of Civil District Court
Hours of Operation:
Monday - Friday: 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Closed on weekends and state holidays
Orleans Parish Assessor's Office
City Hall, Room 4E01
1300 Perdido Street
New Orleans, LA 70112
(504) 658-1300
Orleans Parish Assessor's Office
Hours of Operation:
Monday - Friday: 8:30 AM - 4:00 PM
Closed on weekends and state holidays
Orleans Parish Civil District Court
421 Loyola Avenue
New Orleans, LA 70112
(504) 407-0000
Orleans Parish Civil District Court
Hours of Operation:
Monday - Friday: 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Closed on weekends and state holidays
Orleans Parish Criminal District Court
2700 Tulane Avenue
New Orleans, LA 70119
(504) 658-9000
Orleans Parish Criminal District Court
Hours of Operation:
Monday - Friday: 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Closed on weekends and state holidays
Orleans Parish Registrar of Voters
1300 Perdido Street, Room 1W23
New Orleans, LA 70112
(504) 658-8300
Orleans Parish Registrar of Voters
Hours of Operation:
Monday - Friday: 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Extended hours during election periods
Closed on weekends and state holidays
Lookup Public Records in Orleans County
Services - Public Records - City of New Orleans