OPEN RECORD REQUESTS

 
Georgia law gives the public the right to inspect many government records under the Georgia Open Records Act (O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70 et seq.). Habersham County provides access to public records as required by law.
Important: The federal Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) applies only to federal agencies and does not apply to Habersham County or other state or local governments.
Certain records, or portions of records, may be exempt from disclosure under state law.

Response Time, Fees, and Availability

  • You will be notified within three (3) business days whether the requested records are available and when they will be ready.
  • Copies are $0.10 per page.
  • Record retrieval fees may apply after the first 15 minutes (free).
  • Additional charges may apply for materials such as flash drives, CDs, or other media used to provide records.
  • Postage costs may also be charged for records sent by mail.
  • Regular business hours are Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. (excluding holidays).

Email Safety Requirement (All Departments)

Due to an increase in malicious emails and attachments, any Open Records request submitted by email must include:
  • Your name
  • Contact information
  • A brief description of the records requested
Emails that do not include sufficient information, or appear suspicious, may not receive a response and may be referred to the County IT Department.

 

SUBMIT A REQUST

To avoid delays, submit your request directly to the appropriate department listed below.

Requests for Records from the Board of Commissioners

The County Clerk serves as the Open Records Officer for the Habersham County Board of Commissioners only.
This does not include:
 
  • Habersham County Sheriff’s Office
  • Clerk of Court
  • Judges
  • Tax Commissioner
  • Other elected officials
  • Independent authorities (such as the Hospital Authority)
There are several options for submitting an Open Record Request to the Habersham County Baord of Commissioners:
 
1. Online Portal — Board of Commissioners Records Only
Use this secure portal to request Board of Commissioners records only.
This portal does not process requests for any other county department.
Click HERE to access the online open record request portal for the Board of Commissioners or use the link at the right side of the page.
 
2. Email (Board of Commissioners records only):
3. Mail:
Habersham County Board of Commissioners
Attn: Open Records Request
130 Jacob's Way, Suite 301
Clarkesville, GA 30523
Click HERE to access the printable Open Record Request Form for the Board of Commissioners Office or use the link on the right side of the page. 

Requests for Records from the Clerk of Court

Open Records Act requests are not required for the Clerk of Superior Court.
 
Court records are available for public inspection and copying in accordance with Superior Court Rule 21 during normal business hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.

Requests for Records from the Sheriff’s Office

Requests for Sheriff’s Office records (including arrest reports, incident reports, and accident reports) must be submitted directly to the Sheriff’s Office Open Records Officer.
Click HERE to access the printable Open Record Request form for the Habersham County Sheriff's Office. 
 
 
Email: so_records@habershamga.com
Phone: 706-839-0513

Requests for Records from Habersham County E-911

To request records or recordings maintained by Habersham County E-911, complete the form below and submit it by mail, fax, or email.
Click HERE to access the printable Open Record Request form for Habersham County E-911. 
 
Melanie Bellinger, E-911/EMA Director
Mail:
Habersham County E-911
175 EOC Drive
Mt. Airy, GA 30563
Phone (non-emergency): 706-778-3911
Fax: 706-776-1066

Need Assistance?

If you are unsure which department maintains the records you are requesting, please review the descriptions above to ensure your request is sent to the correct office. Submitting your request to the appropriate department helps prevent delays.
 
If you have questions about which department to contact for an Open Records request, please call the County Clerk’s Office at 706-839-0215 for guidance.