Bonner County Public Records

What Are Public Records in Bonner County?

Public records in Bonner County are defined under Idaho Code § 74-101 as any writing containing information relating to the conduct or administration of the public's business prepared, owned, used, or retained by a state or local agency, regardless of physical form or characteristics. Members of the public may inspect or obtain copies of these documents subject to the exemptions established by state law.

The following categories of records are currently maintained by Bonner County agencies and are generally available for public inspection:

Court records — civil, criminal, probate, and family law case files maintained by the Bonner County District Court
Property records — deeds, mortgages, liens, easements, and assessment data maintained by the Bonner County Recorder and Assessor
Vital records — marriage licenses and marriage certificates maintained by the Bonner County Clerk; birth and death certificates are issued by the Idaho Vital Records office at the state level
Business records — assumed business name filings, licenses, and permits maintained by the Bonner County Clerk and applicable municipal offices
Tax records — property tax assessments, payment histories, and related documents maintained by the Bonner County Assessor and Treasurer; state tax return copies may be requested through the Idaho State Tax Commission public records process
Voting and election records — voter registration data and election results maintained by the Bonner County Elections Office
Meeting minutes and agendas — Board of County Commissioners meeting minutes, agendas, and supporting documents maintained by the Bonner County Clerk
Budget and financial documents — annual budgets, expenditure reports, and audit records maintained by the Bonner County Finance Department
Law enforcement records — arrest logs and incident reports available to the extent permitted by law through the Bonner County Sheriff's Office
Land use and zoning records — planning applications, zoning maps, and permit records maintained by the Bonner County Planning Department

Members of the public may conduct document searches through the Bonner County Recorder's index, which organizes all recorded instruments by grantor/grantee name and recording date. Research assistance is available at the public counter between 8:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Is Bonner County an Open Records County?

Bonner County fully complies with Idaho's Public Records Act, which establishes a presumption of openness for all government records. Under Idaho Code § 74-102, every person has the right to examine and take a copy of any public record of the state or its political subdivisions. The statute expressly states that the people of Idaho have the right to examine and copy public records, and that this right shall be liberally construed in favor of disclosure.

Key provisions of the Idaho Public Records Act currently in effect include:

Agencies must respond to a public records request within three business days of receipt
Denial of access must be accompanied by a written explanation citing the specific statutory exemption
Requestors who are wrongfully denied access may seek judicial review and, if successful, may be awarded attorney fees

The Idaho Office of Attorney General provides guidance to both agencies and members of the public regarding compliance with the Public Records Act. Bonner County does not maintain a separate county ordinance governing public records access; the county operates exclusively under the framework established by state statute. The Idaho Department of Administration also accepts and processes public record requests for state-level documents under the same statutory authority.

How to Find Public Records in Bonner County

Members of the public may access Bonner County records through several channels, depending on the record type sought.

Online Access

Use the Bonner County Recorder's self-service portal to search recorded land documents, including deeds, mortgages, and liens, by name or recording date
Access the Bonner County Public Map GIS Viewer to retrieve parcel data, zoning boundaries, and geospatial property information
Submit a formal public records request online through the county's official request portal

In-Person Access

Visit the Bonner County Recorder's Office at 215 S. First Avenue, Sandpoint, Idaho 83864, during public counter hours (Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.) to inspect recorded documents; research assistance is available between 8:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.
Visit the Bonner County Clerk's Office at the same address for court records, election records, and meeting minutes

By Mail or Email

Submit a written request describing the records sought with sufficient specificity to allow staff to locate them; include the requestor's name and contact information
Mail requests to the appropriate department at 215 S. First Avenue, Sandpoint, Idaho 83864

Historical and Archival Records

Permanently inactive government records of long-term research value may be preserved at the Idaho State Archives, which provides public access to records of fiscal, administrative, legal, and cultural significance
The Idaho State Historical Society's Government Records Program accepts and preserves permanent, inactive records from state and local agencies

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

Standard fees apply to copies of public records obtained from Bonner County offices. Under Idaho Code § 74-102, agencies may charge a reasonable fee not to exceed the actual cost of providing the records, including the cost of materials and staff time for extensive requests.

Current standard fees for Bonner County records include:

Standard paper copies: $0.10 per page for black-and-white copies (8.5" x 11")
Certified copies of recorded documents: fees vary by document type; the Recorder's Office charges per-page recording and copy fees established by Idaho statute
Electronic records: provided at no charge when already maintained in electronic format and transmittable without additional processing, or at actual cost of duplication
Staff research time: agencies may charge for staff time when a request requires more than two hours to fulfill, at the actual hourly cost of the employee conducting the search

Accepted payment methods at the Bonner County Recorder's Office currently include cash, check, and credit or debit card. Fee waivers are not expressly mandated by the Idaho Public Records Act for general requestors; however, agencies retain discretion to waive fees in appropriate circumstances, such as when disclosure is determined to be in the public interest.

Does Bonner County Have Free Public Records?

Free inspection of public records is available to any person under Idaho law, which requires agencies to permit examination of records without charge. Members of the public may inspect records in person at the applicable Bonner County office without incurring a fee; charges apply only when copies are requested.

The following free resources are currently available:

In-person inspection at the Bonner County Recorder's Office and Clerk's Office during regular business hours, at no cost
Online document index searches through the Bonner County document search portal, available at no charge
Self-service online access to recorded land records through the Bonner County Recorder's online system, which permits name and date-based searches without a fee
Parcel and zoning data accessible at no cost through the Bonner County Public GIS Map

Who Can Request Public Records in Bonner County?

Any person may request public records in Bonner County, regardless of residency, citizenship, or stated purpose. Idaho Code § 74-102 does not restrict the right to inspect or copy public records to Idaho residents; non-residents and out-of-state requestors hold the same rights as county residents under current law.

Specific provisions governing requestor eligibility include:

Identification: Requestors are not required to provide identification as a condition of access to non-restricted public records
Purpose: Requestors are generally not required to state the purpose of their request; however, purpose may be relevant when an agency is evaluating whether a specific exemption applies
Residency: Residency in Bonner County or the State of Idaho is not a prerequisite for submitting a public records request
Requesting your own records: Individuals seeking records pertaining to themselves, such as personal tax records or court filings, follow the same general process; certain records, such as sealed court files, require a court order regardless of whether the requestor is the subject of the record
Restrictions for specific record types: Certain categories of records, including juvenile court records, adoption records, and sealed case files, are accessible only to authorized parties as defined by statute

What Records Are Confidential in Bonner County?

Not all government records in Bonner County are subject to public disclosure. Idaho Code § 74-104 through § 74-124 enumerate specific categories of records that are exempt from mandatory disclosure under the Public Records Act. Agencies are required to provide written justification citing the applicable exemption when denying a request.

Records currently exempt from public disclosure in Bonner County include:

Sealed court records — records sealed by judicial order are not accessible to the general public
Juvenile records — records pertaining to juvenile offenders are confidential pursuant to Idaho juvenile justice statutes
Ongoing criminal investigation records — investigative records compiled for law enforcement purposes are exempt to the extent that disclosure would interfere with enforcement proceedings
Personal identifying information — Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, and similar data are redacted from disclosed records
Medical and health records — protected under both state exemptions and the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)
Adoption records — sealed by statute and accessible only through court order
Child welfare and protective services records — confidential under Idaho child protection statutes
Personnel records — employee records are exempt except for name, classification, and compensation information
Trade secrets and proprietary business information — submitted to agencies in confidence and exempt from disclosure
Security plans and critical infrastructure details — exempt to protect public safety

Where a record contains both exempt and non-exempt information, agencies are required to redact the exempt portions and disclose the remainder. The Idaho Office of Attorney General provides authoritative guidance on applying the balancing test between the public interest in disclosure and the interest in confidentiality.

Bonner County Recorder's Office: Contact Information and Hours

The Bonner County Recorder's Office serves as the primary repository for recorded land documents, including deeds, mortgages, liens, plats, and other instruments affecting real property in Bonner County. The Recording Office accepts documents for recording Monday through Friday and provides public access to the recorded document index.

Bonner County Recorder's Office 215 S. First Avenue, Sandpoint, ID 83864 (208) 265-1432 Bonner County Recorder's Office

Public counter hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (excluding holidays) Document recording accepted until 4:30 p.m. Research assistance available: 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Monday–Friday

Bonner County Clerk's Office 215 S. First Avenue, Sandpoint, ID 83864 (208) 265-1432 Bonner County Clerk's Office

Idaho Office of Attorney General 700 W. Jefferson Street, Suite 210, Boise, ID 83720 (208) 334-2400 Idaho Office of Attorney General — Public Records