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How to Find Public Records in Lee County in 2026

LeeILRecords.us provides publicly available information and data related to public records maintained by government agencies in Lee County, Illinois. Members of the public may use this resource to locate information pertaining to a range of record categories, including court filings, property documents, vital records, and law enforcement data. The availability and completeness of any given record depends on the maintaining agency, the nature of the request, and applicable state law.

Record categories that may be accessible through official channels include:

Court records (civil, criminal, probate, and family law)
Property deeds, mortgages, and tax assessments
Vital records such as birth and death certificates
Marriage and divorce records
Business licenses and fictitious name registrations
Voting and election records
County board meeting minutes and agendas
Budget and financial documents
Law enforcement incident reports and arrest logs (where permitted)

Records may be searched through official court resources, clerk offices, public access terminals, and online tools maintained by county and state agencies.

Online Access: The Lee County Courthouse maintains court case information accessible through the Illinois Courts system. The Illinois Secretary of State's office provides online portals for business entity searches. Property records and tax assessment data are available through the Lee County Supervisor of Assessments and Treasurer's offices via the county's official website at leecountyil.com.

In-Person Requests: Members of the public may visit the Lee County Clerk's Office at 112 E. Second Street, Dixon, IL 61021. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. Requestors should present a completed request form and valid identification where required by the record type.

Written/Mail Requests: Written requests may be submitted to the Lee County Clerk's Office at 112 E. Second Street, Dixon, IL 61021. Requests must include the requestor's name, contact information, a description of the records sought, and the preferred format for delivery. Under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act, public bodies are required to respond within five business days of receipt.

Phone/Email: The Lee County Clerk's Office may be reached by phone at (815) 288-3309. Email inquiries may be directed through the contact portal available on the county's official website.

What Are Public Records in Lee County?

Public records in Lee County are defined by state law as all records, reports, forms, writings, letters, memoranda, books, papers, maps, photographs, microfilms, cards, tapes, recordings, electronic data processing records, electronic communications, recorded information, and all other documentary materials pertaining to the transaction of public business, regardless of physical form or characteristics, having been prepared by or for, or having been or being used by, received by, in the possession of, or under the control of any public body. This definition is established under 5 ILCS § 140/2, the Illinois Freedom of Information Act.

The following record types are maintained by Lee County agencies:

Record Type	Maintaining Office
Civil and criminal court records	Circuit Clerk, Lee County Courthouse
Property deeds and mortgages	Lee County Recorder
Vital records (birth, death)	Lee County Clerk / IDPH
Marriage and divorce records	Lee County Clerk / Circuit Clerk
Property tax and assessment records	Lee County Treasurer / Assessor
Business licenses and permits	Lee County Clerk
Voting and election records	Lee County Clerk
Meeting minutes and agendas	Lee County Board
Law enforcement records	Lee County Sheriff's Office
Land use and zoning records	Lee County Zoning Office

Birth certificates for events occurring in Illinois may be requested through the Illinois Department of Public Health's vital records division, which maintains statewide birth record files.

Is Lee County an Open Records County?

Lee County operates in full compliance with the Illinois Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), which governs public access to government records throughout the state. Under 5 ILCS § 140/1, the Illinois General Assembly declared that "it is the public policy of the State of Illinois that all persons are entitled to full and complete information regarding the affairs of government and the official acts and policies of those who represent them as public officials and public employees."

Each public body in Lee County, including the County Board, Circuit Clerk, Sheriff's Office, and all other county departments, is required to designate a FOIA officer responsible for receiving and responding to public records requests. The Illinois Attorney General's Public Access Counselor provides guidance and oversight to ensure compliance with open records obligations statewide. As stated in the Act, "a public body has an obligation to provide records in the format requested if the public body maintains the records in that format."

County-specific FOIA request forms are available through the respective offices. Requestors who believe a response is improper may file a Request for Review with the Illinois Attorney General's Public Access Bureau.

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

The current fee structure for public records in Lee County is governed by the Illinois Freedom of Information Act and applicable county fee schedules. Standard fees are as follows:

Fee Type	Amount
Black-and-white copies (first 50 pages)	No charge
Black-and-white copies (pages 51 and beyond)	$0.15 per page
Color copies	Actual cost
Electronic format (existing format)	No charge
Certification of records	Varies by office
Vital record certified copies	$15.00 per copy (IDPH)

Under 5 ILCS § 140/6, public bodies may not charge fees for the first 50 pages of black-and-white, letter- or legal-sized copies. Fees for records in other formats are limited to the actual cost of reproduction. Search fees are not permitted under state law unless the request requires an extraordinary amount of time to fulfill.

Accepted payment methods at county offices include cash, check, and money order. Individual offices may also accept credit or debit cards. Fee waivers may be available when disclosure is determined to be in the public interest, as provided under the Act.

Does Lee County Have Free Public Records?

Free inspection of public records is available to members of the public at county offices during regular business hours. Under state law, public bodies must allow inspection of records without charge. The distinction between free inspection and free copies is significant: while viewing records in person carries no fee, obtaining physical or electronic copies may be subject to the fee schedule described above.

The following resources provide free access to public records:

The Lee County official website at leecountyil.com provides access to property assessment data, county board minutes, and other public documents at no cost.
The Lee County Courthouse provides public access terminals for court record searches.
The Illinois State Police Sex Offender Registry provides free public access to registered offender information statewide, including individuals registered in Lee County.
The Illinois Department of Corrections individual in custody search allows the public to search for individuals currently in state custody at no charge.

Certified copies of vital records, court documents, and recorded instruments are subject to applicable fees as noted above.

Who Can Request Public Records in Lee County?

Any person may submit a public records request in Lee County, regardless of residency, citizenship, or stated purpose. The Illinois Freedom of Information Act does not require requestors to be Illinois residents or to provide a reason for their request. This applies to individuals, organizations, news media, and businesses alike.

Requestors are not required to provide identification for most public records requests, though certain record types — particularly vital records — require proof of eligibility or relationship to the subject of the record. For example, certified copies of birth and death certificates are restricted to eligible individuals as defined under Illinois vital records statutes.

Members of the public requesting their own records may be entitled to expedited processing or additional access in certain circumstances. Non-residents retain the same rights as residents under state law. Requests submitted on behalf of another individual or organization must clearly identify the authorized representative.

Specific restrictions apply to records involving minors, sealed court proceedings, and law enforcement investigative files. In those instances, access may be limited to parties with a demonstrated legal interest or court authorization.

What Records Are Confidential in Lee County?

Certain records maintained by Lee County agencies are exempt from public disclosure under state and federal law. The Illinois Freedom of Information Act enumerates specific categories of exempt information, and public bodies are required to apply these exemptions on a record-by-record basis.

Records that are currently exempt from disclosure include:

Sealed court records and expunged criminal records
Juvenile court records and youth case files
Records pertaining to ongoing law enforcement investigations
Personal identifying information, including Social Security numbers and financial account data
Medical and mental health records protected under HIPAA
Adoption records (sealed by court order)
Child welfare and protective services records
Personnel records, except where disclosure is required by law
Trade secrets and proprietary business information submitted to government agencies
Security plans, emergency response protocols, and critical infrastructure details

Under 5 ILCS § 140/7, public bodies must identify the specific exemption relied upon when denying access to records and must release any non-exempt portions of a document through a process known as redaction. The Act requires a balancing of the public interest in disclosure against the privacy or security interest in withholding.

Lee County Recorder's Office: Contact Information and Hours

Lee County Clerk and Recorder
112 E. Second Street
Dixon, IL 61021
(815) 288-3309
Lee County Clerk and Recorder

Office Hours:
Monday – Friday: 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM
Closed on federal and state holidays

Lee County Circuit Clerk
112 E. Second Street
Dixon, IL 61021
(815) 288-4414
Lee County Circuit Clerk

Office Hours:
Monday – Friday: 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM

Lee County Sheriff's Office
309 S. Galena Avenue
Dixon, IL 61021
(815) 284-6631
Lee County Sheriff's Office

Office Hours:
Monday – Friday: 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM

Lee County Supervisor of Assessments
112 E. Second Street
Dixon, IL 61021
(815) 288-4483
Lee County Supervisor of Assessments