Kankakee County Public Records

What Are Public Records in Kankakee County?

Public records in Kankakee County are defined according to the Illinois Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) (5 ILCS 140/1 et seq.) 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.

Kankakee County maintains numerous types of public records, including:

Court Records: Civil, criminal, traffic, probate, and family court cases maintained by the Kankakee County Circuit Clerk
Property Records: Deeds, mortgages, liens, and property transfers recorded by the County Recorder's Office
Vital Records: Birth certificates, death certificates, marriage licenses, and civil union certificates maintained by the Kankakee County Clerk
Tax Records: Property tax assessments, payments, and parcel information available through the Kankakee County Treasurer
Business Records: Business licenses, permits, and registrations
Voting and Election Records: Voter registration, election results, and campaign finance reports
Meeting Minutes and Agendas: County Board and committee meetings, public hearings
Budget and Financial Documents: Annual budgets, expenditure reports, and audits
Law Enforcement Records: Arrest logs, incident reports (with certain restrictions)
Land Use and Zoning Records: Building permits, zoning applications, and code enforcement

The Kankakee County Clerk's Office serves as the primary custodian for many county records, while specialized records are maintained by their respective departments, such as the Circuit Clerk for court records and the Recorder's Office for property records.

Is Kankakee County an Open Records County?

Kankakee County adheres to the Illinois Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), which establishes the public's right to access government records. Under 5 ILCS 140/1, the Illinois General Assembly has 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."

The statute further states that "it is declared to be the public policy of the State of Illinois that access by all persons to public records promotes the transparency and accountability of public bodies at all levels of government." This fundamental principle guides Kankakee County's approach to public records access.

Kankakee County has established specific FOIA procedures in compliance with state law. The County's official website provides information about submitting FOIA requests to various county departments. Each department has a designated FOIA officer responsible for processing requests in accordance with statutory timelines.

The County also complies with the Illinois Open Meetings Act (5 ILCS 120/1 et seq.), which requires that meetings of public bodies be open to the public, with limited exceptions for closed sessions. Meeting notices, agendas, and minutes are made available to the public as required by law.

How to Find Public Records in Kankakee County in 2026

Members of the public seeking records from Kankakee County may utilize several methods to access information:

Online Access: Many records are available through the Kankakee County website. The county provides online access to:
- Court case information through the Circuit Clerk's office
- Property tax records and payment options
- County Board meeting agendas and minutes
- Voter registration verification
In-Person Requests: Individuals may visit the appropriate county office during regular business hours to request records:
- For court records, visit the Kankakee County Circuit Clerk located in the courthouse
- For vital records, visit the County Clerk's office
- For property records, visit the Recorder's office
FOIA Requests: For records not readily available, submit a formal FOIA request:
- Complete the county's FOIA request form (available on the county website)
- Submit to the appropriate department's FOIA officer
- Requests may be submitted in person, by mail, or electronically
- Under Illinois law, the county must respond within 5 business days (may be extended an additional 5 days with proper notification)
Mail Requests: Send written requests to the specific department:
- Include specific information about the records sought
- Provide contact information for response
- Include payment for any applicable fees
Electronic Requests: Email FOIA requests to the designated FOIA officer for each department as listed on the county website.

When requesting records, be as specific as possible about the information sought, including relevant dates, names, and document types to expedite processing.

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

Kankakee County assesses fees for public records in accordance with the Illinois Freedom of Information Act (5 ILCS 140/6). The current fee structure for public records is as follows:

Standard Paper Copies: $0.15 per page for black and white copies (after the first 50 pages, which are provided free of charge under FOIA)
Color Copies or Specialized Documents: Actual cost of reproduction
Electronic Records: Generally provided at no cost when records are already maintained in electronic format
Certified Copies: Additional certification fees apply

Specific record types have statutorily established fees:

Vital Records:
- Birth Certificates: $15 for the first copy, $4 for each additional copy ordered at the same time
- Death Certificates: $19 for the first copy, $4 for each additional copy ordered at the same time
- Marriage/Civil Union Certificates: $14 for the first copy, $4 for each additional copy ordered at the same time
Court Records:
- Case file copies: $0.50 per page
- Certified court documents: $6.00 per document plus copy fees
- Criminal history searches: $10.00 per name
Property Records:
- Deed copies: $1.00 per page
- Recording fees: Vary by document type and number of pages

Payment methods accepted by Kankakee County offices include:

Cash (in-person only)
Personal checks
Money orders
Credit/debit cards (subject to processing fees)

Under § 6(b) of the Illinois FOIA, fees may be reduced or waived if the requester states the specific purpose of the request and indicates that a waiver or reduction of the fee is in the public interest. A request is in the public interest if the principal purpose of the request is to access and disseminate information regarding the health, safety, and welfare or the legal rights of the general public.

Does Kankakee County Have Free Public Records?

Kankakee County provides several avenues for accessing public records at no cost:

Free Inspection: Pursuant to the Illinois Freedom of Information Act, all public records may be inspected free of charge during normal business hours at the office where they are maintained. Members of the public may examine records without paying fees, though advance appointments may be recommended for extensive research.
Free Online Resources:
- The Kankakee County website offers free access to various public records
- Property tax information is available through the county's online property tax inquiry system
- County Board meeting agendas and minutes are accessible online
- Voter registration verification is available at no cost
First 50 Pages Free: Under the Illinois FOIA, the first 50 pages of black and white, letter or legal-sized copies are provided free of charge for all FOIA requests.
Electronic Records: When records are already maintained in electronic format and can be emailed, they are typically provided at no cost.
Public Access Terminals: The Kankakee County Courthouse provides public access terminals where visitors can search certain records at no charge.

The Kankakee County Clerk's Office maintains public access terminals for searching voter registration information, and the Circuit Clerk's office provides terminals for searching court case information.

Who Can Request Public Records in Kankakee County?

Under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act (5 ILCS 140/3), any person has the right to request and obtain public records from Kankakee County. The statute defines "person" to include individuals, corporations, partnerships, firms, organizations, and associations.

Key eligibility considerations include:

Residency: Illinois law does not restrict public records access to state residents. Any person, regardless of citizenship or residency status, may submit a FOIA request to Kankakee County.
Identification Requirements:
- For general public records: Requestors are not required to provide identification or state the purpose of their request for most public records.
- For certain records: Identification may be required for records with restricted access, such as vital records (birth, death, marriage certificates) or records that may contain confidential information.
Purpose Disclosure:
- Under § 3(c) of the Illinois FOIA, public bodies may not require the requestor to specify the purpose of the request, except to determine whether the records are sought for a commercial purpose or whether to grant a fee waiver.
- Commercial requestors may be subject to different fee structures and response timelines.
Requesting Your Own Records vs. Others' Records:
- Personal records: Individuals requesting their own records may need to provide identification to verify their identity.
- Others' records: Requests for another person's records may be subject to privacy protections and exemptions under § 7 of the Illinois FOIA.
- Vital records: Access to birth certificates is restricted to the person named on the certificate, their parent/legal guardian, or their legal representative for 75 years after the date of birth.
Representatives: Attorneys, researchers, and other representatives may request records on behalf of clients, but may need to provide documentation of their authorization.

Public agencies in Kankakee County cannot deny a request based on the requestor's identity, except where specifically authorized by law for protected record types.

What Records Are Confidential in Kankakee County?

While Kankakee County strives to provide access to public records, certain information is exempt from disclosure under 5 ILCS 140/7 of the Illinois Freedom of Information Act. These exemptions protect privacy, security, and other important interests. Confidential records include:

Personal Privacy Information:
- Social Security numbers, driver's license numbers
- Home addresses and telephone numbers of certain public employees
- Medical records protected under HIPAA
- Personal financial information
- Biometric identifiers
Law Enforcement Records:
- Records that would interfere with pending or contemplated law enforcement proceedings
- Records that would disclose confidential sources or investigative techniques
- Records that would endanger the life or physical safety of law enforcement personnel or others
- Juvenile arrest records and criminal history information
Preliminary Documents:
- Preliminary drafts, notes, and recommendations
- Materials prepared for or during closed meetings under the Open Meetings Act
- Communications between a public body and its attorney (attorney-client privilege)
Security Information:
- Security procedures, vulnerability assessments
- Critical infrastructure information
- Building plans for public buildings where disclosure would compromise security
Sealed Court Records:
- Records sealed by court order
- Adoption records (access restricted under the Adoption Act)
- Juvenile court records (access restricted under the Juvenile Court Act)
Personnel Records:
- Performance evaluations
- Personal information within personnel files
- Examination data used to determine qualifications for employment
Trade Secrets and Commercial Information:
- Trade secrets and commercial or financial information obtained from a person or business where disclosure would cause competitive harm

When a record contains both exempt and non-exempt information, § 7(1) of the Illinois FOIA requires the public body to separate the exempt from non-exempt material and make the non-exempt material available for examination and copying.

The County applies a balancing test when considering discretionary exemptions, weighing the public interest in disclosure against the interest protected by the exemption.

Kankakee County Recorder's Office: Contact Information and Hours

Kankakee County Recorder's Office
189 E. Court Street, Room 205
Kankakee, IL 60901
Phone: (815) 937-2985
Kankakee County Recorder

Hours of Operation:
Monday through Friday: 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM
Closed on weekends and county-observed holidays

The Recorder's Office is responsible for maintaining and providing access to property records in Kankakee County, including:

Deeds and property transfers
Mortgages and mortgage releases
Liens and lien releases
Plats and surveys
Military discharge records (DD-214)
Miscellaneous documents affecting real property

For additional county offices that maintain public records:

Kankakee County Clerk's Office
189 E. Court Street
Kankakee, IL 60901
Phone: (815) 937-2990
Kankakee County Clerk

Kankakee County Circuit Clerk
450 E. Court Street
Kankakee, IL 60901
Phone: (815) 936-5700
Kankakee County Circuit Clerk

Lookup Public Records in Kankakee County

Kankakee County Circuit Clerk records

Kankakee County Courthouse information

Kankakee County Court Information

Kankakee County Property Tax Search

Kankakee County Official Website

Kankakee County Clerk's Office

City of Kankakee FOIA Information

Kankakee County Vital Records