St. Bernard County Public Records

How to Find Public Records in St. Bernard County in 2026

Members of the public seeking government documents in St. Bernard Parish, Louisiana, may access a broad range of publicly available information through official parish and state agencies. StBernardParishRecords.us serves as a directory resource that may assist users in locating relevant record categories. St. Bernard County — officially designated as St. Bernard Parish under Louisiana's governmental structure — maintains records across multiple departments, and the availability of specific documents may vary depending on the record type, the custodial office, and applicable state law.

Records that members of the public may find through official channels include:

Court records (civil, criminal, probate, and family)
Property deeds, mortgages, and assessment records
Vital records (birth, death, marriage, and divorce)
Business licenses and permits
Tax and financial records
Voting and election records
Parish council meeting minutes and agendas
Law enforcement incident reports (where permitted)
Land use, zoning, and environmental records

Online Access: The St. Bernard Parish government profile maintained by the State of Louisiana provides a starting point for identifying parish offices and their functions. The Louisiana Secretary of State's office and the Louisiana Clerk of Court Association also maintain online portals through which certain court and property records may be searched. Some records, including conveyance and mortgage records, are accessible through the St. Bernard Parish Clerk of Court's online index. Registration may be required for full document retrieval on certain platforms.

In-Person Requests: Members of the public may visit the St. Bernard Parish Clerk of Court to inspect or obtain certified copies of court filings, property records, and related documents. The office is located at 8201 W. Judge Perez Drive, Chalmette, LA 70043. Public counter hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM.

Written/Mail Requests: Written requests should be directed to the custodial office for the record type sought. Requests must include the requester's name, a description of the record, the time period involved, and a mailing address for response. Under Louisiana Revised Statutes § 44:35, agencies are required to respond to public records requests within three business days.

Phone/Email: The St. Bernard Parish Clerk of Court may be reached by telephone at (504) 271-3434. Contact information for additional parish offices is available through the Louisiana Department of Health's directory listing for the St. Bernard Parish Clerk of Court.

What Are Public Records in St. Bernard County?

Public records in St. Bernard Parish are defined under Louisiana Revised Statutes § 44:1 as all books, records, writings, accounts, letters, maps, photographs, films, and other documentary materials prepared, owned, used, or retained by any public body in the conduct of its official business. The following record types are maintained by parish agencies:

Record Type	Custodial Office
Civil and criminal court records	Clerk of Court
Property deeds and mortgages	Clerk of Court (Conveyance/Mortgage Records)
Vital records (birth, death, marriage)	Louisiana Department of Health / Clerk of Court
Business licenses and permits	Parish Government / Planning Department
Property tax assessments	St. Bernard Parish Assessor
Voting and election records	Louisiana Secretary of State
Meeting minutes and agendas	Parish Council / Clerk of Council
Budget and financial documents	Parish Government Finance Department
Law enforcement records	St. Bernard Parish Sheriff's Office
Environmental and zoning records	Parish Planning & Zoning / Louisiana DEQ

The St. Bernard Parish Clerk of Court serves as the primary custodian for court filings, conveyance records, and mortgage records. Historical death records for Louisiana parishes, including St. Bernard, may be accessed through the Louisiana Secretary of State's historical records resources.

Is St. Bernard County an Open Records County?

St. Bernard Parish operates in full compliance with Louisiana's statewide public records law. Under Louisiana Revised Statutes § 44:1 et seq., all public bodies in the state are required to make their records available for inspection and copying by any person upon request, subject to enumerated exemptions. Louisiana's Public Records Law is among the broadest in the nation in terms of the presumption of openness.

As stated in the Louisiana Public Records Law, "Providing access to public records is a responsibility and duty of the appointive or elective office of a custodian and his employees." This statutory mandate applies to all parish-level agencies, including the St. Bernard Parish Government, the Clerk of Court, the Sheriff's Office, and the Assessor's Office.

The Louisiana Legislature's Office of the Legislative Auditor has reviewed St. Bernard Parish Government operations and financial records, and a copy of audit findings has been submitted to the Governor and the Attorney General as required by state law, as reflected in the St. Bernard Parish Government audit report. This process reflects the parish's ongoing obligation to maintain transparent and accessible public financial records.

Louisiana's open records framework does not require requesters to state a reason for their request, and no showing of interest is necessary to obtain access to non-exempt records.

How Much Does It Cost to Get Public Records in St. Bernard County?

The fee structure for public records in St. Bernard Parish is governed by state law and the policies of individual custodial offices. Under Louisiana Revised Statutes § 44:32, custodians may charge fees for copies but may not charge for the inspection of records.

Standard fees applicable at the St. Bernard Parish Clerk of Court and related offices include:

Standard paper copies: $1.00 per page (standard size)
Certified copies: $5.00 for the first page; $1.00 for each additional page (fees may vary by document type)
Electronic copies: Fees vary; some records are available at no charge through online portals
Search fees: Not permitted under state law for standard public records requests
Inspection fees: No charge for in-person inspection of non-exempt records

Accepted payment methods at parish offices include cash, money order, and personal check. Credit card acceptance varies by office. Fee waivers may be available for indigent requesters or for requests made in the public interest, at the discretion of the custodian. Fees for vital records obtained through the Louisiana Department of Health differ from those charged by the Clerk of Court and are set by separate administrative rule.

Does St. Bernard County Have Free Public Records?

Free inspection of public records is available to any person under Louisiana law. Members of the public may visit the St. Bernard Parish Clerk of Court during regular business hours to inspect court filings, conveyance records, and mortgage records at no charge. No fee is assessed for the act of reviewing records in person.

Several categories of records are accessible at no cost through official online platforms:

Louisiana Secretary of State: Voter registration data and election results are available through the Secretary of State's online portal at no charge.
St. Bernard Parish Assessor: Property assessment data and tax roll information are accessible through the assessor's online search tool without a fee.
Louisiana DEQ Public Notices: Environmental permit records and public notices affecting St. Bernard Parish, including those related to the St. Bernard Parish Government Munster facility, are available through the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality's public notices database.
Louisiana Secretary of State Historical Records: Louisiana death records and other historical documents are searchable online at no cost through the Secretary of State's historical resources division.

The distinction between free inspection and free copies is significant: while inspection carries no charge, obtaining physical or certified copies is subject to the fee schedule described above.

Who Can Request Public Records in St. Bernard County?

Any person may request public records in St. Bernard Parish, regardless of residency, citizenship, or stated purpose. Louisiana's Public Records Law does not restrict access based on the requester's identity or affiliation. Requesters are not required to be Louisiana residents, and they are not required to explain why they are seeking a particular record.

Specific provisions applicable to requesters include:

Identification: Requesters are not required to provide identification for standard public records requests, though identification may be required for records containing sensitive personal information or for requests involving the requester's own records.
Purpose: No statement of purpose is required under state law for access to non-exempt records.
Non-residents: Non-residents of Louisiana retain full rights to request and receive public records under the same terms as residents.
Personal records: Individuals requesting their own records — such as their own criminal history or vital records — may be subject to additional identity verification requirements imposed by the specific custodial agency.
Minors and restricted records: Certain record types, including juvenile court records and adoption records, carry access restrictions that apply regardless of the requester's identity.

As stated in Louisiana's Public Records Law, "Every person of the age of majority has the right to inspect, copy, or reproduce any public record."

What Records Are Confidential in St. Bernard County?

Certain records maintained by St. Bernard Parish agencies are exempt from public disclosure under Louisiana law. Louisiana Revised Statutes § 44:4 and related provisions enumerate categories of records that custodians are not required — and in some cases are prohibited — to release. Confidential records include:

Sealed court records: Records sealed by judicial order are not available for public inspection.
Juvenile records: Records pertaining to juvenile proceedings are confidential under Louisiana Children's Code provisions.
Ongoing criminal investigation records: Records compiled during active law enforcement investigations are exempt until the investigation is closed or charges are filed.
Personal identifying information: Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, and similar data are redacted from publicly released documents.
Medical records: Records protected under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and Louisiana medical privacy statutes are not subject to public disclosure.
Adoption records: Adoption proceedings and related documents are sealed under Louisiana law.
Child welfare records: Records maintained by child protective services agencies are confidential.
Personnel records: Employee records are exempt from disclosure, with limited exceptions for salary information of public employees.
Trade secrets and proprietary business information: Commercially sensitive information submitted to government agencies in confidence is protected from release.
Security and infrastructure plans: Records detailing security measures for public facilities or critical infrastructure are exempt.

Custodians are required to segregate exempt material and release the non-exempt portions of any record that contains both public and confidential information.

St. Bernard County Recorder's Office: Contact Information and Hours

St. Bernard Parish Clerk of Court
8201 W. Judge Perez Drive
Chalmette, LA 70043
(504) 271-3434
St. Bernard Parish Clerk of Court

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

St. Bernard Parish Government (Parish Seat)
8201 W. Judge Perez Drive
Chalmette, LA 70043
(504) 278-4200
St. Bernard Parish – official Louisiana government profile

St. Bernard Parish Sheriff's Office
2 Courthouse Square
Chalmette, LA 70043
(504) 271-2501
St. Bernard Parish Sheriff's Office

Louisiana Department of Health – Vital Records
628 N. 4th Street
Baton Rouge, LA 70802
(504) 593-5100
Louisiana vital records and death certificate information

Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality – Public Records Center
602 North 5th Street
Baton Rouge, LA 70802
(225) 219-3953
Louisiana DEQ public notices and environmental permit records