Matanuska-Susitna County Public Records

What Are Public Records in Matanuska-Susitna County?

Public records in Matanuska-Susitna Borough (commonly referred to as the Mat-Su Borough) are defined under Alaska Statute § 40.25.110 as any document, paper, book, letter, drawing, map, plat, photo, film, recording, or other item developed or received by a public agency in connection with the transaction of official business. The Matanuska-Susitna Borough maintains a broad range of records accessible to members of the public through its various departments.

The following categories of records are currently available through borough and state agencies:

Court records — Civil, criminal, probate, and family court case records are maintained by the Alaska Court System. Members of the public may search court cases through the CourtView online portal.
Property records — Deeds, mortgages, liens, and property assessments are recorded through the Alaska Department of Natural Resources and the Borough Assessor's Office.
Vital records — Birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates are maintained by the Alaska Bureau of Vital Statistics, a division of the Department of Health.
Business records — Business licenses, permits, and fictitious name registrations are administered through the Alaska Division of Corporations, Business, and Professional Licensing.
Tax records — Property tax and assessment records are maintained by the Mat-Su Borough's Assessment Department.
Voting and election records — Voter registration data and election results are administered by the Alaska Division of Elections.
Meeting minutes and agendas — Borough Assembly meeting minutes, agendas, ordinances, and resolutions are maintained by the Borough Clerk's Office.
Budget and financial documents — Annual budgets, audits, and financial reports are available through the Borough Finance Department.
Law enforcement records — Arrest logs and incident reports, where permitted by law, are maintained by the Matanuska-Susitna Borough Police Department and the Alaska State Troopers.
Land use and zoning records — Zoning maps, land use permits, and planning documents are maintained by the Borough Planning Department.

The MSB Public Records portal serves as the primary access point for submitting records requests and reviewing the borough's public records policies and procedures.

Is Matanuska-Susitna County an Open Records County?

Matanuska-Susitna Borough fully complies with Alaska's public records laws, which establish a strong presumption in favor of public access to government documents. Under Alaska Statute § 40.25.110, every person has the right to inspect a public record of a public agency in the state, and public agencies are required to make records available for inspection and copying during regular office hours. This statute forms the foundation of open government in Alaska and applies uniformly to borough-level agencies, including all Matanuska-Susitna Borough departments.

The law further provides that a public agency may not require a requester to state the purpose of a records request as a condition of access, reinforcing the principle that access to government information is a right, not a privilege. The Borough's own public records policy codifies these obligations at the local level, establishing procedures for submitting requests, timelines for agency response, and applicable fee schedules. Alaska's open records framework is sometimes referred to as the state's "sunshine law," and the Mat-Su Borough operates in full compliance with its provisions.

How to Find Public Records in Matanuska-Susitna County in 2026

Members of the public may obtain records from the Matanuska-Susitna Borough through several established channels. The following steps outline the current process for submitting and fulfilling a public records request:

Identify the record type and custodial office. Determine which borough or state agency maintains the record being sought. Court records are held by the Alaska Court System; property and land records are held by the Alaska DNR Recorder's Office; borough administrative records are held by the Borough Clerk.
Submit a written request. Requests may be submitted in person, by mail, or electronically through the borough's online portal at the MSB Public Records page. Written requests should identify the record with sufficient specificity to allow staff to locate it.
Await agency response. Under current borough policy, the agency will acknowledge receipt of the request and provide an estimated timeline for fulfillment. Complex or voluminous requests may require additional processing time.
Inspect or receive copies. Requesters may inspect records in person at the relevant office during public counter hours, or request that copies be provided electronically or by mail, subject to applicable fees.
Search court records online. Civil and criminal case information may be searched directly through the Alaska Court System's CourtView case search tool without submitting a formal request.
Access property records online. Property owners wishing to manage their online property data visibility may use the myProperty Opt Out Form to limit certain information displayed in the borough's public-facing property database.

How Much Does It Cost to Get Public Records in Matanuska-Susitna County?

The Matanuska-Susitna Borough applies a standard fee schedule for public records requests, consistent with the cost-recovery framework permitted under Alaska Statute § 40.25.110. Current fees are as follows:

Photocopies: Typically assessed at a per-page rate for standard black-and-white copies; color copies and oversized documents may be subject to higher rates.
Electronic records: Fees may apply for the preparation and transmission of electronic files, particularly for large or complex datasets.
Staff research time: When a request requires more than a minimal amount of staff time to locate, compile, or review records, the borough may charge for the actual cost of that labor at the applicable employee's hourly rate.
Postage and mailing: Actual postage costs are assessed when records are delivered by mail.

Accepted payment methods at borough offices generally include cash, check, and money order. Fee waivers or reductions may be available in cases where disclosure is determined to be in the public interest and the requester demonstrates that the primary purpose of the request is not commercial. Requesters seeking a fee waiver should submit a written explanation of the public benefit at the time of the initial request. Fees vary by record type and the office responsible for maintaining the record; the Borough Clerk's Office and individual departments may maintain separate fee schedules.

Does Matanuska-Susitna County Have Free Public Records?

Free inspection of public records is available to members of the public under Alaska law, which requires public agencies to permit in-person inspection of records during regular business hours at no charge. The following government resources currently provide free access to certain categories of records:

In-person inspection at the Borough Clerk's Office — Members of the public may inspect borough administrative records, meeting minutes, ordinances, and resolutions at no cost during public counter hours.
Alaska Court System CourtView — The Alaska Court System's case search tool provides free online access to civil and criminal case index information without requiring a formal records request.
MSB Online Property Database — The borough's online property portal allows members of the public to view assessment and property data at no charge.
Alaska DNR Recorder's Office — Certain recorded land document indexes are searchable at no cost through the DNR Recorder's Office online system.

Fees are generally assessed only when copies or certified documents are requested, or when significant staff time is required to fulfill a request.

Who Can Request Public Records in Matanuska-Susitna County?

Any person may request public records from the Matanuska-Susitna Borough, regardless of residency, citizenship, or stated purpose. Alaska Statute § 40.25.110 establishes that the right to inspect public records extends to every person, and the borough's public records policy reflects this broad eligibility. Specific eligibility provisions are as follows:

Residency: Requesters are not required to be Alaska residents or Mat-Su Borough residents to submit a public records request.
Identification: Requesters are generally not required to provide identification as a condition of access to public records, though identification may be required for certain sensitive record categories.
Statement of purpose: Under current law, requesters are not required to state the reason for their request as a condition of access to most public records.
Non-residents: Non-residents retain the same rights of access as residents under Alaska's open records statute.
Requesting your own records: Individuals seeking records about themselves, such as personnel files or law enforcement records, may be subject to identity verification requirements to protect against unauthorized disclosure of personal information.
Restrictions for specific record types: Certain categories of records, such as adoption records, juvenile court records, and sealed court files, are restricted by statute and may only be accessed by authorized parties regardless of the requester's identity.

What Records Are Confidential in Matanuska-Susitna County?

Not all government records are subject to public disclosure. Alaska law establishes specific exemptions to the general right of access, and the Matanuska-Susitna Borough applies these exemptions in accordance with state statute. Under Alaska Statute § 40.25.120, the following categories of records are currently exempt from public disclosure:

Sealed court records — Records sealed by court order are not accessible to the general public.
Juvenile records — Records pertaining to juvenile proceedings are confidential under Alaska law and accessible only to authorized parties.
Ongoing investigation records — Law enforcement records related to active criminal investigations may be withheld to protect the integrity of the investigation.
Personal identifying information — Social Security numbers, financial account data, and similar personally identifiable information are redacted or withheld from disclosed records.
Medical records — Health and medical information is protected under both state law and the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).
Adoption records — Adoption proceedings and related documents are sealed by statute.
Child welfare and protective services records — Records maintained by child protective services agencies are confidential.
Personnel records — Employee personnel files are generally exempt, with limited exceptions for information such as an employee's name, position, and compensation.
Trade secrets and proprietary business information — Commercially sensitive information submitted to the borough in connection with licensing or permitting may be withheld.
Security plans and critical infrastructure details — Documents related to public safety infrastructure and security protocols are exempt from disclosure.

When a record contains both disclosable and exempt information, the agency is required to segregate and release the non-exempt portions. Alaska courts apply a balancing test in disputed cases to weigh the public interest in disclosure against the privacy or security interests served by withholding.

Matanuska-Susitna County Recorder's Office: Contact Information and Hours

The principal offices responsible for public records in the Matanuska-Susitna Borough are listed below with current contact information and public counter hours.

Matanuska-Susitna Borough Clerk's Office 350 E. Dahlia Ave., Palmer, AK 99645 (907) 745-9797 Public Counter Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM Borough Clerk – MSB

Matanuska-Susitna Borough — Public Records Requests 350 E. Dahlia Ave., Palmer, AK 99645 (907) 745-9797 MSB Public Records

Alaska Department of Natural Resources — Recorder's Office (Matanuska-Susitna Recording District) 3700 Airport Way, Fairbanks, AK 99709 (State headquarters); local recording services available at the Palmer office: 645 G St., Suite 104, Anchorage, AK 99501 (907) 269-8895 Public Counter Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM DNR Recorder's Office

Alaska Court System — Palmer Superior and District Court 435 S. Denali St., Palmer, AK 99645 (907) 746-8181 Public Counter Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM Search Cases – Alaska Court System