Harrison County Public Records

What Are Public Records in Harrison County?

Public records in Harrison County, Mississippi, are defined under Mississippi Code § 25-61-3 as all books, records, papers, accounts, letters, maps, photographs, films, sound recordings, magnetic or other tapes, electronic data processing records, artifacts, or other documentary materials, regardless of physical form or characteristics, made or received by any governmental body in the conduct of its official business. Members of the public may inspect or obtain copies of these materials subject to the exemptions established by state law.

Harrison County maintains a broad range of public records across multiple offices. The following record types are currently available to the public:

Court records (civil, criminal, probate, and family matters) — maintained by the Harrison County Circuit Court and Chancery Court
Property records (deeds, mortgages, deeds of trust, liens, and assessments) — maintained by the Harrison County Chancery Clerk, who serves as the primary record keeper for real property documents
Vital records (birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates) — birth and death records are issued by the Mississippi State Department of Health; marriage and divorce records are filed with the Chancery Clerk
Business records (licenses, permits, and fictitious business names) — maintained by the Harrison County Tax Collector and relevant municipal offices
Tax records (property tax assessments and payment histories) — maintained by the Harrison County Tax Assessor and Tax Collector
Voting and election records — maintained by the Harrison County Circuit Clerk and the Mississippi Secretary of State
Meeting minutes and agendas (Board of Supervisors, county boards, and commissions) — available through the Harrison County official website
Budget and financial documents — maintained by the Harrison County Board of Supervisors
Law enforcement records (arrest logs and incident reports, where permitted by law) — maintained by the Harrison County Sheriff's Office
Land use and zoning records — maintained by the Harrison County Planning Department

The Records Vault maintained by the Chancery Clerk houses official records relating to real property, with staff located at both the Gulfport and Biloxi offices maintaining comprehensive indexes for public reference.

Is Harrison County an Open Records County?

Harrison County fully complies with Mississippi's statewide open records framework, which applies uniformly to all county governmental bodies. Under Mississippi Code § 25-61-5, all public records are declared to be public property, and any person shall have the right to inspect, copy, or mechanically reproduce any public record of a public body. This provision establishes a strong presumption of openness, placing the burden on the governmental body to justify any denial of access.

The Mississippi Ethics Commission administers and enforces the Mississippi Public Records Act, the Open Meetings Act, and related transparency statutes at the state level. Harrison County governmental bodies are required to respond to public records requests within one working day of receipt, or to provide a written explanation if additional time is needed. County-specific policies align with these state mandates, and no local ordinance may restrict access to records beyond the exemptions expressly authorized by state statute. The MS.GOV portal provides additional guidance on statewide transparency requirements applicable to all Mississippi counties.

How to Find Public Records in Harrison County in 2026

Members of the public may obtain Harrison County public records through several channels, depending on the record type sought. The following steps outline the current process:

Identify the custodial office. Determine which county office maintains the record in question. Property and land records are held by the Chancery Clerk; court case records are held by the Circuit or Chancery Court; vital records are obtained through the Mississippi State Department of Health or the Chancery Clerk.
Submit a written request. Requests may be submitted in person, by mail, or electronically. A Public Records Request Form is available through the Harrison County government portal. Requests should identify the record with reasonable specificity.
Search online databases. The Chancery Clerk currently provides online access to land records, including deeds, mortgages, powers of attorney, mineral deeds and leases, and court decrees involving real property.
Visit the appropriate office in person. Members of the public may inspect records during regular business hours at the Gulfport or Biloxi Chancery Clerk offices without prior appointment for most record types.
Request copies. Upon inspection, copies may be requested and fees assessed in accordance with the applicable fee schedule.
Inmate and corrections records. Requests for records held by the Mississippi Department of Corrections are processed separately through the MDOC public records request portal.
Historical and archival records. Older governmental records may be preserved at the Mississippi Department of Archives and History, which maintains regulations for managing state and local government records.

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

The standard fee structure for public records copies in Harrison County is governed by Mississippi Code § 25-61-7, which authorizes public bodies to charge reasonable fees for the actual cost of reproducing records. Current fees applicable to most county offices are as follows:

Standard paper copies: $0.25 per page (letter or legal size)
Certified copies of recorded documents: Fees vary by document type; the Chancery Clerk currently charges per-page and per-instrument fees for certified property records
Electronic copies: Fees reflect the actual cost of reproduction and may differ from paper copy rates
Research or staff time fees: May be assessed when a request requires extensive staff time to locate, compile, or redact records

Accepted payment methods at county offices generally include cash, check, and money order payable to the appropriate county office. Credit and debit card acceptance varies by office. Fee waivers or reductions may be available when disclosure is determined to be in the public interest, at the discretion of the custodial office. Fees for vital records such as certified birth and death certificates are set separately by the Mississippi State Department of Health and differ from standard county copy fees.

Does Harrison County Have Free Public Records?

Members of the public are entitled under Mississippi law to inspect public records at no charge during regular business hours. Physical inspection of records — without requesting copies — is currently available at no cost at the offices of the Chancery Clerk, Circuit Clerk, and other county departments. The following free online resources are presently available:

Online land records index: The Chancery Clerk provides free searchable access to the Harrison County land records database, covering deeds, mortgages, powers of attorney, mineral deeds, and related instruments
Records Vault online portal: The Chancery Clerk's Records Vault allows members of the public to search and view indexes of real property records maintained at both the Gulfport and Biloxi offices
Board of Supervisors minutes and agendas: Meeting minutes and agendas are posted at no cost on the Harrison County website
Statewide government resources: The MS.GOV portal provides free access to a range of state and county government information and links to agency-specific record systems

Who Can Request Public Records in Harrison County?

Any person — regardless of residency, citizenship, or stated purpose — is entitled to request public records from Harrison County governmental bodies. Under the Mississippi Public Records Act, requestors are not required to:

Be a resident of Harrison County or the State of Mississippi
Provide personal identification as a condition of access to non-restricted records
State the purpose for which the records are sought

Certain record types carry additional access requirements. Individuals requesting their own records — such as personal court files, tax records, or vital records — may be required to provide identification to verify identity and protect against unauthorized disclosure. Requests for records containing third-party personal information may be subject to redaction of exempt data prior to release. Non-residents retain the same rights of access as residents for all records that are open to the public under state law. Attorneys, journalists, researchers, and members of the general public are treated equally under the current statutory framework. The Mississippi Ethics Commission provides guidance on the rights of requestors and the obligations of public bodies under the Public Records Act.

What Records Are Confidential in Harrison County?

Not all government records held by Harrison County offices are subject to public disclosure. Mississippi Code § 25-61-11 and related statutes establish specific categories of records that are exempt from mandatory public disclosure. The following record types are currently treated as confidential or restricted:

Sealed court records — records sealed by judicial order are not available for public inspection
Juvenile records — records pertaining to minors involved in youth court proceedings are confidential under Mississippi law
Ongoing criminal investigation records — law enforcement records compiled in connection with active investigations are exempt to the extent that disclosure would harm the investigation
Personal identifying information — Social Security numbers, financial account data, and similar identifiers are redacted prior to release
Medical and health records — protected under both state law 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 Mississippi Department of Child Protection Services regulations
Personnel records — employee records are generally exempt, with limited exceptions for information such as name, position, and compensation of public employees
Trade secrets and proprietary business information — submitted to government agencies under confidentiality protections
Security plans and critical infrastructure details — exempt to protect public safety

Where a record contains both disclosable and exempt information, the custodial office is required to segregate and release the non-exempt portions. The Mississippi Department of Archives and History provides guidance on records retention schedules and the management of restricted governmental records at the state and local level.

Harrison County Recorder's Office: Contact Information and Hours

The Harrison County Chancery Clerk serves as the primary recorder of official documents and public records for the county, operating offices in both Gulfport and Biloxi to serve residents across the county's two judicial districts.

Harrison County Chancery Clerk — Gulfport Office Courthouse Annex, 1801 23rd Avenue, Gulfport, MS 39501 (228) 865-4036 Harrison County, Mississippi Chancery Clerk

Public counter hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (Central Time), excluding state and federal holidays.

Harrison County Chancery Clerk — Biloxi Office 730 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Biloxi, MS 39530 (228) 435-8217 Harrison County, Mississippi Chancery Clerk