Lyon County Public Records

What Are Public Records in Lyon County?

Public records in Lyon County are defined under Nevada Revised Statutes § 239.010 as any book, paper, map, photograph, or other document that is made or received by a government agency in connection with the transaction of official business and is preserved as evidence of the agency's functions, policies, decisions, or operations. Under current law, these records are presumed open to inspection by any member of the public unless a specific statutory exemption applies.

Lyon County maintains a broad range of public records across multiple offices and departments. The following categories are currently available to the public:

Court records — Civil, criminal, probate, and family court filings are maintained by the Lyon County District Court, located at 911 Harvey Way, Yerington, Nevada 89447.
Property records — Deeds, mortgages, liens, and recorded instruments are held by the Lyon County Recorder's Office.
Vital records — Birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates are administered at the state level through the Nevada Division of Public and Behavioral Health, with county-level access available through the Clerk's office.
Business records — Business licenses, permits, and fictitious firm name registrations are maintained by the Lyon County Clerk-Treasurer.
Tax records — Property tax assessments and payment histories are held by the Lyon County Assessor's Office.
Voting and election records — Voter registration data and election results are maintained by the Lyon County Clerk-Treasurer.
Meeting minutes and agendas — Records of Lyon County Commission meetings and board proceedings are available through the County Manager's Office and the Clerk-Treasurer.
Budget and financial documents — Annual budgets, audits, and expenditure reports are maintained by the Lyon County Finance Department.
Law enforcement records — Arrest logs and incident reports, where permitted by statute, are available through the Lyon County Sheriff's Office.
Land use and zoning records — Zoning maps, permits, and planning documents are maintained by the Lyon County Community Development Department.

Is Lyon County an Open Records County?

Lyon County fully complies with Nevada's open records framework, which establishes a strong presumption in favor of public access to government documents. Under Nevada Revised Statutes § 239.010, all public books and records of a governmental entity must be open at all times during office hours to inspection by any person. The statute further provides that the right to inspect public records includes the right to obtain copies of those records.

Nevada's open records law operates in conjunction with the state's Open Meeting Law, codified at NRS Chapter 241, which requires that meetings of public bodies be conducted openly and that agendas, minutes, and supporting materials be made available to the public. Lyon County government bodies, including the Board of County Commissioners, are subject to these requirements.

At present, Lyon County does not maintain a separate county-specific public records ordinance that supersedes state law. All public records requests are processed in accordance with the standards and timelines established under Nevada state statute. The county is obligated to respond to inspection requests promptly and, in most cases, no later than five business days after the request is received.

How to Find Public Records in Lyon County in 2026

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

Identify the custodial office. Determine which county department or agency maintains the record being sought. Court records are held by the Lyon County District Court; property and vital records are held by the Recorder or Clerk-Treasurer; law enforcement records are held by the Sheriff's Office.
Submit a written or in-person request. Requests may be submitted in person at the relevant office during public counter hours, by mail, or, where available, through an online portal. Written requests should identify the record with sufficient specificity to allow staff to locate it.
Use online resources where available. The Nevada Judiciary provides online access to court case information statewide. The Nevada DMV offers public records access for motor vehicle and driver records under the Nevada Public Records Act.
Allow for processing time. Under current law, agencies must respond within five business days. If additional time is needed, the agency must notify the requester and provide an estimated completion date.
Pay applicable fees. Upon notification that records are available, the requester must pay any assessed fees before copies are released.

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

Lyon County assesses fees for public records in accordance with the cost provisions established under Nevada Revised Statutes § 239.052, which authorizes governmental entities to charge fees that do not exceed the actual cost of providing the records. Current standard fees applicable to most county offices are as follows:

Paper copies: Typically $0.10 to $0.25 per page for standard letter or legal-size documents, depending on the office.
Certified copies: Fees vary by record type. Vital records such as birth and death certificates are subject to state-level fees; death certificates currently cost between $42.00 and $45.00 depending on the county of origin, with an additional $20.00 charged for expedited delivery, as administered through the Nevada Division of Public and Behavioral Health.
Electronic records: Where records are provided in electronic format, fees reflect the actual cost of duplication and transmission.
Research and staff time: Agencies may assess fees for staff time spent locating, compiling, or redacting records when the request requires more than a minimal amount of effort.

Accepted payment methods vary by office but generally include cash, check, and money order. Some offices may accept credit or debit card payments. Fee waivers may be available for indigent requesters or for requests determined to serve a significant public interest, at the discretion of the custodial agency.

Does Lyon County Have Free Public Records?

Members of the public are entitled to inspect public records at no charge during regular office hours, without the obligation to purchase copies. This right of free inspection is guaranteed under Nevada Revised Statutes § 239.010 and applies to all non-exempt public records held by Lyon County agencies.

Several categories of records are currently available at no cost through official government platforms:

Court case information is accessible through the Nevada Judiciary online case search system, which provides free access to docket information for cases filed in Lyon County District Court.
Historical newspaper archives, including the Lyon County Times, are available at no cost through the Nevada State Library, Archives and Public Records, which maintains digitized historical newspaper collections for research purposes.
Property assessment data may be reviewed at no cost through the Lyon County Assessor's Office public counter or online portal.
Meeting agendas and minutes for the Lyon County Board of County Commissioners are posted publicly on the county's official website at no charge.

Who Can Request Public Records in Lyon County?

Any person may request public records in Lyon County, regardless of residency, citizenship, or stated purpose. Nevada Revised Statutes § 239.010 does not restrict the right of inspection to Nevada residents, nor does it require requesters to provide identification or explain the reason for their request as a condition of access to non-exempt records.

The following provisions apply under current law:

Residency: Requesters are not required to be residents of Lyon County or the State of Nevada.
Identification: Agencies may not require identification as a precondition for inspecting public records, though identification may be required for certain restricted record categories.
Purpose: Requesters are generally not required to state the purpose of their request. However, for certain sensitive record types — such as motor vehicle records governed by the federal Driver's Privacy Protection Act — a permissible purpose must be established before access is granted. The Nevada DMV outlines these requirements on its public records access page.
Requesting your own records: Individuals seeking records about themselves may be entitled to access records that are otherwise restricted to third parties, such as certain law enforcement or personnel records, upon providing appropriate verification of identity.
Restrictions for specific record types: Juvenile records, sealed court records, and records containing protected personal information are subject to additional access restrictions regardless of the requester's identity.

What Records Are Confidential in Lyon County?

Certain categories of records held by Lyon County agencies are exempt from public disclosure under Nevada law. Nevada Revised Statutes § 239.010 establishes that the right of inspection does not apply to records that are declared confidential by specific statute, and NRS Chapter 239 identifies numerous categories of protected information. The following records are currently exempt from public disclosure:

Sealed court records — Records sealed by court order pursuant to NRS Chapter 179 are not available for public inspection.
Juvenile records — Records pertaining to juvenile proceedings are confidential under NRS Chapter 62H.
Ongoing investigation records — Law enforcement records related to active criminal investigations are exempt to the extent that disclosure would compromise the investigation.
Personal identifying information — Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, and similar data are redacted from publicly released records.
Medical records — Records protected under the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) are not subject to public disclosure.
Adoption records — Records of adoption proceedings are sealed under Nevada law and accessible only by court order or to authorized parties.
Child welfare and protective services records — Records maintained by child protective services agencies are confidential under NRS Chapter 432B.
Personnel records — Employee personnel files are generally exempt, with limited exceptions for records relating to public employee misconduct or disciplinary actions.
Trade secrets and proprietary business information — Confidential commercial or financial information submitted to government agencies is protected from disclosure.
Security plans and critical infrastructure details — Records relating to the security of public facilities or infrastructure are exempt under NRS § 239.010(1).

When a record contains both exempt and non-exempt information, the custodial agency is required to redact the exempt portions and release the remainder, consistent with the balancing principles recognized under Nevada's public records framework.

Lyon County Recorder's Office: Contact Information and Hours

The Lyon County Recorder's Office serves as the primary repository for recorded documents affecting real property in Lyon County, including deeds, deeds of trust, liens, and other instruments. Members of the public may inspect and obtain copies of recorded documents during regular public counter hours.

Lyon County Recorder's Office 27 S. Main Street, Yerington, NV 89447 (775) 463-6533 Lyon County Recorder

Public counter hours are currently Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., excluding state and federal holidays.

Lyon County Clerk-Treasurer 27 S. Main Street, Yerington, NV 89447 (775) 463-6501 Lyon County Clerk-Treasurer

Lyon County Assessor's Office 27 S. Main Street, Yerington, NV 89447 (775) 463-6520 Lyon County Assessor

Lyon County District Court 911 Harvey Way, Yerington, NV 89447 (775) 463-6571 Lyon County District Court

Lyon County Sheriff's Office 911 Harvey Way, Yerington, NV 89447 (775) 463-6620 Lyon County Sheriff