Augusta County

Augusta County is located in the Shenandoah Valley of western Virginia, bordered by the Blue Ridge Mountains to the east and the Allegheny Mountains to the west. Augusta County seat is Verona, which houses Augusta County Government Center at 18 Government Center Lane. Augusta County includes approximately 971 square miles, making it one of the largest counties in Virginia by land area. As of the 2020 Census, the population was approximately 77,487 residents. Augusta County is unique in that it completely surrounds the independent cities of Staunton and Waynesboro, which are separate jurisdictions. Augusta County was formed in 1738 and named after Princess Augusta of Saxe-Gotha, wife of Frederick, Prince of Wales. Major landmarks include the Blue Ridge Parkway, portions of Shenandoah National Park, the Skyline Drive, and historic sites related to the Civil War Battle of Piedmont. Augusta County is known for its agricultural heritage, particularly poultry production, and its scenic mountain scenes. Public records are maintained by several county offices: the Circuit Court Clerk at 1 East Johnson Street, Verona, VA 24482, handles land records and court filings; the Commissioner of the Revenue assesses property values; and the County Treasurer collects taxes. Augusta County Government Center consolidates many administrative functions, providing centralized access to various county services and records.

Law Enforcement & Arrests

• Written requests should specify the nature of the records sought and may incur copying fees.
• Mugshots and booking photos are generally available through the Middle River Regional Jail's online inmate search system or by contacting the jail directly.

Criminal Records

Criminal records in Augusta County, VA are maintained by local law enforcement agencies and the court system. Background checks are typically obtained through state-level repositories or authorized vendors. For an authoritative source, see Frequently Asked Questions | Augusta County, VA.

Arrest Records

Arrest records in Augusta County, VA are public under most state public-records laws unless sealed or expunged by a court. They are maintained by the arresting agency, primarily the County Sheriff's Office and municipal police departments.

Jail & Inmate Records

The Augusta County jail is operated by the County Sheriff's Office and houses pretrial detainees and short-sentence inmates. Inmate locator tools allow public searches by name or booking number.

• Look up current inmates and booking information at VADOC Inmate Locator - Virginia Department of Corrections.
• Sheriff's Office: Augusta County Sheriff's Office | Augusta County, VA.
• The bond and bail process allows release of detainees under conditions set by the court; inquiries about recently arrested individuals can be directed to the jail's administrative office.

• Augusta County General District Court, located at 6 Court Square, Verona, VA 24482, phone, handles misdemeanor criminal cases, traffic violations, civil cases up to $25,000, and preliminary hearings for felonies.
• Access to full case files typically requires an in-person visit to the Clerk's Office, with copies costing $0.50 per page.
• The Circuit Court Clerk's land records division maintains an online subscription service through Kofile Technologies for searching deeds, mortgages, and other recorded instruments, with fees for premium access.
• Certified copies of court documents can be obtained from the Clerk's Office with proper identification and payment of statutory fees, typically $2 for the certificate plus copying costs.

• Recording fees are established by Virginia Code § 17.1-275 and vary based on document type and page count.
• Certified copies of recorded documents can be obtained from the Circuit Court Clerk for $2 certification fee plus $0.50 per page.

Vital records for this county include birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates issued under state vital statistics law.

• Online ordering is available through the Virginia Department of Health's VitalChek service at www.vdh.virginia.gov/vital records, with additional convenience fees.
• Couples must apply in person, provide identification, and pay a fee (typically $30).
• Certified copies of marriage records can be obtained from the same office for a fee.
• Same-day service for vital records is generally not available through the state office but may be possible at local health department offices for an additional fee.

Business records, licenses, and permits for this county are processed by the County Clerk and local government offices.

• The Commissioner of Revenue's website at www.co.augusta.va.us provides downloadable applications and information about license requirements.
• This database includes entity status, registered agent information, formation dates, and annual report filings.
• Fictitious name certificates (DBA, "doing business as") must be filed with the Circuit Court Clerk at 1 East Johnson Street, Verona, VA 24482, with fees for recording.
• Augusta County's website provides information on the permitting process and associated fees.