About Cayuga County
Cayuga County is located in the Finger Lakes region of Central New York, including approximately 864 square miles including significant portions of Cayuga Lake and Owasco Lake. Cayuga County seat is Auburn, a city of approximately 75,000 residents situated at 152 Genesee Street, where most county offices are located in the historic Cayuga County Office Building and the County Courthouse. As of the 2020 Census, Cayuga County had a population of approximately 76,576 residents. Cayuga County was established in 1799 and named after Cayuga County Nation, one of the original five nations of the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois Confederacy). Major landmarks include the Harriet Tubman Home National Historical Park in Auburn, Seward House Museum, Willard Chapel, and the scenic Finger Lakes National Forest. Cayuga County is bordered by Onondaga County to the north, Oswego and Wayne counties to the northwest, Seneca County to the west, Tompkins and Cortland counties to the south, and borders Lake Ontario's southeastern shore. Cayuga County Clerk's office, located at 160 Genesee Street, Auburn, NY 13021, maintains vital records, court documents, and business filings. Cayuga County Recorder function is handled by the County Clerk. Cayuga County Real Property Tax Services office at 160 Genesee Street manages property assessment records. What makes Cayuga County unique is its rich Underground Railroad history, its position as home to two of the Finger Lakes' major bodies of water, its agricultural heritage particularly in wine production and dairy farming, and its historical significance as the site of Auburn Prison, one of America's oldest continuously operating maximum-security prisons constructed in 1816.
Sheriff, Police & Law Enforcement
Law Enforcement & Arrests
- Processing times for FOIL requests can range from five business days to several weeks depending on the volume and complexity of the request.
Criminal, Arrest & Jail Records
Jail & Inmate Records
- In New York, the bond or bail process involves posting a set amount determined by the court to secure a detainee's release, pending trial.
Courts & Case Records
- Cayuga County Surrogate's Court at 152 Genesee Street (phone: 315-237-6450) has exclusive jurisdiction over probate matters, estate administration, adoptions, and guardianships.
- Cayuga County Family Court at 153 Genesee Street (phone: 315-237-6460) handles family offense proceedings, child custody and support, paternity, foster care, and juvenile delinquency matters.
- Fees for certified copies are typically $6 for the first page and $1 for each additional page.
Property & Public Records
Property records for Cayuga County, New York are maintained by the Cayuga County Clerk. This office maintains recorded documents including deeds, mortgages, liens, and easements for properties in Cayuga County.
Vital Records
Vital records for this county include birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates issued under state vital statistics law.
- Death certificates for deaths occurring in Cayuga County are also available from the County Clerk for $30 per certified copy, with the same processing timeframes.
- Marriage certificates for ceremonies performed in Cayuga County can be obtained from the County Clerk for $10.
- Divorce records (judgments and decrees) are maintained by the County Clerk as court records, with copies available for $6 for the first page and $1 for each additional page.
Business & Licensing
Business records, licenses, and permits for this county are processed by the County Clerk and local government offices.
- The Greater Auburn Chamber of Commerce (phone: 315-252-7291) at cayugacountychamber.com is a resource for local business information, networking, and economic data.