Burke County, North Carolina Public Records

Mugshots and booking photos for individuals arrested in Burke County can be obtained from the Burke County or serving short-term sentences. The Sheriff's Office may provide these images through their official website or upon request at their office located at 150 Government Drive, Morganton, NC. For online access, check their website for any available portals or contact them at (828) 438-5500.

To obtain a criminal background check in Burke County, you can request one through the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (SBI). Locally, you may also contact the Burke County Clerk of Court at 201 South Green Street, Morganton, NC. The Clerk's office can provide guidance on obtaining background checks and may have forms or instructions available.

You can look up sex offenders in Burke County by accessing the North Carolina Sex Offender Registry. This registry is maintained by the North Carolina Department of Public Safety and can be accessed online. The registry allows you to search by name, location, or proximity to specific addresses within Burke County.

To register to vote in Burke County, you may complete an online registration at www.ncsbe.gov/registering, submit a paper application to the Burke County Board of Elections at 110 North Green Street, Suite 10, Morganton, NC 28655, phone (828) 764-9058, or register in person during early voting. North Carolina requires registration at least 25 days before Election Day for standard registration, though same-day registration is available during the early voting period. You must be a U.S. Citizen, a North Carolina resident, at least 18 years old by the next general election, and not currently serving a sentence for a felony conviction. Absentee ballots can be requested through the county Board of Elections or online at the State Board of Elections website.

Property records in Burke County can be searched online through two primary sources: the Burke County Register of Deeds website at www.burkenc.org/184/Register-of-Deeds for recorded deeds, mortgages, liens, and plat maps, and the local County Tax Assessor at www.burkenc.org for property tax assessments, ownership information, and GIS maps. Both systems offer free public searches by owner name, address, or parcel identification number. The Register of Deeds office at 110 North Green Street, Suite 30, Morganton, phone (828) 764-9050, can provide certified copies of recorded instruments for $5 for the first page and $3 for each additional page. The online systems allow viewing and printing of documents at no charge, though official certified copies require payment and in-person or mail request.

Birth and death certificates for events occurring in Burke County are available from the Burke County Register of Deeds at 110 North Green Street, Suite 30, Morganton, NC 28655, phone (828) 764-9050, or from the North Carolina Vital Records Office in Raleigh at (919) 733-3526. Certified copies cost $24 for birth certificates and $24 for death certificates (first copy) or $15 for additional death certificates ordered simultaneously. You must be an eligible requester under North Carolina General Statute § 130A-93, such as the registrant, immediate family member, or legal representative, and provide valid government-issued photo identification. In-person requests are typically processed immediately if records are available; mail requests take 7-10 business days. Online ordering through VitalChek at vitalrecords.nc.gov is available with additional service fees.

To find business records in Burke County, search the North Carolina Secretary of State's free online database at www.sosnc.gov for corporations, LLCs, and limited partnerships registered in the state. For assumed name certificates (DBAs) filed in Burke County, contact the Burke County Register of Deeds at (828) 764-9050 or visit 110 North Green Street, Suite 30, Morganton. Municipal business privilege licenses for businesses operating within town limits are maintained by the respective municipality, such as the Morganton Finance Department. Professional licenses are regulated by North Carolina state licensing boards specific to each profession. Building permits and zoning records are available from the Burke County Planning and Development Department at (828) 764-9065.