Cedarburg, Wisconsin Public Records

For state-level criminal and civil matters, the Ozaukee County Circuit Court, located at the Ozaukee County Justice Center, 1201 South Spring Street, Port Washington, WI 53074 (phone: 262-284-8398, website: wicourts.gov), handles all felony criminal cases, misdemeanor cases, civil actions exceeding small claims limits, family law matters including divorce and custody, probate and estate matters, juvenile proceedings, and mental health commitments. Small claims actions (disputes under $10,000) are also heard in Circuit Court. Wisconsin offers the Consolidated Court Automation Programs (CCAP) online system at wcca.wicourts.gov, providing free public access to statewide circuit court case records. Users can search by name, case number, or attorney to view case information, parties, charges, dispositions, judgments, and scheduled hearings. Certified copies of court documents can be obtained from the Clerk of Circuit Court's office; fees typically include $5 for the first page and $1 for each additional page of certified copies, plus a $4 certification fee. Copies of judgment liens and other recorded documents may have different fee structures. Case file inspection is generally free, though copying fees apply.

Property information can be searched online through the Ozaukee County Property Information portal available on the county website at co.ozaukee.wi.us. The online GIS system allows users to search by parcel number, address, or owner name to view detailed property information including legal descriptions, assessed values, tax information, aerial imagery, and property characteristics. The Ozaukee County Register of Deeds, located at the Ozaukee County Courthouse, 1201 South Spring Street, Port Washington, WI 53074 (phone: 262-284-8390, website: co.ozaukee.wi.us/registerofdeeds), records and maintains all land records including warranty deeds, quit claim deeds, mortgages, mortgage satisfactions, easements, liens (including mechanics liens, tax liens, and judgment liens), plats, and other real estate documents. Wisconsin Register of Deeds offices are required to maintain land records dating back to the county's creation. Ozaukee County provides free online access to recorded land documents through its Register of Deeds website, with searchable indexes and document images typically available from the 1980s forward. Users can search by grantor/grantee name, document type, legal description, or document number. Older documents may require in-person research or special requests. The county's GIS parcel viewer integrates assessment and recorded document information, providing a comprehensive property research tool. Certified copies of recorded documents are available for a statutory fee of $4 for the first page and $1 for each additional page.

Major employers in Cedarburg include the Cedarburg School District, which employs hundreds of teachers, administrators, and support staff across its elementary, middle, and high school facilities. Cedar Creek Settlement, a collection of shops and restaurants in historic mill buildings along Cedar Creek, is a significant commercial anchor and tourist destination. Healthcare services are provided by smaller clinics and professional offices, with residents typically accessing major hospital facilities in nearby Mequon or Milwaukee. Manufacturing maintains a presence with several small to mid-sized companies operating facilities in industrial parks, continuing Cedarburg's heritage as a mill town. The Cedarburg area also supports professional services including legal offices, financial advisors, insurance agencies, and real estate firms serving the community's affluent residential population. Median household income in Cedarburg is estimated at approximately $85,000 to $95,000, significantly above state averages, reflecting the city's character as an affluent suburb within the Milwaukee metropolitan area. Recent economic development has focused on balancing historic preservation with controlled growth, including residential developments on the city's periphery and investments in downtown infrastructure. The city benefits from Ozaukee County's overall economic strength, with the county ranking among Wisconsin's most prosperous, featuring low unemployment rates and strong property values. Tourism and special events including the annual Strawberry Festival, Winter Festival, and Wine & Harvest Festival contribute meaningfully to the local economy, bringing tens of thousands of visitors annually.

The Cedarburg Police Department, located at W63 N530 Hanover Avenue, Cedarburg, WI 53012 (phone: 262-375-7610, website: ci.cedarburg.wi.us/police), serves as the primary law enforcement agency for the City of Cedarburg. The department provides police reports and incident records to requestors in compliance with Wisconsin's Open Records Law. To request a police report, individuals may visit the police department in person, call during business hours, or submit a written request. Reports typically include accident reports, incident reports, and case summaries, though active investigations and certain sensitive information may be exempt from disclosure. Processing fees may apply for copies and research time. The Ozaukee County Sheriff's Office, headquartered at 1201 South Spring Street, Port Washington, WI 53074 (phone: 262-284-7172, website: co.ozaukee.wi.us/sheriff), provides law enforcement services to unincorporated areas of Ozaukee County and assists municipal departments with specialized services including patrol, investigations, and jail operations. For arrests and jail bookings, the Ozaukee County Jail maintains an online inmate roster accessible through the Sheriff's Office website, displaying current inmates, booking dates, charges, bond amounts, and booking photographs. Records requests in Wisconsin must comply with Wisconsin Statutes §19.31-19.39, the Wisconsin Open Records Law, which requires agencies to respond to requests as soon as practicable and not later than within a reasonable time. Requestors must reasonably describe the requested record, and agencies may charge fees for reproduction costs, actual necessary and direct cost of reproduction and transcription, plus actual labor costs for locating records if the time required exceeds one-quarter hour. Certain records such as ongoing investigations, juvenile records, and sensitive law enforcement intelligence may be exempt from disclosure under statutory exceptions.

Online ordering is available through VitalChek at vitalchek.com for an additional service fee, with processing times of approximately 4-6 weeks for regular service or 5-7 business days for expedited requests. Wisconsin birth records less than 100 years old and death records less than 50 years old are restricted; requestors must demonstrate direct and tangible interest, such as being the registrant, parent, legal guardian, or legal representative. Acceptable identification is required for all requests. Marriage licenses are issued by the Ozaukee County Register of Deeds at the Ozaukee County Courthouse, 1201 South Spring Street, Port Washington, WI 53074 (phone: 262-284-8390). The marriage license fee is $110, and applicants must apply in person with valid photo identification and Social Security numbers. There is a six-day waiting period after issuance before the ceremony can be performed, and licenses are valid for 30 days. Certified copies of marriage records cost $4 for the first page and $1 for each additional page. Divorce records are maintained by the Ozaukee County Circuit Court Clerk's office at the Justice Center (phone: 262-284-8398), as divorces are judicial proceedings. Divorce decrees and related documents are part of the court file and can be searched through the Wisconsin CCAP system. Historical vital records have varying levels of digitization; many Wisconsin records from the late 1800s forward are indexed, though physical document retrieval may be required for older records.

Specific licenses are required for alcohol sales, food service, rental properties, and certain other businesses. License applications and renewals are processed through City Hall, and the city maintains records of active licensed businesses. For trade name registration (doing business as/DBA), businesses operating under a name other than the owner's legal name must register with the Ozaukee County Register of Deeds at 1201 South Spring Street, Port Washington, WI 53074 (phone: 262-284-8390). Trade name registration costs $30 and must be renewed every five years. The Register of Deeds maintains a searchable database of registered trade names. For formal business entity formation including corporations, limited liability companies (LLCs), limited partnerships, and other entities, registration is handled by the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions at 4822 Madison Yards Way, Madison, WI 53705 (website: corporations.wi.gov). The free online Corporate Registration Information System allows searches by business name, registered agent, or officer to verify entity status, view formation dates, registered office addresses, and current standing. LLC formation fees are $130 for online filing or $170 for paper filing, while corporation formation costs $100 online or $100 by mail. Annual reports are required to maintain good standing. UCC (Uniform Commercial Code) financing statements for secured transactions are filed with the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions and searchable online at www.wdfi.org/apps/UCCSearch. For property tax assessments on commercial properties in Cedarburg, business owners can search through the Ozaukee County Assessor's online property information system to view assessed values and tax history for their commercial parcels.

Cedarburg voters are served by the Ozaukee County Clerk's Office, located at 121 West Main Street, Port Washington, WI 53074 (phone: 262-284-8110, website: co.ozaukee.wi.us/clerk). This office administers all aspects of voter registration, elections, and campaign finance reporting for Cedarburg and throughout Ozaukee County. Wisconsin residents can register to vote online through the MyVote Wisconsin website at myvote.wi.gov, which serves as the state's comprehensive voter portal. Voters can register online up until 20 days before an election; after that deadline, residents must register in person at their municipal clerk's office or at their polling place on Election Day using Wisconsin's same-day registration provision. Wisconsin requires voters to present acceptable photo identification when voting, including Wisconsin driver licenses, state ID cards, military IDs, passports, or certain tribal IDs. Cedarburg, as an incorporated city with its own municipal government, holds spring elections for mayor, city council members (alderpersons), and municipal judge on a regular cycle. The mayor serves a four-year term, with the next mayoral election scheduled for April 2026. Cedarburg Common Council consists of alderpersons representing districts, with staggered terms creating contests in various districts each spring election cycle. Municipal election information, candidate declarations, and local ballot questions are available through Cedarburg City Hall (262-375-7600) and the County Clerk's office. To find their assigned polling place, Cedarburg residents should use the MyVote Wisconsin website at myvote.wi.gov and enter their address; the system displays the specific polling location, sample ballot, and voting history. Most Cedarburg voters cast ballots at locations such as Cedarburg City Hall, various school facilities, or other public buildings depending on their ward. Wisconsin election records that are publicly accessible include voter registration lists (available for inspection though not downloadable in bulk for commercial purposes), campaign finance reports filed by candidates and committees (searchable through the Wisconsin Campaign Finance Information System at cfis.wi.gov), candidate registration forms and declarations, and official election results by ward and municipality. The Ozaukee County Clerk publishes detailed precinct-level results after each election on the county website. In the November 2024 presidential election, Ozaukee County demonstrated strong voter participation with turnout exceeding 80% of registered voters, reflecting the county's high civic engagement. Looking ahead to November 3, 2026, Cedarburg and Ozaukee County voters will decide several significant races: Wisconsin's gubernatorial election (Governor Tony Evers' term expires in 2027, making 2026 a gubernatorial election year), one of Wisconsin's U.S. Senate seats will be on the ballot (pending the regular cycle), all of Wisconsin's eight U.S. House seats including the district serving Cedarburg, State Senate and State Assembly seats representing Cedarburg's legislative districts, constitutional offices including Attorney General and Secretary of State, Ozaukee County executive and county board supervisors, and potentially local referenda or school district questions. Wisconsin voters can request absentee ballots through the MyVote Wisconsin portal by logging in, requesting the ballot electronically, and receiving it by mail; voters must provide a copy of acceptable photo ID with their absentee ballot application. Military and overseas voters have special provisions under the federal MOVE Act. Absentee ballots can be returned by mail (must be received by Election Day) or dropped off in person at the municipal clerk's office or designated drop boxes where available.