Grand Isle County

Grand Isle County is Vermont's smallest county by both land area and population, located in the northwestern corner of the state within Lake Champlain. Grand Isle County seat is North Hero, situated on one of the Lake Champlain islands. Grand Isle County comprises several islands including Grand Isle, North Hero, South Hero, Isle La Motte, and Alburgh, along with a small peninsula. With a population of approximately 7,400 residents spread across roughly 83 square miles of land (plus significant water area), it is Vermont's least populous county. Established in 1802, Grand Isle County was carved from parts of Franklin and Chittenden counties. The islands are connected by bridges and causeways, including the historic causeway built in the 1850s. Major landmarks include the Lake Champlain Islands, St. Anne's Shrine on Isle La Motte (the site of Vermont's first European settlement in 1666), and numerous apple orchards and farms. Grand Isle County's economy centers on agriculture, tourism, and recreation, with stunning lake views and rural character attracting visitors year-round. Grand Isle County Courthouse is located at 3677 US Route 2 in North Hero. Grand Isle County Clerk's office maintains vital records, land records, and court documents at this location. Grand Isle County Recorder handles property deeds and land transactions, while the Assessor's office manages property valuations and tax records for the various island towns.

The Access to public records in Grand Isle County is facilitated through the Grand Isle County Courthouse serves this county and handles civil, criminal, family, and probate cases. The courthouse is located in the county seat of this county. Court records and case filings can be requested in person or through the Vermont online court portal.

Grand Isle County Vermont court jurisdiction is located in North Hero, Vermont. The court has jurisdiction over civil and criminal cases, including traffic violations, misdemeanors, felonies, and small claims. The court is located at: Grand Isle County Courthouse PO Box 5 North Hero, VT 05474

Law Enforcement & Arrests

• To locate inmates from Grand Isle County, citizens should use the Vermont Department of Corrections online offender locator at doc.vermont.gov, which provides current custody status and facility location.
• Albans provides backup and investigative support.
• Written requests must reasonably describe the record sought, and agencies may charge reasonable fees for copying and staff time.
• Mugshots and booking photos are generally available through the arresting agency, though Vermont does not maintain a centralized online mugshot database.

• The court charges fees for copies: $5 for certified copies of most documents, plus per-page charges.
• Online case lookup is available through the Vermont Judiciary Online Case Lookup system for some case types.
• Small claims cases up to $5,000 are heard in the Civil Division.

• For example, the Town Clerk of North Hero can be contacted through the office’s website. The Vermont State Archives and Records Administration provides guidance on accessing these records under the Public Records Act.
• Grand Isle County website at grandislecountyvt.us provides links to individual town offices.
• Certified copies of recorded documents are available from the Town Clerk where recorded, typically $10 for the first page and $2 for each additional page.

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

• Death certificates follow the same process and fee structure.
• Marriage licenses are issued by the Town Clerk in any Vermont town, valid for 60 days, with a fee of $45.
• Online ordering is available through the VitalChek service at Vermont's vital records website, though expedited fees apply ($11.50 processing fee plus shipping).

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

• The online business registry allows free searches of active and inactive businesses, showing registration date, principal office address, registered agent, and current status.
• Business entity documents can be obtained for a small fee.
• Building permits are issued at the town level, with fees varying by county and project scope.
• The Lake Champlain Islands Chamber of Commerce, serving Grand Isle County, provides business support and networking, accessible at champlainislands.com.
• Annual business registrations with the Secretary of State are required for most entities, with fees ranging from $35 to $85 depending on entity type.