Hillsboro, Ohio Public Records

The Highland County Court of Common Pleas, located at 105 North High Street, Hillsboro, OH 45133 (phone: 937-393-9957 for the Clerk of Courts), handles felony criminal cases, civil cases exceeding $15,000, domestic relations matters including divorce and child custody, probate and estate administration, and juvenile cases for Highland County. The Clerk of Courts office maintains all case files and records for the Common Pleas Court. Ohio provides online court record access through the Ohio Supreme Court's public access system, though Highland County's specific online access varies by court. For certified copies of court documents, the Clerk of Courts charges $2.00 for the first page and $0.25 for each additional page, plus a certification fee of $1.00. The municipal court maintains its own fee schedule for copies and certifications. To search court records, residents can visit the respective courthouse in person during business hours (typically Monday-Friday 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM), call the clerk's office for case information, or check if online access is available through the court's website. Case information is public record under Ohio law unless sealed by court order, and anyone can request to view or copy case files by providing the case number, party names, or other identifying information to the clerk's office.

The Auditor's website provides free online access to search property records by owner name, parcel number, or property address, displaying current assessed values, tax amounts, property characteristics, sales history, and ownership information. The Highland County Auditor also provides an online GIS mapping system allowing users to view aerial imagery, parcel boundaries, zoning information, and property details interactively. The Highland County Recorder's Office, located at 105 North High Street, Suite 6, Hillsboro, OH 45133 (phone: 937-393-9957), is responsible for recording and maintaining official land records including deeds, mortgages, liens, easements, military discharge papers, manufactured home titles, and other documents affecting real property ownership. Under Ohio Revised Code §317.32, the Recorder's office must maintain these records in perpetuity and make them available for public inspection. Highland County provides online access to recorded documents through a subscription-based system; free searches may be available at the Recorder's office in person. Recording fees vary by document type but typically start at $34.00 for the first two pages and $8.00 for each additional page. To conduct a property title search, researchers can visit the Recorder's office to examine the grantor-grantee indexes and document images, or use the online system if subscribed. The combination of Auditor and Recorder records provides comprehensive property ownership history, tax information, and encumbrance details for any parcel in Hillsboro or Highland County.

Highland County government offices concentrated in downtown Hillsboro provide significant public sector employment including the courthouse, sheriff's office, county administrative offices, and social services agencies. Manufacturing remains important to Hillsboro's economy with employers including Fuel Safe Systems, Inc., a manufacturer of aviation fuel system components, and several other industrial operations along State Route 62 and State Route 73 corridors. Retail and service businesses are concentrated around Hillsboro's downtown square and along North High Street (US Route 62). The median household income in Hillsboro is approximately $37,000, below both the state and national averages, reflecting the rural and small-town character of Highland County's economy. Agriculture remains economically significant in the surrounding Highland County area, with Hillsboro serving as the market town and service center for farming operations producing corn, soybeans, wheat, and livestock. Recent economic development efforts have focused on downtown revitalization, small business support, and leveraging Hillsboro's position at the intersection of US Route 50 and US Route 62. The Highland County Economic Development office works to attract new businesses and retain existing employers. Hillsboro's economy is typical of rural Ohio county seats, balancing traditional agriculture-related commerce with healthcare, education, light manufacturing, and government services that serve a broader regional population beyond the city limits.

The Hillsboro Police Department, located at 145 Beech Street, Hillsboro, OH 45133 (phone: 937-393-3411), provides primary law enforcement services within Hillsboro city limits. Citizens can request police reports, accident reports, and incident records by visiting the department in person or calling during business hours. The department maintains records of arrests, traffic citations, incident reports, and investigative files subject to public disclosure under Ohio Revised Code §149.43, Ohio's Public Records Act. Some records may be withheld or redacted if they are part of ongoing investigations or contain confidential information protected by law. The Highland County Sheriff's Office, located at 119 Governor Foraker Place, Hillsboro, OH 45133 (phone: 937-393-1421, website: www.hcso.us), provides law enforcement services for unincorporated areas of Highland County and operates the Highland County Jail. The Sheriff's Office maintains arrest records, incident reports, and provides court security and civil process serving. To search for current jail inmates and recent arrests, the Highland County Sheriff's Office provides an online inmate roster at www.hcso.us showing booking information, charges, bond amounts, booking dates, and mugshots for individuals currently detained at the Highland County Jail facility. Under Ohio Revised Code §149.43, all public offices in Ohio must make public records available for inspection and copying at reasonable times during regular business hours. Requesters do not need to state a reason for requesting records, and agencies must respond promptly to records requests. Certain law enforcement records may be exempt from disclosure including confidential law enforcement investigatory records, trial preparation records, and information that would endanger the safety of law enforcement personnel. Both the Hillsboro Police Department and Highland County Sheriff's Office accept public records requests in person, by phone, by mail, or through their respective websites.

Online ordering is available through the VitalChek service at www.vitalchek.com with additional processing fees. Ohio birth records less than 100 years old are confidential and available only to the individual named on the certificate (if age 18 or older), parents listed on the certificate, legal guardians, or legal representatives. Death certificates are also issued by the Ohio Bureau of Vital Statistics at the same address and phone number, costing $27.00 per certified copy. Death records less than 50 years old are confidential with restricted access. Marriage licenses are issued by the Highland County Probate Court, located at 105 North High Street, Hillsboro, OH 45133 (phone: 937-393-9957). Couples must apply in person at the Probate Court, pay a fee of $50.00 ($45.00 if both parties complete premarital counseling), and the license is valid for 60 days from issuance. Certified copies of marriage records cost $2.00 for the first page and $0.25 for additional pages. The Highland County Probate Court maintains marriage records dating back to the county's formation in 1805. Divorce records are maintained by the Highland County Clerk of Courts as part of the Court of Common Pleas Domestic Relations case files, accessible at 105 North High Street, Hillsboro, OH 45133. Certified copies require the $2.00 first-page fee plus certification charges. Ohio law requires valid government-issued photo identification for all vital record requests.

Highland County does not require a general county-level business license, but specific business types may need county health department permits or zoning approval. Fictitious name registrations (DBAs - "Doing Business As") for businesses operating under a name other than the owner's legal name must be filed with the Highland County Clerk of Courts at 105 North High Street, Hillsboro, OH 45133. For formal business entity formation including corporations, limited liability companies (LLCs), limited partnerships, and other registered entities, businesses must file with the Ohio Secretary of State's Business Services Division. The Ohio Secretary of State provides free online searching of all registered business entities at www.businesssearch.ohiosos.gov, where users can look up corporation names, LLC status, registered agents, business addresses, filing dates, and entity status (active, dissolved, cancelled). Formation documents, annual reports, and entity changes are filed online through the Ohio Business Central portal at www.ohiobusinesscentral.gov. UCC (Uniform Commercial Code) lien filings, which establish secured interests in business personal property and collateral, are also filed with the Ohio Secretary of State and searchable online at the same website. Business owners in Hillsboro must also verify commercial property tax obligations through the Highland County Auditor's Office at 114 Governor Foraker Place, Hillsboro, OH 45133 (phone: 937-393-9957), where commercial property assessments, tax rates, and payment history can be searched online at www.highlandcountyauditor.org. Certain businesses may require additional state licensing through Ohio's eLicense system depending on profession or industry.

Hillsboro voters are served by the Highland County Board of Elections, located at 130 Homestead Avenue, Suite D, Hillsboro, OH 45133 (phone: 937-393-9961, website: www.highlandcountyboe.com). This office administers all federal, state, county, and municipal elections for Highland County residents including voter registration, absentee voting, polling place assignments, candidate filing, and election results certification. Ohio residents can register to vote online at www.ohiosos.gov/elections using the Ohio Secretary of State's online voter registration portal, which requires an Ohio driver's license or state ID number. The voter registration deadline is 30 days before any election. Hillsboro residents must be U.S. citizens, at least 18 years old by Election Day, residents of Ohio for 30 days, and not currently incarcerated for a felony conviction. Hillsboro as a chartered municipality holds municipal elections for mayor and city council in odd-numbered years. The City of Hillsboro elects a mayor and seven council members serving staggered four-year terms, with municipal elections typically held in November of odd-numbered years. The next Hillsboro municipal election will occur in November 2025 for various council seats and municipal offices. Information about candidates, ballot issues, and municipal election dates is available through the Highland County Board of Elections and the City of Hillsboro administration office at 130 North High Street. To find their assigned polling place, Hillsboro residents can use the polling place lookup tool at www.ohiosos.gov/elections or contact the Highland County Board of Elections directly with their residential address. Ohio law makes extensive election records publicly available under Ohio Revised Code §149.43 and election-specific statutes. Voter registration lists are public records available for purchase for legitimate purposes, though individual voter history (whether someone voted, though not how they voted) has certain access restrictions. Campaign finance reports for candidates and political action committees are public and searchable through the Ohio Secretary of State's website at www.ohiosos.gov. Candidate filings, petition signatures, and precinct-level election results are all public records maintained by the Board of Elections. In the November 2024 general election, Highland County reported approximately 18,500 registered voters with approximately 72% turnout (roughly 13,300 ballots cast) for the presidential election, reflecting strong rural voter engagement typical of Ohio swing-state electoral participation. The November 3, 2026 general election will be a crucial midterm election for Hillsboro and Highland County voters. Ohio voters will decide contested races including one U.S. Senate seat (Ohio's Class III Senate seat is up in 2026, currently depending on the term cycle), Governor of Ohio (2026 is a gubernatorial election year in Ohio), Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of State, State Auditor, State Treasurer, and multiple Ohio General Assembly seats including State Senate and State House of Representatives districts covering Highland County. Highland County offices on the 2026 ballot will include county commissioners, sheriff, county engineer, prosecuting attorney, clerk of courts, recorder, auditor, treasurer, and coroner depending on term expiration schedules. Hillsboro voters in 2026 will also see any applicable judicial races for Common Pleas Court judges and municipal court judges. Ohio offers absentee voting by mail for any registered voter without requiring an excuse. Absentee ballot applications can be submitted online through the Highland County Board of Elections website, by mail, or in person beginning 90 days before an election. Completed absentee ballot applications must be received by noon on the Saturday before Election Day. Completed absentee ballots must be postmarked by the day before Election Day and received by the Board of Elections within 10 days after the election, or can be delivered in person to the Board of Elections by 7:30 PM on Election Day. Early in-person voting is available at the Highland County Board of Elections office beginning 28 days before Election Day through the day before Election Day, with extended evening and weekend hours in the final week before elections.