Kokomo, Indiana Public Records

Howard Superior Court 4 (phone: 765-456-2207) handles misdemeanor criminal cases, small claims (up to $10,000), traffic violations, and preliminary hearings. Kokomo also has a City Court located at Kokomo City Hall, 130 North Union Street (phone: 765-456-7170), which handles municipal ordinance violations, traffic tickets within city limits, and certain misdemeanor offenses. Court records can be searched online through Indiana's statewide Odyssey Portal at mycase.in.gov, which provides free access to case information, party names, charges, judgments, and docket entries for cases filed after 2005. Older records require in-person research at the courthouse. The Howard County Clerk's Office (phone: 765-456-2204) maintains all court records and charges $1 per page for uncertified copies and $7 for the first page plus $1 for each additional page for certified copies. Case filing fees vary: small claims cost $85, civil complaints start at $156, and divorce filings are $157.

The Howard County Recorder's Office, located at 220 North Main Street, Suite 201, Kokomo, IN 46901 (phone: 765-456-2202, website: co.howard.in.us/recorder), records and maintains all documents affecting real property including warranty deeds, mortgage documents, liens, easements, certificates of title, and plats. Recorded documents dating back to 1844 are available, with documents from 1992 forward searchable and viewable free online through the Recorder's website powered by Laredo. Users can search by grantor, grantee, document type, or legal description and view scanned images at no cost. Copies of recorded documents cost $1 per page for uncertified and $5 for the first page plus $1 for each additional page for certified copies. The county's GIS mapping system is available at gis.co.howard.in.us, providing interactive parcel maps, aerial photography, zoning overlays, and property information integrated with assessment data. The Howard County Auditor's Office at 220 North Main Street, Suite 350 (phone: 765-456-2215) maintains tax records and payment history.

Community Howard Regional Health serves as a major healthcare employer with over 1,500 employees at its 240-bed facility and associated clinics. The Kokomo-Howard County Public Library system and Kokomo School Corporation provide substantial public sector employment. Indiana University Kokomo, established in 1945, serves approximately 3,500 students and employs hundreds of faculty and staff, contributing to the local economy and workforce development. The median household income in Kokomo is approximately $44,000, below the state average, reflecting the economic challenges of manufacturing sector transitions. Recent development has focused on downtown revitalization with new restaurants, breweries, and entertainment venues along Main Street. The Stellantis Kokomo Transmission Plant received a $760 million investment in 2019 for new transmission production, securing jobs for years to come. The city's industrial legacy includes being home to automotive pioneer Elwood Haynes, who built one of America's first gasoline-powered automobiles in 1894. Kokomo's economy remains closely tied to Howard County's overall manufacturing base, with diversification efforts underway in healthcare, education, and logistics sectors.

The Kokomo Police Department, located at 221 South Washington Street, Kokomo, IN 46901 (phone: 765-456-7278, website: kokomopolice.com), serves the city limits and maintains records of incidents, arrests, accident reports, and offense reports. Citizens can request police reports in person at the Records Division or by mail with a completed request form and payment of $5 per report. The department provides online crash report purchasing through a third-party vendor accessible via their website. The Howard County Sheriff's Office, headquartered at 220 North Main Street, Suite 105, Kokomo, IN 46901 (phone: 765-614-3310), provides law enforcement services to unincorporated areas of Howard County and operates the Howard County Justice Center, the county's detention facility. Arrest and jail booking information can be searched online through the Howard County Sheriff's website inmate roster at howardcountysheriff.com, which displays current inmates, booking dates, charges, bond amounts, and mugshots updated in real time. Indiana's Access to Public Records Act (Indiana Code 5-14-3-3) guarantees public access to law enforcement records, though certain investigatory records may be exempt. Requests must be made in writing and agencies must respond within a reasonable time, typically within 24 hours for simple requests. Fees are limited to actual copying costs and may not exceed $0.10 per page for black and white copies. Both agencies participate in regional task forces and work alongside Indiana State Police District 51 headquarters in Peru.

The Howard County Health Department at 206 South Berkley Road, Kokomo, IN 46902 (phone: 765-868-0456) can provide birth and death certificates for events occurring in Howard County, with the same fee structure and processing times. Marriage licenses are issued by the Howard County Clerk's Office at 220 North Main Street, Room 107, Kokomo, IN 46901 (phone: 765-456-2204). The marriage license fee is $18 if both parties complete a premarital education program or $60 without the program. There is no waiting period in Indiana, and licenses are valid for 60 days. Both parties must appear in person with valid photo identification and social security numbers. Divorce records are court records maintained by the Howard County Clerk as part of dissolution case files, searchable through the Indiana Odyssey system. Indiana law (IC 16-37-1) restricts access to vital records to the registrant, immediate family members, legal representatives, or individuals with a direct and tangible interest, requiring government-issued photo identification and proof of relationship.

Howard County does not require a separate county-level business license. Fictitious business names (DBA - "Doing Business As") must be registered with the Howard County Recorder's Office at 220 North Main Street, Suite 201 (phone: 765-456-2202), with fees of $30 for the initial filing. All Indiana corporations, LLCs, and other business entities must register with the Indiana Secretary of State, Business Services Division. The free online database at inbiz.in.gov allows searches of business entities by name, registered agent, or business ID number, displaying entity status, registration date, principal office address, registered agent information, and officers or members. Entity formation costs $100-$150 depending on type. UCC lien searches are conducted through the Indiana Secretary of State UCC Division, searchable online at the same portal. Commercial property assessments for tax purposes are handled by the Howard County Assessor's Office (765-456-2213), with assessment data searchable online showing property tax obligations for business owners. Professional licenses including contractors, cosmetologists, and health professionals require state licensing through the Indiana Professional Licensing Agency at in.gov/pla.

Kokomo voters are served by the Howard County Clerk's Office - Election Division, located at 220 North Main Street, Room 107, Kokomo, IN 46901 (phone: 765-456-2204, website: co.howard.in.us/clerk). Indiana residents can register to vote online at indianavoters.in.gov through the Indiana Voter Registration Portal maintained by the Secretary of State, which requires a valid Indiana driver's license or state ID. Voter registration deadlines are 29 days before any election. Kokomo holds municipal elections for Mayor and Common Council seats on odd-numbered years, with the next mayoral election scheduled for November 2027. The Kokomo Common Council consists of nine members - six representing specific districts and three elected at-large, all serving four-year terms. Candidates for municipal office must file with the Howard County Election Board. The most recent mayoral race in November 2023 saw Democrat Tyler Moore defeat incumbent Republican Greg Goodnight. Kokomo residents can locate their assigned polling place using the Indiana Voter Portal at indianavoters.in.gov by entering their address, which displays polling location, sample ballot, and elected officials. Howard County maintains approximately 40 voting precincts across the county. Under Indiana law (IC 3-7-26), voter registration lists are public records available for purchase for lawful purposes. Campaign finance reports for municipal and county candidates are filed with the Howard County Clerk and are available for public inspection. Precinct-level election results are posted on the County Clerk's website after certification. In the November 2024 general election, Howard County recorded approximately 19,500 votes cast, representing roughly 50% turnout of registered voters, with strong support for Republican candidates in federal races. On November 3, 2026, Indiana voters will decide contests for all nine U.S. House seats (Kokomo is in Indiana's 5th Congressional District), all 100 Indiana House seats and 25 of 50 State Senate seats, Howard County Council seats, and potentially county offices including Sheriff, Auditor, Recorder, and Treasurer depending on term expirations. No U.S. Senate seat or gubernatorial race is scheduled for 2026 in Indiana (Governor is 2024/2028 cycle, Senate seats are 2022/2024/2028). Indiana offers absentee voting by mail for voters who qualify under IC 3-11-10, including those over 65, those with disabilities, scheduled to be absent on election day, or serving as poll workers. Applications must be received by the County Clerk by 11:59 PM eleven days before the election, with completed ballots due by noon on election day.