Leesburg, Ohio Public Records

For felony criminal cases, the Highland County Court of Common Pleas, Criminal Division, located at 105 North High Street, Hillsboro, OH 45133, phone (937) 393-9957, handles all felony prosecutions, including arraignments, plea hearings, trials, and sentencing. The Highland County Court of Common Pleas, General Division, at the same address, has jurisdiction over civil cases exceeding $15,000, real property disputes, and foreclosure actions. The Highland County Probate Court, also located at 105 North High Street, phone (937) 393-1224, handles estates, guardianships, adoption proceedings, marriage licenses, and mental health commitments. The Highland County Juvenile Court serves matters involving individuals under age 18, including delinquency, custody, and dependency cases. Ohio court records can be searched online through the Ohio Supreme Court's public access system, though not all Highland County cases may be fully digitized. The Highland County Clerk of Courts, located at 114 Governor Foraker Place, Hillsboro, OH 45133, phone (937) 393-9957, maintains the official court records and charges fees for certified copies: typically $2.00 per page for certified copies of judgments, $2.00 per page for docket entries, and $5.00 for certification. Case information may be obtained by visiting the Clerk's office in person or by calling during business hours, Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM.

The Auditor's website offers a free online property search tool where users can search by parcel number, owner name, or property address to view current assessed values, tax amounts, property characteristics, sales history, and tax payment status. The database includes residential, commercial, agricultural, and exempt properties throughout Paint Township and Leesburg. For recorded land documents including deeds, mortgages, liens, easements, rights-of-way, and other instruments affecting real property title, the Highland County Recorder's Office, located at 114 Governor Foraker Place, Hillsboro, OH 45133, phone (937) 393-1301, maintains the official records. The Recorder's Office has indexed and digitized many documents, and while some records may be viewable online through a subscription service or third-party vendor, official copies typically require an in-person visit or written request. Recording fees vary by document type: deeds are typically $34.00 for the first two pages and $8.00 for each additional page, plus a $30.00 transfer fee. The Recorder also maintains military discharge records (DD-214s), manufactured home titles, and surveys. Highland County offers a GIS mapping system accessible through the Auditor's website, providing interactive parcel maps with aerial photography, zoning overlays, flood plain designations, and property boundaries. Users can click on parcels to view ownership and assessment information, making it easy to research Leesburg properties by visual map location.

The Fairfield Local School District, headquartered in Leesburg and operating Fairfield High School, Fairfield Middle School, and Fairfield Elementary School, is one of the largest employers in the immediate area, providing teaching, administrative, transportation, and support positions. Agriculture remains a dominant industry throughout the Leesburg area, with family farms producing corn, soybeans, wheat, hay, and livestock including cattle and hogs. Highland County has a strong agricultural heritage and Leesburg benefits from this foundation. The median household income for Leesburg residents is estimated below the Ohio state average, consistent with the rural economy of Highland County, which had a median household income of approximately $44,000 according to recent Census estimates. Manufacturing and healthcare employment in the broader county, including employers in Hillsboro such as Laurel Oaks Career Campus and Highland District Hospital, provide jobs accessible to Leesburg residents willing to commute. Recent economic development has been modest, with the village focused on maintaining infrastructure and supporting existing small businesses. Leesburg's proximity to larger cities such as Wilmington and Washington Court House provides additional employment opportunities within a 30-minute drive. The overall economic character is that of a quiet, family-oriented village with deep roots in agriculture and a stable, if modest, economic base heavily reliant on education, farming, and small-town services.

Law enforcement services for the Village of Leesburg are provided primarily by the Highland County Sheriff's Office, as Leesburg does not operate its own police department. The Highland County Sheriff's Office is located at 1575 N High Street, Suite 100, Hillsboro, OH 45133, phone (937) 393-1421, website www.highlandcountyohio.com/departments/sheriff. The Sheriff's Office has jurisdiction throughout Highland County including all unincorporated areas and provides patrol services, criminal investigations, and emergency response to Leesburg. To request police reports or incident records involving Leesburg residents, contact the Sheriff's Office directly during business hours at the above number or submit a written public records request to their administrative office. The Sheriff's Office maintains records of arrests, accident reports, incident reports, and investigative files subject to Ohio's public records law. For current arrest and jail booking information, the Highland County Sheriff maintains an online inmate roster accessible through the Highland County website at www.highlandcountyohio.com. The jail roster typically displays current inmates' names, booking dates, charges filed, bond amounts, and mugshots where available. Under Ohio Revised Code Section 149.43, Ohio's Public Records Act, all public records are presumed to be open to the public unless specifically exempted by law. Law enforcement agencies must respond to public records requests promptly, and may charge only actual cost for copies. Certain active investigation materials, confidential informant information, and records that would endanger officers or witnesses may be temporarily or permanently exempt. Requesters should submit written requests specifying the records sought, though oral requests must also be honored. The Sheriff's Office may require identification for in-person requests but cannot deny records based on the requester's identity or intended use.

Processing time is typically 4-6 weeks by mail, though expedited service is available for an additional fee. Online ordering is available through VitalChek at www.vitalchek.com with additional processing fees. Applicants must provide valid photo identification and proof of eligibility—only family members, legal representatives, or individuals with a direct and tangible interest may obtain certified copies under Ohio Revised Code Section 3705.24. The Highland County Health Department, located at 1487 North High Street, Suite 100, Hillsboro, OH 45133, phone (937) 393-1941, maintains some local vital records and can assist with applications. Marriage licenses for Leesburg residents are issued by the Highland County Probate Court, 105 North High Street, Hillsboro, OH 45133, phone (937) 393-1224. The marriage license fee is $55.00, and both parties must appear in person with valid identification and Social Security numbers. Ohio has no waiting period or blood test requirement, and licenses are valid for 60 days from issuance. Marriage records dating back to the early 1800s are maintained by the Probate Court and are public records. Divorce records are court records maintained by the Highland County Clerk of Courts, Common Pleas Division, 114 Governor Foraker Place, Hillsboro, OH 45133, as divorce cases are heard in the domestic relations division. Certified copies of divorce decrees cost $2.00 per page plus $5.00 for certification. Birth records less than 100 years old and death records less than 50 years old have restricted access under Ohio law.

Highland County does not have a general business license requirement, though specific activities such as food service, building construction, and signage require permits from the Highland County Building Department or Highland County Health Department located at 1487 North High Street, Suite 100, Hillsboro, OH 45133. For fictitious name or "doing business as" (DBA) registrations, Ohio law requires trade name registrations to be filed with the county, but Highland County's specific process should be confirmed with the Highland County Recorder's Office at (937) 393-1301. All Ohio corporations, limited liability companies (LLCs), limited partnerships, and other business entities must register with the Ohio Secretary of State, Business Services Division. The Ohio Business Search portal is available at www.businesssearch.ohiosos.gov, providing free public access to search business entity names, registration status, registered agent information, business addresses, filing dates, and annual report compliance. Users can search by business name or by business identification number. Formation documents, articles of organization, and amendments are available for purchase from the Secretary of State. For Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) lien searches—used to identify secured interests in business assets and collateral—Ohio UCC records are filed with and searchable through the Ohio Secretary of State's UCC Search system at www.ohiosos.gov. Searches can be conducted by debtor name or secured party name. For property tax obligations on commercial real estate in Leesburg, business owners should consult the Highland County Auditor's online property search at www.highlandcountyauditor.org to look up current assessed values, tax rates, and payment due dates. Commercial properties are reassessed every three years in Ohio as part of the statewide reappraisal cycle.

Voters in Leesburg, Ohio are served by the Highland County Board of Elections, located at 130 Walnut Street, Hillsboro, OH 45133, phone (937) 393-9961, website www.highlandcountyboe.org. This office administers all federal, state, county, and local elections for Leesburg residents, maintains voter registration records, manages early voting, processes absentee ballots, and certifies election results. Ohio residents can register to vote online through the Ohio Secretary of State's website at www.olvr.ohiosos.gov, which allows new registrations and updates to existing registrations. The voter registration deadline in Ohio is 30 days before any election. Applicants must be U.S. citizens, Ohio residents for at least 30 days, and at least 18 years old by Election Day. A valid Ohio driver's license number or the last four digits of a Social Security number is required for online registration. Leesburg, as an incorporated village, holds municipal elections for mayor and village council members. The Village of Leesburg elects a mayor and six council members to four-year terms, with elections held in odd-numbered years on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November. The most recent municipal election was in November 2023, and the next Leesburg village election will be held November 4, 2025, followed by November 2, 2027. To find candidate lists and local ballot measures, residents can contact the Highland County Board of Elections or visit their website closer to Election Day. For polling place lookup, Leesburg voters can use the Ohio Secretary of State's polling location finder at www.voterlookup.ohiosos.gov by entering their name and date of birth or full address; this tool displays the assigned precinct and polling location for each voter. Election records that are public in Ohio include voter registration lists (available by request from the Board of Elections for lawful election-related purposes), campaign finance reports filed with the Ohio Secretary of State at www.ohiosos.gov (searchable by candidate or committee name), candidate petition filings and declarations of candidacy, and precinct-level election results available from the Board of Elections after certification. In the November 2024 presidential election, Highland County reported a voter turnout of approximately 71% of registered voters, with strong participation reflecting the competitive national race. For the November 3, 2026 general election, Leesburg and Highland County voters will decide several important races: Ohio does not have a U.S. Senate seat up for election in 2026, as Ohio's senators are elected in presidential years; however, all of Ohio's 15 U.S. House seats will be on the ballot, with Leesburg in Ohio's 2nd Congressional District. The Ohio Governor's race will also be on the 2026 ballot, as Governor Mike DeWine's term ends in January 2027 (or his successor if he does not seek re-election). State legislative seats for the Ohio House of Representatives and half of the Ohio Senate seats will be decided, with Leesburg located in state legislative districts determined by 2021 redistricting. Highland County offices on the ballot in 2026 include County Commissioner, County Auditor, County Treasurer, and County Recorder, all of which are elected to four-year terms. Local ballot issues such as school levies or village tax measures may also appear. Ohio voters can request absentee ballots by submitting an application to the Highland County Board of Elections; applications are available on the Board's website or by calling (937) 393-9961. Early in-person voting is available at the Board of Elections office beginning 28 days before Election Day and running through the day before the election, including some evening and weekend hours. Voted absentee ballots must be postmarked by the day before Election Day and received within 10 days after the election, or voters may deliver ballots in person to the Board of Elections by 7:30 PM on Election Day.