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How to request assessor data under the Colorado Open Records Act

Bottom line: Email the county assessor, as custodian of assessment records, and cite the Colorado Open Records Act, C.R.S. 24-72-201 et seq. Ask for copies of existing records in electronic form, name the fields you need, accept a standard export, and ask for a cost estimate before work beyond the first free hour begins.

Free beta checked October 18, 2026 · next check by January 18, 2027

Guide

What is the Colorado Open Records Act?

The Colorado Open Records Act (CORA) gives the public a right to inspect and copy most government records. Adams County's official policy cites it as C.R.S. 24-72-201 et seq.

Assessor records such as account lists, values, and sales are generally public. Many counties already post some of them online.

Guide

Should you check online first?

Yes. Many assessors post free bulk files. Examples: Boulder County data download, Larimer County public data, Weld County data download, and Broomfield data files. A request is for what is not posted.

Guide

What should the request say?

shinnslist sent two requests in October 2026, one to the Summit County Assessor for sales records and one to the Grand County Assessor for assessment and sales records. Both followed the same pattern:

  1. Address the custodian. Write to the Assessor as custodian of assessment records.
  2. Cite the law. Name the Colorado Open Records Act, C.R.S. 24-72-201 et seq.
  3. Ask for existing records. Say you are not asking the office to create a new record. Accept the closest existing export.
  4. Name the fields. For sales: account or schedule number, parcel number, reception number, sale date, sale price, deed type, and the qualified or unqualified code. For assessment: account and parcel number, property class or land use code, and actual and assessed values for land and improvements, for the current year.
  5. Set a range. Every sale in the system, or all sales recorded since a start date such as January 1, 2000.
  6. Ask for a format. Electronic, such as CSV or Excel, sent by email.
  7. Ask for an estimate. Ask for a cost estimate before work beyond the first free hour of research and retrieval.

Guide

Where do you send it?

Some counties use an online portal. Others take email to the office. Check the county's records page first:

For Summit County, the Assessor's office takes requests directly; see the Summit County Assessor page for contact details.

Guide

How long does it take?

Adams County's policy says it tries to fill requests within three working days and will give notice if it needs up to seven more working days. Other counties follow the same law but may word it differently.

Guide

What does it cost?

Costs vary by county. As one example, Adams County's open records policy, effective March 1, 2025 and read on 2026-10-18, lists the first hour of research and retrieval as free, then $41.37 per hour, plus copy costs. Weld County's Assessor data download page, read on 2026-10-18, lists custom reports at a $200 setup fee plus $50 per hour. Ask for an estimate in writing before you agree to pay.

Guide

What should you do with the data?

Follow any terms the county attaches. Some files are marked for personal use only, and those cannot be resold or republished. Keep owner names and mailing addresses private. Do not use the data to target people by any protected trait.

Questions

Questions people ask

Do I have to say why I want the records?

The requests shinnslist sent did not state a reason. Some counties ask for contact details so they can reply.

Can the county refuse to make a new report?

CORA covers existing records. That is why it helps to ask for an existing export and accept the closest match.

Is the first hour free?

Adams County's policy, effective March 1, 2025, says the first hour of research and retrieval is free. Check each county's own policy.

Is this legal advice?

No. It describes how two requests were written and what official county pages say. Ask an attorney about your situation.

Sources

Where each fact comes from