Cherokee County Recorder's Office

09/21/2026

🧾 Post 2: Vital Records — Helping You Get the Records You Need

Birth certificates. Death certificates. Marriage certificates.

Our office processes applications for all three, and there’s a lot more involved than simply printing a copy.

We follow state rules and regulations when processing certified copies of vital records, and we carefully verify that customers are entitled to receive the records they are requesting.

Sometimes that record is needed for something as simple as checking a box off a to-do list. Other times, it’s an important piece of a much bigger process.

Need a birth certificate to get the REAL ID star on your driver’s license? ⭐

Need a marriage certificate to update your name on your passport? ✈️

Need a death certificate to help claim funds through the Great Iowa Treasure Hunt? 💰

We can help!

We’re also seeing an upward trend in dual citizenship applications, which often require older vital records and documentation. We’re happy to help customers figure out what records they may need and where to find them.

Vital records are some of the most important documents we issue, and we’re here to help you navigate the process and get the records you are legally entitled to receive.

09/16/2026

Important Youth Deer Season Reminders!

09/14/2026

Over the next several posts, we’re going to take you behind the counter and highlight some of the many things the Recorder's Office does for our communities. From recording and preserving important documents to helping with vital records, marriage applications, passports, DNR registrations, military records, genealogy research, and more, our office plays a role in many different aspects of our communities.

So, follow along as we share “What Does the Recorder’s Office Do?” and take a closer look at the many services provided by your County Recorder’s Office!

📜 Post 1: Recording Documents — More Than Just a Stamp
When most people think of the County Recorder’s Office, they probably think of recording documents — and they’re right! But there’s a lot more to it than simply putting a recording stamp on a piece of paper.

Our office records real estate documents of all kinds, including deeds, mortgages, easements, surveys, assignments, releases, and much more.

Before a document can be recorded, we have to make sure it meets Iowa’s Document Formatting Standards and that the correct recording fees have been submitted. And while we’re talking about fees — the recording fees we collect today have not changed in over 40 years!

Once a document is accepted, we carefully record it and make sure the information is indexed accurately. These records become part of the permanent public record, so accuracy and preservation are incredibly important.

We know that a document being recorded may represent someone’s home, property, business, or investment. We take that responsibility seriously.

So the next time you bring a document to the Recorder’s Office, know that there’s a lot happening behind the scenes to make sure it becomes an accurate and permanent part of the record. 📚

Stay tuned as we take a closer look at each of these responsibilities and explain a little more about what happens behind the scenes at your County Recorder’s Office!

09/01/2026

IT’S RENEWAL TIME!

Starting TODAY, September 1st, you can renew your Off-Highway Vehicles (OHVs) for the 2027 year! 🏁

• Snowmobiles
• ATVs
• ORVs
• ORMs

✨ NEW for 2027: PURPLE DECALS!

Don’t wait—stop in anytime to get your renewals taken care of and be ready to ride! 🏁

08/13/2026

Please see the information below!

We received the 26-27 hunting regulation books from the DNR as of yesterday! Stop in and grab one if you have been waiting.

🚨 Deer & Turkey License Sales Begin August 15! 🦌🦃

Planning to hunt this season? Mark your calendars!

2026 Deer & Turkey License Sales will begin at 9:00 a.m. on August 15th.

Stop by your local County Recorder's Office to purchase your licenses. Our offices are proud to help serve Iowa's hunters while keeping a portion of each license fee right here in your county.

We look forward to seeing you, and best of luck this hunting season! 🌲🍂

07/22/2026

‼️Good news‼️

Birth records for 1983 have now been added to Iowa's statewide vital records database.

What this means is if you were born in 1983 or later, you can obtain a certified copy of your Iowa birth certificate from any Iowa County Recorder's Office.

If you were born in 1982 or earlier, you'll still need to obtain your birth certificate from the county where your birth occurred.

If you have questions or need assistance obtaining a certified copy of your birth certificate, contact our office!

07/17/2026

🦌 Attention Deer Hunters!

The Iowa DNR has updated deer hunting regulations by dividing the state into two management zones to help the deer population recover.

Zone B includes these northwest Iowa counties:
• Lyon
• Sioux
• O'Brien
• Plymouth
• Woodbury
• Ida
• Crawford
• Shelby

To explain the changes before deer season, the Iowa DNR is hosting four informational meetings:

📍 Aug. 3 – Yellow Smoke Park (near Denison) – 6:00 p.m.
📍 Aug. 4 – Dennis L. Sohl Center (Hinton) – 6:00 p.m.
📍 Aug. 5 – Sandy Hollow Clubhouse (Sioux Center) – 6:00 p.m.
📍 Aug. 6 – Prairie Heritage Center (near Peterson) – 6:00 p.m.

While Cherokee County remains in Zone A, these changes could affect you if you hunt in another county—especially in Zone B. If you plan to hunt this fall, consider attending one of these meetings to learn how the new regulations may impact your season.

07/01/2026

Reminder that effective today, July 1, 2026, the fee for certified copies of vital records in Iowa will increase from $15 to $20 per copy. This includes certified copies of birth, death, and marriage records.

The additional revenue generated from this fee adjustment will help support increased workload and associated costs at the State Medical Examiner’s Office.

06/05/2026

📣Please note that effective July 1, 2026, the fee for certified copies of vital records in Iowa will increase from $15 to $20 per copy. This includes certified copies of birth, death, and marriage records.

The process for obtaining certified copies will remain the same, and the marriage application fee will remain $35.

The additional revenue generated from this fee adjustment will help support increased workload and associated costs at the State Medical Examiner’s Office.

06/01/2026

🐟Iowa's Free Fishing Weekend in 2026 is June 5th through June 7th.

During this weekend, Iowa residents can fish in public waters without a license or trout fee. All other fishing regulations including hook limits and size restrictions still apply. This event is held annually on the first full weekend in June.