Search Peabody Public Records

Peabody public records are held by the City Clerk, the Board of Assessors, the Peabody Police Department, and other city offices subject to Massachusetts public records law. Anyone has the right to request access to these documents under state law. This page covers where Peabody public records are kept, which offices hold which types of documents, how to submit a records request, and what state law says about fees, timelines, and your right to appeal a denial.

Peabody City Clerk Office

The Peabody City Clerk is the primary records custodian for the city. The office is at City Hall, 24 Lowell Street, Peabody, MA 01960. It holds vital records including birth, marriage, and death certificates, as well as business certificates, dog licenses, public meeting minutes, and City Council records. The clerk maintains the official record of city ordinances and resolutions. For most Peabody public records requests, this is the right place to start.

Staff at the City Clerk's office can help identify which department holds the records you need and explain what to include in your request. Call or email ahead to confirm availability of specific documents and what identification you may need to bring to the office.

Below is a screenshot of the Peabody city website, which provides access to department information, services, and public records contacts.

The city's website links to department pages, contact information, and service details for Peabody residents and the public.

How to Request Peabody Public Records

Under MGL Chapter 66, Section 10, any person has the right to request public records from Peabody city agencies. The city must respond within 10 business days. Peabody designates a Records Access Officer (RAO) to handle these requests. Contact the City Clerk at cityclerk@peabody-ma.gov or call (978) 538-5920 to submit a request. You can also submit in person at City Hall or by mail.

No reason is required. You do not need to be a Peabody resident to make a request. Requests should describe the records you are seeking as specifically as possible to help the office locate them quickly. If records are held by another city department, the clerk's office can direct your request to the right place. Some records may be withheld under legal exemptions, and the RAO must tell you which exemption applies in writing.

Under state fee rules, the first two hours of staff work are free for cities with more than 20,000 residents. After that, fees cannot exceed $25 per hour. Copies cost $0.05 per page. Electronic delivery often comes at no extra cost. If Peabody denies your request or fails to respond, you can appeal to the Supervisor of Records, One Ashburton Place, Room 1719, Boston, MA 02108, phone (617) 727-2832.

Vital Records in Peabody

The City Clerk issues certified copies of birth, marriage, and death certificates for events registered in Peabody. Each certified copy costs $15. You can order in person at City Hall or by mail. Mail requests should include a written request, a copy of your photo ID, and a check or money order payable to the City of Peabody.

Certified copies are available to immediate family members, legal representatives, and individuals with a documented legal purpose. For records not held locally, or for statewide or historical records, the Massachusetts Registry of Vital Records and Statistics serves as the statewide source. The registry holds records from across Massachusetts and can provide certified copies to eligible requesters.

Peabody Property and Deed Records

Property records for Peabody are held by the Board of Assessors at City Hall. These records include ownership information, assessed values, lot size, building characteristics, and tax data for every parcel in the city. The Assessors' office is a good starting point for property-related questions or ownership lookups.

For recorded land documents, the Southern Essex Registry of Deeds handles deed records, mortgages, liens, and other instruments for Peabody. The registry is located at 100 Cummings Center, Suite 206-C, Beverly, MA, phone (978) 542-1700. You can search Southern Essex land records at no cost through MassLandRecords.com. Searches can be done by grantor or grantee name, address, or document type. The registry covers Peabody and the surrounding communities of Essex County.

Note: The Southern Essex Registry is sometimes called the Salem Deeds office and can also be reached through salemdeeds.com, which redirects to the official state platform.

Court Records for Peabody

Peabody falls under the Salem District Court and Essex Superior Court for civil and criminal matters. Case records can be searched at no cost through MassCourts.org, the statewide system covering most Massachusetts trial courts. You can search by name or case number and view docket entries, filings, and public case outcomes.

Probate matters for Peabody residents are handled by Essex County Probate and Family Court. Some records may be sealed or only available in paper form at the courthouse. For state-level public records including corporate filings and campaign finance data, the Secretary of the Commonwealth maintains searchable online databases.

To search for registered sex offenders in the Peabody area, use the public lookup provided by the Sex Offender Registry Board at mass.gov/sorb. Searches can be done by name or city.

Essex County Public Records

Peabody is part of Essex County. County-level records for Peabody include land records at the Southern Essex Registry of Deeds in Beverly, court records at Essex Superior Court, and probate records at Essex County Probate and Family Court. For a full overview of Essex County public records resources, visit the county page.

View Essex County Public Records

Nearby Cities

Peabody is in northeastern Massachusetts, near several qualifying cities with their own records offices and public records processes.