Nevada County Background Check Records

Nevada County background check records are available through the sheriff and Superior Court. This Sierra foothill county has about 100,000 residents. Nevada City is the county seat though Grass Valley is slightly larger. Part of the county extends to Lake Tahoe. This guide covers how to access criminal records in Nevada County, California (not to be confused with the state of Nevada).

Nevada County Sheriff Services

The Nevada County Sheriff provides law enforcement and various services for the county. Contact them at (530) 265-1471 for Live Scan availability and fees. The sheriff office is in Nevada City near the historic downtown.

On top of any local fees, Live Scan requires $32 to the state DOJ and $17 to the FBI for federal records. The sheriff serves the unincorporated areas and contract cities. Nevada County has a mix of rural mountain communities and more populated foothill areas.

Private Live Scan operators serve the Grass Valley and Nevada City area. Truckee on the east side of the county near Lake Tahoe also has options. Use the DOJ locator to find all certified sites.

Nevada County Court Records

Nevada Superior Court handles criminal cases for the county. The main courthouse is in Nevada City. There may also be court facilities serving the Truckee area. You can search cases and request copies of documents.

Certified copies cost $40 per document. Regular copies have per page fees. Contact the clerk for specific pricing. Criminal records are public unless sealed by court order.

Nevada County is in the historic Gold Country. The court serves communities from the western foothills to the high Sierra at Truckee.

Live Scan in Nevada County

Nevada County has two incorporated cities: Nevada City and Grass Valley. Grass Valley is slightly larger with about 13,000 people. Nevada City is the county seat with around 3,000 people. Truckee is a large unincorporated town.

Grass Valley has its own police department that may offer services. Nevada City also has police. Contact local departments to check availability. The sheriff handles Truckee and other unincorporated areas.

Note: Truckee is separated from the western part of the county by Donner Pass. Travel between areas can take over an hour.

Nevada County Background Check Fees

Fees in Nevada County include state charges plus local fees. The DOJ charges $32. The FBI charges $17. Contact the sheriff for current rolling fee information.

Court fees follow standard California rates with $40 for certified copies. Private operators may have different pricing.

Nearby California Counties

Nevada County is in the Sierra Nevada foothills and mountains. Interstate 80 crosses the county through Truckee.

Neighboring counties include Sierra County to the north, Placer County to the south, and Yuba County to the west.

Communities in Nevada County

Nevada County has two incorporated cities and several unincorporated communities. All criminal cases go through Nevada Superior Court.

• Nevada City (county seat)
• Grass Valley
• Truckee (unincorporated)
• Penn Valley (unincorporated)
• Lake of the Pines (unincorporated)