How to Access Public Records in Florida (Property, Court, Criminal, Vital &#038; Business Records)

Florida has one of the broadest public records access laws in the United States — but finding records can still be confusing because systems are divided across 67 counties and multiple state agencies. Whether you need property deeds, court case files, criminal history reports, vital certificates, or business registrations, knowing which agency maintains the record is the key to a successful Florida public records lookup.

Public records in Florida include property deeds, court filings, vital certificates, criminal history reports, and business registrations. These records are created and maintained by county clerk of courts offices, the Florida court system, state agencies, and the Florida Department of State. The right to access government records in Florida is enshrined in the Florida Constitution — not just statute — making it one of the strongest open-records frameworks in the country. Residents, legal professionals, journalists, genealogists, and researchers frequently perform Florida record searches by county to locate property ownership, court filings, criminal history, and business registrations. This guide explains where each type of record is held, who can request it, and how to search effectively.

About PublicRecordHub: PublicRecordHub links only to official government offices and does not provide private background reports. All sources are verified and updated regularly to ensure accuracy.

Florida Public Records Quick Facts


Open Records Law	Florida Public Records Law (F.S. Chapter 119)
Constitutional Right	Yes — Article I, Section 24
Counties	67
Statewide Property Search	No
Statewide Court Search	No
Birth Certificates Restricted For	125 years
Death Certificates (No Cause of Death)	Available to any adult (18+)
Cause of Death Public After	50 years
Criminal Records Public	Yes — FDLE Instant Search ($24 + $1 card fee)
Business Records Portal	Sunbiz (Division of Corporations)
Residency Required	No

What Are Public Records in Florida?

Public records are documents created or maintained by Florida government agencies in the course of official public business. These include property deeds, court case files, birth and death certificates, criminal history information, and business registrations. Florida presumes all government records are open to the public unless a specific statutory exemption applies — the burden is on the government to justify withholding, not on the requester to justify access.

How to Access Public Records in Florida

Identify the type of record you need and the agency or office that maintains it.
Choose the record type — property, court, vital, criminal, or business.
Visit the appropriate portal: county Clerk of Courts website, Florida Department of Health Vital Records, Florida Department of Law Enforcement, or the Florida Division of Corporations Sunbiz portal.
Search by name, case number, parcel ID, or entity number — Florida case numbers follow a standardized format (e.g., 20-CA-12345 indicating year, case type, and sequence).
Submit requests online, by phone, by mail, by fax, by email, or in person — Florida law allows requests in any format and agencies cannot require a specific form.
Agencies must acknowledge requests promptly and provide records at reasonable times; requesters may remain anonymous.
For a directory of official Florida county government records portals organized by county and record type, visit PublicRecordHub.

Florida’s Open Records Law

Public records in Florida are governed by the Florida Public Records Law, codified at Florida Statutes Chapter 119, and reinforced by Article I, Section 24 of the Florida Constitution — added by the 1992 Sunshine Amendment. Florida’s open records framework is considered one of the strongest in the nation.

In simple terms: every document, email, text message, recording, and other material created or received by a Florida government agency in connection with official business is presumed to be a public record. The government must justify any withholding — the requester does not need to justify access.

Key provisions:

No deadline is set for responses, but agencies must act with reasonable promptness; unreasonable delays can be challenged in court.
Access is granted to any person — no residency requirement, no need to state a purpose, and requesters may remain anonymous.
Agencies cannot require requesters to use a specific form or portal.
Fees may be charged for duplication; extensive requests may incur special service charges for staff time.
Exemptions must be explicitly created by the legislature with a two-thirds majority vote and a stated public necessity — exemptions cannot be created by agency policy.
Agencies that knowingly violate the law face criminal penalties, attorney’s fees, and court orders.
The Florida Sunshine Law (open meetings law) operates alongside Chapter 119, requiring public meetings to be open, noticed, and recorded.

Florida Sunshine Law vs. Public Records Law

Florida has two major transparency laws that are often confused:

Public Records Law (Chapter 119) — governs access to government documents and records. This is the law you use when you want to obtain a copy of a document, file, report, email, or other record held by a government agency.
Sunshine Law (Chapter 286) — requires government meetings and proceedings to be open to the public. This is the law that applies when you want to attend a government meeting or obtain recordings and minutes of public proceedings.

If you want documents, Chapter 119 applies. If you want to attend or obtain recordings of government meetings, Chapter 286 applies. Both laws work together to create Florida’s overall transparency framework.

Who Can Request Public Records in Florida?

Florida’s Public Records Law grants access to any person — there is no residency requirement, no need to state a purpose, and requesters may remain anonymous. This is one of the broadest access standards in the United States. Residents, non-residents, businesses, journalists, foreign nationals, and researchers all have equal rights to request Florida public records.

However, certain categories carry access restrictions regardless of who is requesting. These include juvenile court records, sealed and expunged cases, active criminal investigative records, medical and mental health records, social security numbers, home addresses of certain protected individuals, and restricted vital records. Exemptions must be created by the Florida Legislature — agencies cannot create their own exemptions by policy.

Common Reasons Records Are Denied in Florida

Even valid requests can be denied if they fall under a legislatively created exemption. Common reasons include:

Active criminal investigative information (exempt while investigation is active)
Juvenile records protected by statute
Sealed and expunged court records
Personal identifying information — Social Security numbers, bank account numbers, home addresses of protected individuals
Medical and mental health records
Attorney-client privileged communications and litigation files
Confidential informant and undercover law enforcement records

If your request is denied, the agency must cite the specific statutory exemption. You have the right to seek judicial review in circuit court, and prevailing requesters may recover attorney’s fees.

Unique Challenges When Searching Florida Records

Florida’s size and decentralized structure create specific search challenges:

67 separate county systems — Florida has 67 counties, each with its own clerk of courts, property appraiser, and tax collector. There is no single statewide portal for property records or court filings.
Clerk of Courts is the hub — unlike most states, Florida’s Clerk of Courts manages both court records AND property records (deeds, liens, mortgages) in most counties. One office, two major record types.
Standardized case numbers, but county-specific portals — Florida case numbers follow a standard format (year-case type-sequence), but each county clerk maintains its own online portal with different interfaces and coverage.
125-year birth record restriction — Florida has one of the longest vital records restriction periods in the country. Birth certificates less than 125 years old are confidential; only eligible requesters can obtain certified copies.
No statewide court case search — the Florida Courts e-Filing Portal allows e-filing but does not provide a unified statewide case lookup. Each county clerk’s portal must be searched separately.
Broad exemptions for law enforcement — Florida has hundreds of statutory exemptions to Chapter 119, more than most states. Law enforcement records, in particular, have numerous carve-outs that vary by case status.

Common Mistakes When Searching Florida Public Records

Avoiding these errors will save time and prevent unsuccessful searches:

Searching a statewide property database — Florida has no unified statewide property records portal. Each county clerk of courts and property appraiser maintains separate systems.
Confusing the property appraiser and clerk of courts — the property appraiser maintains valuation and ownership data; the clerk of courts handles recorded documents (deeds, mortgages, liens). Both are needed for a complete property picture.
Using the wrong case number format — Florida case numbers use a standardized format (e.g., 2020-CA-012345) that includes year, case type abbreviation, and sequence. Errors in format cause missed results.
Expecting immediate responses — Florida law requires reasonable promptness but sets no hard deadline. Complex requests involving large volumes may take days or weeks.
Requesting birth records without checking eligibility — birth certificates less than 125 years old are restricted to eligible requesters. Requesting without proper documentation will result in denial.
Missing exemptions on law enforcement records — Florida has hundreds of statutory exemptions. Active investigative records, undercover officer identities, and confidential informant information are all exempt regardless of general public records access rights.

Tips for Faster Florida Records Requests

Be specific about the record — Florida law does not require agencies to create new records or answer questions; requests must describe existing records. Include names, dates, case numbers, or parcel IDs.
Request electronic delivery — agencies can provide records electronically at lower cost and faster turnaround than paper copies.
You cannot be required to use a specific form — if an agency demands you use their form before they will process your request, this is improper. Florida law allows requests in any format.
Cite Chapter 119 — referencing Florida Statutes § 119.07 in your request signals awareness of your rights and can speed compliance.
Use the county clerk portal first — for both property records and court records, the county clerk of courts website is the starting point in most Florida counties.

Property Records in Florida

Property records in Florida are maintained at the county level. In most Florida counties, the Clerk of Courts handles recorded documents — deeds, mortgages, liens, and easements — while the County Property Appraiser maintains valuation and ownership data. The County Tax Collector holds tax payment and lien records. These are distinct offices within each county.

What property records in Florida contain:

Warranty deeds, quitclaim deeds, and special warranty deeds
Mortgages, deeds of trust, and satisfaction of mortgage documents
Liens, lis pendens, and judgments
Legal descriptions and parcel identifiers
Property tax assessment data (County Property Appraiser)
Historic deeds for state lands (Florida Department of State)

How to search property records in Florida:

Identify the county where the property is located.
Visit that county’s Clerk of Courts website to search recorded documents by grantor/grantee name, parcel ID, or document type.
Visit the County Property Appraiser portal to find assessed values, ownership history, and parcel characteristics.
Visit the County Tax Collector portal for tax payment status and lien information.
Broward County Records, Taxes and Treasury Division provides official records dating to 1978 online; Miami-Dade provides searchable parcel data and recorded document links; Hillsborough County (Tampa) maintains separate portals for court records, official records, and property appraiser data.
For historical or undigitized records, contact the county clerk or the Florida State Archives directly.

Use PublicRecordHub’s Florida county directory to locate the correct Clerk of Courts, Property Appraiser, and Tax Collector portals for any Florida clerk of court records search across all 67 counties.

Court Records in Florida

Court records in Florida are maintained by the Clerk of Courts in each of Florida’s 67 counties, operating under the supervision of the Florida Supreme Court. There is no single statewide court case search portal — each county clerk maintains its own online system.

What Florida court records cover:

Civil, criminal, traffic, probate, and family law cases
Case dockets, filings, judgments, and orders
Appellate court opinions (available on the Florida Courts website)
County and circuit court records (county clerk portals)

How to access court records in Florida:

Identify the county where the case was filed.
Visit that county’s Clerk of Courts website and navigate to the online case search portal.
Search by party name, case number (format: YYYY-case type-sequence), or filing date.
Review docket entries and available documents online.
For documents not available online, contact the Clerk of Courts — the official custodian of court records for that county.
For appellate opinions, use the Florida Courts website directly.
Pay applicable fees for certified copies and transcript requests.

Restrictions:

Juvenile records, sealed cases, and expunged records are not accessible through public portals.
Mental health and certain family court records are confidential by statute.
Access and update frequency vary across county clerk portals.

Vital Records in Florida (Birth & Death Certificates)

Vital records in Florida are maintained by the Florida Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics, which holds records dating back to the 1800s for some record types.

State-maintained records:

Birth certificates
Death certificates
Fetal death records

Important: Marriage licenses and divorce records in Florida have specific custodians.

Marriage licenses are issued by the County Clerk of Courts in the county where the license was obtained.
Marriage certificates for newer records are available through the Florida Department of Health Bureau of Vital Statistics; older marriage records may be held by the Florida State Archives.
Divorce case files and final judgments are maintained by the Clerk of Courts in the county where the divorce was granted.
The Florida Department of Health Bureau of Vital Statistics also issues divorce certificates (abstract records) after the clerk forwards the report.

How to obtain Florida vital records:

Visit the Florida Department of Health Bureau of Vital Statistics website.
Complete the application form for a birth or death certificate.
Provide a government-issued photo ID and proof of eligibility.
Submit requests online through VitalChek, by mail, or in person at a county health department.
Pay the applicable fee; processing times vary by submission method.

Access restrictions:

Birth certificates less than 125 years old are confidential and may be issued only to eligible requesters, such as the registrant (if adult), parents, legal guardians, legal representatives, or by court order.
Death certificates without cause of death may generally be issued to any person age 18 or older.
Death certificates with cause of death are restricted to eligible requesters.
Cause of death information and Social Security numbers are protected under Florida law.

Criminal Records in Florida

Criminal history information in Florida is maintained by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE), which operates the Florida Crime Information Center (FCIC) — the statewide criminal history repository. The governing statute is Florida Statutes § 943.053.

Florida has relatively open criminal history access compared to most states. An online Instant Search is available to the public through FDLE’s website for a fee, returning non-certified results immediately.

What Florida criminal records include:

Arrest records, charges, and booking information
Court dispositions and convictions
Incarceration and supervision history
Sex offender and predator registration status

How to request criminal records in Florida:

Online Instant Search (public):

Visit the Florida Department of Law Enforcement website and use the Florida Crime Information Center Instant Search.
Pay the fee of $24.00 plus a $1.00 credit card processing fee for immediate non-certified results.
Results include arrest dates, agencies, charges, dispositions, and court details.

Certified criminal history report: 4. Submit a certified request by mail to FDLE — typically takes 5–7 business days and costs more than the Instant Search.

Inmate information: 5. Use the Florida Department of Corrections offender search for current and released inmate information.

Sex offender and predator registry: 6. Search the Florida Sexual Offenders and Predators database maintained by FDLE at fdle.state.fl.us.

Restrictions:

Sealed and expunged records are not available through ordinary public-access channels.
Juvenile records are confidential and not accessible to the public.
Instant Search results are non-certified and may contain inaccuracies due to name mismatches or incomplete local reporting; certified requests are recommended for legal purposes.
Active criminal investigative information is exempt from disclosure while investigations are ongoing.

Business Records in Florida

Business entity records in Florida are managed by the Florida Division of Corporations, part of the Florida Department of State, through the Sunbiz portal at sunbiz.org.

Florida Division of Corporations (Sunbiz) maintains:

Corporations, LLCs, limited partnerships, and other registered entities
Fictitious name (DBA) registrations
Formation documents, annual reports, and entity status
Registered agent information
UCC filings

How to search business records in Florida:

Go to the Florida Division of Corporations Sunbiz portal at sunbiz.org.
Search by entity name, document number, registered agent, or officer/director name.
View entity status, formation date, registered agent, and annual report history.
Download available formation documents and annual reports — many are free.
For UCC filings, use the UCC search tool within the Sunbiz portal.
For professional licenses, use the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) online license verification portal.

Note: Sole proprietorships operating under the owner’s legal name and general partnerships typically do not register with the Division of Corporations. Local business licenses are issued by city and county agencies and are not tracked in the state database.

Additional Florida Public Records

Certain specialized records are maintained by other state agencies:

Professional Licenses — healthcare providers, contractors, real estate agents, and other regulated occupations are searchable through the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) license verification portal.
Voter Registration Records — maintained by the Florida Division of Elections and county supervisors of elections; available to authorized requesters.
Environmental Permits — water, air quality, and hazardous waste permits are maintained by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.
Inmate Records — current and released inmate information is available through the Florida Department of Corrections offender search portal.
Sex Offender Registry — the Florida Sexual Offenders and Predators database is maintained by FDLE and searchable at fdle.state.fl.us.
Campaign Finance Records — maintained by the Florida Division of Elections and searchable through the online campaign finance database.
Crash and Incident Reports — available through the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) and local law enforcement agencies.

How Florida Public Records Access Compares to Other States

Florida is consistently ranked among the most transparent states in the country because of several features that are not common elsewhere:

Constitutional protection — access rights are guaranteed by the state constitution, not just statute, making them harder to erode through legislation.
No residency or identification requirement — any person, anywhere in the world, may request Florida public records without identifying themselves.
Anonymous requests allowed — Florida is one of the few states where requesters have no obligation to provide their name or purpose.
Agencies must justify denials — the burden is on the government to cite a specific legislative exemption; requesters do not need to justify their access.
Strong penalties for non-compliance — agencies that knowingly violate the law face criminal penalties, court orders, and mandatory attorney’s fee awards.
Exemptions require legislative supermajority — new exemptions must be passed by a two-thirds vote of the legislature with a stated public necessity, preventing agencies from quietly restricting access by policy.

By comparison, many states require identification, limit access to residents, allow agencies to create exemptions administratively, or impose stricter restrictions on criminal and property records.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are Florida public records free?

Inspection of records is generally free. Copies are subject to fees — typically $0.15 per one-sided page for standard documents. Extensive requests may incur special service charges for staff time beyond the first 15 minutes. Many online portals provide free document viewing with fees only for downloads or certified copies.

Can non-residents request Florida public records?

Yes. Florida’s Public Records Law grants access to any person regardless of residency. There is no requirement to be a Florida resident, state a purpose, or identify yourself. Requesters may remain completely anonymous.

How far back do Florida records go?

It depends on the record type. The Florida Department of Health holds vital records dating back to the 1800s for some categories. County clerk property records vary — large counties like Broward have online records from 1978, while others may go further back in physical archives. The Florida State Archives holds historical government records dating to the territorial period.

Are criminal records public in Florida?

Florida provides relatively open access to criminal history. The FDLE Instant Search portal allows anyone to search non-certified criminal history records for $24 plus a $1 credit card processing fee. Certified reports are available by mail. Sealed, expunged, and juvenile records are not available through ordinary public-access channels. Active investigative records are exempt while investigations are ongoing.

How long are vital records restricted in Florida?

Birth certificates less than 125 years old are confidential and restricted to eligible requesters. Death certificates without cause of death may generally be issued to any person age 18 or older, while cause-of-death information is restricted for 50 years. Eligibility depends on the type of record requested and the requester’s legal relationship, if any.

What is Florida’s open records law called?

The Florida Public Records Law, codified at Florida Statutes Chapter 119. The right to access public records is also constitutionally guaranteed under Article I, Section 24 of the Florida Constitution, added by the 1992 Sunshine Amendment.

Do all Florida counties provide online record access?

Most of Florida’s 67 counties provide online access to property records and court case information through their Clerk of Courts websites. Coverage depth varies — large counties like Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach have comprehensive online systems, while smaller counties may have more limited digital availability for older records.

Find Florida County Record Portals

Florida has 67 counties, each maintaining its own Clerk of Courts, Property Appraiser, Tax Collector, and Supervisor of Elections. Finding the right portal for a specific county — particularly for property records and court filings — requires navigating each county’s separate systems.

A directory of official Florida county record portals, organized by county, is available free through PublicRecordHub — connecting you directly to official government sources for all 67 Florida counties.

How to Access Public Records in Florida (Property, Court, Criminal, Vital & Business Records)