Search Brandon Public Records

Brandon public records are handled entirely at the county level because Brandon is an unincorporated community within Hillsborough County, not an incorporated city. Court records, property documents, and other public files are all maintained by Hillsborough County agencies. Florida's Chapter 119 gives any person the right to request and inspect these records without giving a name or stating a reason.

Hillsborough County Clerk of Courts

Because Brandon is unincorporated, the Hillsborough County Clerk of Courts is the primary public records office for Brandon residents. The Clerk handles all court filings across the 13th Judicial Circuit, which serves all of Hillsborough County. This includes civil cases, criminal cases, family law matters, probate filings, and traffic cases. The Clerk's website is at hillsclerk.com, where you can search case records online by party name or case number.

The Hillsborough Clerk also maintains the official records index, which is where deeds, mortgages, liens, judgments, and other recorded instruments are filed. If you need to check for liens on a Brandon property, find a recorded deed, or verify a mortgage satisfaction, the official records search is the right tool. Viewing records online is free. Copies of documents carry a per-page fee. Certified copies are available at a higher rate as set by state law.

The image below is captured from the Hillsborough County website, which covers all Brandon area public records requests and county department contacts.

From the county site, you can navigate to the Clerk's office, county departments, and records request portals that cover all unincorporated areas including Brandon.

How Records Work in an Unincorporated Community

Brandon has no city hall and no city clerk. There is no municipal government. Records that would come from a city government in an incorporated city, things like building permits, zoning files, and code enforcement records, come instead from Hillsborough County departments for Brandon addresses. The Hillsborough County website at hillsboroughcounty.org is the right place to find department contacts.

Building permits for Brandon properties go through Hillsborough County's Development Services. Code enforcement records go through Hillsborough County's Code Enforcement office. Land use and zoning records come from county planning. All of these are public records under Chapter 119. Requests go to the relevant county department, not a city office. This setup applies to all unincorporated communities in Hillsborough County.

How to Request Brandon Records

You can request records from Hillsborough County by phone, in person, by mail, or online. No special form is needed. You just need to describe the record clearly enough for the agency to locate it. You do not have to give your name or explain why you want the record. These rights come from Florida's Constitution and Chapter 119.

Fees follow state law. Standard copies cost $0.15 per page. If a request takes more than 30 minutes of staff time to process, the county may charge for that extra time at the rate of the lowest-paid employee who can handle the task. The first 30 minutes are free. Many simple requests involve no charge at all, especially if the records are available digitally. If a request is denied, the agency must give you the specific exemption in writing.

The Florida Attorney General's office handles disputes over denied requests through a free mediation program. Call (850) 245-0140 to reach that office. More guidance is available at myfloridalegal.com. Most issues get resolved through mediation without needing legal action. The First Amendment Foundation at floridafaf.org also provides support for residents who have trouble accessing records.

Property Records for Brandon Addresses

Property records for Brandon addresses are held by Hillsborough County. The Hillsborough Clerk of Courts maintains the official records index, where deeds, mortgages, liens, and satisfactions are recorded. The Hillsborough County Property Appraiser holds ownership and assessment data. Both are public and searchable online. You do not have to visit any office to do basic research on a Brandon property.

If you are researching a specific parcel, start with the Property Appraiser's records to confirm ownership and parcel details. Then use the Clerk's official records index to search for any recorded instruments on that parcel. Both offices maintain online search tools that are free to use. Printed or certified copies cost extra depending on the document type.

Court Records for the Brandon Area

Cases involving Brandon residents or addresses are filed in the 13th Judicial Circuit Court in Hillsborough County. The main courthouse is in Tampa. Brandon has a branch courthouse location at 1800 E. Hwy. 60, Valrico, FL that handles some local matters, which is more convenient for people in the eastern part of the county. Cases filed there are still part of the Hillsborough County circuit court system and are searchable through the same Clerk portal at hillsclerk.com.

Small claims, civil, criminal, family, and probate cases are all part of the same system. You can search by party name or case number. Most case data is free to view online. Document images may carry a fee to download. If you need certified copies for a legal purpose, contact the Clerk's office directly for instructions on how to order them in person or by mail.

Other Records Sources for Brandon

Marriage records and dissolution records are filed with the Hillsborough Clerk because they are part of the circuit court system. Birth and death certificates are not local records. They come from the Florida Department of Health's Bureau of Vital Statistics at the state level.

Law enforcement records for Brandon fall under the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office, since Brandon has no city police department. Incident reports and arrest records from the Sheriff may be available under Chapter 119, subject to any active investigation exemptions. The Florida Association of Court Clerks maintains a statewide directory at flclerks.com if you need records from other counties in Florida. State-level public records guidance is also available at dos.fl.gov.

Nearby Cities

Other qualifying cities near Brandon have public records available through their county clerk offices.

Hillsborough County Records

Court records and official records for Brandon are maintained by the Hillsborough County Clerk of Court.