Cape Coral Public Records Database

Cape Coral public records come from the City of Cape Coral for city-level documents and from the Lee County Clerk of Courts for court filings and official property records. Cape Coral is the largest city by land area in Lee County and falls under the 20th Judicial Circuit. Florida's public records law at Chapter 119 gives any person the right to inspect and copy public records held by city or county agencies, with no reason required.

Cape Coral City Records

The City of Cape Coral produces a large volume of public records through its city council, planning department, building division, and other city offices. Common city records include city council meeting minutes and agendas, city ordinances and resolutions, building permit files for Cape Coral's many residential properties, code enforcement records, and city contracts. Cape Coral is known for having one of the largest canal systems of any city in the country, and permits for waterfront structures and docks are also part of the city's record set. City hall is at 1015 Cultural Park Boulevard, Cape Coral, FL 33990. The city phone is (239) 574-0401.

The image below was captured from the City of Cape Coral's official website, which is the best starting point for identifying which city department holds the records you need before making a formal request.

From capecoral.gov, you can locate the City Clerk's office and find contact information for permits, code enforcement, and other departments that hold records.

Lee County Clerk Records for Cape Coral

Court records and official property records for Cape Coral go through the Lee County Clerk of Courts. The Clerk serves the 20th Judicial Circuit and maintains civil case files, criminal case records, family law matters, probate filings, and small claims cases. Property records including deeds, mortgages, and liens recorded in Lee County are also held by the Clerk. The Lee County Clerk's online search portal is at leeclerk.org. Case index data is generally available for free. Copies of documents carry the standard state fee.

Cape Coral sits entirely within Lee County, so all court filings and official property records flow through Lee County regardless of where in the city the matter originated. If you need to check whether a property in Cape Coral has an open lien or mortgage, the Lee County official records index is your starting point. Many records are digitized and searchable online, though older paper records may require a visit to the Clerk's office in Fort Myers, which is the county seat.

How to Request Cape Coral Public Records

Florida law gives everyone the right to ask for public records. No form, no reason, and no identification are required. You can request records by calling the agency, sending an email or letter, or visiting in person. Describe the record clearly enough that the agency can locate it, and they must respond in a reasonable amount of time. Simple requests are usually handled quickly. Larger requests may take a few days to compile.

The fee schedule is set by state law and applies across all Florida agencies. Standard copies are $0.15 per page. Certified copies are $1.00 per page plus a $5.00 certification fee. If your request takes more than 30 minutes of staff time to locate and compile, the agency can charge for that time at the rate of the lowest-paid employee who can handle the work. The first 30 minutes are free. Most narrow requests for a specific document trigger no charge at all. If you are denied and believe the denial is wrong, the Florida Attorney General's office at (850) 245-0140 offers free mediation.

Cape Coral Property Records

Property records for Cape Coral are part of the Lee County official records series maintained by the Clerk of Courts. Deeds, mortgages, liens, and similar instruments are searchable online at leeclerk.org. The Lee County Property Appraiser keeps a separate database of ownership and assessment data for tax purposes. Both records sets are public. For any real estate transaction in Cape Coral, title companies and attorneys typically search both the Clerk's official records and the Property Appraiser's database. Private individuals can do the same searches at no cost using the online tools those offices provide.

Exemptions and Denied Records

Some Cape Coral public records are exempt from disclosure under Florida law. Section 119.071 F.S. identifies specific categories that agencies may withhold. These include active criminal investigation files, certain personal identification data, medical records, and some law enforcement materials. An agency that withholds a record must explain the exemption in writing. A vague denial without a cited exemption is not lawful.

If you disagree with a denial, you can challenge it through the Florida Attorney General's free mediation program before considering a court action. Florida's public records law is built on a presumption of openness, so exemptions are meant to be narrowly applied. Additional guidance on your rights is available at myfloridalegal.com and through the First Amendment Foundation at floridafaf.org.

Cape Coral Public Records Contacts

Nearby Cities

Other cities in Southwest Florida also have public records accessible through their county clerk offices.

Lee County Records

Public records for Cape Coral are maintained by the Lee County Clerk of Court. Visit the county page for office details and search resources.