Clermont Public Records

Clermont public records are maintained by both the City of Clermont and the Lake County Clerk of Courts, which serves the 5th Judicial Circuit. Court filings, property records, and officially recorded documents for Clermont addresses go through the Lake County Clerk at lakeclerk.org. City-issued documents like permits and council minutes are held by the city government. Florida's Chapter 119 gives any person the legal right to access these records.

Lake County Clerk of Courts

The Lake County Clerk of Courts handles court records and official recorded documents for all of Lake County, including Clermont. The Clerk serves the 5th Judicial Circuit and maintains civil, criminal, family, and probate case files. The main website at lakeclerk.org provides online access to the case search system and official records database. Case index information is generally available online at no charge, and copies carry standard fees set by state law.

Clermont properties that have recorded instruments, such as deeds, mortgages, or satisfaction of mortgage documents, will have those records at the Lake County Clerk's office. If you are researching property ownership or lien history for an address in Clermont, the official records section of the Clerk's website is the right place. Search by grantor or grantee name, document type, or the legal description of the property.

The Lake County Clerk website serves as the primary access point for court records and officially recorded documents connected to Clermont and all other cities in Lake County.

Clermont City Records

The City of Clermont maintains records generated by its own government operations. These include building and zoning permits, code enforcement actions, city council meeting minutes, city resolutions and ordinances, and contracts. The Clermont Police Department maintains law enforcement records separate from both city hall and the county clerk. Incident reports and other police records go through the police department's records division.

To request city records in Clermont, contact the City Clerk's office. Florida's public records law does not require you to give a reason or fill out a form. Just describe what you need. The city must respond promptly. If your request is for a large volume of records or is complex, the agency should let you know and provide an estimated time for completion. Most simple requests are filled quickly.

When you are not sure whether a record is a city record or a county record, a good rule of thumb is to ask: which agency made or received this document? Permits and local enforcement actions come from the city. Court cases and recorded property instruments come from the county.

Note: Clermont is in Lake County, but it sits close to the Orange County border, so some records for nearby areas may cross county lines.

How to Access Clermont Public Records

Start at the Lake County Clerk's website at lakeclerk.org for most court and recorded document searches. The portal lets you search by name, case number, or document type without visiting the office. For searches that span multiple counties, the statewide tool at myfloridacounty.com is a useful option. You can also use the Florida Clerks directory at flclerks.com to find contact details for any county clerk in the state.

For state-level public records, different agencies handle different types of documents. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement at fdle.state.fl.us handles criminal history records. The Florida Department of State at dos.fl.gov manages records from state agencies. The Florida Attorney General's open government page at myfloridalegal.com explains your rights and offers free mediation if access is denied, at (850) 245-0140.

Florida Public Records Law and Clermont

Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes is the main public records law in Florida. It applies to every government agency in the state, including the City of Clermont and Lake County. Under this law, records are open to any person. You do not have to be a Florida resident. You do not have to give your name. You do not have to explain why you want the records.

The law sets copy fees at $0.15 per page for standard copies and higher rates for certified copies. If a request takes more than 30 minutes of staff time to compile, the agency can charge for that time at the rate of the lowest-paid employee who is able to do the work. Basic online searches cost nothing. The Florida First Amendment Foundation at floridafaf.org is a resource for anyone dealing with access problems or complex records situations.

Clermont Records Contact Information

Nearby Cities

Other cities in the Central Florida area are covered by the same Florida public records law and have their own local offices.

Lake County Records

Public records for Clermont are maintained by the Lake County Clerk of Courts. Visit the county page for office details and full search options.