Key West Public Records Lookup

Key West public records are maintained by the Monroe County Clerk of Courts and the City of Key West, covering court cases, official property documents, city permits, and government files. The Monroe County Clerk at monroeclerk.com handles court filings, recorded deeds, mortgages, and official instruments for Key West. City records like building permits, commission minutes, and code enforcement files come from the City of Key West directly. Florida's public records law at Chapter 119 opens these records to any person without requiring identification or a stated reason.

Monroe County Clerk of Courts

The Monroe County Clerk, Kevin Madok, CPA, manages court records and official documents for Key West through the 16th Judicial Circuit. The Clerk's office is located at 500 Whitehead St, Key West, FL 33040. You can reach the office at (305) 292-3550. Monroe County spans the Florida Keys, and the Clerk's main office in Key West serves as the hub for all case filings, recorded instruments, and official records across the county. The Clerk's website at monroeclerk.com provides online access to court records and document searches.

The Monroe County Clerk records a full range of official instruments for Key West. Deeds, mortgages, liens, and other property-related documents get recorded here. Court records cover civil, family, probate, and criminal cases filed in the 16th Circuit. Marriage licenses issued in Monroe County are on file as well. The county's small geographic size means the Clerk's office in Key West effectively serves the entire county, so this is always the first place to look for any recorded or filed document connected to Key West or the surrounding Keys.

The Monroe County Clerk's website is the starting point for searching court filings, recorded instruments, and official documents tied to Key West and the Florida Keys.

City of Key West Records

The City of Key West keeps records from its municipal operations. These include city commission meeting minutes, ordinances, resolutions, building permits and inspection history, code enforcement case files, and records from city departments like fire rescue, public works, and the Key West Police Department. City Hall is located at 1300 White St, Key West, FL 33040. Staff can route your request to the right custodian for the record type you need.

Key West Police Department records, including incident reports, crash reports, and arrest documents, are handled through the department's records division. Some police records carry statutory exemptions under Florida law that limit what can be released, particularly for active investigations. The department will identify any applicable exemption if it denies part or all of a request. You can also submit broader records requests through the city clerk's office if you are not certain which department holds the file.

Note: Under Section 119.011(12), F.S., public records include any material, regardless of form, made or received in connection with official government business.

Requesting Key West Public Records

Florida law makes the request process simple. You do not need to say who you are. You do not need to explain your reason. Requests can go in any form you prefer: in person, by phone, by email, or by mail. Just describe the record as clearly as you can and tell the agency which office you think has it. The clearer the description, the faster the agency can respond.

Fees for copies follow state law. Standard paper copies cost $0.15 per one-sided page, with no more than $0.05 additional for double-sided pages. Certified copies cost $1.00 per page plus a $5.00 certification fee. When a request requires more than 30 minutes of staff time to prepare, the agency may charge for that additional time. You can ask for a cost estimate before work begins. Inspection of records in person is always free, so you can review what you need before deciding to pay for copies.

Denied requests must come with a written explanation citing the specific statute that creates the exemption. If you believe the denial was wrong, the Florida Attorney General's Open Government Mediation Program offers free help. Reach the mediation line at (850) 245-0140.

State Resources Available to Key West Residents

Beyond Monroe County's local systems, Key West residents have access to state-level resources for public records. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement maintains statewide criminal history records and processes formal background inquiries. The Florida Department of State holds records for its own agency, which include corporate filings, election records, and historical archives maintained by the State Library and Archives.

The clerk portal at MyFloridaCounty.com lets you search official records from any Florida county, including Monroe, all in one place. This is a practical option if you need to check whether a document was recorded in Monroe County or another county. The Florida Court Clerks and Comptrollers directory lists contact information for every county clerk in the state, including Monroe County. The First Amendment Foundation offers free guidance through its hotline at (850) 222-3518 and publishes updated open government materials each year.

Key West Records Contact Information

Nearby Cities

Other Florida cities with public records systems accessible under the same state law.

Monroe County Records

Public records for Key West are maintained by the Monroe County Clerk of Courts. Visit the county page for office details and search resources.