Search Margate Public Records

Public records in Margate, Florida are open to any person under state law and include court case filings, property documents, police reports, city permits, and other government records held by Broward County offices and Margate city departments in the 17th Judicial Circuit. This page explains how to access each record type and where to submit requests.

Public Records Rights in Margate

Florida's public records law gives every person the right to inspect and copy government records without having to explain why. Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes is the foundation of that right. It covers all government agencies in Margate, Broward County, and statewide. Section 119.01 states plainly that all state, county, and municipal records are open for personal inspection by any person.

No form is required to ask for a record. Agencies must respond promptly. When the record is ready right away, it goes out without delay. For more complex requests, they must give you a time estimate. You can ask that estimate in writing and they have to respond.

Exemptions under Section 119.071 are narrow. Active criminal investigations, certain medical data, sealed court files, and a limited set of other categories can be withheld. Everything else is public. Police blotters, code enforcement logs, building permits, court dockets, and property deeds are all open records in Margate.

Margate Court Records Through Broward Clerk

Margate is in Broward County, so all court filings go through the Broward County Clerk of Courts, run by Brenda D. Forman. The clerk's office is at 201 SE 6th St, Ste 18150, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301, phone (954) 831-6565. The clerk's website has a public search system where you can look up cases by name, case number, or filing date. The search is free.

Civil cases include small claims, circuit civil, and injunctions. Criminal records cover misdemeanor and felony charges. Family court holds divorce decrees, custody orders, and domestic injunctions. Probate cases cover estates, guardianships, and wills. All of these are searchable through the Broward Clerk system.

Standard copy fees are $0.15 per page for plain copies. Certified copies cost more. You can get them online, in person at the Fort Lauderdale courthouse, or by mail. If you have a case number, bring it. It speeds things up.

Sealed and juvenile case files are not public. For everything else, the Broward Clerk's system handles a high daily volume and is regularly updated. Most searches are completed entirely online.

Margate City Records

Margate's city government maintains its own records separate from the county court system. Building permits, code enforcement files, zoning decisions, city commission meeting minutes, and municipal contracts are all public records under Florida law. Most are kept by the city clerk's office. Some are posted on the city's website. Others need a formal written request.

Building permit records are among the most requested city documents. Any construction, renovation, or addition in Margate has a file that shows what was approved, who performed the work, and whether inspections were completed. Lenders, buyers, and contractors use these records before and after property transactions.

The Margate Police Department maintains incident reports and arrest logs. These are open records in most cases. Files related to active investigations may carry a temporary hold. Contact the department's records division to request them. Many agencies in Broward County accept email requests. Confirm the method on the city's website.

Note: Margate's city records and Broward County court records are held by different offices. A request to one does not cover records held by the other.

Florida Sunshine Law and Open Government

The image below is from the Florida Sunshine Manual, published by the Florida Attorney General's office and the First Amendment Foundation. It covers Florida's public records and open meetings laws in full.

The manual is updated each year and gives practical guidance on what records are open, how to request them, and what to do when access is denied. Anyone in Margate can use this resource for free.

Property Records in Broward County

Property records for Margate are maintained by the Broward County Property Appraiser. You can search by address or parcel number to find ownership history, assessed values, and lot details. The online search is free.

Recorded deeds, mortgages, and liens are filed with the Broward County Clerk as official records. Every time a Margate property changes hands, a deed is recorded. Title companies, real estate agents, and lenders use the clerk's official records system. It goes back many decades and is searchable online.

Tax records are with the Broward County Tax Collector. Current bills and payment history are available online without a phone call or office visit.

How to Submit a Public Records Request

Requests can go in by phone, email, mail, or in person. No specific form is required by state law. Just describe what you need well enough that staff can locate it. Include the record type, dates if known, and any names or addresses tied to the search.

Copy fees run $0.15 per one-sided page. The first 30 minutes of staff time is free. After that, agencies may charge based on the pay rate of the lowest-qualified employee who can handle the work. You can ask for a cost estimate before the agency starts.

If access is denied without a valid statutory basis, contact the Florida Attorney General's Open Government Mediation Program. Call (850) 245-0140 or visit myfloridalegal.com. Mediation is free and resolves most cases faster than litigation.

FDLE and Statewide Criminal Records

The image below shows the Florida Department of Law Enforcement public records page, where statewide criminal history records can be requested separately from county court records.

FDLE requests go through the Office of Open Government. Reach them at (850) 410-7676 or by email at publicrecords@fdle.state.fl.us. Statewide criminal history records are different from court case files held by the Broward County Clerk.

Vital Records

Birth and death records from Margate events are filed with the Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics. Request them through the Florida Department of Health. Local Broward County Health Department offices can sometimes assist with vital records access.

Marriage licenses come from the Broward County Clerk. Divorce records are part of circuit court files and are searchable through the Broward Clerk's online system. Certified copies of marriage or divorce records require a formal request and a fee.

Nearby Cities

Other Broward County cities near Margate share the same county clerk system and have their own city records offices.

Broward County Records

Court records and official records for Margate are maintained by the Broward County Clerk of Court in the 17th Judicial Circuit.