Miami Gardens Public Records

Miami Gardens public records include court filings, property documents, city permits, and official files held by the City of Miami Gardens and Miami-Dade County agencies. All of these records are open to any person who requests them, and you do not need to give your name or explain why you are asking. Court and property records go through the Miami-Dade County Clerk of Courts in the 11th Judicial Circuit. City records like permits and meeting minutes come from Miami Gardens city departments.

Miami-Dade County Clerk of Courts

Court records for Miami Gardens are maintained by the Miami-Dade County Clerk of Courts. Miami Gardens falls within the 11th Judicial Circuit, which serves all of Miami-Dade County. The Clerk's office handles civil, criminal, family, probate, and traffic cases. You can search records online at miamidadeclerk.gov. The online system lets you search by party name, case number, or other identifiers. Most case data is free to view. Document images may carry a per-page fee to download.

The Clerk also maintains the official records index for Miami-Dade County. Deeds, mortgages, liens, judgments, and other recorded instruments affecting real property are all part of this system. If you need to check for liens on a Miami Gardens property or look up a recorded deed, search the official records index through the Clerk's website. Viewing the index is free. Copies cost the standard per-page fee set by state law.

City of Miami Gardens Records

Miami Gardens incorporated as a city in 2003, making it one of the newer cities in Miami-Dade County. The city maintains its own public records for documents created by city departments. This includes building permits, code enforcement records, city council meeting minutes, contracts, and other city government files. The city's main office is at 1515 NW 167th St, Miami Gardens, FL 33169. You can call city hall at (305) 622-8000. The city website is at miamigardens-fl.gov.

The image below shows the Miami Gardens city website, where you can find department contacts and learn how to submit a public records request.

From the city site, you can reach the City Clerk's office, which handles public records requests for documents held by city departments.

How to Request Records in Miami Gardens

Requests for Miami Gardens public records can go to either the city or Miami-Dade County, depending on what you need. City records go to the City of Miami Gardens. Court records and property records go to the Miami-Dade Clerk. Some records, like police incident reports, go to the Miami Gardens Police Department.

You can make a request in person, by phone, by mail, or online. No formal form is required. You just need to describe what you want. If the record does not exist or is exempt, the agency must tell you that in writing and cite the specific legal exemption. Common exemptions under Section 119.071 include active criminal investigative information, certain personal data, and some law enforcement records.

Fees are set by Chapter 119. Standard copies cost $0.15 per page. If a request takes more than 30 minutes of staff time, the agency can charge for that time. The first 30 minutes are always free. If you disagree with a denial, the Florida Attorney General's free mediation service is available at (850) 245-0140. More information is at myfloridalegal.com.

Property Records for Miami Gardens

Property records for Miami Gardens are at the Miami-Dade County level. The Clerk of Courts holds the official records of deeds, mortgages, and liens. The Miami-Dade County Property Appraiser holds ownership and assessment data. Both are public. Searching either system online is free. You pay only for copies.

If you need to trace ownership history on a Miami Gardens address, start with the Clerk's official records index. Search by property address or the owner's name. The index will show all recorded instruments tied to that property. For current ownership and assessed value, the Property Appraiser's records are the right source. Both offices have online tools you can use without visiting in person.

Court Records and Case Searches

Cases from Miami Gardens are filed in Miami-Dade circuit court. The Miami-Dade Clerk's online search covers civil, criminal, family, and probate cases. You can search by the full name of a party, by case number, or by other details. Traffic cases are also part of the system. Case data is generally free to view. If you need physical copies of case documents, you can order them through the Clerk's office.

The Miami-Dade court system is large. Cases from Miami Gardens may be heard at the main courthouse or at branch locations depending on the case type and division. The Clerk's website has location and division information. You can also call the Clerk directly if you are unsure where your case was filed or which courthouse handles it.

Vital Records and Other Sources

Birth and death records are not held locally. The Florida Department of Health's Bureau of Vital Statistics handles those at the state level. Marriage and divorce records are civil court matters and are filed with the Miami-Dade Clerk. The Clerk also holds naturalization records filed in federal court, though those are separate from the state system.

The Florida Association of Court Clerks maintains a statewide directory at flclerks.com if you need records from other counties. For general guidance on Florida public records law, the Attorney General's website is a reliable resource.

Nearby Cities

Other qualifying cities near Miami Gardens have public records accessible through Florida's open records law.

Miami-Dade County Records

Court records and official records for Miami Gardens are maintained by the Miami-Dade County Clerk of Court.