Search Miami Public Records

Miami public records are split between two separate systems: the City of Miami and Miami-Dade County. The City Clerk at 444 SW 2nd Ave handles city government records such as commission minutes, city contracts, and permits issued by the city. Court records, property records, and most official documents are held by the Miami-Dade County Clerk of Courts in the 11th Judicial Circuit. Anyone can inspect and copy these records without stating a reason, and no identification is required to make a request.

Miami City Records vs. County Records

Many people confuse city records and county records when searching in Miami. The City of Miami is a municipality within Miami-Dade County, and the two governments keep separate records. City records include ordinances, resolutions, city commission meeting minutes, city contracts, code enforcement actions, and building permits issued by the city. You can contact the City Clerk's office at 444 SW 2nd Ave, Miami, FL 33130, or call (305) 468-5900 for help with city-level requests.

County records are a different matter. The Miami-Dade County Clerk of Courts maintains court filings, official records like deeds and mortgages, and a wide range of other documents tied to the 11th Judicial Circuit. For those records, the Clerk's online portal at miamidadeclerk.gov is the best starting point. You can submit requests electronically or search many indexes for free.

Miami Court Records Access

Court records in Miami go through the Miami-Dade Clerk of Courts. The 11th Judicial Circuit covers all of Miami-Dade County. Case types you can search include civil circuit and county cases, family law matters, probate filings, and criminal cases. The Clerk maintains an online case search tool that lets you look up parties by name, case number, or document type. Most case status information is free to view. If you want copies of actual filings, fees apply under state law.

The image below shows the City of Miami's government website, which is a useful starting point for finding city-level public records contacts and request forms.

From the city's site, you can find contact details for individual city departments and learn how to submit a public records request to the appropriate city office.

How to Request Miami Public Records

Florida law does not require a specific form or format for a records request. You can ask in person, by phone, by email, or by mail. You do not have to give your name. The agency must respond in a reasonable time. What counts as reasonable depends on the scope of your request and the workload of the office. For most basic requests, you should hear back quickly.

Copy fees are $0.15 per page. Certified copies cost $1.00 per page plus a $5.00 certification statement. If your request requires more than 30 minutes of staff time to locate and compile records, the agency may charge you for staff time at the rate of the lowest-paid employee capable of doing the work. The first 30 minutes are always free. Most searches for a single document or a narrow date range take no time at all, so fees rarely apply in those cases.

Miami Property and Official Records

Property records for Miami are part of the Miami-Dade official records series maintained by the county Clerk. These cover deeds, mortgages, liens, releases, and other instruments affecting real property. The official records index goes back many years and is searchable online through miamidadeclerk.gov. You can view index data for free. Copies of recorded documents carry a per-page fee. If you want a certified copy for legal use, there is an additional certification charge.

For property value and ownership information, the Miami-Dade Property Appraiser keeps a separate database. That office is distinct from the Clerk. Both are public agencies and both give out their records under Chapter 119. Knowing which database holds what you need can save you time and avoid a trip to the wrong office.

Records Exemptions in Miami

Some records are exempt from disclosure. Florida law under Section 119.071 F.S. lists specific categories that agencies can withhold. These include ongoing criminal investigations, certain personal data like Social Security numbers, medical records, and some personnel files. If an agency denies your Miami public records request, they must give you a written explanation citing the specific exemption that applies. You have the right to challenge that denial through the Florida Attorney General's open government mediation program. Mediation is free and informal, and many disputes are resolved there without going to court.

Miami Public Records Contact Information

Nearby Cities

Several nearby cities also maintain public records accessible under Florida's open records law.

Miami-Dade County Records

Public records for Miami are maintained by the Miami-Dade County Clerk of Court. Visit the county page for office details and search resources.