Find Public Records in Oakland Park

Oakland Park public records are available through the Broward County Clerk of Courts and the City of Oakland Park, covering court cases, official documents, permits, and other government records that Florida law makes open to any person. Most Oakland Park public records related to court filings and property transactions are held at the Broward County Clerk's office, which serves all municipalities in Broward County under the 17th Judicial Circuit.

Broward County Clerk of Courts

The Broward County Clerk of Courts is the main source for court records and official documents in Oakland Park. The clerk is Brenda D. Forman, and the office is at 201 SE Sixth St, Suite 18150, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301. Phone: (954) 831-6565. All civil, criminal, family, and probate cases filed in the 17th Judicial Circuit covering Oakland Park are maintained by this office. You can search and access those records through browardclerk.org.

Official records, which include deeds, mortgages, liens, and other recorded instruments tied to Oakland Park property, are also part of the Broward County Clerk's system. If you need a certified copy of an official record, the fee is $1.00 per page plus a $5.00 certification charge. Standard copies cost $0.15 per page. Many records can be accessed online at no cost for the index search, with fees applying only when you order copies.

The Broward County Clerk's website at browardclerk.org provides online access to case records, official documents, and filing information for Oakland Park and all other Broward municipalities.

Oakland Park City Records

The City of Oakland Park maintains its own records for city government operations. These include city commission meeting minutes, adopted ordinances and resolutions, city contracts, building and zoning permits, code enforcement files, and records from departments like the police and fire departments. City Hall is located at 3650 NE 12th Ave, Oakland Park, FL 33334. You can call (954) 630-4300 to be directed to the right department for your request.

Under Chapter 119, Florida Statutes, you do not need to fill out any form or give a reason to get city records. Just identify what you want and ask. Requests can come in by email, phone, fax, mail, or in person at city hall. The city must respond promptly and in good faith. Simple requests are often handled the same day or within a few days.

Note: If the city denies access to a record, they must cite the specific statutory exemption in writing.

What Types of Public Records Exist in Oakland Park

Public records in Oakland Park fall into several broad groups. Court records from cases filed in Broward County cover civil disputes, criminal matters, family law proceedings, and small claims. Official records include property deeds and transfers, mortgage filings, judgment liens, and marriage licenses. All of these flow through the Broward County Clerk.

City records are separate. Building permits, code enforcement actions, city commission minutes, and police department records are held by the city. The Oakland Park Police Department has its own public records process for incident reports, arrest records, and other law enforcement documents. Contact the police department directly for those files.

Florida law also gives you access to voter registration records through the Broward County Supervisor of Elections, business license records through the city, and certain tax records through the Broward County Property Appraiser. Each agency is responsible for its own records and must respond to requests on its own.

How to Request Oakland Park Public Records

Requesting records is straightforward. Decide which agency has what you need. Then contact them by phone, email, or in person and describe the record. You do not need to use any special form. For court records and official recorded documents, go to the Broward County Clerk. For city-issued permits, city meeting minutes, or police reports, go to the relevant city department.

The Florida Attorney General's office runs a free mediation program through its Open Government Program at (850) 245-0140. If your request is denied and you think it shouldn't be, mediation is one option. You can also contact the First Amendment Foundation at (850) 222-3518 for guidance. Their hotline is free and they can walk you through what your rights are under state law. The Foundation also publishes the Government-in-the-Sunshine Manual each year, updated to include recent case law and Attorney General opinions.

For the county-level clerk directory across Florida, the Florida Court Clerks and Comptrollers Find-a-Clerk page links to every county clerk office in the state.

Oakland Park Records Contact Summary

Nearby Cities

Neighboring cities in Broward County operate under the same state public records law.

Broward County Records

Oakland Park public records are filed with the Broward County Clerk of Court. Visit the county page for office details and search tools.