Find Palm Bay Public Records
Palm Bay public records are split between two offices depending on what you need. The City of Palm Bay holds records for its own departments, such as permits and city commission files, while the Brevard County Clerk of Courts handles court records, official property instruments, and civil and criminal case files for the 18th Judicial Circuit. Any person can request Palm Bay public records under Florida's open records law without giving a reason or showing identification. No special form is required to start a request.
Palm Bay Quick Facts
Florida Public Records Law
Florida's public records law is found in Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes. Under Section 119.01, it is the policy of the state that all government records are open to any person for inspection and copying. The law says agencies have a duty to provide access. That duty applies to Palm Bay city departments, Brevard County offices, and all state agencies.
No reason is needed to make a request. No ID is required. If a record is public, the agency must provide it. Exemptions exist under Section 119.071, but they are specific and limited. Common ones include active criminal investigation files, certain personal identifiers, and some law enforcement records. Outside those, the default rule is that records are open.
Agencies must respond promptly to requests. They cannot delay without cause. For large requests, the agency should give you a time estimate if you ask for one. The Florida Attorney General's open government office at myfloridalegal.com provides free guidance and mediation if you are denied access.
Brevard County Clerk of Courts
Court records for Palm Bay cases are filed with the 18th Judicial Circuit and maintained by the Brevard County Clerk of Courts. You can search civil, criminal, family, and probate cases online at brevardclerk.us. The case search tool is free and lets you look up records by party name or case number without visiting the courthouse.
Civil records cover small claims, injunctions, foreclosures, and civil disputes. Criminal records include misdemeanor and felony charges filed in Brevard County courts. Family court files hold divorce cases, child custody matters, and domestic violence injunctions. Probate records cover estate filings and guardianships. All are part of the same clerk's system, and most can be found through the online portal.
For in-person help, the main Brevard County Courthouse is at 2825 Judge Fran Jamieson Way, Viera, FL 32940. There is also a south branch location in Melbourne for residents in that part of the county. Copy fees under state law are $0.15 per page for standard copies. Certified documents carry an additional fee per page plus a certification charge.
The Brevard Clerk also manages the official records index for Brevard County. Deeds, mortgages, liens, satisfactions, and other recorded instruments are indexed here. Property records for Palm Bay homes and parcels are recorded in this system. Viewing the index online is free. Printed or certified copies cost the standard fee.
Brevard County Clerk Portal
The screenshot below was captured from the Brevard County Clerk of Courts website, which provides online case search and records tools for Palm Bay residents and anyone researching Brevard County filings.
The clerk's portal covers all court filings in the 18th Circuit for Brevard County, including civil, criminal, family, and probate records tied to Palm Bay cases and addresses.
City of Palm Bay Records
Palm Bay city government keeps records for its own departments. Building permits, code enforcement actions, city council meeting minutes, city contracts, and financial reports are all city-level records. These come from city hall, not the county clerk. City Hall is at 120 Malabar Rd SE, Palm Bay, FL 32907. Phone: (321) 952-3410.
The City of Palm Bay's official website has links to city departments and contact information for records requests. Meeting agendas and approved budgets are posted online. For records not available on the site, contact the city clerk's office. A written description of the records you need is the most efficient way to start any request.
The Palm Bay Police Department handles police records separately. Incident reports, arrest records, and crash reports can be requested through the department's records unit. Some are available through the department's public portal. Active investigation files may be partially exempt under state law, but completed case records are generally open to the public.
Building and zoning records cover permits issued for construction, renovations, and new work within Palm Bay's city limits. These are kept by the city's Growth Management Department. If you want to know whether a home has had permitted work done or whether there are open code violations on a property, this is the right office to contact. Requests can be made by address.
Property Records
Property records for Palm Bay are maintained by the Brevard County Property Appraiser. The online database covers all parcels in the county and includes ownership details, assessed values, square footage, and tax status. Searches are free. Recorded documents, including deeds, mortgages, and liens, are indexed by the Brevard County Clerk's Official Records division.
Every sale and recorded instrument creates a public record. These records are used for title searches, ownership verification, and lien research. The county charges for certified copies, but viewing online is generally free. Tax payment records and current balances are available through the Brevard County Tax Collector's office. Unpaid tax information is part of the public record and searchable online.
Making a Records Request
You don't need a special form. A written description of what you want is enough under Florida law. Many agencies have their own forms to make things easier, but they cannot require you to use them. Email, mail, phone, or in-person visits all work.
Include the record type, a date range if relevant, and any names or addresses. The more detail you give, the faster staff can find what you need. Standard copy fees apply: $0.15 per page. Staff time over 30 minutes may be charged at the rate of the lowest-paid qualified employee. The first 30 minutes are always free.
If a request is denied, you can contact the Florida Attorney General's Government Records Mediation Program. Call (850) 245-0140 or visit the AG's open government page at myfloridalegal.com. Mediation is free and often resolves disagreements within a few weeks. The First Amendment Foundation's hotline at floridafaf.org also provides help at 800-337-3518.
Note: When an agency denies a request, they must state the specific statutory exemption in writing. A vague refusal without a cited exemption is not permitted under Florida law.Vital Records and Statewide Tools
Birth and death certificates for Palm Bay residents are processed through the Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics, not through local offices. Marriage licenses are issued by the Brevard County Clerk. Divorce records are filed with the circuit court and are searchable through the Brevard Clerk's online case search.
The Florida court clerks' statewide search at myfloridacounty.com lets you access clerk services across Florida counties, including Brevard. The Florida Association of Court Clerks at flclerks.com maintains a directory of every county clerk in the state. For FDLE criminal history records at the state level, you can reach the Florida Department of Law Enforcement public records office at fdle.state.fl.us.
Nearby Cities
Other cities in Brevard County have public records available through the same 18th Circuit clerk system.
Brevard County Records
Public records for Palm Bay are maintained through the Brevard County Clerk of Court. Visit the county page for office details and online search tools.