Access Palm Coast Public Records
Palm Coast public records include court filings, property documents, city permits, and official files held by both the City of Palm Coast and Flagler County agencies. The Flagler County Clerk of Courts serves as the main office for court records and official recorded instruments in the 7th Judicial Circuit, and the city itself holds records for its own departments. Florida law makes all of these records open to any person who asks, with no requirement to show ID or explain the reason for the request.
Palm Coast Quick Facts
Flagler County Clerk of Courts
Court records for Palm Coast are held by the Flagler County Clerk of Courts. Palm Coast is the largest city in Flagler County and generates the bulk of cases in the 7th Judicial Circuit's Flagler division. The Clerk handles civil, criminal, family, probate, and traffic cases. You can search records online at flaglerclerk.com. The search tool is free and lets you look up cases by party name, case number, or other identifiers without going to the courthouse.
The Flagler Clerk also maintains the county's official records index. Deeds, mortgages, liens, judgments, and other recorded instruments are all part of this system. If you need to check for recorded liens on a Palm Coast property, or want to see the deed history of a parcel, the official records search is the tool to use. Online access to the index is free. Copies cost $0.15 per page, and certified copies carry an added fee. In-person access is available at the Flagler County Courthouse in Bunnell, which is the county seat.
City of Palm Coast Records
Palm Coast became an incorporated city in 1999. The city maintains public records for documents generated by its own departments. This covers building permits, zoning records, code enforcement files, city council meeting minutes, city contracts, and other municipal documents. The city's main office is at 160 Cypress Point Pkwy, Palm Coast, FL 32164. You can reach city hall at (386) 986-3700.
The city website is at palmcoast.gov. Records requests to the city can be submitted in person at city hall, by phone, by mail, or online if the city offers an online portal. No formal form is required. You just need to describe the record clearly. The city must respond promptly. If the request is large or takes significant staff time, the city may charge for time beyond the first free 30 minutes.
The city site gives you access to the City Clerk's office, which handles records requests for documents held by Palm Coast city departments, along with building, planning, and other agency contacts.
Requesting Records and Understanding Fees
Fees for public records in Palm Coast follow Chapter 119, Florida Statutes. Standard copies are $0.15 per page. Electronic records are often provided at no cost or at the actual cost of the media used. If a request requires staff research for more than 30 minutes, a fee may apply for that extra time. The first 30 minutes are always free, so simple requests often cost nothing.
If an agency denies your request, they must state the specific exemption in writing. Common exemptions under Section 119.071 include active criminal investigative records, certain personal data, and some law enforcement files. A general refusal with no reason is not lawful under Chapter 119. If you believe a denial is wrong, the Florida Attorney General's free mediation service is available at (850) 245-0140. The AG's open government page at myfloridalegal.com has more information on your rights and how the mediation process works.
Note: The First Amendment Foundation at floridafaf.org also publishes the Government-in-the-Sunshine Manual each year, which is the most comprehensive guide to Florida's public records and open meetings laws.Property Records in Palm Coast
Property records for Palm Coast are held at the Flagler County level. The Flagler County Clerk maintains the official records index with deeds, mortgages, liens, and other recorded instruments. The Flagler County Property Appraiser holds ownership and assessment data. Both are public and searchable online at no cost to view.
Palm Coast is a large planned community with many residential parcels. Recorded documents going back to the city's development years are available through the Clerk's official records system. If you are buying or researching property in Palm Coast, both the Clerk's and the Property Appraiser's records are essential starting points. Most of the research can be done online without a visit to any county office. You pay only when you order printed or certified copies of specific documents.
Court Cases and the 7th Judicial Circuit
Palm Coast is served by the 7th Judicial Circuit, which also covers Volusia, Putnam, and St. Johns counties. Flagler County cases are heard at the Flagler County Courthouse in Bunnell. If you need to file a document in person or attend a hearing, that is the location to use. For research, the Clerk's online portal at flaglerclerk.com handles most needs without a courthouse visit.
Cases filed in Flagler County include civil disputes, criminal matters, family law cases, and probate proceedings. Small claims cases for disputes up to the state limit are also part of the system. All of these are searchable online. If you need copies of specific documents from a case file, contact the Flagler Clerk's office to request them. The Clerk can provide copies by mail or in person. Case index information is generally available at no charge, and you pay per page for printed documents.
Other Records Sources for Palm Coast
Marriage and dissolution records are filed with the Flagler Clerk as circuit court matters. Birth and death records come from the Florida Department of Health's Bureau of Vital Statistics, not from any local office. Police records from the Palm Coast Police Department may be available under Chapter 119 for incidents that do not involve an active investigation.
The Florida Association of Court Clerks maintains a statewide directory at flclerks.com if you need records from other counties. That directory connects you to the right clerk office no matter which county you are researching. The statewide court search at myfloridacounty.com lets you order certified documents and access clerk services from multiple counties. For state-level criminal history, contact the Florida Department of Law Enforcement at fdle.state.fl.us.
Palm Coast Records Contact Details
| City Hall | 160 Cypress Point Pkwy, Palm Coast, FL 32164 |
|---|---|
| City Phone | (386) 986-3700 |
| City Website | palmcoast.gov |
| County Clerk | Flagler County Clerk of Courts |
| Clerk Website | flaglerclerk.com |
| Judicial Circuit | 7th Circuit |
| Governing Law | Florida Chapter 119, F.S. |
Nearby Cities
Other qualifying cities within reach of Palm Coast have public records available through Florida's open records system.
Flagler County Records
Court records and official records for Palm Coast are maintained by the Flagler County Clerk of Court. Visit the county page for office details and search resources.