Port St. Lucie Public Records Lookup

Port St. Lucie public records are maintained by two separate offices depending on what type of document you need. City records such as building permits, city council minutes, and city contracts come from the City of Port St. Lucie at 121 SW Port St. Lucie Blvd. Court records, official property documents, and most judicial filings are handled by the St. Lucie County Clerk of Courts under the 19th Judicial Circuit. Florida's open records law makes all of these accessible to any person who requests them without requiring identification or a stated reason.

Port St. Lucie City Records

Port St. Lucie is one of Florida's fastest-growing large cities. Its city government creates a significant volume of public records each year. City council meetings are held regularly, and all agendas, minutes, and resolutions are public records. Building permits for the city's many new residential and commercial developments are filed through the city's development services division. Code enforcement records, city contracts, and correspondence from the mayor's office and city departments are also open to the public under Florida's open records law.

The city address is 121 SW Port St. Lucie Blvd, Port St. Lucie, FL 34984. The city phone is (772) 871-1775. Records requests to the city can be submitted in person at city hall, by phone, by mail, or online. No formal form is required. Describe the record you want clearly enough for staff to locate it, and the city must acknowledge and respond to your request promptly.

The city's website at cityofpsl.com provides contact information for city departments and can help you identify which office holds the specific record you are looking for.

St. Lucie County Clerk and Court Records

The St. Lucie County Clerk of Courts serves the 19th Judicial Circuit and maintains all court filings for Port St. Lucie and the rest of St. Lucie County. This includes civil case files, family law matters, criminal court records, traffic case records, and probate filings. The Clerk also handles recording of official documents such as deeds, mortgages, and liens. You can access the Clerk's online search tools at stlucieclerk.com. Case index data is generally free to view, while physical copies of documents carry a per-page charge under state law.

The 19th Judicial Circuit covers both St. Lucie County and Indian River County. For court matters in Port St. Lucie, all filings go to the St. Lucie County courthouse. If you are searching for case records and are unsure whether the case was filed in St. Lucie or a neighboring county, the statewide clerk search tool at myfloridacounty.com lets you search across multiple counties at once, which can save time when researching cases that may have been filed in more than one jurisdiction.

How to Request Port St. Lucie Public Records

Florida's open records law does not require any form or any explanation. You just need to describe the record you want clearly enough that the agency can find it. Requests can go in by email, phone, mail, or in person. The agency must respond in a reasonable time. That timeframe depends on how complex your request is and how busy the office is, but most straightforward requests are handled quickly.

Copy fees are set by Chapter 119, Florida Statutes. Regular copies cost $0.15 per page. Certified copies cost $1.00 per page plus a $5.00 certification fee per document. If your request requires more than 30 minutes of staff time, the agency can bill you for the time beyond that at the rate of the lowest-paid employee who can do the work. The first 30 minutes are always free. If an agency denies your request and you believe the denial is wrong, call the Florida Attorney General's office at (850) 245-0140 to ask about free mediation.

Port St. Lucie Property Records

Property records for Port St. Lucie are recorded with the St. Lucie County Clerk. Deeds, mortgages, satisfactions, and liens are part of the county official records series and are searchable online. The St. Lucie County Property Appraiser maintains a separate database for property ownership and assessment data. Both are public. For a title search or lien check, the Clerk's official records index is the right starting point. Many records are available to view online at no charge. Printed or certified copies carry the standard state-set fees.

Port St. Lucie is one of the most populous cities in Florida and has grown significantly over the past two decades. That means there is a large volume of property records on file, including many older recorded instruments from the early phases of the city's development. The Clerk's system makes most of these searchable online.

Public Records Exemptions

Not all records are open. Florida law under Section 119.071 sets out specific categories that can be withheld. These include active law enforcement investigation files, certain personal data, medical records, and some personnel information. When an agency denies a request, it must tell you in writing which exemption applies. The burden is on the agency to justify withholding. If you think a denial is improper, you can use the AG's free mediation service before deciding whether to take legal action.

The default rule under Florida law is that records are open, and exemptions are the exception. An agency that refuses to provide records without citing a specific statutory basis is not acting lawfully. If that happens, document the refusal and contact the Florida Attorney General's open government office at myfloridalegal.com for guidance.

Port St. Lucie Records Contact Summary

Nearby Cities

Other South Florida cities have public records available under Florida's open records law.

St. Lucie County Records

Public records for Port St. Lucie are maintained by the St. Lucie County Clerk of Court. Visit the county page for office details and search resources.