St. Cloud Public Records

Public records in St. Cloud, Florida are maintained by Osceola County offices and St. Cloud city departments, covering court cases, property documents, police reports, permits, and other government records that any person may request and inspect under Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes. St. Cloud sits in the 9th Judicial Circuit and all court filings go through the Osceola County Clerk of Courts in Kissimmee.

St. Cloud Court Records

St. Cloud is located in Osceola County, and all circuit and county court filings for the city go through the Osceola County Clerk of Courts. The clerk's office is at 2 Courthouse Square, Kissimmee, FL 34741, which is the county seat. The phone number is (407) 742-3500. The clerk maintains records for civil, criminal, family, and probate cases filed in the 9th Judicial Circuit.

You can search court records online through the Osceola Clerk's portal at no cost. Cases can be found by name, case number, or filing date. Civil matters handled through St. Cloud include landlord-tenant disputes, small claims, contract actions, and civil injunctions. Criminal records cover both misdemeanor charges filed in county court and felony cases in circuit court. Many of these are searchable online and can be reviewed without a trip to the courthouse.

Family court records include divorce decrees, custody and time-sharing orders, domestic violence injunctions, and adoption records. Probate records cover estate cases, will contests, and guardianship matters. These divisions are separate within the clerk's system but all go through the same Osceola County Clerk office. If you are looking for a case tied to St. Cloud, start at osceolaclerk.com and use the online case search tool.

Copies cost $0.15 per page for plain documents. Certified copies carry a separate fee. For sealed cases, juvenile records, or confidential filings, access is restricted by law and the clerk cannot release them to the general public.

City of St. Cloud Records

St. Cloud has its own municipal government that keeps records for city operations separate from county and state records. City Hall handles records for permits, zoning decisions, city commission meetings, and code enforcement actions. Building permits are among the most commonly requested records. Any permitted construction project in St. Cloud has a file that shows approvals, inspections, and the status of the work.

Commission meeting minutes, city contracts, and local budget documents are all public records under Florida law. Many of these are posted online through the city's website. For documents not available online, you can submit a request in person, by phone, by email, or by mail. No specific form is required. Describe what you need clearly, and city staff must respond promptly.

The St. Cloud Police Department maintains public records for incidents that occur within the city. Incident reports and public arrest logs are available to anyone requesting them. Requests tied to active criminal investigations may face a temporary hold while the case is open. Contact the records division of the police department for the current request process.

Florida's Open Records Law

Florida law under Chapter 119, Florida Statutes makes any record created or received by a government agency open to the public by default. This applies to St. Cloud city offices, Osceola County agencies, and state-level offices that hold records tied to St. Cloud.

You do not need to show ID. You don't have to say why you want the records. Agencies cannot ask you to explain your purpose before they respond. The law says they must act promptly. If the record is ready, it should go out right away. For bigger requests, the agency must give you a time estimate when asked. Most routine requests are handled within a few days.

Exemptions exist under Section 119.071, but they are limited. Active law enforcement investigations, some personal health data, certain financial account information, and sealed court records are protected. Everything else is open. Court cases, property documents, permits, meeting minutes, and police blotters fall outside the exemptions in most cases.

The Florida Attorney General's Open Government Mediation Program handles disputes when agencies deny access. It's free to use. Call (850) 245-0140 or visit myfloridalegal.com/open-government to file a complaint or request mediation. Most disputes settle faster through mediation than in court.

Florida Sunshine Manual

The screenshot below links to the First Amendment Foundation's website, which publishes the Government-in-the-Sunshine Manual, a key reference for understanding Florida's public records and open meeting laws used by residents, officials, and journalists statewide.

The Sunshine Manual is updated each year and is one of the most useful guides for anyone trying to understand what records are public and how to request them from agencies in St. Cloud or elsewhere in Florida.

Property and Official Records

Property records for St. Cloud are maintained by the Osceola County Property Appraiser. Search free online by address or parcel number to find ownership history, assessed values, lot dimensions, and tax information. You don't need to call the office for most lookups.

Recorded deeds, mortgages, liens, and other official documents are filed with the Osceola County Clerk of Courts. Each time a St. Cloud property changes ownership, a deed gets recorded. Title researchers, real estate professionals, and lenders use these records regularly. The clerk's official records search covers documents going back many decades and is accessible online at no charge for viewing.

Tax records, payment histories, and current tax bills are with the Osceola County Tax Collector. These are also searchable online. For most property record needs, the entire search can be done without visiting an office.

Note: Some older property records from St. Cloud may only be available in paper form at the courthouse. Call ahead if you are looking for records from before the 1990s.

Vital Records for St. Cloud Residents

Birth and death records for events that occurred in St. Cloud are filed with the Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics, which is part of the Florida Department of Health. You can request certified copies through the state office. The Osceola County Health Department may also assist with some requests.

Marriage licenses for Osceola County, including St. Cloud residents, are issued by the Osceola County Clerk of Courts. You can pick up a license in person at the clerk's office in Kissimmee. Divorce records are part of the circuit court file and are searchable through the Osceola Clerk's online system. Certified copies of divorce decrees cost more than plain copies and require a formal request.

How to Request St. Cloud Records

Requests to the city can go in by phone, email, in-person visit to City Hall, or by mail. No special form is required. Just describe the record clearly. Give as much detail as you can: record type, date range, names or addresses involved. The more detail you provide, the faster staff can find what you need.

Standard copy fees apply under state law. Plain copies cost $0.15 per page. The first 30 minutes of staff time for extensive requests is free. After that, agencies can charge based on the lowest-paid employee who can handle the task. Certified copies carry a higher per-page rate.

For county court records from the Osceola Clerk, the online portal handles most requests without a fee for viewing. Copies and certified documents require payment. The portal is the fastest way to search for case records and most official records filed in Osceola County.

Florida Department of State Records

The screenshot below is from the Florida Department of State's public records request page, which shows how state-level agencies handle records requests submitted by any person under Florida law.

State agencies that handle records tied to St. Cloud, such as FDLE criminal history data and Florida Department of Health vital records, use similar request procedures to what is described on this page.

Nearby Cities

These Central Florida cities near St. Cloud each have public records accessible through their county clerks and city departments.

Osceola County Records

Court records and official records for St. Cloud are maintained by the Osceola County Clerk of Courts, the primary custodian for all public records filed in Osceola County.