Search Tarpon Springs Public Records

Public records in Tarpon Springs, Florida are open to any person under state law and include court case files, property documents, city permits, police reports, and other government records held by Pinellas County offices and Tarpon Springs city departments within the 6th Judicial Circuit. This page covers where to search, who holds each type of record, and how to submit a request.

Pinellas County Clerk and Court Records

Court records for Tarpon Springs are maintained by the Pinellas County Clerk of the Circuit Court. The clerk's office is at 315 Court St, Room 400, Clearwater, FL 33756. The main number is (727) 464-3341. The 6th Judicial Circuit covers both Pinellas and Pasco counties, and the Pinellas Clerk handles all cases filed within Pinellas County, which includes Tarpon Springs.

Civil, criminal, family, and probate cases are all searchable through the Pinellas Clerk's online system at mypinellasclerk.gov. You can view records by case number or party name. The online system uses document status codes to indicate access level: Public records are open to view without an account, while Confidential, Sealed, and View On Request documents have restrictions. Most routine case records are public and searchable at no cost.

Criminal records in Pinellas County cover misdemeanor cases tried in county court and felony cases tried in circuit court. Tarpon Springs arrests that result in court charges will show up in the clerk's search. Family law cases include divorces, custody orders, and domestic injunctions. Probate filings for Tarpon Springs estates go through the same system.

Plain copies cost $0.15 per page. Certified copies cost more. If you need a copy of a specific document, you can often download it directly from the online portal for free when it's available in digital form.

City of Tarpon Springs Records

The City of Tarpon Springs operates its own records system for municipal government documents. City Hall is the main contact point for permits, zoning files, commission meeting minutes, city contracts, and code enforcement records. All of these are public under Florida law.

Building permits are among the most searched city records. Every permitted construction or renovation project in Tarpon Springs has a file on record showing what was approved, who performed the work, and what inspections took place. These files are useful for buyers, lenders, and contractors who need to verify work on a property.

The Tarpon Springs Police Department handles records for incidents within city limits. Incident reports and public arrest logs are available to anyone who asks. Active investigation files may carry a temporary hold. Check the department's website or call the records unit for current submission instructions. Some departments in Florida now accept email requests, which is often faster than mailing a written request.

Your Rights Under Florida Law

Florida's public records law, codified in Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes, gives every person the right to inspect and copy any government record that isn't covered by a specific exemption. This applies to Tarpon Springs city records, Pinellas County records, and state-level records relevant to the city.

You don't have to show ID. You don't need to explain your reason. Agencies cannot make you fill out a form before they search for records. The only requirements are that you describe the record well enough for staff to find it and that the record isn't covered by a statutory exemption. Agencies must respond promptly. For records that are available right away, there should be no delay.

Exemptions are listed in Section 119.071. They cover active criminal investigations, personal health data, some financial account information, and sealed court documents. Outside those categories, the presumption is that records are public. That includes most court records, property records, city permits, meeting minutes, and police blotter entries.

Note: If your request is denied, ask for a written citation of the specific statute that allows the exemption. Agencies must provide that if you ask.

Florida Chapter 119 Statutes

The image below is from the Florida Legislature's online statutes database, showing Chapter 119, which is the primary law governing public records access for Tarpon Springs and all Florida cities and counties.

Chapter 119 sets the rules for how agencies must handle requests, what fees they can charge, how quickly they must respond, and what happens if they wrongly deny access to a public record.

Property Records in Pinellas County

Property records for Tarpon Springs are held by the Pinellas County Property Appraiser. You can search free online by address or parcel number to find ownership details, assessed values, and lot information. The search is free and no account is required.

Recorded deeds, mortgages, liens, and other official documents are filed with the Pinellas County Clerk. Every time a Tarpon Springs property is sold, refinanced, or has a lien placed on it, a document gets recorded with the clerk. Title researchers and real estate agents pull these records frequently. The official records search is online and covers documents going back many years.

Tax records and payment history are handled by the Pinellas County Tax Collector. Current tax bills and prior payment information are searchable online at no cost. For most property-related public records, you can get everything you need without visiting an office in person.

Vital Records and Other State Records

Birth and death records for events that occurred in Tarpon Springs are filed with the Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics under the Department of Health. Certified copies require a request to the state office. The Pinellas County Health Department may also be able to assist depending on the record and date.

Marriage licenses are issued by the Pinellas County Clerk. Divorce records are part of the circuit court file and searchable through the Pinellas Clerk's online system. If you need certified copies of either, a fee applies and a formal written request may be required.

FDLE maintains criminal history records for Florida, separate from court records. Background check requests go to FDLE's public records office. The process is different from requesting court records through the clerk, so check the FDLE website for current instructions and fees.

How to Submit a Records Request

Requests to Tarpon Springs city departments can be submitted by phone, in person at City Hall, by email, or by mail. No form is required under state law. Describe what you need: the type of record, names or addresses involved, and the relevant date range. The more specific you are, the faster staff can respond.

Standard copy fees are $0.15 per page. The first 30 minutes of staff time for a large request is not charged. After that, agencies may charge for staff time at the rate of the lowest-paid employee who can do the work. Certified copies cost more than plain copies and are typically needed only when you need a document for legal purposes.

If a city or county agency denies your request without citing a valid statutory exemption, you have options. The Florida Attorney General's mediation program at myfloridalegal.com/open-government is free. You can also file suit in circuit court, but mediation resolves most disputes faster and without legal fees.

Nearby Cities

These Pinellas County cities near Tarpon Springs have public records through the same Pinellas County Clerk and their own city departments.

Pinellas County Records

Court records and official records for Tarpon Springs are maintained by the Pinellas County Clerk of the Circuit Court, the primary custodian for all public records filed in Pinellas County.