Find Public Records in Temple Terrace

Public records in Temple Terrace, Florida are held by Hillsborough County agencies and Temple Terrace city departments, covering court case files, property records, police reports, permits, and other documents open to any person under Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes. Temple Terrace is part of the 13th Judicial Circuit, and all court filings go through the Hillsborough County Clerk of the Circuit Court.

Hillsborough Clerk and Court Records

Temple Terrace is an incorporated city within Hillsborough County. All circuit and county court records for the city flow through the Hillsborough County Clerk of the Circuit Court. The clerk's main office is at County Center, 601 E Kennedy Blvd, 13th Floor, Tampa, FL 33602. The phone number is (813) 276-8100. The 13th Judicial Circuit covers Hillsborough County, and this clerk is the primary custodian for all cases filed in the county, including those involving Temple Terrace residents and businesses.

Hillsborough County has one of the most extensive online records systems in Florida. The clerk's website at hillsclerk.com provides free online searches for civil, criminal, family, and probate case records. You can search by party name, case number, or filing date. Criminal records cover everything from traffic violations to felony charges. Civil filings include small claims, landlord disputes, and civil circuit cases. Family court records include divorces, custody and time-sharing orders, and domestic injunctions. Probate cases cover estate filings and guardianship proceedings.

Standard copy fees apply at $0.15 per page for plain copies. Certified copies cost more. Many documents are available in digital form through the online portal and can be viewed at no cost. For sealed records, juvenile files, or confidential court documents, access requires a court order or is restricted entirely under state law.

Temple Terrace City Records

Temple Terrace City Hall is the main contact for municipal records. This includes building permits, city commission minutes, zoning decisions, code enforcement files, and city contracts. All are public records under Florida law. Many are posted online. Others require a written or verbal request to the city clerk's office.

Building permits are among the most frequently requested records from city offices. Any renovation, addition, or new construction in Temple Terrace has a permit file that documents what was approved, who did the work, and whether inspections were passed. Buyers and lenders often request these before a real estate closing. Contractors pull them to verify prior work on a site.

City commission meeting agendas and minutes are public and generally posted on the city's official website. Budget documents and city contracts are also available on request. For records not posted online, you can request them in person at City Hall, by phone, by email, or by mail.

The Temple Terrace Police Department handles incident records within city limits. Incident reports and public arrest logs are available to the public. Files tied to open investigations may have a temporary hold under the active-investigation exemption in Chapter 119. Contact the police department's records unit directly for current procedures and to find out if a specific report is available.

Florida Public Records Law

Florida's Chapter 119 creates a strong legal presumption that all government records are open. Any record made or received by a public agency in the course of official business is a public record. This covers every level of government in Temple Terrace: the city, Hillsborough County, and state agencies that hold records tied to the city.

You can ask for records without giving your name. You don't have to state a reason. No agency can require you to justify your request before they begin searching. The law says agencies must act promptly. For records that are immediately available, they should be provided without delay. For larger requests, the agency must give you a reasonable time estimate when asked.

If a request is denied, the agency must cite the specific Florida statute that creates the exemption. Generic denials are not valid. The Florida Attorney General's Open Government Mediation Program is available at no cost to resolve disputes. Reach them at myfloridalegal.com/open-government or call (850) 245-0140.

FDLE Public Records Resource

The screenshot below is from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement's public records page, which handles statewide criminal history records and other FDLE agency records accessible to the public including those tied to Hillsborough County.

FDLE criminal history searches are separate from court records maintained by the Hillsborough County Clerk. If you need a background check rather than a specific court case record, the FDLE process is the correct starting point.

Property Records in Hillsborough County

Property records for Temple Terrace addresses are held by the Hillsborough County Property Appraiser. Search free online using a property address or parcel number. Results show the current owner, assessed value, lot size, and property history. No account is needed for basic searches.

Recorded deeds, mortgages, liens, and other official documents are filed with the Hillsborough County Clerk. The official records search on the clerk's website goes back many decades. Title researchers and real estate professionals use this system often. Deeds filed when Temple Terrace properties change hands are recorded here and publicly searchable.

Tax bills and payment history are handled by the Hillsborough County Tax Collector. Current and past tax data is available online. For most Temple Terrace property record needs, everything can be found online without visiting an office.

Note: The Hillsborough County Property Appraiser and Tax Collector are separate offices from the clerk. Each maintains its own website and search tools.

How to Request Records

Submit records requests to Temple Terrace city departments by phone, email, in-person visit, or mail. No specific form is required under Florida law. Describe the record clearly: type of document, relevant dates, names or addresses. Include any details that help staff locate the right file.

For Hillsborough County Clerk records, use the online search portal first. Most court and official records searches are free online. If you need printed copies or certified documents, contact the clerk's office directly. Copy fees are $0.15 per page for plain copies. Certified copies cost more and are typically needed when you need the document for a legal proceeding.

The first 30 minutes of staff time for extensive requests is not billed under state law. Beyond that, agencies may charge based on staff pay rates. If a request is denied without a valid statutory basis, contact the Attorney General's mediation program. It's free, and most disputes are resolved without going to court.

Nearby Cities

These Hillsborough County cities near Temple Terrace have public records through the same county clerk and their own city departments.

Hillsborough County Records

Court records and official records for Temple Terrace are maintained by the Hillsborough County Clerk of the Circuit Court, which handles all public records filed in Hillsborough County.