Search Winter Haven Public Records
Public records in Winter Haven, Florida are held by Polk County agencies and Winter Haven city departments, covering court cases, property documents, police reports, permits, and other records open to any person under Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes. Winter Haven is located in Polk County and is part of the 10th Judicial Circuit, with all court filings going through the Polk County Clerk of the Circuit Court.
Winter Haven Quick Facts
Polk County Clerk of Courts
All court records for Winter Haven are maintained by the Polk County Clerk of the Circuit Court. The clerk's main office is at 255 N Broadway Ave, Bartow, FL 33830. The main number is (863) 534-4000. Clerk Stacy M. Butterfield, CPA, serves as the Clerk and Comptroller for Polk County, which makes up the 10th Judicial Circuit. Winter Haven is the second-largest city in Polk County, and a significant volume of court cases filed in the circuit involve the city.
The Polk County Clerk's website at polkcountyclerk.net provides online access for civil, criminal, family, and probate records. Civil cases cover small claims, civil circuit matters, landlord-tenant disputes, and injunctions. Criminal records include misdemeanor county court cases and felony circuit court filings. Family law records include divorce decrees, custody and time-sharing orders, child support matters, and domestic violence injunctions. Probate cases cover estate filings, will contests, and guardianship proceedings.
Copies of court records cost $0.15 per page for plain copies. Certified copies cost more. Many records can be viewed online at no cost. Sealed records, juvenile case files, and confidential court documents are not publicly accessible. If you know the case number, searches are faster. Name-based searches also work for most civil and criminal case lookups.
City of Winter Haven Records
Winter Haven City Hall is the main contact for municipal records. This includes building permits, city commission meeting minutes, zoning decisions, code enforcement files, and city contracts. All are public records under Florida law that any person can request and review.
Building permits are one of the most frequently requested types of records from the city. Any construction project in Winter Haven, from a home addition to a commercial renovation, creates a permit file. This file documents what was approved, who performed the work, and whether inspections were completed. Buyers and lenders often pull permit histories before a real estate closing to verify prior work done on a property.
The Winter Haven Police Department handles incident records for events within city limits. Incident reports and arrest logs are open records available to anyone who requests them. Active criminal investigation files may carry a temporary hold while the case is open. Contact the police records unit for current procedures. Some departments now accept email requests, which tends to be faster than submitting by mail.
Note: Winter Haven city records are separate from Polk County records. If you're looking for a county court case or property deed, those go through the Polk County Clerk, not the city.
Florida Public Records Law
Florida's public records law under Chapter 119, Florida Statutes makes any record made or received by a government agency open to the public by default. This covers every agency that holds Winter Haven records: the City of Winter Haven, Polk County offices, and state agencies with records tied to the city.
You don't need to show ID. You don't have to give a reason. No form is required. Agencies cannot demand an explanation before they respond to your request. They must act promptly. Records that are immediately available should go out right away. For larger requests, the agency has to give you a time estimate when you ask. The first 30 minutes of staff search time is not billed.
Exemptions under Section 119.071 are specific. They cover active law enforcement investigation files, certain health records, sealed court documents, and a few other categories. Outside those categories, the record is public. If an agency denies your request, they must cite the exact statute. If the denial seems wrong, the Florida Attorney General's mediation program at myfloridalegal.com/open-government is free and settles most disputes faster than court.
Florida Department of State Records
The screenshot below links to the Florida Department of State's public records request page, which shows how state-level agencies receive and handle requests from the public, including those from Winter Haven residents seeking records held by state entities.
State agencies that may hold records tied to Winter Haven include the Florida Department of Health for vital records, FDLE for criminal history, and the Florida Department of State for business entity filings. Each uses a request process similar to the one shown here.
Property Records in Polk County
Property records for Winter Haven are maintained by the Polk County Property Appraiser. Search online for free by address, owner name, or parcel number. Results show current ownership, assessed value, lot details, and property history. No account or fee is needed for basic searches.
Recorded deeds, mortgages, liens, and other official documents are filed with the Polk County Clerk of the Circuit Court. Each time a Winter Haven property changes hands or gets a new lien, a document is recorded. Title researchers and real estate professionals use the clerk's official records search regularly. The system covers documents going back many decades and is searchable online.
Tax bills and payment histories for Winter Haven properties are managed by the Polk County Tax Collector. These are all free to search online. For most property record lookups in Winter Haven, everything is available without visiting any county office in person.
Vital Records and Other Searches
Birth and death records for events in Winter Haven are filed with the Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics, part of the Florida Department of Health. Certified copies require a request to the state office. The Polk County Health Department may assist with local questions about vital records.
Marriage licenses in Polk County are issued by the Polk County Clerk of the Circuit Court. Divorce records are part of the circuit court file and searchable through the Polk Clerk's online system. Certified copies require a formal request and a fee. For most searches, the online portal is the fastest way to find records without an office visit.
Criminal history records are separate from court records. If you need a formal background check rather than a specific case file, direct your request to FDLE's public records office. The process and fees are different from requesting records through the county clerk.
How to Request Records
City records requests in Winter Haven can be submitted by phone, email, in-person visit to City Hall, or by mail. No form is required. Describe the record clearly: type, date range, and any relevant names or addresses. The more specific your request, the faster staff can respond.
For Polk County Clerk records, start at polkcountyclerk.net. Most court and official records are free to view online. Printed copies are $0.15 per page. Certified copies carry a higher rate. Bring or reference a case number if you have one, since it speeds the search considerably.
After the first 30 free minutes of staff time, agencies may charge for extensive requests based on employee pay rates. If a request is denied, ask for the specific statutory citation. If the denial is invalid, contact the Attorney General's mediation program at (850) 245-0140 or email PublicRecordsRequest@myfloridalegal.com. It costs nothing and usually resolves disputes without going to court.
Nearby Cities
These cities near Winter Haven share Polk County or nearby county clerk systems for public records access.
Polk County Records
Court records and official records for Winter Haven are maintained by the Polk County Clerk of the Circuit Court, the primary custodian for all public records filed in Polk County.