Pinellas County Public Records Search

Pinellas County public records are managed by the Clerk and Comptroller's office in Clearwater, and under Florida's open records law anyone can inspect or copy them without giving a reason. This page covers how to find court filings, official records, and other government documents in Pinellas County, including the document status types used in the Clerk's online system and what they mean for access.

Florida Public Records Law and Pinellas County

Florida's open records rules are grounded in Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes, which says that all records made or received by a public agency are open unless a specific statutory exemption applies. Article I, Section 24 of the Florida Constitution also guarantees this right. Pinellas County, as one of the most densely populated counties in Florida, generates a large volume of public records across its courts, property offices, and municipal agencies.

You do not need to say who you are. You do not need to give a reason. The agency carries the burden of proving an exemption, not you. Requests can be made in person at the Clerk's office in Clearwater, by phone, by mail, or through online tools depending on the office. Most county agencies in Pinellas respond to requests under Chapter 119 within a reasonable time. The law requires prompt action; it does not allow open-ended delays.

Exemptions under Section 119.071 of the Florida Statutes cover active criminal investigation files, victim identity data, certain personnel records, and medical information. If a request is denied, the agency must cite the specific exemption. The Florida Attorney General's Office provides free mediation at (850) 245-0140 for disputes about denied requests. The Florida First Amendment Foundation also helps when agencies refuse valid requests.

Pinellas County Clerk and Comptroller

Ken Burke, CPA serves as Clerk and Comptroller for Pinellas County. His office is the central keeper of court records for the 6th Judicial Circuit and of official records such as deeds, mortgages, liens, and judgments recorded against Pinellas County property. It is the largest public records repository in the county and handles millions of documents across civil, criminal, family, probate, and traffic matters.

The Clerk's office is open weekdays during standard business hours. The main office is at the Clearwater courthouse. Staff can direct you to the right division when you call. The office also has branch locations that handle certain functions for residents in the St. Petersburg area and other parts of the county.

The screenshot below is from the Pinellas County Clerk and Comptroller's official website, which is the primary portal for online record access.

The main page above shows navigation options for court records, official records, and other services maintained by the Clerk's office in Pinellas County.

Pinellas County Records Online: Document Status Types

The Pinellas County Clerk's online system uses a case number search to pull up court records. When you find documents in a case, each one is labeled with a status that tells you whether you can view it directly online. Understanding these status types saves time when you search through Pinellas County public records.

Documents marked Public are available for immediate online viewing. Anyone can open and read them through the portal without creating an account or requesting Clerk review. These are the most commonly encountered records for standard civil and traffic cases.

Documents marked Confidential or Sealed can only be viewed by users whose accounts have been granted the necessary rights by the Clerk's office. These typically cover juvenile records, certain family court filings, or matters that a judge has ordered sealed. Standard public searches will show that the document exists but will not let you open it.

Documents with a View On Request (VOR) status are in a middle category. They are not automatically viewable online but can be reviewed once the Clerk's office has had a chance to confirm they are properly available. You will need to contact the Clerk to request VOR documents. The review process is generally handled within a few business days.

The screenshot below shows the Pinellas Clerk's View Records page, where you can start a case search and see how document status types appear in results.

The page shown above is where Pinellas County case searches begin and explains the Public, Confidential, Sealed, and VOR document categories you may encounter.

Pinellas County Records Fees and Copies

Standard copy fees under Chapter 119 apply in Pinellas County. Copies cost $0.15 per one-sided page for standard size documents. Certified copies carry a $1.00 per page fee plus a $5.00 certification statement. Research time beyond the first 30 free minutes may be billed at an hourly rate set by the Clerk's office.

For documents available online, downloading directly from the Clerk's portal avoids copy fees in many cases. Court records that can be downloaded as PDFs do not require a formal copy request. For older records not in the digital system, a written request to the Clerk's archives with prepayment of estimated fees is the standard approach.

If you need official records for real estate purposes, such as certified copies of deeds or satisfaction of mortgage documents, the Clerk's office can provide them either in person or by mail. Call ahead to confirm the exact fee and accepted payment types before you come in or submit a mail request.

Other Pinellas County Public Records Sources

Beyond the Clerk's court and official records, other Pinellas County agencies produce public records you can request. The Pinellas County Sheriff's Office handles arrest records and incident reports. The Property Appraiser's office maintains assessment records and ownership information. The Supervisor of Elections keeps voter registration rolls. Each has its own process under Chapter 119.

For statewide criminal history, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement maintains a central repository that covers records from all 67 Florida counties. A search there is often the best starting point when you need a broader check rather than county-specific records. The myfloridacounty.com portal also lets you search official records from multiple counties through one interface.

The Florida Clerks directory is useful if you need to contact a clerk's office in another county. Legal aid services for low-income Pinellas residents are available through Bay Area Legal Services and similar organizations operating in the Tampa Bay area.

Note: The 6th Judicial Circuit also covers Pasco County. If you need court records from a case filed in Pasco, those records are held by the Pasco County Clerk's office, not Pinellas.

Cities in Pinellas County

Pinellas County includes several large cities with their own dedicated public records pages on this site.

Nearby Counties

Pinellas County is bordered by Hillsborough and Pasco counties. Each has its own clerk's office and separate records systems.