Florida Public Records Directory
The southernmost state in the contiguous United States is the state of Florida. It is the 22nd largest state in the U.S. comprising 65,755 sq. miles with 67 counties. The state is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the northwest by Alabama, to the north by Georgia, to the east by the Atlantic Ocean, and to the south by the Straits of Florida. Florida lies west of The Bahamas and 90 miles north of Cuba. About two-thirds of Florida occupies a peninsula between the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean. With a coastline of approximately 1,350 miles, Florida has the longest coastline in the contiguous U.S.
Florida’s climate varies from subtropical in the north to tropical in the south. It is the only state in the continental U.S. with a tropical climate. The nickname for Florida is the “Sunshine State,” but severe weather is common. Central Florida is known as the lightning capital of the U.S., with more lightning strikes than anywhere else in the U.S. It has one of the highest average precipitation of any state with afternoon thunderstorms common. Florida leads the U.S. in tornadoes but they do not reach the intensity of those in the Midwest. However, hurricanes do pose a severe threat each year.
Florida was the first region of the continental U.S. to be visited and settled by Europeans. The earliest known European explorers came from Spain. In 1763, Spain traded Florida to Great Britain for control of Cuba, which had been captured by the British. The British divided and consolidated the Florida provinces into East Florida and West Florida. Spain regained both East and West Florida after Britain’s defeat in the American Revolutionary War. In 1810, parts of West Florida were annexed into part of the Louisiana Purchase. On March 3, 1845, Florida became the 27th state to join the Union.
Florida was the least populated state in the southern U.S. until the mid-20th century. In 1939, Florida was still described as “largely an empty state.” Eventually, the growing availability of air conditioning, the climate, and a low cost of living made the state a haven. Florida currently has an estimated population of 20,984,400, making it the 3rd most populated state. It contains the highest percentage of people over 65 and about two-thirds of the population was born in another state. Today, Florida is distinctive for its Cuban community and is a reflection of multiple cultural influences that can be found in the architecture and cuisine.
The largest metropolitan area in the entire southeastern U.S. is the Miami metropolitan area with about 6.06 million people. The Tampa Bay area, with over 3.2 million people, is the second largest. Orlando and Jacksonville are third and fourth, respectively. Tallahassee, the state capital, is the largest city in the Florida panhandle region with a population of 190,894.
Citrus fruit, especially oranges, are a major part of Florida’s economy and produces the majority of citrus fruit grown in the U.S. Florida is renowned for amusement parks, winter vegetables, the Kennedy Space Center, and as a popular destination for retirees. Many beach towns are popular tourist destinations, especially during winter and spring break. Amusement parks in the greater Orlando area make up a significant portion of the tourism. Florida has set tourism records for six consecutive years. It is also known for golf, tennis, auto racing and water sports.[1]
The selection of Florida public records listed below are sorted into seven general categories for easy access.
Abbreviation | FL |
Capital | Tallahassee |
Population | 20,984,400 (2017 est.) |
Area size | 65,755 sq. mi. |
Demonym | Floridian |
Primary languages spoken | English |
Governor | Rick Scott |
Lieutenant Governor | Carlos Lopez-Cantera |
U.S. Senators | Bill Nelson, Marco Rubio |
U.S. House Delegation | 16 Republicans, 11 Democrats |
Time Zone – Peninsula & Big Bend - Panhandle West of the Apalachicola River |
Eastern: UTC -5/-4 Central: UTC -6/-5 |
Browse by Public Record Category
There are two types of public records; 1) personal public records that document major life milestones such as birth certificates, death certificates, divorce records, and marriage records, etc.; and 2) government records that are made public such as property tax records, recorded land records, voter records, crime data, jail inmate records, and court records. The Freedom of Information Act is a national law that releases government agency public records and makes it possible to view most public records.[2] Florida Statue Chapter 119, Section 1, states that “all state, county, and municipal records are open for personal inspection and copying by any person.”[3]
Since there are a multitude of records available, it can be difficult to know how or where to access them. When you are ready to start your search, you’ll find our Public Records Directory website easy to use since all of the records can be searched by federal, state, county, city, town or type of record. The links provided will connect you to the best website for the record search, provide details about the record, or provide contact information for those records without search capabilities.
Find Florida Statewide Public Records
Fast access to Florida public record sources at the state level.
Additional Florida public records links can be found on our Florida county and city level pages using the navigation links above.
Property Records
- Florida Land Records and Deeds Directory
- Florida Foreclosures and Tax Lien Sales Directory
- Florida Assessor and Property Tax Records Directory
- Florida GIS and Mapping Directory
Vital Records
- Florida Genealogy Records Directory
- Florida Birth Records Directory
- Florida Death Records Directory
- Florida Marriage Records Directory
- Florida Divorce Records Directory
Community Health & Safety
- Florida Sustainability and Environmental Health Directory
- Florida Traffic Cameras and Reports Directory
- Florida Crimes and Crime Data Directory
Jobs & Employment
Criminal and Court Records
- Florida Warrants Directory
- Florida Jail and Inmate Records Directory
- Florida Sex Offender Registration Directory
Licensing and Permits
- Florida Business Licenses Directory
- Florida Contractor Licenses Directory
- Florida Professional Licenses Directory
- Florida Bar Associations Directory
- Florida Permits and Inspections Directory
Codes, Regulations, & Other
Other Florida Public Records
Although most states provide similar types of public records, each state will have records specific to its location or government operations. Florida’s Land Boundary Information System provides an interactive survey map, early land records, water boundary maps, aerial imagery, digital imagery, and other mapping data.
Florida state law requires that a person under 18 years of age shall not operate, a non-motorized scooter, or a skateboard, nor shall they wear in-line or roller skates, nor ride upon a bicycle, a non-motorized scooter, or a skateboard as a passenger, upon a street, bikeway, or any other public bicycle path or trail unless that person is wearing a properly fitted and fastened bicycle helmet. [4] So if you live in Florida and your children like to skateboard or rollerblade, make sure that they wear a helmet!
Sources:
Home Page
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State of Florida Home Page | |
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Adoptions
Search for children available for adoption in Florida by sex, id number, name or age.
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Air Quality Reports
View State of Florida air quality reports including air quality monitoring.
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Contact Info
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Attorney General Consumer Complaints
File a consumer complaint with the State of Florida Office of the Attorney General online including information about fraud and scams.
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Free Search
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Auditor General Reports
View Florida Auditor General reports covering state agencies, district school boards, colleges and non-profit organizations.
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Bids
Search Florida bid opportunities by agency, advertisement number or advertisement type.
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Free Search
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Campaign Finance
Search Florida filed campaign documents, contributions, expenditures, and fund transfer records.
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Free Search
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Candidate Tracking System
View Florida Department of State's candidate tracking system for information about candidate status, campaign finance activity, personal photos and contact information.
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Career Offender Search
Search Florida Department of Law Enforcement database of career offenders by name, region, county, city, zip code, or address.
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Free Search
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Census Information Summary
Florida statistics for population, ethnicity, housing, geography and businesses. From the U.S. Census Bureau.
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Free Search
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Charities
Search Florida Division of Consumer Services' charitable businesses by business name.
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Free Search
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Child Care Provider Search
Search for licensed child care providers in Florida for licensing information and inspection history.
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Free Search
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Clandestine Drug Laboratory Register
View addresses of some locations in Florida where law enforcement agencies reported they found chemicals or other items that indicated the presence of either clandestine drug laboratories or dumpsites.
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Free Search
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Cold Cases
View Florida Department of Law Enforcement cold case files.
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Free Search
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Corporations
Search Florida corporations, trademarks, limited partnerships, limited liability companies, fictitious names, judgment liens, and federal lien registrations.
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Free Directory
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Court Records and other Resources
Links to state and local court records, general Florida court information, directory of courts, and online resources for courts in Florida.
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Paid Search
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Criminal History Search
Search Florida criminal histories through this paid service.
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Free Search
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DEA Most Wanted
View listings and photos of the most wanted persons of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Miami Field Division.
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Free Search
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Driver License Status Check
Search Florida driver license status by driver license number.
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Free Search
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Florida Professional and Occupational Licensing Directory
Complete directory of all professional and occupational licensing agencies in the state of Florida.
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Free Search
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Florida State Pension Database
Search this Florida state pension database for information on pensions providing annual benefits greater than $100,000. The name of the retiree is not included due to privacy laws.
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Free Search
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Florida State Salary Search
Search Florida salary information from all executive branch agencies, the state courts system, the lottery, and the Justice Administration Commission, including the state attorney and public defenders. Payroll information is also available for state university employees.
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Free Search
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Funeral and Cemetery Licenses
Search Florida funeral and cemetery licenses by license number, name, DBA, or firm name.
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Free Search
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Hazardous Waste Sites
View list of hazardous waste sites in Florida by site number including FLD number, status, site name, address and site category.
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Free Search
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Highway Patrol Most Wanted Persons
View Florida Highway Patrol's most wanted fugitives and most wanted for identity theft by name including photos.
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Free Search
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Historical Newspaper Articles
Search historical Florida newspaper articles from 1762 - 1885.
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Free Search
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Lobbyists
View Florida registered lobbyists, lobbying firms, and compensation reports.
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Free Search
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Medical License Verification
Search Florida Department of Health's database of heath professional licenses.
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Free Search
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Meeting Agendas
View Levy County Commission meeting agendas by date including current and prior years.
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Free Search
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Missing Children
Search the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children website by name, city, date range or physical description.
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Free Search
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Notary Search
Search Florida notaries by notary ID, name, commission number, or zip code.
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Paid Search
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Obituary Records
Search obituary records by name of deceased, publication date or obituary text.
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Free Search
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Offender Search
Search Florida Department of Corrections offender records, including absconders and fugitives, escaped inmates, released inmates, and supervised population.
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Free Search
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Official Records Search
Search Florida official records, including land documents, UCC financing statements, marriage records, death certificates, court papers, judgements, liens, plats, and military discharges. Search by name, document type, date range, instrument number and location.
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Free Search
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State Archives
Search the State Archives of Florida for state and local government records, photos, and historical manuscripts.
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Free Search
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Stolen Boats
Search Florida stolen boats by boat hull number, boat registration number, or owner applied number.
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Free Search
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Stolen Guns
Search Florida stolen guns by serial number.
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Free Search
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Stolen License Plates
Search Florida stolen license plates by license plate number.
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Free Search
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Stolen Vehicles
Search Florida stolen vehicles by vehicle identification number, license plate number, or owner applied number.
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Free Search
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Unidentified Decedents
Search the Florida Unidentified Decedents database for information about those found dead in Florida whose identities remain unknown.
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Free Search
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Vehicle Information Check
Search the Florida Department of Highway Safety vehicle records by title or VIN.
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Free Search
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Wanted Persons
Search Florida Crime Information Center's wanted persons by name, race, sex, or date of birth.
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