Pinellas County Public Records: Find the Right Official Search First
Pinellas County public records are spread across several offices. Court cases and recorded documents are handled by the Clerk, parcel information by the Property Appraiser, tax accounts by the Tax Collector, jail and Sheriff records by PCSO, and birth or death certificates by Florida Health.
Use the record finder below to choose the correct office, then search with the strongest identifier you have—such as a case number, parcel ID, instrument number or booking information.
Which Pinellas County Office Has Your Record?
The county itself warns that several agencies listed on its public-record page are separate custodians. A general county request should not replace the Clerk, Sheriff, Property Appraiser or Tax Collector when one of those offices actually holds the record.
| You need | Official source | Best starting detail |
|---|---|---|
| Civil, criminal, traffic, probate or family case | Pinellas County Clerk of Circuit Court & Comptroller | Case number first; otherwise party name |
| Deed, mortgage, lien, judgment or recorded document | Clerk Official Records | Instrument number, book/page, name or document type |
| Property owner, parcel, assessed value or exemptions | Pinellas County Property Appraiser | Parcel ID, owner or property address |
| Property-tax bill, balance or payment | Pinellas County Tax Collector | Parcel/account or property address |
| Current jail or recent Sheriff booking information | Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office | Legal name and booking information |
| Birth or death certificate | Florida Department of Health in Pinellas County | Name, event date, ID and eligibility details |
| County department record | Pinellas County Public Records Center | Department, subject and focused date range |
Search Pinellas County Court Records
Use the Pinellas County Clerk for civil, criminal, traffic, probate, family and other court matters. The Clerk’s public records tools provide online case access, while some restricted or confidential records will not be available through ordinary public view.
- Choose the court-record option that matches your task.
- Use the case number when you already have it.
- Otherwise search using the legal name and available date details.
- Confirm the case type, parties, filing date and docket before relying on the match.
- Use the Clerk’s copy route if you need an official or certified document.
Public View vs. registered access
Basic public research can generally begin through the Clerk’s public-facing record tools. Access to some electronic court documents can depend on the user’s role and Florida court-access rules, so a registered account does not make confidential information public.
Use the case number whenever possible
A common name can produce several unrelated cases. Once you identify the correct case, save the case number before requesting copies, checking hearings or comparing the record with a Sheriff booking.
Pinellas County Arrest, Jail and Sheriff Records
The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office is the correct source for current county jail information and Sheriff’s Office records. The Pinellas County Jail is at 14400 49th Street North in Clearwater.
- Use the jail or arrest-inquiry service for current custody research.
- Search with the person’s legal name.
- Compare booking information carefully before assuming a match.
- Use the Clerk court search separately to verify filed charges and case status.
- Contact the Records Section for a Sheriff public-record request when needed.
Search Pinellas County Property Records
The Pinellas County Property Appraiser is the right source for parcel numbers, owner information, property characteristics, assessed value and exemption-related information.
- Open the property search.
- Search by parcel number when you already know it.
- Otherwise use the owner name or property address.
- Open the matching parcel and confirm the legal description and parcel ID.
- Carry that parcel information into the Tax Collector or Clerk search when needed.
Property record vs. legal ownership document
The Property Appraiser database helps identify the parcel and assessment information. If your question depends on the actual deed, mortgage, lien, release or judgment, move to the Clerk’s Official Records portal.
Search Pinellas County Deeds, Liens and Mortgages
The Clerk’s Official Records portal is the primary source for recorded deeds, mortgages, liens, judgments and other instruments recorded in Pinellas County.
- Accept the current search disclaimer if prompted.
- Use instrument number or book/page when you already have a recording reference.
- Otherwise search by party name.
- Narrow a broad search using document type, record date or legal description.
- Open the document image when available rather than relying only on the index.
The current search system provides dedicated searches by name, instrument number, document type, record date, consideration, book/page, case number and legal description.
Name search not finding the document?
The Clerk’s Official Records system specifically advises users to try spelling variations of proper names. That can matter when initials, suffixes, prior surnames or older indexing conventions differ from the name you started with.
Check Pinellas County Property Taxes
The Pinellas County Tax Collector handles tax bills, tax-account information and collection. The Property Appraiser determines the property value used in the tax process.
- Choose View an Account or Pay Your Bill.
- Confirm the correct parcel and tax year.
- Review the payment or delinquency status.
- Check current payment deadlines and payment-method charges.
- Save the official confirmation if you make a payment.
The Tax Collector states that the property-tax year runs from January 1 through December 31, tax bills are issued in November, and unpaid taxes become delinquent on April 1.
Need Tax Collector records instead of a tax payment?
The Tax Collector has its own public-record request process for property-tax records, tourist development tax records and office-administration records.
- Confirm the requested record is maintained by the Tax Collector.
- Check whether the information is already available online.
- Use the listed phone, email or mailing route for the remaining request.
Pinellas County Vital Records
The Florida Department of Health in Pinellas County provides local birth- and death-certificate services. These certificates have eligibility and identification rules that differ from ordinary property or court searches.
Birth certificates
Florida Health in Pinellas states that local Florida birth certificates are available for births from 1930 to the present. The current local fee is $13 for the first certificate and $8 for an additional certificate ordered at the same time.
- Check the identification requirements.
- Prepare the registrant’s full name, date and county of birth.
- Complete the official application.
- Choose the current online, mail or in-person route.
- Verify current fees before submitting payment.
Florida Health also lists Pinellas County Tax Collector locations in St. Petersburg and Clearwater as in-person birth-certificate locations, with separate office fees and hours.
Death certificates
The local Health Department provides Florida death certificates from 2009 to the present. The current listed fee is $9 per certificate. Deaths before 2009 are directed to the state Bureau of Vital Statistics or its authorized ordering service.
- Decide whether you need cause-of-death information.
- Review eligibility and ID requirements for that certificate version.
- Complete the official application.
- Use the current in-person, mail or authorized online ordering route.
Free Search vs. Certified Record
Many Pinellas County databases can be searched online without paying just to view basic public information. That does not mean a web page, screenshot or downloaded image is sufficient for an official purpose.
| Task | Online search may be enough? | When to consider certification |
|---|---|---|
| Checking a court date | Usually | When another court or agency specifically requires proof |
| Researching a deed | Often | For transactions or official legal use |
| Proving birth or death | No | Use the official vital certificate |
| Proving court disposition | Sometimes insufficient | Often useful when formal proof is requested |
Request a Pinellas County Public Record
For records maintained by ordinary Pinellas County government departments, the county provides a Public Records Center and a county Public Records Liaison. The county explains that requesters may be responsible for costs such as copies, staff time or other costs associated with producing the requested records.
- Confirm the record belongs to a county department rather than the Clerk, Sheriff, Property Appraiser or Tax Collector.
- Select the department or request category that best matches your record.
- Describe the record narrowly and include useful dates.
- Add project, address, incident or file details when known.
- Review any cost estimate before asking the county to perform extensive work.
What to Do When a Pinellas County Search Returns Nothing
| Problem | Try next |
|---|---|
| No court result | Use a case number, simplify the name, verify Pinellas County and check whether the record may be restricted. |
| Official Records name search fails | Try spelling variations, prior surnames, initials or another index field such as instrument number. |
| Property address fails | Use the parcel number or simplify the address formatting. |
| Parcel found but deed missing | Move from Property Appraiser data to Clerk Official Records. |
| Jail result does not explain the court outcome | Search the related criminal case through the Clerk. |
| County request portal does not fit the record | Identify whether a separate constitutional office actually holds it. |
Pinellas County Public Records Offices
315 Court Street, Clearwater, FL 33756
General phone: 727-464-7000
Use for court cases, recorded documents, copy requests and related Clerk services.
315 Court Street, 2nd Floor, Clearwater, FL 33756
Phone: 727-464-3207
10750 Ulmerton Road, Largo, FL 33778
Non-emergency: 727-582-6200
Records Section: 727-582-5865
8751 Ulmerton Road, Suite 1700, Largo, FL 33771
Phone: 727-507-4330 ext. 6316
Communications
333 Chestnut St., Clearwater, FL 33756
Phone: 727-464-4600
Clearwater government campus map
The Clerk, Property Appraiser and several county offices are located in or near the Court Street government campus in downtown Clearwater. Confirm the exact office before visiting because nearby buildings handle different services.
Before You Rely on a Public Record
- Confirm that the record belongs to the correct person, property or case.
- Do not treat an arrest or booking as proof of conviction.
- Review the underlying document when an index does not answer the question.
- Respect confidential, sealed, exempt and redacted information.
- Use an official or certified copy when the recipient requires one.
Pinellas County Public Records FAQs
1. Where do I search Pinellas County court records?
Use the Pinellas County Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller View Records service. Search by case number when available, then verify the parties, case type and filing information.
2. Where do I search Pinellas County deeds and liens?
Use the Clerk’s Official Records Search. The portal supports name, instrument number, document type, record date, book/page, case number and legal-description searches.
3. How do I find who owns a property in Pinellas County?
Use the Pinellas County Property Appraiser. Search by parcel number, owner or address, then use Clerk Official Records if you need the underlying deed.
4. Where do I check Pinellas County property taxes?
Use the Pinellas County Tax Collector for tax bills, account information, payments and delinquency questions. Property valuation questions belong with the Property Appraiser.
5. Where do I find Pinellas County jail or arrest information?
Use the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office jail or arrest-inquiry services for current county custody information, then use the Clerk separately to verify the court case.
6. Is a Pinellas County booking record the same as a conviction?
No. A booking or arrest record documents law-enforcement activity. The filed court case and final court disposition must be checked separately.
7. Where do I order a Pinellas County birth certificate?
Use the Florida Department of Health in Pinellas County. Florida birth records from 1930 to the present are available through the local certificate service, subject to identification and eligibility rules.
8. Where do I get a Pinellas County death certificate?
Florida Health in Pinellas provides Florida death certificates from 2009 to the present. Earlier death records are handled through the state Bureau of Vital Statistics or its authorized ordering service.
9. How do I request a Pinellas County record that is not online?
Contact the office that actually maintains the record. For general county-department records, use the Pinellas County Public Records Center. Separate offices such as the Clerk, Sheriff, Property Appraiser and Tax Collector handle their own records.
10. Why might a Pinellas County record not appear online?
The record may be maintained by another agency, indexed differently, confidential, sealed, exempt, recently filed, outside the online system’s coverage or unavailable through remote public access.