Clearwater City Florida residents directory records are public files that anyone in the state can view under Florida’s open records law. Clearwater sits on the Gulf Coast in Pinellas County and has about 115,000 people.
The city runs a single online portal that holds city and police records. Voter files, property records, court files, and license checks add more ways to look up a Clearwater resident. This page covers each of those free and low-cost public tools in plain words.
Clearwater Public Records Portal
The City of Clearwater runs a JustFOIA portal for all open records requests. The City Clerk and the Clearwater Police Department share this same system. Florida law does not force you to write a request or give your name. You also do not have to say why you want the records. The City Clerk’s Office sits at 600 Cleveland Street, Suite 600, Clearwater, FL 33755. The records phone line is 727-562-4090. The portal makes the Clearwater City Florida residents directory stronger because all city and police files go through one place.
You can submit a new request and check the status of old ones on the city’s JustFOIA site. Adding an email helps the city send you status notes, but that email becomes a public record under Florida law. Copies cost up to 15 cents per page under Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes. If staff need more than 15 to 30 minutes on a request, a labor fee can apply on top of the copy cost. Small requests that take little staff time often have no labor fee. If you do not answer a question about your request or pay an invoice, the city can close the file.
What the Portal Covers
The JustFOIA portal covers city contracts, budgets, meeting minutes, emails, and police records. You can ask for one record or a full file set. Most city records are public unless state law says they are private.
Records That Stay Private
Social Security numbers, driver’s license numbers, and home addresses of active law enforcement officers stay out of public view. Active criminal intelligence and open case files also stay private under Florida law.
Clearwater Police Records Request
The Clearwater Police Department keeps its own open records. You can get crash reports, incident reports, call logs, case photos, and case video through the police side of the portal. The police station sits at 645 Pierce St, Clearwater, FL 33756. The records section phone line is 727-562-4242. Police records matter for the Clearwater City Florida residents directory because they show if a person has a local case or report on file in the city.
Crash reports can also come from the Florida Highway Safety portal. Local criminal history checks from Clearwater PD only cover Clearwater cases. For statewide checks, you need the FDLE offender search, which lists registered offenders across Florida and updates daily.
Police Records You Can Request
The list below covers the most common police files people ask for in Clearwater.
- Crash reports and traffic accident records
- Incident reports and case numbers
- Call logs for a date and address
- Arrest records for Clearwater cases
- Case photos and video that are not part of an open probe
Records the Police Can Block
Active criminal intelligence, informant files, and home addresses of sworn officers stay sealed. Florida law lists these and other items as exempt from public view.
Clearwater Voter and Property Data
Voter files are a strong tool for the Clearwater City Florida residents directory. Florida law treats voter data as public. Each registered voter has a file with name, home address, date of birth, and party affiliation. Social Security numbers and driver’s license numbers stay out of the public voter file. You can pull voter lists from the Pinellas County Supervisor of Elections or the Florida Division of Elections. Voter data gives you a current address for many Clearwater residents.
Property records from Pinellas County add another layer. You can search by owner name or address to find who owns a Clearwater home, the mailing address, the assessed value, and any tax exemptions. A Homestead exemption almost always means the property is a person’s main home. The Pinellas County Clerk of the Circuit Court keeps deeds, mortgages, and liens tied to Clearwater properties. These files are open under Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes.
Voter File Lookup Steps
Follow the steps below to pull a Clearwater voter record from the Pinellas County Supervisor of Elections site.
- Go to the Pinellas County Supervisor of Elections website.
- Pick the voter lookup tool.
- Type the person’s first name, last name, and date of birth if you have it.
- Read the result for the home address, party, and registration status.
Property File Lookup Steps
Use these steps to find a Clearwater property owner through the Pinellas County property app.
- Go to the Pinellas County Property Appraiser site.
- Type the owner name or street address in the search bar.
- Pick the correct result from the list.
- Read the owner name, mailing address, assessed value, and any exemptions on file.
Court Records for Clearwater Residents
Court files play a big role in the Clearwater City Florida residents directory. The Florida Courts Comprehensive Case Information System, called CCIS, lets you search case files from all 67 Florida counties in one search. A name search for a Clearwater person can bring up civil, criminal, family, and probate cases filed in Pinellas County or anywhere else in Florida. Basic CCIS searches are free. The system pulls data from every clerk of court in the state, so it is the fastest way to check if a Clearwater resident has a case on file.
The Pinellas County Clerk handles all local court filings for Clearwater. The clerk keeps case files, dockets, and some document images online. Certified copies cost more than plain copies. Some files may not be posted due to privacy rules under state law. For files not on the web, you can visit the clerk in person, call, or send a written request by mail. Florida law does not require you to give a reason when you search Clearwater court files.
What Court Records Show
Court files show case numbers, filing dates, party names, charges or claims, hearing dates, and judge names. They also show the final ruling when the case ends.
What Court Records Hide
Juvenile files, sealed cases, adoption records, and certain family law files stay private under Florida law. Personal data like Social Security numbers gets redacted from public court files.
License Search and Florida Records Law
The Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation, called DBPR, adds one more layer to the Clearwater City Florida residents directory. The DBPR license search covers more than one million licensed workers and businesses across Florida. You can search by name, license number, city, or county to find a Clearwater person’s license status, address of record, and any disciplinary history. The database covers fields from real estate to construction to cosmetology. Always check that a license reads Active before you hire someone in Clearwater.
Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes is the law that backs all of this. The chapter says every record made or received by a government agency in official business is public. Section 119.07(1) gives any person the right to inspect and copy these records. Some data is exempt, including Social Security numbers, driver’s license numbers, and home addresses of law enforcement. Standard page copy fees top out at 15 cents for one-sided copies. Labor charges can apply for large requests in Clearwater. The Florida Sunshine Law is the common name for these rules that apply at every level of government in the state.
DBPR Search Tips
Keep these tips in mind when you use the DBPR license search for a Clearwater resident.
- Search by full name and city to narrow the result list.
- Check the license type to match the field you need.
- Read the status field for Active, Inactive, or Suspended.
- Read the discipline field for any past action against the license.
Florida Public Records Law Basics
The table below lists the key parts of Florida public records law that apply to the Clearwater City Florida residents directory.
| Topic | Detail |
|---|---|
| Main law | Chapter 119, Florida Statutes |
| Common name | Florida Sunshine Law |
| Who must comply | All state, county, and city agencies |
| Request form | No set form required by law |
| Identity proof | No name or reason required |
| Copy fee cap | Up to 15 cents per page, one-sided |
| Labor fee | Allowed for requests over 15 to 30 minutes of staff time |
| Common exemptions | Social Security numbers, driver’s license numbers, officer home addresses |
Pinellas County Context
Clearwater is the county seat of Pinellas County. All court filings, property records, and official files for Clearwater go through Pinellas County offices. The county has about one million residents across cities like St. Petersburg, Largo, and Pinellas Park. The county records system uses the same state portals listed above, so a Clearwater search pulls from the same statewide tools.
Pinellas County Office Addresses
The offices below handle the most common Clearwater records requests at the county level.
- Pinellas County Clerk of Court: 315 Court Street, Clearwater, FL 33756
- Pinellas County Supervisor of Elections: 13001 Starkey Road, Largo, FL 33773
- Pinellas County Property Appraiser: 111 S. Missouri Avenue, Clearwater, FL 33756
- Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office: 10750 Ulmerton Road, Largo, FL 33778
Nearby City Records
Clearwater sits in the Tampa Bay area, and nearby cities share many of the same public records tools. The list below shows cities that use the same statewide portals and county systems for resident lookups.
- St. Petersburg residents directory uses Pinellas County courts and state voter files
- Largo residents directory uses the same Pinellas County clerk and property tools
- Tampa residents directory uses Hillsborough County courts and state voter files
- Dunedin residents directory uses Pinellas County systems for property and court files
Clearwater Office Contact Details
Use the contact details below when you need to reach a Clearwater office for a records request. Phone lines run during normal business hours, and walk-in service follows the same hours posted at each office.
City of Clearwater Clerk’s Office
600 Cleveland Street, Suite 600, Clearwater, FL 33755
Phone: 727-562-4090
Hours: Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Clearwater Police Department Records Section
645 Pierce St, Clearwater, FL 33756
Phone: 727-562-4242
Hours: Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Pinellas County Clerk of Court
315 Court Street, Clearwater, FL 33756
Phone: 727-464-3000
Hours: Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Frequently Asked Questions
The questions below cover the most common points people ask about the Clearwater City Florida residents directory. Each answer gives clear facts from Florida law and the local offices that handle these records. Use the answers below before you file a request so you know what to expect on fees, timing, and what stays private.
Do I need to give my name to request Clearwater records?
No. Florida law does not require you to give your name, prove who you are, or state a reason when you ask for public records from the City of Clearwater or any other government office. The city may ask for contact info so it can send you an invoice or a status update, but it cannot block your request because you leave that field blank. If you do give an email, that email becomes a public record under Florida law, so many people use a generic inbox for these requests.
How much does a Clearwater public records request cost?
Standard copies cost up to 15 cents per page under Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes. For one-sided copies of letter or legal size pages, the cap is 15 cents. For two-sided copies, the cap is 20 cents per page. If staff need more than 15 to 30 minutes on your request, the city can add a labor fee based on the hourly pay of the lowest paid staff member who can handle the request. Small requests that take little staff time often have no labor fee at all. The city sends an invoice before it releases the records for any request that has a fee.
What records stay private in a Clearwater search?
Florida law blocks the release of Social Security numbers, driver’s license numbers, and the home addresses of active law enforcement officers. Active criminal intelligence, informant files, and open case files also stay private. Juvenile court records, sealed cases, adoption files, and certain family law files stay out of public view. Medical records and certain personnel files also fall under the exemption list. The exemptions apply to the city, the police, and the county offices that hold Clearwater records.
How long does it take to get Clearwater records?
Florida law does not set a fixed deadline for public records requests, but it requires the city to respond within a reasonable time based on the size and scope of the request. Small requests often come back in a few business days. Large requests that need staff time to pull and review can take weeks. The city may also ask you to clarify the scope or to pay an invoice before it finishes the work. If you do not respond to a clarification or pay the invoice, the city can close the request.
Can I search Clearwater court records for free?
Yes. The Florida Courts Comprehensive Case Information System, called CCIS, lets you search case files from all 67 Florida counties for free. CCIS pulls data from every clerk of court, so a name search covers civil, criminal, family, and probate cases filed in Pinellas County or anywhere else in Florida. Basic CCIS searches are free, but certified copies of court files cost more than plain copies.
How do voter files help with a Clearwater resident lookup?
Voter files give you a current home address for registered voters in Clearwater. Each registered voter has a public file with name, home address, date of birth, and party affiliation. Social Security numbers and driver’s license numbers stay out of the public voter file. You can pull voter lists from the Pinellas County Supervisor of Elections or the Florida Division of Elections. Voter data is a strong starting point for the Clearwater City Florida residents directory because most adults in the city register to vote.
What is the difference between the Clearwater city portal and the police records portal?
The City of Clearwater runs a single JustFOIA portal that both the City Clerk and the Clearwater Police Department share. You can file all requests on the same site and track them in one account. City records like contracts, budgets, and meeting minutes go through the clerk side. Police records like crash reports, incident reports, call logs, and case photos go through the police side. Both sides follow the same Florida law on fees, exemptions, and response time.