Leon County Public Records
What Are Public Records in Leon County?
Public records in Leon County are defined according to Florida's Public Records Law, Chapter 119, which states that all documents, papers, letters, maps, books, tapes, photographs, films, sound recordings, data processing software, or other material, regardless of physical form or characteristics, made or received pursuant to law or ordinance or in connection with the transaction of official business by any agency are considered public records. These records are available for inspection by any person unless specifically exempted by law.
Leon County maintains a comprehensive collection of public records including:
- Court records (civil, criminal, probate, family)
- Property records (deeds, mortgages, liens, assessments)
- Vital records (birth, death, marriage, divorce certificates)
- Business records (licenses, permits, fictitious names)
- Tax records (property tax, assessment records)
- Voting and election records
- Meeting minutes and agendas (county commission, boards)
- Budget and financial documents
- Law enforcement records (arrest logs, incident reports - where allowed)
- Land use and zoning records
The Leon County Clerk of Court & Comptroller maintains most judicial records, including civil, criminal, probate, and family court documents. Property records, including deeds, mortgages, and liens, are also maintained by the Clerk's office.
The Leon County Property Appraiser maintains property assessment records, tax rolls, and related property information. These records include property values, ownership information, and tax assessment data.
Vital records such as birth and death certificates are maintained by the Florida Department of Health in Leon County, while marriage licenses and divorce records are handled by the Clerk of Court.
The Leon County Supervisor of Elections maintains voter registration records and election results, while the Leon County Tax Collector manages tax records and business licenses.
County government records, including meeting minutes, agendas, and administrative documents, are maintained by the Leon County Government offices.
Is Leon County an Open Records County?
Leon County fully adheres to Florida's Public Records Law as established in Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes. Under § 119.01(1), it is the policy of the state of Florida that "all state, county, and municipal records are open for personal inspection and copying by any person." This statute establishes a right of access to public records for all individuals regardless of citizenship or purpose.
The law specifically states in § 119.07(1)(a) that "every person who has custody of a public record shall permit the record to be inspected and copied by any person desiring to do so, at any reasonable time, under reasonable conditions, and under supervision by the custodian of the public records."
Leon County has implemented comprehensive policies to ensure compliance with these state requirements. The county maintains a dedicated public records request system to facilitate citizen access to government information.
Additionally, Leon County complies with Florida's Government-in-the-Sunshine Law, codified in Chapter 286 of the Florida Statutes, which requires that meetings of public boards or commissions be open to the public, properly noticed, and recorded in minutes.
The county has established specific procedures for handling public records requests, including designated custodians for various record types and standardized response protocols to ensure timely fulfillment of requests.
How to Find Public Records in Leon County in 2026
Members of the public seeking access to Leon County records may utilize several methods to locate and obtain the information they need. The county provides multiple access points for public records retrieval:
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Online Access: Many Leon County records are available through the county's online services portal. Citizens can search for and access various records including:
- Court records through the Clerk of Court's website
- Property records and tax information
- County commission meeting minutes and agendas
- Building permits and code enforcement records
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In-Person Requests: Individuals may visit the appropriate county office during regular business hours to inspect records in person. The primary locations include:
- Leon County Courthouse for court and official records
- Property Appraiser's Office for property assessment records
- Tax Collector's Office for tax records
- Supervisor of Elections for voting records
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Written Requests: Citizens may submit formal public records requests in writing to the appropriate agency. The county provides a standardized request form that can be submitted via:
- Email to the records custodian
- Regular mail
- Fax
- In-person delivery
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Telephone Requests: Some records may be requested by telephone, though written follow-up may be required for complex requests.
When making a request, citizens should:
- Identify the specific records sought with reasonable particularity
- Provide contact information for response
- Specify preferred format (electronic or paper copies)
- Indicate whether inspection or copies are desired
The county strives to respond to all requests promptly, typically acknowledging receipt within 3 business days and providing records as soon as reasonably possible thereafter.
How Much Does It Cost to Get Public Records in Leon County?
Leon County assesses fees for public records in accordance with Florida Statute § 119.07(4), which establishes the standard fee structure for public records throughout Florida. The current fee schedule includes:
- $0.15 per one-sided copy (8½ × 11 inches)
- $0.20 per two-sided copy (8½ × 11 inches)
- $1.00 per certified copy
- Actual cost for other sizes or formats (including electronic media)
For records requiring extensive clerical or supervisory assistance, the county may charge an additional special service charge based on the cost of the labor involved, as permitted by § 119.07(4)(d). This charge applies when fulfilling a request requires more than 30 minutes of staff time.
The following payment methods are currently accepted:
- Cash (in-person only)
- Check
- Money order
- Credit card (for certain departments and online services)
Fees may be waived or reduced if the request is determined to be in the public interest and primarily benefits the general public rather than the individual requestor. This determination is made on a case-by-case basis by the records custodian.
Certain records available through the county's online portal may be accessed free of charge, while others may require payment of statutory fees even when accessed electronically.
All fees must be paid prior to the release of requested records, though inspection of records in person is generally provided at no charge unless extensive staff time is required to locate or redact the records.
Does Leon County Have Free Public Records?
Leon County provides free access to certain public records in compliance with Florida law. Under Florida Statute § 119.07(4), all public records must be available for inspection at no charge, provided the inspection occurs during regular business hours and does not require extensive use of agency resources.
The following records are currently available at no cost:
- In-person inspection of any non-exempt public record during regular business hours
- Records available through the county's online services portal, including:
- County Commission meeting agendas and minutes
- County ordinances and resolutions
- Current budget documents
- Building permit status information
- Property ownership information through the Property Appraiser's search tool
- Voter registration verification through the Supervisor of Elections website
- Court docket information (case listings without document access)
The Leon County Property Appraiser provides free access to property record cards, ownership information, and tax assessment data through their online database.
The Leon County Clerk of Court offers free public access terminals at the courthouse for searching court records, though printing documents from these terminals incurs standard copy fees.
The Leon County Board of County Commissioners provides free access to meeting agendas, minutes, and video recordings of public meetings through their website.
It should be noted that while inspection is free, obtaining copies of records typically incurs the statutory fees outlined in the previous section, and requests requiring extensive staff time may incur special service charges regardless of whether copies are made.
Who Can Request Public Records in Leon County?
Under Florida Statute § 119.01, any person, regardless of citizenship or residency status, may request access to public records in Leon County. The statute explicitly states that providing access to public records is "a duty of each agency" and that "all state, county, and municipal records are open for personal inspection and copying by any person."
Key eligibility points include:
- Requestors are not required to be Florida residents
- Identification is generally not required to inspect or obtain public records
- Requestors do not need to state a purpose or reason for their request
- Requests may be made anonymously in most cases
- Minors have the same right of access as adults
However, certain exceptions and special provisions apply:
- For access to certain exempt records where the requestor is the subject of the record (such as personnel files), proper identification may be required to verify identity
- Some records with restricted access, such as certain medical records or records containing exempt personal information, may require proof of relationship or legal authority
- Persons incarcerated in a state correctional institution may have limited access to certain records as specified in § 119.07(8)
- Commercial solicitation requests may be subject to additional scrutiny
When requesting records about oneself versus records about others, different standards may apply:
- Individuals requesting their own records may need to provide identification
- Requests for records containing another person's exempt information may require redaction of that information unless proper authorization is provided
- Certain professional licensee information may be accessible even when it contains otherwise exempt personal information
The county may not:
- Require requests to be made in writing (though written requests are recommended for complex matters)
- Require requestors to provide identification (except in specific circumstances)
- Ask why the records are being requested
- Deny access based on the requestor's intended use of the records
What Records Are Confidential in Leon County?
While Florida maintains a strong public records law, Florida Statute § 119.071 establishes numerous exemptions to protect sensitive information. The following categories of records are generally confidential or exempt from public disclosure in Leon County:
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Personal Information: Social Security numbers, bank account numbers, credit/debit card numbers, medical information, and certain personal information of specific categories of personnel (law enforcement officers, judges, prosecutors, etc.)
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Security-Related Records: Security system plans, threat assessments, and other records that would reveal vulnerabilities of government facilities or systems
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Law Enforcement Records: Active criminal intelligence information, active criminal investigative information, confessions, identity of confidential informants, surveillance techniques, and undercover personnel identities
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Juvenile Records: Most records related to juvenile offenders, dependency proceedings, and child welfare cases are confidential under Florida Statute § 39.202
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Health and Medical Records: Records containing protected health information under HIPAA and other medical privacy laws
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Education Records: Student education records protected under FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act)
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Sealed and Expunged Records: Court records that have been legally sealed or expunged pursuant to court order
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Adoption Records: Birth records and court files related to adoptions
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Trade Secrets: Proprietary business information and trade secrets submitted to government agencies
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Attorney-Client Communications: Communications between government agencies and their attorneys regarding pending litigation
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Examination Materials: Test questions and answer keys for licensing, employment, or academic examinations
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Bids and Proposals: Sealed bids or proposals until the time of opening or award
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Domestic Violence Victims: Information revealing the location of domestic violence shelters or victims of domestic violence
When a record contains both exempt and non-exempt information, the county will redact only the exempt portions and provide the remainder of the record. The county must cite the specific statutory exemption when denying access to records based on confidentiality provisions.
The determination of whether a record is exempt is made by the custodian of the record, subject to judicial review. Florida courts generally apply a balancing test that weighs the public interest in disclosure against privacy interests and other protected values.
Leon County Recorder's Office: Contact Information and Hours
Leon County Clerk of Court & Comptroller
301 South Monroe Street, Suite 100
Tallahassee, FL 32301
Phone: (850) 606-4000
Leon County Clerk of Court & Comptroller
Hours of Operation:
Monday - Friday: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Closed on weekends and county-observed holidays
Recording Division (Official Records)
301 South Monroe Street, Suite 100
Tallahassee, FL 32301
Phone: (850) 606-4030
Fax: (850) 606-4033
Court Records Division
301 South Monroe Street, Suite 100
Tallahassee, FL 32301
Phone: (850) 606-4000
Marriage License Department
301 South Monroe Street, Suite 100
Tallahassee, FL 32301
Phone: (850) 606-4060
Tax Deed Department
301 South Monroe Street, Suite 100
Tallahassee, FL 32301
Phone: (850) 606-4020
Leon County Property Appraiser
315 South Calhoun Street, Suite 430
Tallahassee, FL 32301
Phone: (850) 606-6200
Leon County Property Appraiser
Hours of Operation:
Monday - Friday: 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Closed on weekends and county-observed holidays
Leon County Tax Collector
315 South Calhoun Street, Suite 100
Tallahassee, FL 32301
Phone: (850) 606-4700
Leon County Tax Collector
Hours of Operation:
Monday - Friday: 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Closed on weekends and county-observed holidays
Lookup Public Records in Leon County
Leon County Property Appraiser