Clearwater Background Check
Background check records in Clearwater are managed through the Pinellas County Clerk of Court and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. Clearwater is the county seat of Pinellas County with a population of about 116,811 residents. The 6th Judicial Circuit Court handles all criminal and civil matters for the area. Because Clearwater is the county seat, the main courthouse is right in the city, which makes it easy to access records in person. Several online tools also let you search court records and criminal history from home when running a background check on someone in Clearwater.
Clearwater Quick Facts
Which County Handles Clearwater Records
Clearwater is in Pinellas County. As the county seat, Clearwater houses the main Pinellas County courthouse. All criminal cases, civil filings, family matters, and traffic violations for Clearwater go through the Pinellas County Clerk of Court. The 6th Judicial Circuit covers both Pinellas and Pasco counties, but Pinellas cases stay in the Pinellas courthouse system. The clerk maintains all case records and provides copies to the public.
The Pinellas County Clerk has a modern online system for searching court records. You can look up cases by name or case number from any computer. For the full county overview, see the Pinellas County background check page.
| Clerk Office | Pinellas County Clerk of Court |
|---|---|
| Address | 315 Court St, Clearwater, FL 33756 |
| Phone | (727) 464-7000 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM |
| Website | mypinellasclerk.gov |
The courthouse is in downtown Clearwater on Court Street. Public parking is available in nearby lots. Security screens all visitors at the entrance, so bring your photo ID and leave prohibited items in your car. The clerk's public access area has terminals where you can search case records for free during business hours.
How to Search Clearwater Background Check Records
The Pinellas County Clerk has a free case search tool at mypinellasclerk.gov. Enter a name and the system returns all matching cases in the county. Each result shows the case number, type, filing date, and status. Criminal cases list the charges. You can click into a case for hearing dates, motions, and final outcomes. This is the quickest way to check court records in Clearwater online.
To search all of Florida at once, use FDLE. Go to CCHInet and submit a name-based request for $24. Results come by email, usually in about a day. The FDLE database holds records from all 67 counties. One search covers Clearwater, St. Petersburg, Tampa, and everywhere else in the state. If the person has lived in other parts of Florida, this is the best way to catch records outside Pinellas County.
For recorded documents like liens, judgments, and deeds, search the MyFloridaCounty portal. It is free to search. These records can show financial and property filings tied to a Clearwater resident, which adds context to a background check.
- Pinellas Clerk case search: free
- FDLE name-based check: $24
- MyFloridaCounty records: free to search
- Certified copies: $1.00 per page
- Plain copies: $0.15 per page
FDLE Criminal History Checks
FDLE stands for the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. They manage the statewide criminal history database that includes records from Clearwater and every other Florida city. Level 1 is a name-based search. It costs $24 and you submit it online through CCHInet. Level 2 is fingerprint-based. It checks both state and FBI records and involves an additional fee for the LiveScan provider.
Visit fdle.state.fl.us for details on both check types. For a Level 2 fingerprint check in the Clearwater area, locate a LiveScan provider through the Florida Health Source directory. Several providers serve the Pinellas County area. Your prints go electronically to FDLE and the FBI. The results are more thorough than a name check but take a bit longer.
FDLE receives arrest records from the Clearwater Police Department, the Pinellas County Sheriff, and the 6th Circuit Court. Charges and case dispositions flow into the system from the state attorney and other agencies. A background check from FDLE can reveal records that do not show up in the Pinellas Clerk case search, including arrests from other counties or records from agencies that only report to the state.
Note: FDLE also offers a personal review option. You can check your own criminal history record to see what shows up and challenge any errors.
Clearwater Public Records Access
Under Chapter 119 of Florida Statutes, most government records are open to any person. You do not need to be a Clearwater resident. You do not have to give a reason for your request. The clerk, the sheriff, and city departments must provide records unless a legal exemption applies. Sealed and expunged records are off limits. Juvenile cases have restricted access. Active investigations may be temporarily withheld. Nearly everything else is public.
Clearwater residents can search for public records at both the county and city level. Court records go through the Pinellas Clerk. City records like code violations and police reports can be requested through the city directly. All court records and FDLE criminal history data are available to the public.
The City of Clearwater has its website at myclearwater.com where you can request city records or find information on local services. For criminal and court records, stick with the Pinellas Clerk and FDLE. If you have problems getting records, the Attorney General's Open Government office helps with access disputes. Under Chapter 943, FDLE sets the rules for how criminal history data is collected, stored, and shared statewide.
Clearwater City Government
The City of Clearwater runs its official government site at myclearwater.com.
The site has links to local police services, city ordinances, public records request forms, and other city department information.
The Clearwater Police Department handles law enforcement within city limits. They are a separate agency from the Pinellas County Sheriff. Arrests made by Clearwater Police get reported to FDLE and appear in the statewide database. The sheriff covers unincorporated Pinellas County and other areas. When you run a statewide check through FDLE, it catches records from both agencies. The Pinellas Clerk's court records include cases regardless of whether the city police or the sheriff made the arrest.
Background Check Fees in Clearwater
Costs vary based on what you need and how you search. The Pinellas Clerk's online case search is free. You get case details and status at no charge. Getting copies of actual court documents costs more. Plain copies from the clerk run $0.15 per page. Certified copies cost $1.00 per page. These fees apply whether you request in person, online, or by mail.
FDLE charges $24 for the name-based criminal history check. Fingerprint-based Level 2 checks add the LiveScan provider fee on top of FDLE processing costs. MyFloridaCounty is free to search. Downloading or printing copies of recorded documents may involve a charge. Public records requests to the Clearwater Police or city departments are free to file. Copy fees may apply to the documents produced.
Pinellas County Background Check Records
Clearwater is in Pinellas County, and all court filings and criminal records go through the Pinellas County Clerk of Court. The county handles records for Clearwater, St. Petersburg, Largo, and all other communities within Pinellas County. Being the county seat, Clearwater has the main courthouse where the bulk of records are held. For the full county page with more search tools and resources, visit the Pinellas County page.
Nearby Cities
Clearwater is on the Gulf Coast side of the Tampa Bay area. Several other cities with background check pages are close by.