Tampa Background Check Records

Background check records in Tampa are filed through the Hillsborough County Clerk of Court. Tampa is the county seat and the largest city in Hillsborough County with about 415,000 people. The clerk's office downtown keeps all criminal case records, civil filings, and other public records for Tampa and the rest of the county. Running a background check here means searching the clerk's system for court cases and using FDLE for state-level criminal history data. Both options are available online, which makes the process fairly quick.

Which County Handles Tampa Records

Tampa is the county seat of Hillsborough County. All court records for the city go through the Hillsborough County Clerk of Court. The clerk, Victor D. Crist, manages the office from the courthouse on Kennedy Boulevard in downtown Tampa. This is where criminal cases, civil lawsuits, and all other court filings are stored. Tampa does not have its own separate court system for these records.

Hillsborough County also covers the cities of Temple Terrace and Plant City along with a large unincorporated area. All of those records are in the same clerk system. So when you search for a background check in Tampa, you are actually searching the entire Hillsborough County database. For the full county page, see the Hillsborough County background check page.

Tampa City Resources

The City of Tampa has its own government website with information about municipal services, code enforcement, and city records. While court records are managed by the county, the city can be a source for other types of public records.

The Tampa city website can help you find local government records and municipal services.

Tampa Police Department handles law enforcement within city limits. They maintain their own arrest records and incident reports. The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office covers unincorporated areas. Both agencies report arrests to FDLE, which means a statewide search will pick up records from either source. For the most complete background check on someone in Tampa, you should check both the clerk's court records and law enforcement data.

Note: Tampa PD arrest records and the county clerk's court records are two different systems that track related but separate information.

Searching Tampa Background Check Records

Go to the Hillsborough County Clerk's website at hillsclerk.com to start. Their online case search lets you look up records by name or case number. The system covers all case types filed in Hillsborough County, including Tampa. Criminal cases show charges, filing dates, and outcomes. Civil cases show the parties involved and the case status. The search is free to use.

For a statewide search that covers Tampa and all other Florida counties, use the FDLE system. Submit a name-based request at CCHInet for $24. Results come by email and usually arrive within a day. This checks the state criminal history database, which has records reported by every law enforcement agency and court in Florida.

Official records like liens and judgments can be found on MyFloridaCounty. This adds another layer to a Tampa background check by showing financial-related court actions and recorded documents.

• Hillsborough Clerk online search: free
• FDLE name-based check: $24
• MyFloridaCounty records: free to search
• Plain copies at clerk: $0.15 per page
• Certified copies: $1.00 per page

State Criminal History Through FDLE

FDLE maintains the Florida criminal history database. Records from Tampa and all other cities feed into this system. A Level 1 name-based check costs $24. You submit it online at CCHInet. Level 2 checks require fingerprints and search both FDLE and FBI databases. They cost more and take longer.

Tampa has several LiveScan fingerprint providers for Level 2 background checks. These sites scan your prints and send them electronically to FDLE. Find providers at the Florida Health Source directory. Level 2 checks are needed for certain professional licenses as set out in Chapter 435 of Florida Statutes.

The FDLE database gets updates from the Hillsborough County court system and all law enforcement agencies in the Tampa area. Arrests, charges, convictions, and case dispositions are all reported. A background check through FDLE gives you a broader view than searching the clerk's records alone because it includes records from the state attorney, public defender, and corrections department as well.

Public Records Access in Tampa

Florida's public records law under Chapter 119 gives broad access to government records. You can request background check records from Hillsborough County without being a Tampa resident. You do not need to state a reason. The clerk must provide the records unless they are legally exempt.

Exempt records include sealed and expunged cases, juvenile proceedings, and some active investigations. Everything else is open. Court files, arrest records, and official documents are all public in Tampa and the rest of Hillsborough County.

The City of Tampa website at tampa.gov is helpful for city government records like permits and code enforcement actions. For court and criminal records, the county clerk and FDLE are the primary sources. If an agency denies your records request, the Attorney General's Open Government office can help you resolve the issue.

Hillsborough County Background Check Records

Tampa is the county seat of Hillsborough County. All court filings and criminal records for the city go through the Hillsborough County Clerk of Court. For the full county page with additional details on search methods, fees, and local resources, visit the Hillsborough County background check page.

View Hillsborough County Background Check Records

Nearby Cities

These cities are near Tampa and have their own background check pages with local details and resources.