Hillsborough County people search records give the public free access to court files, property ownership data, voter rolls, and arrest logs for over 1.5 million Florida residents. Tampa serves as the county seat and holds the main records offices where anyone can look up a person by name, address, or case number.
Florida’s open records law makes these files public without the need to explain why you want them. This page covers every office, tool, and method for running a successful people search in Hillsborough County in 2026.
Hillsborough County Clerk of Court Records
The Hillsborough County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller keeps the largest set of people search records in the county. This office stores every court case filed in the 13th Judicial Circuit. Civil lawsuits, criminal charges, family law cases, traffic tickets, and probate files all sit in this single system. The clerk also runs the Official Records division, which stores deeds, mortgages, liens, and other land documents tied to a person.
How to Search Court Cases by Name
A name search through the clerk’s online tool pulls up every case where a person appears as a party. Results show the case number, filing date, case type, and current status. You can also see the judge assigned and a list of court events. Most civil and criminal cases in Hillsborough County go back more than 20 years in the digital system. Older paper files from before 1990 may require an in-person visit to the courthouse.
- Search at hillsclerk.com using the public records portal
- Filter by case type, date range, or party name
- View case details, party addresses, and hearing schedules
- Order certified copies for a small per-page fee
Searching Recorded Documents for a Person
The Official Records search lets you look up documents by grantor or grantee name. Grantors are people selling or transferring property. Grantees are people receiving the property. A simple name search returns every deed, mortgage, lien, or easement linked to that person. This is one of the fastest ways to confirm current property ownership in Hillsborough County.
Walk-In Records Access at the Courthouse
The clerk’s office at 800 E Twiggs Street in Tampa allows in-person file inspection. Public terminals line the lobby and let you run the same searches available online. Staff members help with older records and certified copy requests. Bring a photo ID and know the person’s full name and date of birth if possible.
| Office Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Office Name | Hillsborough County Clerk of the Circuit Court |
| Address | 800 E Twiggs St, Tampa, FL 33602 |
| Phone | (813) 276-8100 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM |
| Website | hillsclerk.com |
The Hillsborough County government website serves as the main entry point to every records office in the county.
The portal links to the clerk, property appraiser, tax collector, elections office, and sheriff from one page. Use it to reach any agency without searching for each website separately.
The clerk’s homepage gives direct access to court records, case searches, and document recording tools.
Hillsborough County Property Appraiser Records
The Hillsborough County Property Appraiser keeps records on every parcel of land in the county. Each parcel links to an owner, a mailing address, and a value assessment. You can search by owner name, property address, or parcel ID number. The records show the current owner’s full legal name, the assessed market value, any tax exemptions, and the property’s land use type.
Owner Name Search for Property
Enter a person’s full name in the property appraiser search tool to see every parcel they own. Results include the property address, parcel ID, and the most recent sale date. You can also see the legal description, square footage, and year built. This is the most reliable way to confirm where a person owns real estate in Hillsborough County.
GIS Maps and Parcel Data
The Property Appraiser’s GIS map shows every parcel in the county with owner names, lot lines, and zoning codes. You can search by name or address and see the exact location of each property. The map also shows flood zones, school districts, and voting precincts tied to each address. This data helps confirm a person’s location and living situation in 2026.
Property Value and Exemption Details
Each property record lists the yearly market value, assessed value, and any tax exemptions like homestead, senior, or veteran status. These exemptions reveal personal details that confirm you have the right person. For example, a homestead exemption tied to a specific name and address proves primary residence status in Hillsborough County.
| Office Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Office Name | Hillsborough County Property Appraiser |
| Address | 601 E Kennedy Blvd, 27th Floor, Tampa, FL 33602 |
| Phone | (813) 272-6100 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM |
| Website | hcpafl.org |
Hillsborough County Tax Collector Records
The Hillsborough County Tax Collector holds tax bill records for every property in the county. Each tax bill shows the owner’s name, the property address, the amount owed, and the payment history. Tax records confirm the same ownership data as the property appraiser, with the added layer of bill payment history and any delinquent amounts.
Searching Tax Records by Owner Name
The tax collector’s online bill pay system lets you look up accounts by owner name or property address. The search returns the parcel ID, current year taxes, and any past due amounts. You can also see the mailing address used for tax bills, which often differs from the property address. This is helpful for finding a person’s current mailing contact in Hillsborough County.
Tax Certificate Sales and Delinquent Records
Delinquent tax records and tax certificate auction lists are public. These records show owners who have not paid property taxes in past years. Searching these lists reveals property ownership status, especially for vacant land or rental properties. The tax collector publishes these lists each year before the annual tax certificate sale.
| Office Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Office Name | Hillsborough County Tax Collector |
| Address | 601 E Kennedy Blvd, Suite 120, Tampa, FL 33602 |
| Phone | (813) 744-4480 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM |
| Website | hillstax.org |
Hillsborough County Sheriff and Jail Records
The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office is the main law enforcement agency for the unincorporated parts of the county. The cities of Tampa, Plant City, and Temple Terrace have their own police departments, but the sheriff covers jail operations and patrol for the rest of the county. Sheriff records include inmate rosters, arrest logs, warrants, and incident reports.
Inmate Search and Current Jail Roster
The sheriff’s online inmate search shows every person currently held in the Hillsborough County jail. Search by name or booking number. Results show the booking date, charges, bond amount, and next court date. The roster updates every few hours. This is the fastest way to confirm if someone is in jail in Hillsborough County right now.
Arrest Records and Warrants
Arrest logs are public under Florida’s public records law. You can request recent arrest logs from the sheriff’s records department. Active warrants are not always posted online, but you can call the records unit to ask about a specific name. Some warrant data appears in the clerk’s court system once a case moves forward.
Incident and Crash Reports
Traffic crash reports and incident reports become public after the investigation closes. You can request copies through the sheriff’s records section. A small fee applies for each report. The reports show names, addresses, vehicle details, and a description of what happened. Law enforcement records help confirm a person’s location and activity in Hillsborough County.
| Office Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Office Name | Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office |
| Address | 200 N Ashley Dr, Tampa, FL 33602 |
| Phone | (813) 247-8200 |
| Hours | 24 hours a day, 7 days a week |
| Website | hcso.tampa.fl.us |
Hillsborough County Voter Registration Records
The Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections keeps voter registration rolls for every registered voter in the county. Florida law makes voter data public under Chapter 119, Florida Statutes. The records show each voter’s name, home address, date of birth, party affiliation, and voter history. This makes voter files one of the most complete people search tools in the county.
Online Voter Registration Lookup
You can look up a single voter online using the voter information tool. Enter a name and date of birth to confirm registration status, party, and current address. The tool also shows polling place and sample ballot data. This is helpful when you only need to confirm a current address in Hillsborough County.
Requesting the Full Voter File
For deeper research, you can request a copy of the full voter file. The file includes every registered voter in Hillsborough County. The elections office sells the file for a small fee per thousand records. The file includes names, addresses, dates of birth, party, and voting history for each voter.
| Office Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Office Name | Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections |
| Address | 2514 N Falkenburg Rd, Tampa, FL 33619 |
| Phone | (813) 744-5900 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM |
| Website | votehillsborough.org |
Florida Public Records Laws and Rules
Florida’s public records law, called the Sunshine Law, applies to every office in Hillsborough County. The law gives the public the right to see and copy government records. No reason or ID is required. Agencies must respond to requests promptly and can only deny access when a specific state or federal law allows it.
Key Florida Statutes That Apply
Article I, Section 24 of the Florida Constitution sets the basic right to see public records. Chapter 119 of Florida Statutes spells out the rules. Section 28.222 makes the clerk of court the official keeper of court records. Together, these laws form the legal basis for every people search in Hillsborough County.
Records That Stay Sealed
Some records are sealed by court order. Sealed cases, juvenile criminal files, and adoption records are not public. Social Security numbers are redacted from online public records. Records that could put a victim at risk may also be sealed. The clerk’s office can tell you if a specific case is sealed before you search it.
How to Make a Public Records Request
You can file a public records request with any county office by email, mail, or in person. Each agency has a public records custodian. State the records you want and the time period. The agency has a set number of days to respond. They can charge a fee for copies, but the search itself is free in most cases.
- Contact the agency’s public records custodian
- Describe the records you want in writing
- Include the person’s name and any other known details
- Wait for the agency’s response within the legal time limit
- Pay any copy fees if the agency grants the request
People Search by City in Hillsborough County
Hillsborough County includes many cities and unincorporated communities. All of them file court cases through the same county clerk. Property records for the entire county go through the same property appraiser in Tampa. That means one people search covers every city in the county without needing to contact each city hall.
Major Cities in the County
Tampa is the largest city with over 400,000 residents. Brandon, Riverview, Town ‘n’ Country, and Carrollwood are large unincorporated areas. Plant City and Temple Terrace are smaller cities inside the county. Ruskin, Valrico, and Lutz are also large communities. Every person living in these areas shows up in the same county records systems.
City Police Departments and Their Records
Tampa Police Department, Plant City Police Department, and Temple Terrace Police Department keep their own arrest and incident reports. You must contact each city police department directly for records they hold. The county sheriff holds records only for the unincorporated areas and the county jail. Each city police website has a public records request form.
Searching for People in Nearby Counties
Many people who live in Hillsborough County work in nearby counties. Pinellas County, Pasco County, Polk County, Manatee County, and Hernando County border Hillsborough. If a person search in Hillsborough does not return results, check the same records systems in these nearby counties. Each has its own clerk, property appraiser, and sheriff’s office.
Frequently Asked Questions
The following questions cover the most common people search questions for Hillsborough County. Each answer gives clear, factual data you can use right away to find a person or confirm a record.
Are Hillsborough County people search records free?
Yes. Most online search tools at the clerk, property appraiser, tax collector, elections office, and sheriff are free. You can run a name search, look up property ownership, check voter status, and search the jail roster at no cost. Only certified copies and bulk data requests carry a fee. The fee for certified copies is set by Florida law and depends on the page count and document type.
Do I need to give my name to search for someone?
No. Florida’s Sunshine Law says anyone can request public records without giving a reason or showing ID. You can search online tools anonymously. For in-person records requests, you may need to show ID to enter the courthouse, but you do not need to explain who you are looking for or why.
How far back do Hillsborough County court records go?
The clerk’s online system has court cases going back more than 20 years. Older paper records from before 1990 sit in the courthouse archives. You can request older records by contacting the clerk’s records section. Some very old records may have been destroyed under retention schedules, but most case files from the 1980s and earlier still exist in paper or microfilm form.
Can I search for a person by phone number?
County records do not index people by phone number. To find a person, start with their full name and date of birth if you have it. Once you confirm a name in one database, you can cross-reference the same name in voter, property, and court records. Reverse phone lookup tools sold by third parties are not part of county government and are not covered by the Sunshine Law.
How do I find out if someone is in jail in Hillsborough County?
Use the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s online inmate search at hcso.tampa.fl.us. Search by full name or booking number. The roster updates every few hours. If the person is in a city jail, contact the Tampa Police Department, Plant City Police Department, or Temple Terrace Police Department directly. Federal inmates held in the county are listed on the federal Bureau of Prisons website instead.
What if a record is sealed or expunged?
Sealed and expunged records are not available through normal people search tools. Only the person named in the record, their attorney, or a court order can access them. The clerk’s office will return no results for a sealed case. Florida law allows sealing for certain criminal cases after specific conditions are met. The original case file still exists but is stored separately from public records.
Can I request records from the city police departments?
Yes. Tampa Police Department, Plant City Police Department, and Temple Terrace Police Department all accept public records requests. Each city has a public records unit with its own request form. Response times and fees vary by city. The same Florida Sunshine Law applies to city agencies just as it does to county agencies.
Key Hillsborough County Records Offices
Below is a complete list of every office that holds people search records in Hillsborough County. Use the addresses, phone numbers, and websites to contact each agency directly for your search needs.
| Office | Address | Phone | Website |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clerk of Court | 800 E Twiggs St, Tampa, FL 33602 | (813) 276-8100 | hillsclerk.com |
| Property Appraiser | 601 E Kennedy Blvd, 27th Floor, Tampa, FL 33602 | (813) 272-6100 | hcpafl.org |
| Tax Collector | 601 E Kennedy Blvd, Suite 120, Tampa, FL 33602 | (813) 744-4480 | hillstax.org |
| Sheriff’s Office | 200 N Ashley Dr, Tampa, FL 33602 | (813) 247-8200 | hcso.tampa.fl.us |
| Supervisor of Elections | 2514 N Falkenburg Rd, Tampa, FL 33619 | (813) 744-5900 | votehillsborough.org |