Apollo Beach, Florida Public Records

Apollo Beach, Hillsborough County is served by several law enforcement agencies, including the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office and municipal police departments such as the Tampa Police Department, Plant City Police Department, and Temple Terrace Police Department. Each department has jurisdiction over its respective city or area, and they often coordinate on major crimes and public safety initiatives to ensure comprehensive coverage across the county.

The Hillsborough County Jail, officially known as the Falkenburg Road Jail, is the primary detention facility in the county. The booking process involves fingerprinting, photographing, and recording personal information of the arrested individuals. Inmate lookup is available through the Sheriff's Office website, allowing residents to find information about inmates. Visitation rules are specific to the facility, with scheduled times and guidelines that must be adhered to. The bond and bail process follows Florida state law, allowing for the release of inmates under certain conditions.

Apollo Beach residents are served by the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit Court of Florida in and for Hillsborough County, which handles all felony criminal cases, civil cases over $30,000, family law matters including divorce and custody, probate, guardianship, and juvenile proceedings. The George E. Edgecomb Courthouse is located at 800 East Twiggs Street, Tampa, FL 33602, phone (813) 276-8100, website www.fljud13.org. The Circuit Court Criminal Division handles felonies, while the Civil Division processes cases exceeding county court jurisdiction. The Family Law Division, located in the Edgecomb Courthouse, handles all dissolution of marriage, custody, child support, and domestic violence injunctions for Hillsborough County residents. County Court handles misdemeanor criminal offenses, traffic violations, small claims up to $8,000, and civil cases between $8,000 and $30,000. County Court facilities are located at the Edgecomb Courthouse and the Annex at 419 North Pierce Street, Tampa, FL 33602.

Court records for Hillsborough County can be searched online through the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal at www.myflcourtaccess.com and through the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit's case search at https://pubrec13.hillsclerk.com. The Hillsborough County Clerk of the Circuit Court, located at 800 East Twiggs Street, Tampa, FL 33602, phone (813) 276-8100, website www.hillsclerk.com, serves as the official record keeper for all court proceedings. Online access provides case dockets, parties, filing dates, dispositions, and judgments for both civil and criminal cases. Certified copies of court documents cost $2.00 for the first page and $0.15 for each additional page, plus a $2.00 certification fee. Regular copies cost $0.15 per page for single-sided, $0.20 for double-sided. Documents can be requested in person at the Clerk's office, by mail, or through the online records request system. Historical records dating back decades are available, with older records sometimes requiring additional retrieval time. Traffic citations can be researched and paid online through the Clerk's website. The Clerk's office also maintains official records of marriage licenses, death certificates filed through probate, and recorded documents including judgments and liens.

The criminal records ecosystem in Hillsborough County includes records of felonies, misdemeanors, traffic violations, and the sex offender registry. These records are maintained by the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. Residents can run a background check through the Florida Bureau of Investigation, which provides comprehensive criminal history information. The process is facilitated by Florida's public records laws, ensuring accessibility to these records for various purposes.

Arrest records in Hillsborough County are maintained by the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office. Residents and attorneys can request these records through the Sheriff's Office, either online or in person. An arrest record typically includes the individual's personal information, details of the arrest, charges filed, and the arresting officer's name. Florida's public records law, known as the Sunshine Law, ensures transparency and access to these records for the public.

Property and land records for Apollo Beach are maintained by two primary Hillsborough County offices. The Hillsborough County Property Appraiser, Bob Henriquez, is located at 601 East Kennedy Boulevard, Tampa, FL 33602, phone (813) 272-6100, website www.hcpafl.org. The Property Appraiser's office maintains detailed information on all real property in Apollo Beach, including property ownership, assessed values, property characteristics, sales history, exemptions (homestead, senior, veteran, widow), tax roll information, and aerial photography. The website offers a comprehensive online search at www.hcpafl.org/search allowing searches by owner name, address, parcel number, or subdivision. Each property record displays current and historical assessed values, square footage, year built, lot size, building details, and millage rates. The Property Appraiser's GIS mapping system provides interactive parcel maps showing property boundaries, zoning, flood zones, and surrounding properties. All data is free to access online with no registration required.

The Hillsborough County Clerk of the Circuit Court serves as the Official Records division and records all property-related documents. Located at 800 East Twiggs Street, Tampa, FL 33602, phone (813) 276-8100, website www.hillsclerk.com, the Official Records section records deeds, mortgages, satisfactions, liens (including mechanics liens, judgment liens, and tax liens), easements, declarations of condominium, restrictive covenants, and other instruments affecting real property title. The Official Records database is searchable online free of charge at https://pubrec13.hillsclerk.com/pubrecords, allowing searches by name (grantor/grantee), instrument type, book and page, or official record number. Images of recorded documents from 1957 to present are available for viewing and printing at no cost. Recording fees for new documents are $10.00 for the first page and $8.50 for each additional page. Certified copies cost $2.00 for the first page, $0.15 for each additional, plus $2.00 certification fee. The online system integrates with the Property Appraiser's records, providing comprehensive property research capabilities. For Apollo Beach properties, users can trace complete chain of title, identify all encumbrances, and view subdivision plats and development documents through these integrated county systems.

Apollo Beach's economy is characterized by its position as a residential waterfront community within the Tampa metropolitan area, with most residents commuting to employment centers in Tampa, Brandon, and other nearby cities. The largest employer directly in Apollo Beach is Tampa Electric Company (TECO), which operates the Big Bend Power Station, a major coal and natural gas electrical generation facility employing several hundred workers in operations, maintenance, and administrative roles. The power plant has been a cornerstone of the local economy since 1970 and continues to be a significant property taxpayer and employer. Healthcare services represent another employment sector, with several medical offices, dental practices, and outpatient facilities serving the South Shore communities. The Apollo Beach area has seen significant growth in service sector employment including retail, restaurants, real estate, and professional services catering to the residential population.

The median household income in Apollo Beach is estimated at approximately $70,000-$75,000, somewhat higher than the overall Hillsborough County median, reflecting the area's character as an established middle-class waterfront community. The local economy is closely tied to the greater Tampa Bay metropolitan economy, which is diverse and includes healthcare (including major hospital systems), financial services, technology, tourism, port operations, and military installations (MacDill Air Force Base). Recent economic development in Apollo Beach has focused on residential growth with multiple new subdivisions and waterfront developments, along with commercial development along Big Bend Road and U.S. Highway 41, which serve as the primary commercial corridors. The Apollo Beach area has benefited from its proximity to Tampa International Airport (approximately 30 minutes away) and Port Tampa Bay, while maintaining a suburban waterfront lifestyle. Tourism related to manatee viewing at the TECO Manatee Viewing Center and waterfront recreation contributes to the local economy, particularly in winter months. The area's natural amenities, including access to Tampa Bay and proximity to conservation lands, support a quality of life that attracts residents working throughout the Tampa Bay region. Population growth in Apollo Beach and surrounding South Shore communities continues to drive demand for housing, schools, retail services, and infrastructure improvements.

Apollo Beach is an unincorporated community served by the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office (HCSO), which provides all law enforcement services to the area. The HCSO headquarters is located at 2008 East 8th Avenue, Tampa, FL 33605, phone (813) 247-8200, website www.hcso.tampa.fl.us. The Sheriff's Office operates District III patrol services for the Apollo Beach area from a substation facility. Residents can request police reports and incident records by visiting the HCSO Records Section at the headquarters location or by submitting requests through their online portal. Copies of crash reports, incident reports, and offense reports are available under Florida's public records law, though certain investigative records may be exempt during active investigations. The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office maintains jurisdiction over all unincorporated areas of Hillsborough County, including Apollo Beach, handling everything from traffic enforcement to major criminal investigations.

For arrest and jail booking information, the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office operates two detention facilities: the Orient Road Jail at 2301 East 21st Avenue, Tampa, FL 33605, and the Falkenburg Road Jail at 4101 North Falkenburg Road, Tampa, FL 33610. The public can search current inmates through the HCSO Inmate Search system at www.hcso.tampa.fl.us/publicrecords/inmate-search, which displays booking photographs, charges, bond amounts, booking dates, physical descriptions, and projected release dates. The system is updated in real-time and provides information on individuals currently in custody. Under Florida's Public Records Law, Chapter 119, Florida Statutes, arrest records, booking logs, and incident reports are generally public unless specifically exempted. Requests for records can be submitted in person, by mail to the Records Section at 2008 East 8th Avenue, Tampa, FL 33605, or through the online public records request portal. Florida law requires agencies to respond to public records requests promptly, and fees may be charged for extensive searches or copies at $0.15 per page for single-sided copies. The HCSO also maintains a searchable database of sex offenders and predators residing in the Apollo Beach area through the Florida Department of Law Enforcement's database.

Vital records for Apollo Beach residents are issued through the Florida Department of Health in Hillsborough County, located at 1105 East Kennedy Boulevard, Tampa, FL 33602, phone (813) 307-8015, website http://hillsborough.floridahealth.gov. Birth certificates for births occurring in Hillsborough County can be obtained at this location for $20.00 for the first copy and $10.00 for each additional copy of the same record ordered simultaneously. Applicants must provide valid photo identification and proof of eligibility (immediate family member, legal representative, or person with direct and tangible interest). Processing typically takes 15-20 minutes for walk-in requests if the record is readily available. Birth records in Florida are confidential for 100 years from the date of birth. For births occurring elsewhere in Florida, the state Office of Vital Statistics in Jacksonville can be contacted at (904) 359-6900 or through VitalChek at www.floridahealth.gov/certificates, which offers online ordering with expedited shipping options for an additional fee.

Death certificates are issued by the same Hillsborough County Health Department office at $5.00 for the first copy and $4.00 for each additional copy. Death records less than 50 years old are confidential and require proof of eligibility. Online ordering through VitalChek is available with credit card payment and delivery options. Marriage licenses for Apollo Beach residents are issued by the Hillsborough County Clerk of the Circuit Court at 800 East Twiggs Street, Tampa, FL 33602, phone (813) 276-8100, website www.hillsclerk.com. The marriage license fee is $86.00, reduced to $61.00 if both parties complete a premarital preparation course. There is no waiting period in Florida if the course is completed; otherwise, there is a three-day waiting period. Both parties must appear in person with valid government-issued photo identification and Social Security numbers. Certified copies of marriage certificates cost $5.00 for the first copy and $2.00 for each additional copy. Marriage records are public immediately upon recording. Divorce records are court records maintained by the Clerk of the Circuit Court and are accessible through the Circuit Court case search system. Certified copies of final judgments of dissolution cost $2.00 for the first page plus $0.15 for each additional page and $2.00 for certification. Records are digitized back to the mid-1990s with older records available through in-person requests.

Apollo Beach, as an unincorporated community, does not issue municipal business licenses. Instead, businesses operating in Apollo Beach must obtain local business tax receipts from the Hillsborough County Tax Collector. The Business Tax Division is located at 601 East Kennedy Boulevard, 15th Floor, Tampa, FL 33602, phone (813) 635-5200, website www.hillstax.org. Local business tax receipts (formerly called occupational licenses) are required for most businesses operating in unincorporated Hillsborough County and vary in cost based on business type, classification, and number of employees. Fees range from approximately $50 to several hundred dollars annually. Applications can be submitted online through the Tax Collector's website, and renewals are due September 30th each year. The county maintains a searchable database of active business tax receipt holders, though comprehensive public search may require a records request.

Fictitious name registrations (DBAs - "Doing Business As") for Hillsborough County are filed with the Florida Department of State, Division of Corporations, and advertised in a local newspaper as required by Florida Statute 865.09. Registration costs $50.00 and must be renewed every five years. Searches of existing fictitious names can be conducted through the Florida Division of Corporations website at dos.myflorida.com/sunbiz. Florida corporation, LLC, limited partnership, and trademark searches are conducted through the Division of Corporations Sunbiz database at dos.myflorida.com/sunbiz, which provides free online access to all registered business entities in Florida. The database shows entity name, registration number, status (active, inactive, dissolved), registered agent name and address, principal address, officer names and titles, filing date, and annual report status. Documents including articles of incorporation, annual reports, and amendments can be downloaded as PDF files. New entity formation can be completed online through Sunbiz with immediate processing available.

Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) financing statement searches for liens on personal property and business assets are conducted through the Florida Department of State UCC database at dos.myflorida.com/uccportal. The system allows searches by debtor name or secured party name and displays active financing statements, collateral descriptions, and filing dates. UCC filings are also searchable for $3.00 per debtor name searched, with certified copies available for additional fees. For Apollo Beach business property owners, commercial property assessments and tax information are available through the Hillsborough County Property Appraiser at www.hcpafl.org, showing assessed values for land and improvements, business personal property (tangible), and applicable exemptions. Commercial property tax rates combine county, school district, and special district millage rates, typically totaling between 20-25 mills depending on location and applicable services.

Apollo Beach voters are served by the Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections, Craig Latimer, with the main office located at 2514 North Falkenburg Road, Tampa, FL 33619, phone (813) 744-5900, website www.votehillsborough.gov. The Supervisor of Elections administers all aspects of voter registration, early voting, Election Day operations, absentee voting, and campaign finance reporting for Hillsborough County. Apollo Beach residents can register to vote online through the Florida Division of Elections at registertovoteflorida.gov, which interfaces directly with county election systems. Voter registration requires Florida driver license or ID card number, or the last four digits of Social Security number, plus proof of residency in Hillsborough County. The registration deadline is 29 days before any election. Florida law requires voters to present valid photo and signature identification at polling places, including Florida driver license, U.S. passport, military ID, or other government-issued photo ID.

As an unincorporated community, Apollo Beach does not hold municipal elections for mayor or city council. Apollo Beach residents vote in county, state, and federal elections. Hillsborough County Commission District 3 includes the Apollo Beach area, with county commission elections held during even-numbered years using nonpartisan ballots. The Hillsborough County School Board District 5 represents Apollo Beach for school board elections. Apollo Beach voters can find their assigned Election Day polling location by entering their address at www.votehillsborough.gov/voters/find-my-polling-place. The Supervisor of Elections typically designates Apollo Beach Recreation Center and local schools as polling sites for residents in different precincts. Early voting is available at multiple locations throughout Hillsborough County for approximately two weeks before Election Day, including evenings and weekends. The Supervisor of Elections website lists all early voting locations, hours, and wait times.

Under Florida's public records law, Chapter 119, Florida Statutes, voter registration lists are public records available for purchase in various formats. The voter registration database includes names, addresses, party affiliation, voting history (which elections the person voted in, but not how they voted), and registration date. Precinct-level election results are published on the Supervisor of Elections website after each election, showing vote totals by candidate and issue for every precinct. Campaign finance reports for local candidates and political committees are accessible through the Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections website and the Florida Division of Elections for state-level candidates and committees at dos.myflorida.com/elections/candidates-committees. In the November 2024 presidential election, Hillsborough County reported approximately 64-67% voter turnout among registered voters, with over 500,000 ballots cast from the county's registered voter base of approximately 800,000.

For the November 3, 2026 general election, Apollo Beach and Hillsborough County voters will decide several significant races. Florida's U.S. Senate seat currently held by Marco Rubio (Class III) is not up for election in 2026; Rick Scott's Class I seat was last elected in 2024. However, voters will elect Florida's Governor and Cabinet officers, as gubernatorial elections in Florida occur in midterm years (2022, 2026, 2030). State legislative races include Florida House of Representatives District 70, which includes Apollo Beach, with representatives serving two-year terms. Florida Senate District 24 covers the Apollo Beach area with senators serving four-year staggered terms. County-level offices on the 2026 ballot include Hillsborough County Commission seats for districts with terms expiring, Hillsborough County School Board seats, Sheriff (four-year term), Supervisor of Elections, Tax Collector, Property Appraiser, and Clerk of the Circuit Court. Apollo Beach residents will also vote on the Circuit Court judges for the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit, County Court judges, and any ballot measures or constitutional amendments referred by the Florida Legislature or citizen initiative. Florida allows no-excuse vote-by-mail (absentee) balloting. Voters can request a mail ballot online at www.votehillsborough.gov/vote-by-mail, by phone at (813) 744-5900, by mail, or in person. Mail ballot requests are valid through the end of the calendar year in which they are made for all elections in that period. Voted mail ballots must be received by the Supervisor of Elections by 7:00 PM on Election Day; postmarks do not count. Secure ballot drop boxes are available at early voting sites and the Supervisor of Elections office during early voting and Election Day.