Brentwood, Maryland Public Records

The District Court of Maryland - Prince George's County has multiple locations; the Hyattsville location at 6707 Whitney Avenue, Hyattsville, MD 20782 (phone: 301-454-4300) is nearest to Brentwood and handles misdemeanor criminal cases, traffic violations, landlord-tenant disputes, civil cases under $5,000, and small claims up to $5,000. Small claims procedures are streamlined for individuals seeking monetary judgments without attorney representation. Maryland's statewide court records are searchable online through Maryland Judiciary Case Search at casesearch.courts.state.md.us, a free public database providing access to case information from all Maryland courts including dockets, charges, dispositions, judgments, and party names. Users can search by name, case number, or party type across both District and Circuit Court systems. The database includes criminal, civil, family, and traffic cases, though certain sensitive records (juvenile cases, sealed records, expunged cases) are restricted. For certified copies of court documents, requesters must visit or contact the specific courthouse; the Circuit Court charges $5 for the first four pages and $1 for each additional page for certified copies, while the District Court charges similar fees. Land records (deeds and mortgages filed as part of court proceedings) are maintained separately by the Land Records Division. Court records retention varies by case type, with criminal felonies and civil judgments retained permanently while minor traffic cases may be purged after several years.

The office provides a free online Property Information Portal at princegeorgescountymd.gov/property-search where residents can search by street address, owner name, or account number to view current assessments, tax amounts, property transfers, building descriptions, lot size, and assessment history. The online system displays assessed values for land and improvements, exemptions, and tax bills but does not include actual recorded deeds. The Land Records Division of the Circuit Court for Prince George's County, located at 14735 Main Street, Upper Marlboro, MD 20772 (phone: 301-952-3790), serves as the official recorder of deeds, mortgages, liens, easements, plats, releases, and other instruments affecting real property title. All documents recorded since the county's founding are indexed and maintained by this office. The public can search land records free online at mdlandrec.net/main, the statewide Maryland Land Records system, which provides full-text searchable images of recorded documents from all Maryland counties including Prince George's. Users can search by grantor/grantee name, liber (book) and folio (page) reference, property address, subdivision name, or document type. The online system includes deeds dating back to the 1600s with digital images available for most records from recent decades. There is no charge to view documents online, though certified copies require a fee of $20 for the first five pages and $1 per additional page. The Land Records Division also maintains subdivision plats and condominium documents. Prince George's County GIS (gis.princegeorgescountymd.gov) offers an interactive mapping tool called PGAtlas that displays property boundaries, zoning, flood zones, and assessment data layered over aerial photography, allowing users to click parcels to view basic ownership and tax information.

Major employers near Brentwood include the University of Maryland in College Park (one of the region's largest employers with over 40,000 students and thousands of faculty and staff), the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Prince George's Hospital Center in Cheverly, and the Gateway Arts District in nearby Mount Rainier and Hyattsville, which has attracted artists, galleries, and creative businesses. Brentwood itself is predominantly residential with a commercial corridor along Rhode Island Avenue (Route 1) featuring small businesses, restaurants, auto services, and retail establishments, many serving the town's significant Latino community. The town has seen increasing development interest due to its proximity to transit and the District, with residential property values rising in recent years as the broader Prince George's County inner suburbs experience revitalization. The Gateway Arts District designation for the Rhode Island Avenue corridor has brought arts-focused economic development efforts. According to U.S. Census data, Prince George's County's median household income is approximately $91,000, though Brentwood's median income is somewhat lower at an estimated $65,000-$70,000. The local economy reflects a mix of service industry workers, government employees, education sector workers, and small business owners. Brentwood's small size (under 4,000 residents) means it functions primarily as a residential community within the larger Prince George's County economy, which includes major employment centers like the National Harbor development, Joint Base Andrews, and the University of Maryland. The town's economic character is shaped by its working-class roots, diverse immigrant population, and ongoing pressures from Washington-area gentrification and development.

The Town of Brentwood maintains its own police department, the Brentwood Police Department, headquartered at 4300 39th Place, Brentwood, MD 20722 (phone: 301-927-3000). The department provides full municipal police services including patrol, investigation, and community policing for the town's residential areas. Residents can request police reports and incident records by contacting the department directly during business hours; requests are processed under the Maryland Public Information Act (MPIA), General Provisions Article §4-101 et seq., Maryland Code, which provides public access to government records with certain exceptions for ongoing investigations and privacy concerns. The Brentwood PD website can be accessed through the town's official portal at brentwoodmd.gov. For matters beyond municipal jurisdiction, the Prince George's County Police Department serves the broader county area with its District 1 station nearby.

The Prince George's County Sheriff's Office, located at 5303 Chrysler Way, Upper Marlboro, MD 20772 (phone: 301-952-7000, website: princegeorgescountymd.gov/departments/sheriff), provides court security, serves civil process, and operates the Prince George's County Detention Center. To search for arrests and jail bookings, the public can access the Prince George's County Department of Corrections Inmate Locator at doc.princegeorgescountymd.gov/Inmate-Locator, which displays current inmate names, booking dates, charges, bond amounts, and housing location. Mugshots are typically included in booking records. Historical arrest records and incident reports can be requested through the Prince George's County Police Department at 7600 Barlowe Road, Landover, MD 20785 (phone: 301-352-1200). Under Maryland's MPIA, law enforcement agencies must respond to public records requests within 30 days, though certain investigative records, personnel files, and records that could compromise security may be exempt. Requesters should submit written requests specifying the records sought, and agencies may charge reasonable fees for search time and copies.

The standard fee is $24 for the first copy and $13 for each additional copy ordered simultaneously, with expedited service available for higher fees. Processing time is approximately 3-4 weeks for mail requests and 10-15 business days for online orders. Only eligible parties can request birth certificates: the registrant (if 18 or older), parents listed on the certificate, legal guardian, legal representative, or persons with a direct and tangible interest as defined by Maryland law (Health-General Article §4-211). Death certificates are also issued by the Division of Vital Records at the same address and fee structure ($24 first copy, $13 additional copies), with records available from 1898 forward. Online ordering through mdvitalrecords.org is available, and requesters must demonstrate eligibility including family members, legal representatives, or persons with a direct interest in the estate. Marriage licenses are issued by the Circuit Court for Prince George's County Clerk's Office at 14735 Main Street, Upper Marlboro, MD 20772 (phone: 301-952-3313). The marriage license fee is $85 (cash or money order only), and Maryland requires a 48-hour waiting period between issuance and the ceremony (waivable by court order). Marriage records dating back to the 1800s are maintained by the Circuit Court and searchable through the Maryland State Archives. Divorce decrees are court records maintained by the Circuit Court for Prince George's County and searchable through the Maryland Judiciary Case Search system (casesearch.courts.state.md.us). Certified copies of divorce decrees cost $5 for the first four pages plus $1 per additional page. Maryland law requires proper identification (government-issued photo ID) and proof of eligibility for all vital records requests, with increased security measures implemented under federal REAL ID standards.

The town may maintain a registry of active business licenses available for public inspection at Town Hall, though online searching may not be available for this small municipality. At the county level, Prince George's County requires certain business activities to obtain permits and licenses through the Department of Permitting, Inspections and Enforcement (DPIE), 9400 Peppercorn Place, Largo, MD 20774 (phone: 301-636-2000, website: princegeorgescountymd.gov/dpie). Home occupation permits, contractor licenses, and various trade licenses are administered by the county. For fictitious business names (trading as/DBA), businesses operating under an assumed name must file with the Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation (SDAT), but Prince George's County also maintains trade name records at the Circuit Court Clerk's Office, 14735 Main Street, Upper Marlboro, MD 20772. Maryland business entity searches are conducted through the Maryland Department of Assessments and Taxation (SDAT) at 301 West Preston Street, Baltimore, MD 21201 (phone: 410-767-1330, website: dat.maryland.gov). The SDAT Business Express portal at egov.maryland.gov/BusinessExpress provides free online searching of all corporations, LLCs, limited partnerships, and other registered business entities in Maryland. Users can search by entity name, department ID number, or resident agent to view business status (active, forfeited, dissolved), principal office address, resident agent name and address, formation date, officers and directors (for corporations), and annual report filing status. The system also allows online filing of new business formations, annual reports, and amendments. UCC (Uniform Commercial Code) lien searches for secured transactions are conducted through the Maryland SDAT UCC Division, searchable online at sdatcert.resiusa.org/ucc-charter.html, showing financing statements filed against business assets. For commercial property tax assessments affecting business owners, the Prince George's County Assessment Division online portal allows searching by property address to view assessed values, which form the basis for real property taxes. Businesses with personal property (equipment, furniture, inventory) must file annual personal property tax returns with the county, and assessment records are maintained by the Assessment Division at 301-952-2221.

Brentwood voters are served by the Prince George's County Board of Elections, located at 1100 Mercantile Lane, Suite 115A, Largo, MD 20774 (phone: 301-341-7300, website: princegeorgescountymd.gov/departments/board-of-elections). This office administers all federal, state, county, and municipal elections for Brentwood residents, including voter registration, absentee voting, polling place assignments, and election results certification. Maryland residents can register to vote online at elections.maryland.gov/voter_registration through the Maryland State Board of Elections portal, or by submitting paper applications to the county office. The voter registration deadline is 21 days before any election. Maryland allows same-day registration during the early voting period with proof of residency. Acceptable ID includes a Maryland driver's license, MVA-issued ID card, student ID, employee ID, utility bill, bank statement, or government document showing name and address.

Brentwood holds municipal elections for mayor and town council on the first Tuesday in May in odd-numbered years (most recently May 2025, next in May 2027). The Town of Brentwood elects a mayor and six council members, all serving two-year terms. Municipal candidate filing occurs through the Brentwood Town Hall (301-927-3000), and local ballot measures specific to the town may appear on the May ballot. Information about municipal candidates, sample ballots, and local issues can be obtained from Town Hall at 4300 39th Place or the town website at brentwoodmd.gov. Brentwood voters also participate in county, state, and federal elections held in even-numbered years during primary elections (typically in May or July) and general elections on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November.

To find their assigned polling place, Brentwood residents can use the Maryland Voter Lookup tool at elections.maryland.gov/voting/where.html by entering their name and date of birth, or by calling the Prince George's County Board of Elections at 301-341-7300. Polling places are assigned based on residential address and precinct boundaries. Brentwood's polling locations have historically included local schools and community centers within or near the town. Maryland offers early voting at designated centers throughout Prince George's County during the week before Election Day, typically Monday through the Thursday before, with extended hours including evenings and weekends.

Under Maryland law, several categories of election records are public: voter registration lists (excluding Social Security numbers and birth dates) are available for purchase for political purposes; campaign finance reports are searchable online at campaignfinance.maryland.gov showing contributions and expenditures for state and local candidates; candidate filing information including names, addresses, and party affiliations are public; and precinct-level election results are published by the State Board of Elections at elections.maryland.gov/elections/results. The Prince George's County Board of Elections publishes unofficial results on election night and certified results after canvass.

In the November 2024 presidential election, Prince George's County reported approximately 87% voter turnout among registered voters, with over 450,000 ballots cast out of approximately 520,000 registered voters, reflecting strong Democratic participation in this heavily Democratic county. Prince George's County voted approximately 87% for Democratic candidates in federal races.

On November 3, 2026, Brentwood and Prince George's County voters will decide important state and local races. Maryland's gubernatorial election will be on the ballot, as Maryland governors serve four-year terms and 2026 is a gubernatorial election year (Governor Wes Moore elected in 2022, but this would be for his midterm cycle—correction: Maryland gubernatorial elections are 2026). All Maryland statewide offices including Comptroller and Attorney General will be on the ballot. Maryland's U.S. Senate seats are held by Chris Van Hollen (up for reelection in 2028) and Angela Alsobrooks (elected in 2024 for a term ending 2030), so no U.S. Senate race is expected in 2026. All eight of Maryland's U.S. House seats will be on the ballot, including Maryland's 4th Congressional District which includes Brentwood (currently represented by Glenn Ivey). All 47 Maryland State Senate seats are up (senators serve four-year terms with all seats elected in gubernatorial years), and all 141 Maryland House of Delegates seats will be on the ballot (delegates serve four-year terms). Prince George's County executive and county council seats may also be on the ballot depending on the county's election schedule. Municipal elections for Brentwood occur in odd years (May 2027), so no town offices will appear on the November 2026 ballot.

Maryland offers absentee voting (officially called mail-in voting) without requiring an excuse. Any registered voter can request a mail-in ballot online at elections.maryland.gov/voting/absentee.html or by contacting the Prince George's County Board of Elections at 301-341-7300. Applications must be received by the Tuesday before Election Day. Completed ballots must be postmarked by Election Day or delivered to a secure ballot drop box by 8:00 PM on Election Day. Prince George's County maintains multiple ballot drop boxes throughout the county, with locations listed on the Board of Elections website. Military and overseas voters can request ballots electronically through the Federal Voting Assistance Program.