Dania Beach, Florida Public Records

For misdemeanor criminal cases, traffic violations, and civil disputes under $30,000, residents access the Broward County Court (county-level court) at the same courthouse location. Small claims cases (disputes under $8,000) are also handled by the County Court, with filing fees starting around $55 for claims under $100 and ranging up to $275 for claims between $2,500 and $8,000. The Broward County Clerk of Courts (Brenda D. Forman, Clerk) maintains all court records and can be reached at 954-831-6565 or online at browardclerk.org. The Clerk's official records division is at 201 SE 6th Street, Room 10500, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301. Court records can be searched online through the Clerk's website at browardclerk.org using the Official Records Search and Court Case Search portals, which provide free access to case information, dockets, judgments, and some court documents. Certified copies of court documents cost $2.00 for the first page and $1.00 for each additional page, plus a $2.00 certification fee per document. Traffic citations and parking violations may also be handled through the Broward County Traffic Court division. The Florida Courts E-Filing Portal (myflcourtaccess.com) is used for electronic filing of court documents.

The public can search property records for free online at bcpa.net using address, owner name, parcel ID (folio number), or map-based searches. The interactive GIS mapping system provides aerial imagery, flood zones, zoning information, and tax assessment details. For recorded documents such as deeds, mortgages, liens, satisfactions, easements, and other instruments affecting real property, the Broward County Records, Taxes and Treasury Division (part of the Clerk of Courts office) maintains the official records. This division is located at 115 South Andrews Avenue, Room 118, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301 (phone: 954-831-4000, website: browardclerk.org/records). The Official Records Search at browardclerk.org allows free online searching and viewing of recorded documents dating back to 1978, with some earlier records available. Users can search by name (grantor/grantee), book and page, document type, or legal description. Certified copies of recorded documents cost $2.00 for the first page and $1.00 for each additional page. Recording fees for new documents vary by document type and page count. The County also maintains a comprehensive Geographic Information System (GIS) portal at gis.broward.org with parcel boundaries, zoning, environmental data, and infrastructure information.

Major employers include the Broward County Aviation Department (airport operations), marine industries and boat dealers concentrated along the Intracoastal Waterway, and hospitality businesses serving tourists and business travelers. The nearby Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood employs thousands of workers from Dania Beach and surrounding areas. The IGFA Fishing Hall of Fame and Museum is located on Dania Beach property. The city has historically been known for its antique shops and vintage dealers along Federal Highway, earning it the nickname "Antique Capital of the South." More recently, Dania Beach has seen redevelopment activity including the Dania Pointe shopping and entertainment complex that opened in 2018, bringing retail, restaurants, and a movie theater. The median household income in Dania Beach is estimated at approximately $45,000 to $50,000, somewhat below the Broward County median of around $62,000. The city's economy reflects its position as a working-class coastal community within the greater Fort Lauderdale metropolitan area, with a mix of blue-collar maritime and aviation jobs, service industry employment, and small businesses. The downtown area along Federal Highway is undergoing revitalization efforts, and the city continues to balance its historical character with new development opportunities in retail, marine, and residential sectors.

The Dania Beach Police Department, located at 303 West Dania Beach Boulevard, Dania Beach, FL 33004 (phone: 954-924-5904, website: daniabeachfl.gov/police), serves as the primary law enforcement agency for the city. The department provides full police services and maintains records of incidents, arrests, and police reports occurring within city limits. Citizens can request copies of police reports in person at the Records Division or by submitting a public records request via email or mail. Accident reports, incident reports, and arrest records are available under Florida's Public Records Law, Chapter 119, Florida Statutes, though some records may be redacted or exempt for ongoing investigations or victim privacy. The Broward County Sheriff's Office (BSO), headquartered at 2601 West Broward Boulevard, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33312 (phone: 954-765-4321, website: sheriff.org), provides countywide law enforcement support, operates the county jail system, and handles unincorporated areas of Broward County. For arrest and jail booking information, the BSO operates an online Inmate Information Search at sheriff.org/apps/inmateinfo which allows the public to search current inmates at the Broward County Main Jail and North Broward Bureau facilities. The inmate search provides booking photos (mugshots), charges, bond amounts, booking dates, and projected release information. Historical arrest records can be requested through the BSO Records Section. Florida's public records statute (Chapter 119, F.S.) requires agencies to provide access to non-exempt records promptly, typically within a few business days, and agencies may charge reasonable fees for copying and research time. Both Dania Beach PD and BSO maintain arrest logs and booking reports that are generally public unless sealed by court order.

Online ordering is available through the VitalChek service at floridahealth.gov/certificates, with additional processing fees of approximately $10-15 and expedited shipping options. Standard processing takes 2-3 weeks, while expedited service is available for faster delivery. Only eligible individuals (person named on certificate, immediate family, legal representatives, or those with a tangible interest) can request certified copies, and valid photo ID is required. For local access, the Broward County Health Department Vital Statistics Office at 850 NW 13th Street, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33311 (phone: 954-467-4700) can process applications for Florida vital records. Marriage licenses are issued by the Broward County Clerk of Courts, located at 201 SE 6th Street, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301 (phone: 954-831-6565, website: browardclerk.org). The marriage license fee is $93.50, or $30.00 if both parties complete a premarital preparation course. Licenses are valid for 60 days and there is a 3-day waiting period unless the course is completed. Certified copies of marriage certificates cost $5.50. Divorce records are court records maintained by the Clerk of Courts and can be searched through the online case search at browardclerk.org. Certified copies of final divorce judgments cost $2.00 for the first page and $1.00 for additional pages, plus $2.00 certification fee. Vital records in Florida are digitized and searchable back to the early 1900s, with some variations by record type.

Receipts must be renewed each September 30th. Some business types require additional permits or state licensing. While the city does not maintain a searchable online database of current business tax receipts, information can be requested via public records request. For fictitious name registrations (Doing Business As or DBA), businesses must register with the Florida Department of State, Division of Corporations. Broward County does not maintain a separate DBA registry; all fictitious names are filed at the state level and published in a local newspaper. The Florida Division of Corporations maintains the Sunbiz database at sunbiz.org, which provides free searching of all Florida corporations, LLCs, limited partnerships, and fictitious names. Users can search by business name, officer name, or registered agent, and view entity status, filing history, registered addresses, and annual report compliance. Formation documents and annual reports are available for download. Sunbiz also provides online filing for new business entities and annual reports. Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) lien searches are also conducted through the Florida Secretary of State's UCC Search at dos.myflorida.com/sunbiz/ucc. For property tax information relevant to business owners, commercial property assessments can be searched through the Broward County Property Appraiser at bcpa.net, showing assessed values, millage rates, and tax amounts for commercial real estate in Dania Beach.

Dania Beach voters are served by the Broward County Supervisor of Elections Office, located at 115 South Andrews Avenue, Room 102, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301 (phone: 954-357-7050, website: browardvotes.gov). This office administers all federal, state, county, and municipal elections for Dania Beach residents. Florida residents can register to vote online at registertovoteflorida.gov, the state's official voter registration portal managed by the Florida Division of Elections. The registration deadline is 29 days before any election. To register, applicants must be U.S. citizens, Florida residents, at least 18 years old (or will be by Election Day), and provide a Florida driver license number or ID card number. Dania Beach, as an incorporated city, holds municipal elections for Mayor and City Commission seats. The city has five commission seats including the mayor, typically elected in March of odd-numbered years on a non-partisan basis. The next Dania Beach municipal elections are scheduled for March 2025 for certain commission seats. Information about local candidates, sample ballots, and city ballot measures can be found at browardvotes.gov and through the City Clerk's office at City Hall. Voters can find their assigned polling place by visiting browardvotes.gov and using the "Find My Precinct" tool, which requires entering a residential address. The site also shows sample ballots, early voting locations, and voter registration status. Florida provides extensive public access to election records under Chapter 97 and 106, Florida Statutes. Voter registration lists are public (with some personal information redacted), and can be purchased from the Supervisor of Elections. Campaign finance reports for all candidates and political committees are searchable online through the Florida Division of Elections at dos.myflorida.com/elections for state candidates, and through browardvotes.gov for local candidates. Precinct-level election results are posted on election night and maintained as public records. In the November 2024 presidential election, Broward County saw approximately 64% voter turnout of registered voters, with over 900,000 ballots cast out of approximately 1.4 million registered voters. Looking ahead to November 3, 2026, Dania Beach and Broward County voters will decide several significant races. Florida will hold elections for Governor (Ron DeSantis is term-limited), all Cabinet offices including Attorney General and Chief Financial Officer, a U.S. Senate seat (Marco Rubio's seat is up), all U.S. House seats including Florida's 25th District which includes parts of Broward County, Florida State Senate and House seats, and various Broward County offices including County Commission seats, School Board, and judicial positions. Any Dania Beach municipal races scheduled for 2026 would likely be held separately in March 2027 based on the current municipal election cycle. Florida voters can request mail-in ballots (called vote-by-mail in Florida) through the Supervisor of Elections website at browardvotes.gov, by phone at 954-357-7050, by mail, or in person. Vote-by-mail ballot requests are valid through the end of the calendar year of the second general election following the request, meaning voters must renew their request periodically. Ballots are mailed beginning 40 days before Election Day and must be returned by 7:00 PM on Election Day to be counted. Early voting is typically offered at multiple locations across Broward County for 10-14 days before Election Day.