Highland Beach, Florida Public Records

For misdemeanor criminal cases, traffic violations, small claims (under $8,000), and civil cases under $30,000, the County Court division operates from the same main courthouse location with additional branch locations throughout Palm Beach County. Highland Beach does not maintain its own municipal court; all judicial matters are processed through the Palm Beach County court system. Court records can be searched online through the Palm Beach County Clerk & Comptroller's website at www.mypalmbeachclerk.com, which provides free access to case searches by name, case number, or party. The online portal displays case information, docket entries, and in many instances scanned documents. Certified copies of court documents can be requested online or in person; fees typically include $2.00 per page for copies plus an additional certification fee of approximately $2.00 per document. The Clerk's Office accepts requests by mail, in person, or through the online portal, with payment required at the time of request.

The office is responsible for appraising all real and tangible personal property in Palm Beach County for tax purposes. Official land records, including deeds, mortgages, liens, easements, plats, and other recorded documents, are maintained by the Palm Beach County Clerk & Comptroller's Official Records Division, located at 301 North Olive Avenue, West Palm Beach, FL 33401, phone (561) 355-2996. The Official Records can be searched free online at www.mypalmbeachclerk.com under the Official Records Search portal, which provides access to scanned images of recorded documents dating back several decades. Users can search by name (grantor/grantee), document type, date range, or instrument number. Certified copies can be ordered online with fees of $2.00 for the first page and $1.00 for each additional page, plus applicable certification fees. Palm Beach County also offers a comprehensive GIS mapping system at www.pbcgov.org/gis, providing interactive parcel maps, zoning overlays, flood zones, and property boundary information for all parcels in the county, including Highland Beach properties.

The Highland Beach Town Hall employs a small municipal workforce providing essential services including police, public works, and administration. Many residents are retirees or seasonal residents, contributing to a strong service economy focused on property maintenance, healthcare, and personal services. Highland Beach benefits economically from its location between the larger employment centers of Boca Raton and Delray Beach, where major employers include Boca Raton Regional Hospital, Florida Atlantic University, Office Depot headquarters (historically), and numerous technology and financial services firms. The town's property values are among the highest in Palm Beach County, driven by oceanfront location and limited inventory. Recent years have seen significant teardown-and-rebuild activity as newer, larger homes replace older structures. Highland Beach's economy is intrinsically tied to Palm Beach County's broader economic base, which includes tourism, healthcare, education, real estate development, and financial services. The town's tax base is almost entirely residential property tax, with minimal sales tax revenue due to the absence of retail establishments.

The Highland Beach Police Department, located at 3614 South Ocean Boulevard, Highland Beach, FL 33487, phone (561) 278-4455, serves the town's law enforcement needs. The department's website is accessible through the town's main portal at www.highlandbeach.us. Residents can request police reports, incident records, and traffic crash reports by visiting the police department in person or submitting written requests under Florida's Public Records Law, Chapter 119, Florida Statutes. Reports typically require a small processing fee and valid identification. The Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office (PBSO), headquartered at 3228 Gun Club Road, West Palm Beach, FL 33406, phone (561) 688-3000, website www.pbso.org, provides additional law enforcement support and countywide services including specialized units and detention operations. For arrests and jail bookings, the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office operates the main detention facility. Residents can search for current inmates through the PBSO online inmate locator at www.pbso.org/inmates, which displays booking photos, charges, bond amounts, booking dates, and housing location. The system is updated regularly and provides information on individuals currently held in Palm Beach County jails. To request copies of arrest records, booking reports, or related law enforcement documents, requesters must submit a public records request citing Florida Statutes Chapter 119, which grants broad public access to government records with limited exemptions for active investigations and certain confidential information. Requests can be submitted in writing to the custodian agency, and fees for copies and research time may apply per Florida Statutes Section 119.07.

Online ordering is available through VitalChek at www.vitalchek.com with expedited processing options and additional service fees. Only eligible individuals (family members, legal representatives) can order certified copies with valid photo identification required. The Palm Beach County Health Department, located at 800 Clematis Street, West Palm Beach, FL 33401, phone (561) 840-4500, can also process vital records requests for events occurring in Palm Beach County. Marriage licenses are issued by the Palm Beach County Clerk & Comptroller's Office at 301 North Olive Avenue, West Palm Beach, FL 33401, phone (561) 355-2986. Marriage license fees are $93.50, reduced to $61.00 for couples who complete a premarital course. Licenses are valid for 60 days from issuance. Certified copies of marriage certificates cost $2.00 for the first page and $1.00 for additional pages. Divorce records are court records maintained by the Clerk & Comptroller and can be searched through the online case portal at www.mypalmbeachclerk.com. Florida vital records are confidential for the first 50 years (birth) and 50 years (death/marriage) with access restricted to authorized individuals; older records may be available to the general public for genealogical research.

For businesses operating in unincorporated Palm Beach County areas or countywide, the Palm Beach County Tax Collector's Office, located at 301 North Olive Avenue, West Palm Beach, FL 33401, phone (561) 355-2264, website www.pbctax.com, administers business tax receipts. Fictitious business name registrations (DBA – Doing Business As) are filed with the Florida Department of State, Division of Corporations, and can be searched online at dos.myflorida.com/sunbiz. The SunBiz portal provides free access to search business entities including corporations, limited liability companies (LLCs), limited partnerships, and fictitious names. Users can search by entity name, officer name, registered agent, or document number to verify business status, view annual reports, and access organizational documents. Filing fees for fictitious name registration are $50.00. For Florida state business entity searches, the Division of Corporations website at dos.myflorida.com/sunbiz allows comprehensive searches of all registered businesses, including corporation status, registered agent information, principal addresses, and officer names. UCC (Uniform Commercial Code) lien searches are conducted through the Florida Secretary of State's UCC Online system. Commercial property tax assessments for businesses in Highland Beach can be searched through the Palm Beach County Property Appraiser's website at www.pbcgov.org/papa, which displays assessed values, classifications, and tax information for commercial parcels.

Highland Beach voters are served by the Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections, located at 240 South Military Trail, West Palm Beach, FL 33415, phone (561) 656-6200, website www.pbcelections.org. The office administers all federal, state, county, and municipal elections for Highland Beach residents. Florida voters can register online through the Florida Division of Elections at registertovoteflorida.gov, with registration deadlines typically 29 days before each election. Valid Florida driver's license or state ID number is required for online registration. Highland Beach conducts municipal elections for the Town Commission (five seats including mayor) on a non-partisan basis. Municipal elections are typically held in March of odd-numbered years, with the next Highland Beach municipal election scheduled for March 2025. Candidates and local ballot measures specific to Highland Beach can be found on the town's website at www.highlandbeach.us and through the Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections website. Highland Beach residents can locate their specific polling place by entering their address at www.pbcelections.org under the "Find My Precinct" tool; early voting locations are also listed with dates and times for each election cycle. Florida's public election records include voter registration lists (available with certain personal information redacted per Florida law), campaign finance reports searchable at dos.elections.myflorida.com/campaign-finance, candidate filings, and precinct-level election results. In the November 2024 presidential election, Palm Beach County reported approximately 68% voter turnout with over 700,000 ballots cast from roughly 1.03 million registered voters. For the November 3, 2026 general election, Highland Beach and Palm Beach County voters will decide several key races: Florida Governor (four-year term), one U.S. Senate seat (Senator Marco Rubio's seat is up in 2026 if following the regular schedule), Florida's 22nd Congressional District (which includes Highland Beach), Florida State Senate District 29, Florida House District 91, Palm Beach County Commission seats, Palm Beach County School Board positions, and various judicial retention votes. Municipal races for Highland Beach Town Commission are typically held separately in March of odd years. Florida voters can request vote-by-mail ballots (formerly absentee ballots) through the Supervisor of Elections website at www.pbcelections.org; requests can be made online, by phone, or in writing, and are valid through the end of the calendar year for the second ensuing general election. Vote-by-mail ballots must be requested no later than 10 days before Election Day, and completed ballots must be received by 7:00 PM on Election Day to be counted.