St Clair Shores, Michigan Public Records

The Macomb County Circuit Court, located at 40 North Main Street, Mount Clemens, MI 48043 (phone: 586-469-5120), handles all felony criminal cases, civil cases over $25,000, family law matters including divorce and custody, probate and estate cases, and appeals from district court. The 16th Circuit Court also has a Family Division that handles all domestic relations, juvenile delinquency, and child protective proceedings. Michigan residents can search court records online through the Michigan Courts Case Search portal at courts.michigan.gov/case-search, which provides free access to case information from most Michigan trial courts, including searchable databases by party name, case number, or attorney. The Macomb County Clerk's office at 40 North Main Street, Mount Clemens, MI 48043 (phone: 586-469-5120) maintains official court records and charges $10 per certified copy of court documents. Filing fees vary: small claims filing is $45-$65 depending on claim amount, civil case filing ranges from $150-$240, and motion fees are typically $20. Probate filing fees start at $150 for estates under $25,000. Court records older than several years may require in-person requests at the Clerk's office.

The database displays current assessed values, taxable values, property characteristics (square footage, year built, lot size), sales history, and tax information. Property assessments are updated annually with values representing approximately 50% of market value under Michigan's principal residence exemption system. The Macomb County Register of Deeds, located at 120 North Main Street, 1st Floor, Mount Clemens, MI 48043 (phone: 586-469-5185, website: MacombGov.org/ROD), records and maintains all real property documents including warranty deeds, quit claim deeds, mortgages, liens, easements, land contracts, and subdivision plats. The office provides free online access to recorded documents dating back to the 1820s through their searchable database at macombcountymi.gov/registerofdeeds. Users can search by grantor/grantee name, document type, or parcel number and view scanned images of original documents at no charge. Recording fees are $30 for the first page and $3 for each additional page for deeds and mortgages. The county also maintains a GIS mapping system accessible at gis.macombgov.org that provides interactive parcel maps with tax information, aerial photography, zoning overlays, and measurement tools for public use.

The city's waterfront location supports a significant marine and boating industry, with multiple marinas, boat dealers, marine service providers, and yacht clubs providing employment. The restaurant and hospitality sector thrives along Lake St. Clair, particularly near the Memorial Park area, catering to both residents and visitors from across the region. According to U.S. Census estimates, the median household income in St. Clair Shores is approximately $57,000-$62,000, slightly above the state median but below the wealthiest Macomb County communities. The city has seen recent commercial development focused on modernizing aging retail corridors and attracting mixed-use developments. As part of Macomb County, St. Clair Shores benefits from the broader regional economy driven by automotive manufacturing (with suppliers and plants throughout the county), defense contracting at facilities like the Detroit Arsenal, and healthcare systems. The city's economic character is primarily residential with strong neighborhood retail, positioned between the working-class industrial communities to the north and the more affluent Grosse Pointes to the south. The proximity to Lake St. Clair adds recreational value and supports property values, particularly for waterfront homes. Population has remained relatively stable over recent decades as the city reached build-out, with economic focus on maintaining infrastructure and commercial districts to serve the established residential base.

The St. Clair Shores Department of Public Safety, located at 27201 Jefferson Avenue, St. Clair Shores, MI 48081 (phone: 586-445-5500, website: scsmi.net/departments/public-safety), serves as the primary law enforcement agency for the city. The department provides police, fire, and emergency medical services under a combined public safety model. Residents can request copies of police reports and incident records by visiting the Records Division in person or submitting a written FOIA request; typical reports cost $5-10 depending on length. The Macomb County Sheriff's Office, headquartered at 43565 Elizabeth Road, Mount Clemens, MI 48043 (phone: 586-469-5151, website: MacombGov.org/Sheriff), provides countywide law enforcement support, operates the county jail, and serves civil papers and court orders. The Sheriff's Office maintains jurisdiction over unincorporated areas of Macomb County and provides specialized services like marine patrol on Lake St. Clair. Arrest and jail booking records for individuals detained in Macomb County can be searched through the Macomb County Jail Inmate Roster at macombgov.org/Sheriff-InmateSearch, which displays current inmates' names, booking dates, charges, bond amounts, and sometimes booking photos. The roster is updated regularly and provides information on individuals held at the Macomb County Jail facility. All public records requests in Michigan are governed by the Michigan Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), MCL 15.231-15.246, which requires public bodies to provide access to records within five business days of a written request. Agencies may charge reasonable fees for copying and labor, and requesters can appeal denials to the agency head or seek judicial review. Police reports involving ongoing investigations or confidential informants may be exempt under MCL 15.243.

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) also issues certified birth certificates for all Michigan births; residents can order online through VitalChek.com with expedited service available, by mail to Division for Vital Records and Health Statistics, P.O. Box 30721, Lansing, MI 48909, or in person at a local county clerk office. State-issued certificates cost $34 plus service fees if ordering online. Death certificates follow the same process: available from Macomb County Clerk for $34 (deaths in the county) or from MDHHS for statewide deaths at the same fee. Death records from 1867 forward are available. Michigan law restricts vital records access to the registrant (if of age), immediate family members, legal representatives, or those with tangible interest, requiring valid government-issued photo ID. Marriage licenses are issued exclusively by county clerks; couples planning to marry must apply at the Macomb County Clerk's Office with both parties present, valid photo ID, Social Security numbers, and $20-$30 fee. There is no waiting period or blood test required in Michigan, and licenses are valid for 33 days. Certified marriage certificate copies cost $13. Divorce records are maintained by the Circuit Court where the divorce was granted; copies are available from the Macomb County Clerk for $10 certified. Records dating to the 1800s are available, with more recent records digitized for faster access.

Specific activities like outdoor sales, liquor licenses, and food service require additional permits through the city's Building and Health departments. Macomb County does not require general business licenses, but the Macomb County Clerk's Office at 40 North Main Street, Mount Clemens, MI 48043 (phone: 586-469-5120) processes fictitious business name registrations (Doing Business As or DBA). The fee is $10 to file and $10 to renew every five years; certificates must be published in a local newspaper. At the state level, corporations, LLCs, and other formal business entities must register with the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA). The Michigan Business Entity Search is available free online at cofs.lara.state.mi.us/SearchApi/Search/Search, allowing searches by entity name, ID number, or registered agent to verify business status, view officer names, registered addresses, and formation dates. LLCs cost $50 to file and $25 annually; corporations cost $60 to file with a $15 annual report fee. UCC financing statements (liens on business assets and personal property) are filed with and searchable through the Michigan Department of State at Michigan.gov/UCC; searches cost $6 and filings cost $10-$16. Business property owners in St. Clair Shores can look up commercial property assessments through the Macomb County Equalization Department's online database to verify taxable values and appeal assessments if warranted. Personal property taxes on business equipment and inventory are assessed annually, with statements due February 20.

St. Clair Shores voters are served by the Macomb County Clerk's Office, Elections Division, located at 40 North Main Street, 1st Floor, Mount Clemens, MI 48043 (phone: 586-469-5209, website: MacombGov.org/Clerk-Elections). The Elections Division administers all federal, state, county, and local elections for St. Clair Shores residents, maintains voter registration records, and provides absentee ballot processing. Michigan residents can register to vote online at Michigan.gov/Vote, the state's official voter portal, up to 15 days before an election, or register in person at the city clerk's office, county clerk's office, or Secretary of State office up through Election Day with proof of residency. Automatic voter registration is available when obtaining or renewing a driver's license. Acceptable ID includes Michigan driver's license, state ID, or other government-issued photo identification. St. Clair Shores holds municipal elections for mayor and city council in odd-numbered years, typically on the first Tuesday following the first Monday in November. The city has a mayor-council form of government with a mayor elected to two-year terms and seven council members elected to staggered four-year terms. The next St. Clair Shores city elections will be November 4, 2025, for mayor, three council seats, and potentially ballot proposals. Candidate filing information and local ballot measures are posted at scsmi.net and through the Macomb County Elections office. St. Clair Shores residents can find their assigned polling place by using the Michigan Voter Information Center at Michigan.gov/Vote, entering their name and birth date or address to view their precinct, polling location, sample ballot, and registration status. In the November 2024 presidential election, Macomb County reported approximately 62-65% voter turnout with over 400,000 ballots cast from roughly 630,000 registered voters; St. Clair Shores turnout closely mirrored county averages. Looking ahead to November 3, 2026, St. Clair Shores voters will decide several significant races: Michigan's entire U.S. House delegation (including District 12 which covers St. Clair Shores), all 110 Michigan House of Representatives seats, multiple Macomb County offices including county commissioners, sheriff, clerk, treasurer, prosecutor, and register of deeds, plus circuit and district court judgeships. The U.S. Senate seat held by Gary Peters is not up in 2026 (next election 2028), and the governor's race is not until 2026 (Governor Whitmer's second term runs through 2026, with the next gubernatorial election also in November 2026). Michigan's 14th State Senate district covering St. Clair Shores will also be on the ballot. Public election records in Michigan include voter registration lists (available for purchase for election purposes at $10 per precinct), campaign finance reports searchable at Michigan.gov/CampaignFinance showing contributions and expenditures for state and local candidates, candidate filing records, precinct-by-precinct election results available at MacombGov.org/Clerk-Elections after each election, and absentee ballot statistics. Michigan offers no-reason absentee voting; any registered voter can request an absentee ballot online at Michigan.gov/Vote, by mail, or in person at the St. Clair Shores City Clerk (27600 Jefferson Circle Drive, 586-445-5100) or Macomb County Clerk. Applications must be received by 5 p.m. the Friday before Election Day, though voters can register and request absentee ballots in person through 8 p.m. on Election Day. Voters are added to the permanent absentee ballot list upon request. Ballot tracking is available through Michigan.gov/Vote.