Sumter County Public Records

How to Find Public Records in Sumter County in 2026

SumterCountyRecords.us provides access to publicly available information related to public records maintained by government agencies in Sumter County, Florida. Members of the public seeking official documentation may find records spanning court filings, property transactions, vital statistics, business registrations, tax assessments, and election data. The availability and completeness of individual records depends on the custodial agency, the nature of the record, and applicable state law exemptions.

Records in Sumter County may be searched through official court resources, the Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller, public access terminals located at county offices, and a growing number of online portals maintained by state and local agencies.

Online Access:

The Sumter County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller maintains an online records search portal for court case information, official records, and property-related documents.
The Florida Department of State's Division of Elections provides statewide voter registration and election data.
Court dockets and case documents from Florida's appellate and trial courts are accessible through Florida Courts.
No registration is required to conduct basic public record searches through most county portals, though certified copies require a formal request.

In-Person Requests: Members of the public may inspect records in person at the Sumter County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller's main office. Requestors should present a written or verbal description of the records sought. Staff will assist in locating responsive documents during regular business hours.

Written/Mail Requests: Written requests must identify the record sought with sufficient specificity to allow staff to locate it. Under Florida Statute § 119.07, agencies are required to acknowledge requests promptly and provide records within a reasonable time. Mailing address: Sumter County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller, 215 E. McCollum Ave., Bushnell, FL 33513.

Phone/Email:

Phone: (352) 569-6600
Email inquiries may be submitted through the contact form on the Sumter County Clerk's official website.

For election-related public records, the Sumter County Supervisor of Elections accepts requests through the public records request portal.

What Are Public Records in Sumter County?

Public records in Sumter County are defined under Florida law as all documents, papers, letters, maps, books, tapes, photographs, films, sound recordings, data processing software, or other material made or received in connection with official agency business. Under Florida Statute § 119.011, the definition is intentionally broad to ensure government transparency.

The following record types are currently maintained by Sumter County agencies:

Court records — civil, criminal, probate, and family court filings maintained by the Clerk of the Circuit Court
Property records — deeds, mortgages, liens, and property assessments maintained by the Clerk and the Sumter County Property Appraiser
Vital records — birth and death certificates (Florida Department of Health); marriage and divorce records (Clerk of the Circuit Court)
Business records — fictitious name registrations, business licenses, and permits
Tax records — property tax bills and assessment data maintained by the Sumter County Tax Collector
Voting and election records — voter rolls, candidate filings, and campaign finance reports maintained by the Supervisor of Elections
Meeting minutes and agendas — county commission and board records available through the Sumter County Board of County Commissioners
Budget and financial documents — annual budgets, audits, and expenditure reports
Law enforcement records — arrest logs and incident reports, subject to applicable exemptions, maintained by the Sumter County Sheriff's Office
Land use and zoning records — maintained by the Sumter County Planning and Zoning Department

Is Sumter County an Open Records County?

Sumter County fully complies with Florida's open records framework, making it an open records jurisdiction. Under the Florida Public Records Law, codified at Florida Statute § 119.01, all state, county, and municipal records are open for personal inspection and copying by any person unless specifically exempted by the Legislature.

As stated in the statute, "It is the policy of this state that all state, county, and municipal records are open for personal inspection and copying by any person. Providing access to public records is a duty of each agency." This provision establishes a strong presumption of openness that applies to all Sumter County government agencies.

Florida's Government in the Sunshine Law further reinforces public access by requiring that meetings of public boards and commissions be open to the public and that minutes be recorded and made available. The Florida Attorney General's office notes that "the Sunshine Law applies to any gathering of two or more members of the same board or commission to discuss some matter which will foreseeably come before that board for official action."

Sumter County agencies are required to designate a public records custodian and to respond to requests without unreasonable delay. No county-specific ordinance currently restricts access beyond what state law permits.

How Much Does It Cost to Get Public Records in Sumter County?

The current fee structure for public records in Sumter County is governed by Florida Statute § 119.07(4), which sets the maximum charges agencies may impose for copies and related services.

Service	Standard Fee
Single-sided copy (up to 8.5" x 14")	$0.15 per page
Double-sided copy	$0.20 per page
Certified copy (court records)	$1.00 per page + $2.00 certification
Electronic records (staff time > 15 min.)	Actual cost of staff time
Inspection of records	No charge

Additional notes on fees:

Inspection of public records at a county office carries no charge.
When the nature or volume of a request requires extensive use of information technology resources or clerical or supervisory assistance, the agency may charge the actual cost of such services.
Certification fees for official records vary by document type and are set by the Clerk of the Circuit Court.
Accepted payment methods at the Clerk's office include cash, check, money order, and major credit cards.
Fee waivers are not broadly mandated under Florida law, though individual agencies may exercise discretion in limited circumstances.

Does Sumter County Have Free Public Records?

Free inspection of public records is available in Sumter County, as Florida law requires agencies to allow any person to inspect public records at no charge. The distinction between free inspection and free copies is significant: members of the public may view records in person without cost, but obtaining physical or certified copies is subject to the fee schedule described above.

The following free resources are currently available:

Online court records search — The Sumter County Clerk's online portal allows free searches of case information and official records indexes without registration.
Property records — The Sumter County Property Appraiser's website provides free access to property ownership data, assessment values, and parcel maps.
Election records — Voter registration data and election results are accessible at no cost through the Supervisor of Elections' public records request page.
State archives — Historically significant government records are preserved and made available for research through the State Archives of Florida, which provides free access to its collections.
Public access terminals — In-person terminals at the Clerk's office allow free electronic inspection of indexed records.

Who Can Request Public Records in Sumter County?

Any person may request public records in Sumter County, regardless of residency, citizenship, or stated purpose. Florida's Public Records Law does not require requestors to be Florida residents, to provide identification, or to explain the reason for their request.

Specific eligibility provisions include:

Residency — Not required. Non-residents have the same access rights as Florida residents.
Identification — Not required for most public records requests, though some offices may ask for identification when releasing records that contain sensitive personal information about the requestor.
Purpose — Agencies may not condition access to public records on the requestor disclosing the intended use of the records.
Requesting your own records — Individuals seeking records about themselves follow the same process as any other requestor. For records containing personal identifying information, additional verification may be requested to protect third-party privacy.
Restrictions for specific record types — Certain records, such as those involving ongoing criminal investigations or juvenile proceedings, are subject to access restrictions regardless of who is requesting them.

Members of the media, researchers, attorneys, and members of the general public are all entitled to equal access under the same statutory framework.

What Records Are Confidential in Sumter County?

Not all government records in Sumter County are subject to public disclosure. Florida law establishes specific exemptions that protect certain categories of information from release. The primary exemptions statute, Florida Statute § 119.071, enumerates the following categories of confidential or exempt records:

Sealed court records — Records sealed by judicial order are not available for public inspection.
Juvenile records — Records pertaining to juvenile offenders are confidential under Florida law.
Active criminal investigation records — Investigative records compiled by law enforcement agencies are exempt while an investigation is active.
Personal identifying information — Social Security numbers, bank account numbers, and similar financial data are redacted from public records.
Medical records — Protected under both state exemptions and federal HIPAA regulations.
Adoption records — Sealed by statute and accessible only under specific court-ordered circumstances.
Child welfare and protective services records — Records of the Department of Children and Families relating to abuse investigations are confidential.
Personnel records — Certain employee records, including home addresses and personal information of government workers, are exempt.
Trade secrets and proprietary business information — Submitted to agencies in connection with licensing or permitting may be protected.
Security plans and infrastructure details — Records relating to the security of public facilities are exempt to protect public safety.

When a record contains both exempt and non-exempt information, the agency is required to redact the exempt portions and release the remainder. Florida courts apply a balancing test in disputed cases to weigh the public interest in disclosure against the privacy or safety interests served by the exemption.

Sumter County Recorder's Office: Contact Information and Hours

Sumter County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller
215 E. McCollum Ave.
Bushnell, FL 33513
(352) 569-6600
Sumter County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller

Office Hours:
Monday – Friday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Closed on state and federal holidays.

Sumter County Property Appraiser
7375 Powell Rd., Suite 225
Wildwood, FL 34785
(352) 569-6800
Sumter County Property Appraiser

Sumter County Tax Collector
1101 N. Main St.
Bushnell, FL 33513
(352) 569-6740
Sumter County Tax Collector

Sumter County Supervisor of Elections
7375 Powell Rd., Suite 245
Wildwood, FL 34785
(352) 689-4625
Sumter County Supervisor of Elections

Sumter County Sheriff's Office
(For law enforcement records and incident reports)
215 E. McCollum Ave.
Bushnell, FL 33513
(352) 793-2621
Sumter County Sheriff's Office

Florida Department of Health in Sumter County
(For vital records including birth and death certificates)
1024 N. Main St.
Bushnell, FL 33513
(352) 793-6022
Florida Department of Health in Sumter County