Access Farmington Hills Public Records

Farmington Hills public records include court filings, property documents, police reports, and vital records managed by the City of Farmington Hills and Oakland County. You can search and request records through city offices, the county clerk, and multiple state systems. This guide covers where to find Farmington Hills public records and how to submit requests.

Oakland County and Farmington Hills Records

Farmington Hills is part of Oakland County. Most property, circuit court, and vital records for the city run through county offices in Pontiac. The Oakland County Register of Deeds records deeds, mortgages, and liens. The 6th Circuit Court handles felony cases and family court matters. For a full look at county resources, visit the Oakland County public records page.

Oakland County offers several online records portals. Search property documents at ocmideeds.com. Look up Oakland County court cases at courtexplorer.oakgov.com. The Oakland County Register of Deeds is at 1200 N. Telegraph, Pontiac, MI 48341, phone (248) 858-0581.

Farmington Hills City Clerk and FOIA Requests

The Farmington Hills City Clerk's Office is at 31555 W. Eleven Mile Road, Farmington Hills, MI 48336. Phone: (248) 871-2410. Fax: (248) 871-2411. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. The clerk serves as the FOIA Coordinator for all city records. Services include vital records, marriage licenses, voter registration, business licenses, notary services, and city council records.

Under Michigan's Freedom of Information Act at MCL 15.231, you have the right to request any public record the city holds. Submit your request in person, by mail to the clerk's address, by fax with "FOIA" on the cover, or by email through the city website at fhgov.com. Requests sent by email are counted as received the following business day.

The city must respond within 5 business days. Complex requests may receive a 10-day extension with written notice. Copying fees and labor charges apply. Indigent requesters can have the first $20 waived by submitting a notarized affidavit. If a request is denied or a fee seems wrong, you can appeal in writing to the city administrator.

The city council meets regularly. Minutes, agendas, and supporting documents are kept by the clerk's office and posted on the city website. The council has seven members elected to four-year terms, with a separately elected mayor.

The screenshot below shows the Michigan FOIA statutes page, which governs how Farmington Hills processes all records requests.

FOIA covers records in the possession of the city. For county-level records, submit a separate request to the Macomb or Oakland County clerk depending on the record type you need.

Court Records in Farmington Hills

The 47th District Court serves Farmington Hills. It is located at 31605 W. Eleven Mile Road, Farmington Hills, MI 48336, phone (248) 871-2900. Judges James B. Brady and Marla E. Parker preside. The court handles civil matters up to $25,000, small claims, criminal misdemeanors, traffic violations, and landlord-tenant cases.

Search court cases for Farmington Hills online through the Michigan Courts portal at micourt.courts.michigan.gov. Select "Oakland Farmington Hills" from the court list. You can search by name or case number. Case details include filing dates, docket entries, and hearing schedules. Results are free but not certified.

For felony cases, the 6th Circuit Court in Pontiac handles all Farmington Hills felony matters after preliminary examination. Civil cases over $25,000 also go to the circuit court. Oakland County Court Explorer at courtexplorer.oakgov.com covers the full Oakland County court system.

Note: Family court records including child custody cases are handled by the 6th Circuit Family Division in Pontiac. Some family records have access restrictions.

Farmington Hills Police Records

Farmington Hills Police Department is at 31655 W. Eleven Mile Road, just east of City Hall. Non-emergency: (248) 871-2600. Records Section: (248) 871-2610. Police reports require a written FOIA request to the city clerk. The same address and contact information for the city clerk applies to police record requests.

The department offers fingerprinting services and accepts CPL applications. Note that CPL applications in Oakland County are processed by the Oakland County Clerk, not the Farmington Hills Police. There is also an Oakland County Sheriff's Office substation in Farmington Hills that provides additional law enforcement services and fingerprinting.

For accident reports, contact the Records Section by phone at (248) 871-2610. Some accident reports may be retrievable online depending on the system used at the time of the incident. In most cases a written request or in-person visit will be needed.

Criminal History Records

The Michigan State Police Internet Criminal History Access Tool (ICHAT) at apps.michigan.gov/ICHAT covers criminal records for Farmington Hills and all of Oakland County. The fee is $10 per search. ICHAT includes felony convictions and serious misdemeanors from all Michigan counties. Federal and juvenile records are not included.

Check current and recently released offenders through the Michigan Department of Corrections OTIS system at mdocweb.state.mi.us. This database is free. Records are removed three years after discharge from state supervision.

The Michigan Sex Offender Registry is available at mspsor.com at no cost. Search by name, address, or ZIP to find registered offenders living, working, or attending school in Farmington Hills.

Property Records in Farmington Hills

Property deed records for Farmington Hills addresses are recorded at the Oakland County Register of Deeds. Search online at ocmideeds.com. The office at 1200 N. Telegraph Road in Pontiac can help with older records or certified copies. Fees apply for document copies.

The Farmington Hills Assessor's Office at City Hall holds property assessment data. Assessment records show ownership, assessed value, taxable value, legal description, and tax status for each parcel. These records are public and available in person or through a FOIA request to the city.

Building permit history for Farmington Hills addresses is available through the city Building Department. This includes residential and commercial permit applications, inspection records, certificates of occupancy, and code violation records. Contact the Building Department at City Hall for more information.

Vital Records

Birth and death certificates for events in Farmington Hills are available through the Michigan MDHHS at michigan.gov/mdhhs. The first certified copy is $34. Extra copies of the same record are $16 each. The Farmington Hills City Clerk also provides birth and death records for events that took place in the city. Marriage licenses come from the Oakland County Clerk.

The Farmington Community Library holds microfilm archives and local newspaper collections that can help with genealogy research and older vital records research. Library staff can point you to the right resources for historical records related to the Farmington Hills area.

Nearby Cities

These Oakland County cities have their own public records pages with local court and FOIA information.