Kalamazoo Public Records Search

Kalamazoo public records are maintained by the City of Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo County offices, and Michigan state agencies. You can search court cases, property documents, criminal history, and vital records through online portals and local offices. This page covers the key sources for public records in Kalamazoo, Michigan.

Kalamazoo County and City Records

Kalamazoo is the county seat of Kalamazoo County. Most court records, deed documents, and vital records for city residents run through the county. The Kalamazoo County Clerk and Register of Deeds is at 201 W. Kalamazoo Ave., Kalamazoo, MI 49007. The clerk phone is (269) 383-8840. The Register of Deeds phone is (269) 383-8970. For a full look at county resources, visit the Kalamazoo County public records page.

The county website at kalcounty.com links to clerk and deed search tools. The Kalamazoo County Clerk Register Portal at kalcounty.gov gives online access to Register of Deeds documents and other county records.

Kalamazoo FOIA and City Clerk Records

The City of Kalamazoo Clerk serves as the FOIA Coordinator for city records. Written requests are required under MCL 15.231. The city clerk is at City Hall in downtown Kalamazoo. City council records, meeting minutes, agendas, and board and commission records are all maintained by the clerk and available through FOIA or online.

Kalamazoo County also has a FOIA process. The county FOIA portal is accessible through the county's public records portal at kalcounty.com. You can submit requests in person, by mail, by email, or by fax to the county clerk at 201 W. Kalamazoo Ave. The standard response time is 5 business days with a possible 10-day extension.

Kalamazoo County has a fee waiver program for indigent requesters. You can have the first $20 of fees waived by submitting a notarized Affidavit of Indigency. The county limits this to 2 discounts per calendar year. Labor and copy fees apply for requests that require extensive searching or many pages of documents.

The Charter Township of Kalamazoo is a separate government entity. Its clerk is at 1720 W. Milham Ave., Portage, MI 49024, phone (269) 375-9200. Township records, including police FOIA requests for township-area incidents, go to the township clerk rather than the city.

The screenshot below shows the Kalamazoo County portal, which links to records search tools for the clerk, Register of Deeds, and court records.

City council meeting minutes, planning commission records, and budget documents are all public records available through the city clerk's office or the city website.

Court Records in Kalamazoo

The 8th District Court serves Kalamazoo for misdemeanor, traffic, civil, and small claims cases. It is at 150 E. Crosstown Parkway, Kalamazoo, MI 49001, phone (269) 382-0223. Felony cases go to the 9th Circuit Court at 227 W. Michigan Ave., Kalamazoo, MI 49007. The circuit court also handles family court and civil matters over $25,000. The Kalamazoo County Probate Court handles estates and guardianships.

Search Kalamazoo court cases online at micourt.courts.michigan.gov. Select the Kalamazoo County courts from the dropdown and search by name or case number. Case details, docket entries, and hearing dates are free to view. Certified copies require an in-person or mail request from the court clerk.

Felony case files in Kalamazoo County are retained for 50 years. Misdemeanor files are kept for 20 years. Traffic violation records are retained for 7 years. These retention schedules govern how long case records remain available at the county level.

Kalamazoo Police Records

Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety (KDPS) handles both police and fire services for the city. The address is 150 E. Crosstown Parkway, Kalamazoo, MI 49001. Non-emergency: (269) 337-8994. Records office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Police reports require a FOIA request submitted to the city clerk.

Accident reports are available through the Records Division at the same address. Fingerprinting services are also offered at KDPS. The Charter Township of Kalamazoo Police Records Division is separate at (269) 381-3200 and accepts FOIA requests. The township also offers digital fingerprinting services.

The Kalamazoo County Jail has an online inmate search tool. Booking records and current inmate lists are accessible through the county sheriff's office. For arrest records beyond what is searchable online, a FOIA request to the relevant agency is needed.

Criminal History Records in Kalamazoo

Michigan's ICHAT system at apps.michigan.gov/ICHAT covers felony convictions and serious misdemeanors for people with ties to Kalamazoo County. The fee is $10 per search. ICHAT pulls data from all 83 Michigan counties. Federal records and traffic offenses are not included.

The Michigan Department of Corrections OTIS system is free at mdocweb.state.mi.us. It covers current and recently released MDOC offenders. Search by name or MDOC number. Records are removed three years after the offender's discharge date.

Check the Michigan Sex Offender Registry at mspsor.com for registered offenders in Kalamazoo. Search by name, address, or ZIP code. Results show photos, offense details, and current address information.

Property Records in Kalamazoo

Deed records for Kalamazoo are held by the Kalamazoo County Register of Deeds at 201 W. Kalamazoo Ave. Phone: (269) 383-8970. Search online through kalcounty.gov. Records include deeds, mortgages, liens, and other documents affecting real property in the county.

The Kalamazoo County Equalization Department maintains property assessments and tax rolls for the county. GIS mapping is also available through the county. These tools help you look up ownership, assessed values, and parcel information for any address in Kalamazoo. City of Kalamazoo Building Services handles residential and commercial permits, inspections, and zoning compliance. Historic district regulations apply in some parts of the city.

Vital Records for Kalamazoo Residents

Birth and death certificates for Kalamazoo are available through MDHHS at michigan.gov/mdhhs. The first certified copy costs $34. Additional copies are $16 each. The Kalamazoo County Clerk also issues vital records for events that occurred in the county. Marriage licenses for Kalamazoo residents are issued by the county clerk at 201 W. Kalamazoo Ave.

Divorce records for Kalamazoo cases are held by the 9th Circuit Court or available through MDHHS for records dating back to 1897. Marriage records are available through the county clerk or MDHHS.

Nearby Cities

These nearby Michigan cities have their own public records pages.