Rochester Hills Public Records

Rochester Hills public records are managed by the City of Rochester Hills, Oakland County, and Michigan state agencies. Court cases, property documents, vital records, and FOIA requests are all accessible through different offices and online tools. This page covers how to search and request public records in Rochester Hills, Michigan.

Oakland County and Rochester Hills Records

Rochester Hills is part of Oakland County. Property deeds, circuit court filings, and vital records for city residents go through Oakland County offices in Pontiac. The Oakland County Register of Deeds records all property documents. The 6th Circuit Court handles felony cases and family court. For a full list of county resources, visit the Oakland County public records page.

Oakland County runs several online records tools. Search property documents at ocmideeds.com. Court cases are searchable at courtexplorer.oakgov.com. Marriage records can be ordered online through Oakland County. The Register of Deeds office is at 1200 N. Telegraph Road, Pontiac, MI 48341, phone (248) 858-0581.

Rochester Hills City Clerk and FOIA

The Rochester Hills City Clerk's Office is at 1000 Rochester Hills Drive, Rochester Hills, MI 48309. Phone: (248) 656-4630. Fax: (248) 656-4680. The city website is at rochesterhills.org. The clerk serves as FOIA Coordinator for all city records. Services include vital records, elections administration, business licenses, city council records, and FOIA request processing.

Under MCL 15.231, the city must respond to public records requests within 5 business days. Complex requests may receive a 10-day extension with written notice. Submit requests to the clerk's office in person, by mail, or by written communication. The city website at rochesterhills.org has a public summary of FOIA procedures and guidelines. Full procedures and guidelines are also posted online.

Rochester Hills has a well-maintained records system. City council minutes, board and commission records, and planning documents are all kept by the clerk's office. The Rochester Hills Library holds a genealogy resource collection, archived newspapers, a local history collection, and general reference materials. The library also has polling location maps and historic district information that can help with research.

The city maintains detailed maps for several public purposes. These include floodplain maps, property descriptions, zoning maps, historic district boundaries, green space properties, and wetland maps. All of these are public records accessible through the city offices or website.

The screenshot below shows the Rochester Hills city website, which links to city records and FOIA request resources.

The Oakland County Sheriff also provides law enforcement services for parts of Rochester Hills. The sheriff's non-emergency line is (248) 652-4617. Records from sheriff's office operations in the city are available through the county.

Court Records in Rochester Hills

The 52-3 District Court serves Rochester Hills. It is located at 700 Barclay Circle, Rochester Hills, MI 48307. This court handles misdemeanor criminal cases, traffic violations, civil disputes up to $25,000, small claims, and landlord-tenant matters. Felony cases from Rochester Hills transfer to the 6th Circuit Court in Pontiac after preliminary examination.

Search court cases online at micourt.courts.michigan.gov. Select the "Oakland Rochester Hills" court from the dropdown. Search by name or case number. Results include case type, status, docket entries, and scheduled hearings. The Oakland County Court Explorer at courtexplorer.oakgov.com also covers Rochester Hills court cases and Oakland County Circuit Court records.

For certified copies of court documents, contact the 52-3 District Court clerk or the 6th Circuit Court clerk directly. Non-certified information from MiCOURT is useful for research but cannot serve as an official legal document.

Rochester Hills Police Records

Rochester Hills Police Department is at 2826 E. Hamlin Road, Rochester Hills, MI 48309. Non-emergency: (248) 656-4680. Police reports require a FOIA request submitted to the city clerk. The same address and contact information for the clerk's office applies to police records requests. Accident reports and incident reports follow the same process. Fingerprinting and records check services are available through the department.

The Oakland County Sheriff provides additional law enforcement coverage for some areas of the city. Non-emergency for the Oakland County Sheriff is (248) 652-4617. For incidents handled by the sheriff rather than Rochester Hills PD, records requests go to the Oakland County Sheriff's Office directly.

Criminal History and Offender Records

Search criminal history for Rochester Hills residents through Michigan's ICHAT at apps.michigan.gov/ICHAT. The fee is $10 per search. ICHAT covers felony convictions and serious misdemeanors from all 83 Michigan counties, including Oakland County. Federal records, juvenile history, and minor misdemeanors are not included.

The Michigan Department of Corrections OTIS system is free at mdocweb.state.mi.us. It shows current inmates, parolees, and probationers under state supervision. Records are removed three years after discharge from MDOC supervision.

The Michigan Sex Offender Registry at mspsor.com is free. Search by name, address, or ZIP code for registered offenders in Rochester Hills and Oakland County. Photos, offense history, and address data are all included in registry results.

Property Records in Rochester Hills

Property deeds for Rochester Hills are recorded at the Oakland County Register of Deeds at 1200 N. Telegraph Road, Pontiac. Search online at ocmideeds.com. This covers deeds, mortgages, liens, and other official property documents. The Rochester Hills Assessor holds property assessment data for all city parcels, including owner names, values, and legal descriptions. These records are public and available in person at City Hall or through a FOIA request.

Rochester Hills Building Department handles permit applications, inspections, and zoning compliance for the city. Permit history and code records are public. The city also maintains detailed zoning maps, floodplain data, and wetland maps that are useful for property research. Contact the Building Department through City Hall at 1000 Rochester Hills Drive.

Vital Records

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

The Rochester Hills Library holds genealogy resources, archived newspapers, and a local history collection. These can help with research into older vital records or family history connected to the Rochester Hills area. The library also has election information and other civic records useful for public records research.

Nearby Cities

These nearby Oakland County cities have their own public records pages.