Southfield Public Records

Southfield public records are maintained by the City of Southfield, Oakland County, and Michigan state agencies. Court cases, property records, police reports, and vital records are accessible through city offices and online portals. This page explains where to find and how to request public records in Southfield, Michigan.

Oakland County and Southfield Public Records

Southfield is part of Oakland County, so property deed records, circuit court filings, and vital records run through county offices in Pontiac. The Oakland County Clerk and Register of Deeds handles most county-level records. For a full list of Oakland County resources and search tools, visit the Oakland County public records page.

Oakland County provides several online search tools. Property documents are searchable at ocmideeds.com. Court cases can be searched at courtexplorer.oakgov.com. Marriage records are available online through the county's records portal. The Register of Deeds is at 1200 N. Telegraph Road, Pontiac, MI 48341, phone (248) 858-0581.

Southfield City Clerk and FOIA Requests

The Southfield City Clerk's Office is the central point for local public records. The office is at 26000 Evergreen Road, Southfield, MI 48037. Phone: (248) 796-5150. Fax: (248) 796-5155. Email: ngallowayjames@cityofsouthfield.com. Hours vary but generally follow city hall business hours. The clerk provides vital records, marriage licenses, business licenses, voter registration, notary services, and FOIA coordination for all city departments.

Under MCL 15.231, Southfield must respond to FOIA requests within 5 business days. An extension of up to 10 business days is allowed with written notice. Email or fax requests are counted as received the following business day. Include "FOIA Request" in the subject line when emailing. Requests submitted by fax should have "FOIA" on the cover page. For police-specific records, fax the request to the police records fax at (248) 796-5305.

Southfield's FOIA fee structure is detailed. Paper copies are $0.10 per page. Labor is charged in 15-minute increments at the lowest-paid capable employee's rate, plus up to 50% for fringe benefits. Contracted labor is capped at $48.90 per hour, which equals six times the state minimum wage. If the estimated total exceeds $50, the city can require a 50% deposit before processing. If you failed to pay a prior FOIA request fee, the city can require 100% payment upfront on new requests.

Indigent requesters can have the first $20 of fees waived. You need to submit a notarized affidavit. Nonprofit organizations serving people with disabilities or mental illness may also qualify for a discount. Appeals for denied requests or disputed fees go to the City Administrator in writing within 10 business days. You can also file a civil action in Oakland County Circuit Court within 180 days of the denial.

The Southfield City Clerk maintains records for over 31 city departments and commissions. These include the Arts Commission, Planning Commission, Zoning Board of Appeals, Civil Service Commission, and Historic District Commission. All meeting minutes and agendas are public records. The city website at cityofsouthfield.com posts current meeting schedules and some archived records.

The screenshot below shows the Michigan MDOC offender tracking system, one of several state tools useful for Southfield public records research.

Business licenses in Southfield require a background check and police investigation. This is a stricter process than in many Michigan cities. Records from business license applications may be available through FOIA if you are researching a specific business.

Court Records in Southfield

The 46th District Court is located on the Southfield Municipal Campus. It handles misdemeanor criminal cases, civil disputes up to $25,000, small claims, traffic violations, and landlord-tenant matters. This court is part of the Oakland County court system. Felony cases from Southfield move to the 6th Circuit Court in Pontiac after preliminary examination.

Search Southfield court cases online at micourt.courts.michigan.gov. Select the Oakland County 46th District Court or the 6th Circuit Court from the dropdown. Search by name or case number. Case details include docket entries, hearing dates, and case status. The Oakland County Court Explorer at courtexplorer.oakgov.com also covers Southfield courts.

For certified copies of court documents, contact the 46th District Court clerk or the 6th Circuit Court clerk in Pontiac. Fees vary by document type and number of pages.

Southfield Police Records

Southfield Police Department is at 26000 Evergreen Road on the city's municipal campus. Non-emergency: (248) 796-5500. Records Bureau: (248) 796-5580. Records Fax: (248) 796-5585. Police reports require a written FOIA request. Submit to the city clerk or fax directly to the records bureau. The Records Clerk III handles police records inquiries.

The department has several specialized units with their own contacts: Alarm Permits at (248) 796-5546, Crime Prevention at (248) 796-5400, Investigations at (248) 796-5540, and Youth Bureau at (248) 796-5540. Background checks for business licenses are conducted by the police department and are part of the city's business licensing process. Accident reports are available through the Records Bureau or through a FOIA request to the city clerk.

Criminal History Records

Michigan's ICHAT system at apps.michigan.gov/ICHAT covers criminal records for Southfield and all of Oakland County. The fee is $10 per search. ICHAT includes felony convictions and serious misdemeanors from all Michigan counties. Federal records and minor misdemeanors are not in the system.

The Michigan Department of Corrections OTIS database is free at mdocweb.state.mi.us. It covers current and recently discharged offenders under MDOC supervision. Search by name or MDOC number.

Check the Michigan Sex Offender Registry at mspsor.com. This free tool lets you search by name, address, or ZIP code for registered offenders in Southfield and Oakland County. Photos, offense details, and current address information are included.

Property Records in Southfield

Deed records for Southfield addresses are recorded with the Oakland County Register of Deeds. Search online at ocmideeds.com. The register covers deeds, mortgages, liens, and other property documents. The Southfield Treasurer's Office at (248) 796-5200 handles property tax collection and assessment data. Oakland County Equalization provides countywide property assessment data and tax rolls.

Building permits and zoning records for Southfield are managed by the city Planning Department at (248) 796-4150 and the Building Department. Code violations and certificates of occupancy are public records available through FOIA. Sign enforcement has its own contact at (248) 796-4117.

Vital Records for Southfield Residents

Birth and death certificates for Southfield events are available through MDHHS at michigan.gov/mdhhs. The first certified copy is $34. Additional copies of the same record are $16 each. The Southfield City Clerk also issues birth and death records for events in the city. Marriage licenses are issued by the Oakland County Clerk in Pontiac.

The Southfield Public Library holds genealogy resources and local history materials. Library staff can help with research into older vital records and local newspapers, which can be useful when searching for historical records tied to Southfield.

Nearby Cities

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