St. Clair County Public Records

What Are Public Records in St. Clair County?

Public records in St. Clair County are documents, data, and other recorded information created or received by government agencies in the course of their official duties and made available to members of the public under applicable law. In Michigan, public records are defined under the Michigan Freedom of Information Act, MCL § 15.232, as any writing prepared, owned, used, in the possession of, or retained by a public body in the performance of an official function. The following categories of records are currently maintained and accessible through various St. Clair County offices:

Court records — Civil, criminal, probate, and family court case files are maintained by the St. Clair County Circuit Court and accessible through the MiCOURT Case Search portal. Members of the public may search case information online; however, the online record does not replace the official file held by the court.
Property records — Deeds, mortgages, liens, and land transfers are recorded with the St. Clair County Register of Deeds. The Michigan Department of Treasury maintains a statewide Register of Deeds directory by county, including the St. Clair County office located at 200 Grand River Avenue, Suite 103, Port Huron, MI.
Vital records — Birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates are issued through the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. Statewide vital records requests may be submitted by mail or drop box at 333 S. Grand Ave., Lansing, MI 48933.
Assessment and tax records — Property assessment records for the City of St. Clair are maintained by the City Assessor's Office and are available for public review during regular business hours.
Business records — Licenses, permits, and assumed name filings are processed through the relevant municipal or county clerk's office.
Voting and election records — Voter registration data and election results are maintained by the St. Clair County Clerk–Register of Deeds.
Meeting minutes and agendas — County commission meeting minutes, board agendas, and related documents are maintained by the City Clerk's office and township clerks, including the Casco Township Clerk.
Budget and financial documents — Annual budgets, audit reports, and expenditure records are public documents maintained by the county and municipal finance offices.
Law enforcement records — Arrest logs and incident reports, where permitted by law, may be requested from the St. Clair Police Department through a formal FOIA request.
Land use and zoning records — Zoning maps, variance applications, and planning commission records are maintained by the relevant municipal planning departments.

Is St. Clair County an Open Records County?

St. Clair County fully complies with Michigan's statewide open records framework. Under MCL § 15.231, the Michigan Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) declares it the public policy of the state that all persons are entitled to full and complete information regarding the affairs of government and the official acts of those who represent them as public officials and employees. This statute applies to all public bodies within St. Clair County, including county departments, municipal governments, school districts, and law enforcement agencies.

Key provisions of Michigan FOIA currently in effect include the requirement that a public body respond to a written request within five business days of receipt, with a possible extension of up to ten additional business days under specified circumstances. Public bodies must either grant the request, deny it in writing with specific statutory grounds cited, or grant it in part and deny it in part. The City of St. Clair and its departments, including the police department, operate under these same obligations. Michigan's Open Meetings Act further requires that deliberations and decisions of public bodies be conducted at open meetings, ensuring transparency in local governance across St. Clair County.

How to Find Public Records in St. Clair County in 2026

Members of the public may obtain St. Clair County public records through several channels, depending on the record type sought. The following steps outline the current process:

Identify the custodial office. Determine which agency holds the record. Court records are held by the Circuit Court; property records by the Register of Deeds; vital records by the state MDHHS; and municipal records by the relevant city or township clerk.
Search online portals first. Many records are accessible without a formal request. Court case information is searchable through MiCOURT Case Search. Property assessment data is available through the City of St. Clair Assessor's Office. Electronic court filing and case access is also available through MiFILE.
Submit a written FOIA request. For records not available online, members of the public must submit a written request to the appropriate public body. The St. Clair Police Department provides a downloadable FOIA Public Records Request Form that may be submitted in person, by mail, or by fax.
Visit the office in person. Many offices permit walk-in inspection of records during regular business hours. The City Clerk's office, the Register of Deeds, and the Assessor's office all maintain public counters for in-person access.
Allow for statutory response time. Under Michigan FOIA, the public body has five business days to respond, with a possible extension. Requestors should plan accordingly.
Appeal a denial if necessary. If a request is denied, the requestor may appeal to the head of the public body or seek judicial review in the circuit court.

How Much Does It Cost to Get Public Records in St. Clair County?

St. Clair County public bodies assess fees for public records in accordance with Michigan FOIA, specifically MCL § 15.234, which governs the fees a public body may charge. Current standard fees include:

Paper copies: A public body may charge the actual cost of duplication, which typically does not exceed $0.10 per page for standard black-and-white copies at many Michigan agencies, though individual offices may set their own rates within statutory limits.
Labor costs: Fees for the labor involved in searching, locating, examining, reviewing, and separating exempt from non-exempt material may be charged at the hourly wage of the lowest-paid employee capable of performing the task.
Mailing and delivery costs: Actual postage and packaging costs may be assessed.
Certification fees: Certified copies of vital records and court documents carry separate fees set by statute or court rule.
Fee waivers: Under MCL § 15.234, a public body shall reduce or waive fees if the requester is indigent and files an affidavit to that effect, or if the public interest in disclosure is demonstrated to outweigh the public body's interest in charging the fee.

Accepted payment methods vary by office but generally include cash, check, and money order. Members of the public are advised to confirm accepted payment methods with the specific office prior to submitting a request.

Does St. Clair County Have Free Public Records?

Free inspection of public records is available at multiple St. Clair County government offices. Michigan FOIA does not permit a public body to charge for the mere inspection of a public record; fees apply only when copies are requested. The following government resources currently provide free access to public records:

The MiCOURT Case Search portal provides free online access to court case information for St. Clair County courts.
The City of St. Clair Assessor's Office makes property assessment records available for free public review during office hours.
The City Clerk's Office permits free in-person inspection of official city records, including meeting minutes and ordinances.
The Casco Township Clerk maintains township records available for public inspection at no charge.
The St. Clair County page maintained by Michigan MDHHS provides free access to county board member information and related public data.
St. Clair Township makes township records and notices available to the public through its official website.

Who Can Request Public Records in St. Clair County?

Any person may request public records from St. Clair County public bodies under Michigan FOIA. The statute does not restrict access based on residency, citizenship, or stated purpose. Specifically, under current law:

Residency is not required. Non-residents of St. Clair County and non-residents of Michigan retain the same right to request public records as county residents.
Identification is generally not required. A public body may not require a requestor to identify themselves or state the purpose of the request as a condition of access, except in limited circumstances involving specific record types.
Purpose need not be stated. Members of the public are not obligated to explain why they are seeking a record.
Restrictions apply to certain record types. Some records, such as adoption files, juvenile records, and sealed court documents, are restricted regardless of who is requesting them.
Requesting one's own records. Individuals seeking their own records, such as personal criminal history or vital records, may be required to provide proof of identity and, in some cases, a notarized authorization.
Records involving third parties. Requests for records containing personal information about other individuals may result in partial disclosure, with exempt personal data redacted prior to release.

What Records Are Confidential in St. Clair County?

Not all government records in St. Clair County are subject to public disclosure. Michigan FOIA, under MCL § 15.243, enumerates specific categories of records that are exempt from disclosure. The following records are currently treated as confidential or restricted:

Sealed court records — Records sealed by court order are not accessible to the general public.
Juvenile records — Records pertaining to juvenile proceedings are confidential under Michigan law.
Ongoing investigation records — Law enforcement records compiled in connection with an active criminal investigation are exempt to the extent that disclosure would interfere with the investigation or endanger individuals.
Personal identifying information — Social Security numbers, financial account data, and similar identifiers are protected from disclosure.
Medical records — Health information is protected under both Michigan law and the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).
Adoption records — Adoption files are sealed and accessible only under specific statutory conditions.
Child welfare and protective services records — Records maintained by child protective services are confidential under state and federal law.
Personnel records — Employee personnel files are exempt from disclosure, with limited exceptions for certain public officials.
Trade secrets and proprietary business information — Commercially sensitive information submitted to a public body in confidence is exempt.
Security plans and infrastructure details — Records that, if disclosed, would endanger public safety or critical infrastructure are withheld.

Where a record contains both exempt and non-exempt information, the public body is required to separate and disclose the non-exempt portions while redacting the exempt material.

St. Clair County Recorder's Office: Contact Information and Hours

The St. Clair County Register of Deeds serves as the official custodian of land records, including deeds, mortgages, liens, and other instruments affecting real property within the county. The office is listed in the Michigan Department of Treasury's statewide Register of Deeds directory.

St. Clair County Register of Deeds 200 Grand River Avenue, Suite 103, Port Huron, MI 48060 (810) 985-2000 St. Clair County Register of Deeds

Public counter hours are generally Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., excluding state and federal holidays. Members of the public may inspect land records in person or submit requests by mail.

City of St. Clair City Clerk 547 N. Carney Drive, St. Clair, MI 48079 (810) 329-7121 City Clerk – City of St. Clair

St. Clair City Police Department 547 N. Carney Drive, St. Clair, MI 48079 (810) 329-7477 St. Clair Police Department

St. Clair County Circuit Court 201 McMorran Blvd., Port Huron, MI 48060 (810) 985-2200 St. Clair County Circuit Court – MiFILE

City of St. Clair Assessor's Office 547 N. Carney Drive, St. Clair, MI 48079 (810) 329-7121 City of St. Clair Assessor

Casco Township Clerk 5965 Wales Road, Casco Township, MI 48064 (586) 716-8833 Casco Township Clerk

St. Clair Township 1539 S. Bartlett Road, St. Clair, MI 48079 (810) 329-9042 St. Clair Township