Bonita Springs city public records include court files, police reports, arrest logs, booking records, mugshots, inmate records, property deeds, building permits, and city council documents. These records are kept by the Lee County Clerk of Courts, the City of Bonita Springs, the Bonita Springs Police Department, and the Lee County Sheriff’s Office.
Florida’s public records law, Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes, gives any person the right to view or copy most government files held by these agencies, with no residency requirement and no need to give a reason for the request.
Bonita Springs sits in Lee County, Florida, part of the 20th Judicial Circuit. The city was incorporated in 1999 and has a population near 71,000. Most official documents for people, properties, and cases in Bonita Springs are stored at the county level. Some records, like building permits, code enforcement actions, and city council minutes, are kept by the city itself. This page explains which agency holds each type of record, how to search online, what the fees are, and how to file a request.
Types of Bonita Springs City Public Records
Public records in Bonita Springs fall into three main groups: court records, city records, and law enforcement records. Each group comes from a different agency. Knowing which agency holds the record saves time and avoids sending your request to the wrong office.
- Court records: Civil lawsuits, criminal cases, family law cases, probate files, traffic cases, and small claims cases are filed at the Lee County Clerk of Courts.
- City records: Building permits, code enforcement complaints, city council minutes, contracts, resolutions, and zoning decisions are kept by the City of Bonita Springs.
- Law enforcement records: Arrest reports, incident reports, booking records, mugshots, inmate records, and call logs are held by the Bonita Springs Police Department and the Lee County Sheriff’s Office.
Property records (deeds, mortgages, liens, satisfactions of mortgage) are also public and are recorded at the Lee County Clerk’s office. Marriage licenses, divorce decrees, and other family court records are filed with the Clerk as well.
Lee County Clerk of Courts
The Lee County Clerk of Courts is the main source for court and property records in Bonita Springs. The Clerk’s office keeps all civil, criminal, family, and probate case files for the 20th Judicial Circuit, which covers all of Lee County. The Clerk’s online portal at leeclerk.org lets you search case numbers, party names, attorneys, and recorded documents. The portal is free to use for basic case index searches.
You can search the Clerk’s records for free online. The case index shows the names of the parties, the case number, the filing date, the case type, and the current status. To see the actual file or get a certified copy, you must pay a fee. The Clerk charges $0.15 per page for regular copies. Certified copies cost $1.00 per page plus a $2.00 certification charge per document. Payment is accepted by cash, check, money order, and credit card.
The Clerk’s office holds official records for Bonita Springs properties. These include warranty deeds, quit claim deeds, mortgages, liens, and satisfactions of mortgage. The recording date, the names of the grantor and grantee, and the legal description appear in the online index. The Clerk’s recording fees for new documents are set by Florida statute and reviewed each year.
The Clerk’s main office is in downtown Fort Myers at 2115 Second Street. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The Clerk’s recording office and a separate civil court office are at other Lee County locations. Phone the Clerk’s main line at (239) 533-5000 before visiting if you have a specific request that needs staff help.
City of Bonita Springs Records
The City of Bonita Springs keeps its own set of records separate from the county. The City Clerk’s office at Bonita Springs City Hall handles requests for city documents. You do not need to fill out a special form or give a reason. Florida law only requires you to ask clearly for the records you want, in writing or in person.
City records include:
- Building permits and inspection reports
- Code enforcement complaints and code enforcement actions
- City council meeting minutes and agendas
- Resolutions and ordinances passed by the council
- City contracts, bid documents, and request for proposal files
- Zoning maps, planning files, and land use records
- Police incident reports and arrest reports through the police department
To request city records, contact the Bonita Springs City Clerk by email, phone, mail, or in person. The city must respond in a reasonable time. If the request will take longer than a few days, the city must tell you the reason and give a new time estimate. You can ask for copies in print, email, or electronic file format. The city charges a copy fee per page, with no charge for records sent by email.
The City of Bonita Springs posts many records online through the city website. Council meeting videos, agendas, and approved minutes are available without a formal request. Building permit records and code enforcement history are typically held by the City of Bonita Springs, not Lee County.
Bonita Springs Arrest Records and Police Reports
Bonita Springs arrest records are part of the city’s public records. The Bonita Springs Police Department creates and stores arrest reports, incident reports, and booking records. These records show who was arrested, the time and place of the arrest, the charges filed, and the booking officer’s name. Traffic crash reports are also created by the police department and are part of the public record.
Florida law treats most arrest records as public. Once a person is booked into jail, the arrest becomes a public record. Records that are part of an active investigation may be exempt for a short time. Sealed or expunged records are not available to the public under any circumstance. Records of juveniles arrested in Bonita Springs are confidential and not released to the public.
To get a Bonita Springs arrest report, contact the Bonita Springs Police Department Records Division. You can ask in person, by phone, by email, or through the police department’s online portal. You will need the case number, the date of the arrest, or the full name of the person arrested. The department charges a fee per page for copies, in line with state law.
The Lee County Sheriff’s Office also keeps arrest records for arrests that happen in unincorporated parts of Lee County. Many Bonita Springs arrests are made by the Lee County Sheriff’s Office because the sheriff’s deputies handle calls in some areas of the city under a service contract. Arrest logs and booking records are posted on the Lee County Sheriff’s Office website, and the daily arrest log is updated each business day.
Lee County Jail Booking and Inmate Records
People arrested in Bonita Springs are booked into the Lee County Jail. The jail is run by the Lee County Sheriff’s Office. Booking records show the inmate’s name, booking date, charges, bond amount, court date, and inmate number. Mugshots are taken at booking and become part of the public record under Florida law.
The Lee County Sheriff’s Office runs an online inmate lookup tool on its website. You can search by name or booking date. The tool shows current inmates and recent releases from the past several days. Booking photos (mugshots) appear in the search results. The tool updates several times each day to reflect new bookings and releases.
To visit an inmate at the Lee County Jail, you must be on the inmate’s approved visitor list. Visitation hours are posted on the Sheriff’s website and vary by day and inmate classification. The jail address is 2115 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, Fort Myers, FL 33901. The jail phone number is (239) 477-1700.
Federal inmates and state prison inmates are not housed at the Lee County Jail. They are held in federal or state facilities. To search for state prison inmates in Florida, use the Florida Department of Corrections online inmate search. To search for federal inmates, use the Federal Bureau of Prisons inmate locator.
Florida Public Records Law (Chapter 119)
Florida’s public records law is called Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes. The law says any person has the right to inspect or copy public records made or received by a government agency. The law applies to state, county, and city agencies, including the City of Bonita Springs, the Lee County Clerk, the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, and the Bonita Springs Police Department.
The law does not require you to be a Florida resident. You do not need to give a reason for your request. The agency must respond in a reasonable time. If the agency denies your request, it must tell you the legal reason for the denial in writing. The agency must also cite the specific Florida statute that allows the exemption.
Some records are exempt from public view. Common exemptions include:
- Active criminal investigation files
- Juvenile criminal records
- Sealed or expunged records
- Medical records and Social Security numbers
- Personal data of law enforcement officers, judges, and crime victims
- Home addresses of current and former law enforcement officers
If a Bonita Springs agency denies your request, you can appeal to the Florida Attorney General. The Attorney General runs a free mediation program for public records disputes at (850) 245-0140. You can also file a lawsuit in Lee County circuit court to force the agency to release the records. If the court rules in your favor, the agency may have to pay your attorney fees.
How to Search Bonita Springs City Public Records Online
Most Bonita Springs public records are searchable online through agency websites. The main portals are listed below, with a short note on what each portal covers and what it costs to use.
Lee County Clerk Online Search
The Lee County Clerk’s online portal at leeclerk.org lets you search court cases and recorded documents. You can search by name, case number, party type, or document type. The basic search is free. Document images and certified copies cost extra, in line with the fee schedule posted on the site.
Lee County Sheriff Inmate Search
The Lee County Sheriff’s Office website has an inmate lookup tool at sheriffleefl.org. You can search current inmates by name and see booking photos, charges, bond amounts, and court dates. The tool updates several times each day. The search is free.
Bonita Springs Police Department Records
The Bonita Springs Police Department has its own records request process. Some traffic crash reports and offense reports can be requested online through the police department’s portal. Other reports require a formal public records request submitted to the records clerk.
Statewide Court Records
The Florida Courts E-Filing Portal at myflcourtaccess.com gives access to court records across all 67 Florida counties. You can search by party name, case number, or court type. The portal covers civil, criminal, traffic, and family cases. Basic searches are free.
Florida Department of Law Enforcement
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) runs the Criminal History Record search. This search gives a person’s Florida arrest record going back many years. The search costs a small fee per name. Results are returned as a printable PDF report.
Florida Statewide Official Records
The statewide official records portal at myfloridacounty.com lets you search recorded documents across multiple counties, including Lee County. The portal is useful when tracking a person or property that may have had documents recorded in more than one county. The Florida Clerks of Court directory at flclerks.com links to every county clerk in Florida.
Free Bonita Springs Public Records
Many Bonita Springs public records are free to view. The Lee County Clerk’s online case index is free. The Lee County Sheriff’s inmate search is free. The Florida court records portal is free for basic searches. City council meeting minutes and agendas posted on the city website are free to view and download.
Records that cost money include printed copies, certified copies, and searches of certain criminal history databases. The Clerk charges $0.15 per page for standard copies. Certified copies cost $1.00 per page plus a $2.00 certification fee. The FDLE criminal history search costs $24.00 per search as of 2026. Always check the agency’s current fee schedule before requesting copies, since fees may change each year.
Fees and Copy Costs for Bonita Springs Public Records
| Record Type | Fee |
|---|---|
| Lee County Clerk case index search | Free |
| Lee County Clerk regular copy | $0.15 per page |
| Lee County Clerk certified copy | $1.00 per page plus $2.00 certification |
| FDLE criminal history search | $24.00 per name |
| Bonita Springs Police incident report | $0.15 per page |
| Lee County Sheriff mugshot (online) | Free |
| Bonita Springs city records (email) | Free |
| Bonita Springs city records (paper) | $0.15 per page |
Fees may change at any time based on state law and agency policy. Always confirm the current fee with the agency before paying.
Bonita Springs Public Records Contact Details
Below are the main agencies that hold Bonita Springs city public records. Each agency has its own request process, hours, and fees. Use the contact that matches the type of record you need.
Lee County Clerk of Courts
Address: 2115 Second Street, Fort Myers, FL 33901
Phone: (239) 533-5000
Website: leeclerk.org
Hours: Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
City of Bonita Springs – City Clerk
Address: 9101 Bonita Beach Road, Bonita Springs, FL 34135
Phone: (239) 949-6262
Website: cityofbonitasprings.org
Hours: Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Bonita Springs Police Department
Address: 9101 Bonita Beach Road, Bonita Springs, FL 34135
Phone: (239) 949-3110
Website: bonitaspringspd.org
Records Desk Hours: Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Lee County Sheriff’s Office
Address: 14750 Six Mile Cypress Parkway, Fort Myers, FL 33912
Phone: (239) 477-1000
Website: sheriffleefl.org
Main Office Hours: 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
Lee County Jail
Address: 2115 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, Fort Myers, FL 33901
Phone: (239) 477-1700
Website: sheriffleefl.org (inmate search)
Visitation Hours: Posted on the Sheriff’s website; varies by day and inmate classification
Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE)
Address: 2331 Phillips Road, Tallahassee, FL 32308
Phone: (850) 410-7000
Website: fdle.state.fl.us
Hours: Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Florida Attorney General – Open Government Mediation
Phone: (850) 245-0140
Website: myfloridalegal.com/open-government
Hours: Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Frequently Asked Questions About Bonita Springs City Public Records
People often have questions about how to get public records in Bonita Springs. The answers below cover the most common questions about court records, arrest records, inmate records, mugshots, and the request process. Each answer explains which agency holds the record, the fees involved, and the steps to make a formal request under Florida’s public records law.
How do I find recent arrests in Bonita Springs?
To find recent arrests in Bonita Springs, start with the Lee County Sheriff’s Office online inmate search tool at sheriffleefl.org. This free tool shows people booked into the Lee County Jail in the past few days. You can search by full name. The results show the booking date, booking photo, charges, bond amount, and next court date. The tool updates several times each day, so it is current. For the full arrest report, contact the Bonita Springs Police Department Records Division. The police department creates the arrest report at the time of the arrest. You will need the case number, the arrest date, or the full name of the person arrested. The records staff will pull the report and tell you the copy fee. Some arrests in Bonita Springs are made by the Lee County Sheriff’s Office under a service contract. For those arrests, contact the Sheriff’s records office. Many local news outlets also publish daily arrest logs from the Lee County Jail, which you can find through a web search for the date you need.
Are Bonita Springs mugshots public record?
Yes, mugshots taken at the Lee County Jail during the booking process are public record. Florida law treats booking photos as part of the public arrest record. The Lee County Sheriff’s Office posts these photos on its inmate search website for anyone to view at no cost. The photo includes the front view and side view taken at intake. The photo stays online for many years, even after the person has been released from jail. If a court orders the arrest record sealed or expunged, the booking photo is removed from public view. To get a copy of a mugshot for a separate use, you can download it from the Sheriff’s website or request a printed copy from the Sheriff’s records office. The printed copy carries a small fee per page. Police department arrest photos taken in the field before transport to the jail are also public record and can be requested from the Bonita Springs Police Department.
How do I do a Bonita Springs arrest search by name?
To do a Bonita Springs arrest search by name, go to the Lee County Sheriff’s Office inmate lookup page on the sheriffleefl.org website. Type the full legal name of the person into the search box. The tool returns all matching inmates who are currently in custody or were recently released. Each result shows the full name, booking date, charges, bond, and a booking photo. For older arrests that are no longer in the inmate search, run a statewide criminal history search through the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) at fdle.state.fl.us. The FDLE search covers all Florida arrests going back many years. You will need the person’s full name, date of birth, and a small fee. The FDLE returns a printable report showing every arrest in the state, the charges, and the case outcome. For a specific arrest in Bonita Springs, you can also request the case file from the Lee County Clerk of Courts, which shows the charges, pleas, and sentence for each arrest that led to a court case.
Can I get Bonita Springs arrest records for free?
Yes, you can get many Bonita Springs arrest records for free. The Lee County Sheriff’s online inmate search is free. The booking photos, charges, and bond amounts are free to view. The Lee County Clerk’s online case index is free, and you can see the parties, case number, and current status of any court case at no cost. Many arrest logs and daily booking reports are posted on police and sheriff websites for free. The basic criminal history search at the FDLE costs a fee, but you can view your own record at no cost through a separate FDLE process. The Florida court records portal at myflcourtaccess.com is free for basic searches. Fees apply when you want printed copies, certified copies, or full statewide criminal history reports. The Clerk charges $0.15 per page for copies. Certified copies cost $1.00 per page plus a $2.00 certification fee per document.
What is the difference between an arrest record and a booking record?
An arrest record and a booking record cover two different parts of the criminal process. The arrest record is created by the police officer at the scene. It lists the date, time, and place of the arrest, the officer’s name, the reason for the arrest, and the criminal charges filed. The arrest record also lists any evidence collected, witness names, and the suspect’s statement. The booking record is created at the jail after the suspect arrives. It lists the booking time, the inmate’s full legal name, date of birth, height, weight, fingerprints, and booking photo. The booking record shows the charges, bond amount, and the next court date. The arrest record is held by the police department. The booking record is held by the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, which runs the jail. Both records are public under Florida law, but the booking record is easier to access online through the Sheriff’s inmate search tool.
How do I request Bonita Springs police reports?
To request a Bonita Springs police report, contact the Bonita Springs Police Department Records Division. The records office is at 9101 Bonita Beach Road, Bonita Springs, FL 34135. You can call (239) 949-3110, send an email, or go in person during business hours, Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Give the records clerk the case number, the date of the incident, and the location. The clerk will pull the report and tell you the copy fee. Most reports are ready in three to five business days. Reports in active investigations may take longer. You pay $0.15 per page for printed copies. Some traffic crash reports can be purchased online through the police department’s website. For arrest reports, the records clerk will confirm the case is closed before releasing the report. Sealed reports and reports in juvenile cases are not released to the public.
How do I seal or expunge a Bonita Springs arrest record?
To seal or expunge a Bonita Springs arrest record, you must file a petition with the Lee County Clerk of Courts. The first step is to apply for a Certificate of Eligibility from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE). The FDLE reviews your Florida criminal record and confirms you qualify under Florida Statutes. You qualify if the case was dropped, dismissed, or you were found not guilty. You also qualify if you completed a court-ordered diversion program and the case was dismissed. You cannot have more than one sealing or expungement on your record, with some narrow exceptions. Once you have the Certificate of Eligibility, a Lee County attorney files the petition in the 20th Judicial Circuit Court. A judge reviews the petition at a hearing. If approved, the Clerk seals the record, and the FDLE removes it from public databases. Sealed records are still available to law enforcement agencies. Expunged records are destroyed by the agencies that held them.