Baltimore City Public Records
Baltimore public records come from several distinct agencies since Baltimore City is an independent city, not part of any county. You can search court cases, police reports, property data, and more through the city's courts, the Baltimore Police Department, and state-level portals. This guide walks through each major record type and how to find or request what you need, whether you're searching online or going in person.
Baltimore Public Records Overview
Baltimore City Circuit Court Public Records
Baltimore City Circuit Court is located at the Clarence M. Mitchell, Jr. Courthouse at 110 N. Calvert Street, Baltimore, MD 21202. The clerk of the circuit court is Xavier Conaway. The main line is (410) 333-3733. For civil matters call (410) 333-3728, and for criminal matters call (410) 333-3768.
The circuit court handles major civil and criminal cases, as well as appeals from the District Court. Court records here include case filings, judgments, orders, and hearing transcripts. Many of these are accessible online through the Maryland Judiciary Case Search tool. Some records, however, must be viewed in person at the courthouse - particularly older files or sealed documents.
Baltimore City also has a District Court located at the Edward F. Boras, Jr. Courthouse, 5800 Wabash Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21215, phone (410) 878-8000. District Court handles smaller civil claims, misdemeanor criminal cases, and traffic violations. Records from both courts appear in the statewide case search system.
The city launched Maryland Electronic Courts (MDEC) in May 2024. This system handles electronic filing and case management for new filings in Baltimore City. It makes searching and accessing newer case documents easier for attorneys and the public alike.
The Maryland Judiciary Case Search portal is the main online tool for finding Baltimore court records. It is free to use and covers both circuit and district courts. You can look up cases by name, case number, or filing date. The screenshot below shows the search interface used to find Baltimore public records through the courts.
The statewide Case Search portal shows case numbers, party names, filing dates, court dates, and dispositions for Baltimore City cases filed in both circuit and district courts.
Note: Some criminal case records are no longer shown online - charges ending in dismissal, nolle prosequi, or acquittal must be reviewed in person at the courthouse for Baltimore City.
Baltimore Police Department Records
The Baltimore Police Department (BPD) headquarters is at 242 W. 29th Street, Baltimore, MD 21211. Most record requests go through the Community Correspondence Unit (CCU). For general records, email ccu@baltimorepolice.org or mail requests to that address, attention CCU. The non-emergency line is (410) 396-2037.
Accident reports for incidents from January 1, 2011 onward are available through the LexisNexis online portal. The fee is $10 per report, payable to the Director of Finance. For accidents before 2011, contact the CCU by email or mail. Maryland law restricts access to accident reports within the first 60 days of the incident - you must show valid ID and a signed statement that you will not use the report for commercial solicitation purposes.
The LexisNexis police reports portal lets you search for Baltimore accident reports by report number, full name and date, or location. Baltimore is one of the few Maryland jurisdictions that uses this specific system for accident report retrieval.
The LexisNexis portal displays the search fields you can use to look up Baltimore City accident reports filed on or after January 1, 2011.
For incident reports (non-accident), use the online form at baltimorepolice.org/obtain-police-report or email ccu@baltimorepolice.org. The BPD aims to respond within 30 days. You won't know the fee in advance - they will contact you before fulfilling the request if costs apply.
The BPD online page serves as a central hub for all types of police record requests, including incident reports, body camera footage, 911 audio, and traffic camera footage.
BPD uses several specific forms for different record types. Form 379 is for incident scene photos, Form 381 is for CCTV or traffic camera footage, Form 382 covers evidence chain of custody, Form 383 is for closed investigation case files, and Form 384 is for CAD (Computer Aided Dispatch) records. Body worn camera footage requests go to the Document Compliance Unit (DCU) at dcu@baltimorepolice.org.
Note: BPD does not charge a standard prepayment fee - do not send money with your request, as they will contact you first if fees apply based on the scope of your request.
How to Request Baltimore Public Records (MPIA)
Maryland's Public Information Act (MPIA) gives you the right to request public records from any Baltimore City government agency. For Baltimore Police records, the MPIA contact is Wayne Brooks at (410) 396-2495. The DCU handles document compliance at dcu@baltimorepolice.org.
When you write an MPIA request, say clearly that you are making a request under the Maryland Public Information Act. Include your name and mailing address, a daytime phone number, a specific description of the records you want, and the date range or case number if you know it. Be as specific as you can - vague requests take longer and may result in broader fee estimates.
For requests directed to Baltimore City agencies other than the police department, contact the relevant department directly. The City Law Department at (410) 396-3297 can help guide requests that are unclear about jurisdiction. The standard MPIA response time is 30 days. If the agency needs more time, it must notify you in writing within 10 working days and give an estimate of when records will be ready.
The Baltimore Police MPIA page outlines all the specific forms needed for different types of police records requests, and explains what records are public versus restricted under state law.
The BPD transparency page shows all available request forms and explains which records are public, restricted, or exempt from disclosure under Maryland law.
Baltimore City Property Records
Property records in Baltimore City are searchable through the Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation (SDAT). Baltimore City uses county code 03 in the system. Properties are identified by ward, section, block, and lot - a format unique to Baltimore City.
The SDAT database shows current owner names and addresses, deed references, assessment values, sales history, and property characteristics. It's free to search. The SDAT Real Property Search is the standard starting point for any Baltimore property lookup.
The SDAT property search interface lets you select Baltimore City by name or county code, then search by street address, account identifier, map reference, or street name alone.
For deeds, mortgages, and liens, use Maryland Land Records at mdlandrec.net. Free registration is required, but after signing up you can view document images directly. Baltimore City property tax questions go to the Bureau of Revenue Collections at (410) 396-3961, located at 200 North Holliday Street, Room 7, Baltimore, MD 21202. The Finance Department website is at finance.baltimorecity.gov.
Open Data and Transparency in Baltimore
Baltimore City runs the Open Baltimore data portal at data.baltimorecity.gov. This free resource has dozens of public datasets that anyone can search and download. It covers real property information, property tax data, code violations, building permits, and vacant buildings, among many other categories.
This is one of the more comprehensive open data portals in Maryland. If you need bulk data on Baltimore City properties, crime stats, or city services, this is a good first stop. The portal is updated regularly and does not require an account to use.
The Open Baltimore portal is a direct source for datasets that would otherwise require separate MPIA requests to individual city departments.
Open Baltimore displays a catalog of available city datasets, with search and filter options to find the specific type of public record data you need.
The main Baltimore City government portal at baltimorecity.gov links to individual department pages, forms, and service requests. It is the best starting point when you are not sure which agency holds the records you need.
The main Baltimore City website connects to departments including Finance, Law, Housing, Planning, and the Mayor's Office, each of which may hold distinct categories of public records.
Vital Records in Baltimore City
Birth and death certificates for Baltimore City are handled by the Maryland Department of Health, Division of Vital Records, at 6764-B Reisterstown Road, Baltimore, MD 21215. The phone number is (410) 764-3038 and hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
Marriage licenses are issued by the Baltimore City Circuit Court. The Marriage License Department is at 110 N. Calvert Street, Room 114. Phone: (410) 333-3760. Both parties must appear in person with valid photo ID. The fee is $85 (cash or money order). There is a 48-hour waiting period before the license is valid. Marriage records that have been recorded become public records accessible through the Circuit Court Clerk's Office and through the statewide land records system for recorded documents.
Divorce records for Baltimore City are filed and maintained at the Baltimore City Circuit Court. You can search case information online through the Maryland Judiciary Case Search, but obtaining certified copies of divorce decrees requires contacting the clerk's office directly at (410) 333-3733.
Note: The state vital records office in Baltimore handles all Maryland birth and death records statewide, not just records for Baltimore City residents - so you can request records from anywhere in the state at that location.
Court Case Search for Baltimore Records
The Maryland Judiciary Case Search at casesearch.courts.state.md.us is free and requires no login. You can find cases from Baltimore City Circuit Court and Baltimore City District Court in the same system. Searches work by party name, case number, attorney, or business name.
Results show case type, filing date, scheduled hearing dates, dispositions, and judgments. For civil cases you can see dollar amounts of judgments. For criminal cases you can see charges and outcomes, though some dismissed or acquitted cases no longer appear online and must be viewed in person at the courthouse.
Baltimore City joined Maryland Electronic Courts (MDEC) in May 2024 for new case filings. Older case records are still in the legacy system. If a case you are searching for was filed before May 2024 and is not showing complete detail online, call the clerk's office at (410) 333-3733 for help locating the physical file.
- Case Search (free): casesearch.courts.state.md.us
- Circuit Court main: (410) 333-3733
- Civil division: (410) 333-3728
- Criminal division: (410) 333-3768
- District Court: (410) 878-8000
Note: Baltimore City is an independent city and does not belong to any county, so all city court records are maintained by Baltimore City courts rather than a county court system.
Baltimore City and Neighboring County Records
Because Baltimore City is independent, some searches that work for other Maryland cities - like looking up county records - do not apply here. City records stay within city systems. That said, residents near the city boundaries may have transactions or cases tied to Baltimore County, which is a separate jurisdiction that surrounds the city on three sides.
If you are unsure whether a property or case is in Baltimore City or Baltimore County, check the address against both the SDAT Baltimore City database (county code 03) and the SDAT Baltimore County database (county code 03 vs. 05). The same street name often appears in both jurisdictions.
Nearby Maryland Cities
Baltimore sits at the center of Maryland's most populated region. These nearby cities also have public records pages with local contact information.