Pinellas County Court Overview
Florida uses a two-tier trial court system. The Circuit Court is the court of general jurisdiction. County Court sits below it and handles a defined set of lower-level matters. Every Florida county has a County Court by operation of state law. The Pinellas County Court is not the same as the Pinellas County Board of County Commissioners or county government. It is a judicial branch institution, part of the Sixth Judicial Circuit, and entirely separate from county administration. Many people confuse "county court" with the county government or a court that governs county government. That is not correct. County Court is a state trial court with limited jurisdiction over specific case types set by Florida law.
The Sixth Judicial Circuit covers Pinellas and Pasco counties and describes itself as Florida's third-largest trial court. The full circuit has 69 judges. Of those, 45 are circuit court judges and 24 are county court judges. Pinellas County alone has 30 circuit judges and 17 county court judges operating across five court facilities in Clearwater and St. Petersburg. Cases in County Court are assigned by case type and then randomly distributed to a judge within the relevant division. County court judges hear bench trials and, for qualifying cases, jury trials.
County Court jurisdiction comes from Florida Statutes and Florida's constitutional court structure. The Sixth Judicial Circuit's court divisions page describes the subject-matter jurisdiction for each county court division in Pinellas. The Pinellas County Clerk's civil court page and traffic and parking page provide additional county court service information.
Pinellas County Court Jurisdiction and Case Types
County Court handles a defined range of case types. The monetary and criminal jurisdiction limits are set by Florida law and apply statewide, meaning Pinellas County Court follows the same limits as every other Florida county court. Understanding these limits helps you know whether a matter belongs in County Court or in the higher Circuit Court.
| Division | Case Types | Monetary Limit / Notes |
|---|---|---|
| County Civil | Civil disputes not assigned to Circuit Court; includes contract, property damage, and other money claims | Up to $50,000 (excluding costs, interest, and attorney fees); matters over this threshold go to Circuit Civil |
| Small Claims | Money claims, unpaid bills, property damage, consumer disputes, and similar low-value civil matters | $8,000 or less (excluding costs, interest, and attorney fees); designed for self-represented litigants |
| Landlord-Tenant / Eviction | Residential and commercial evictions, complaints for possession, rent claims, writs of possession | County civil matter; eviction does not require a monetary claim above any set minimum |
| County Criminal | Misdemeanors (first and second degree) without a concurrent felony; county ordinance violations; municipal ordinance violations | No concurrent felony; if the misdemeanor arises from the same facts as a felony, it goes to Circuit Criminal |
| Traffic | Civil traffic infractions (non-criminal citations), criminal traffic offenses (e.g., driving while license suspended), and traffic cases requiring a jury trial | Civil traffic is heard by contract hearing officers for most infractions; criminal traffic and jury-trial traffic cases go to a county judge |
Small claims are among the most commonly used County Court divisions. Claims of $8,000 or less are heard under simplified rules that make it easier for people to represent themselves. The Clerk's Self Help Center offers attorney consultations for a minimum of $15 for small claims matters and can help self-represented users with forms. Small claims are not the place for large civil disputes; those belong in Circuit Civil.
Landlord-tenant and eviction cases are also county court matters. A landlord seeking to remove a tenant files a complaint for eviction with the Pinellas County Clerk. The case is docketed in county civil. If the tenant answers and contests the eviction, a hearing is set before a county judge. Default judgments and writs of possession flow through county court and the Clerk's office.
Circuit Court vs. County Court in Pinellas
The most common source of confusion for Pinellas court users is not knowing whether a case belongs in Circuit Court or County Court. Both are trial courts in the Sixth Judicial Circuit. Both use the same clerk, the Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller. Records for both court types are maintained in the same Pinellas Clerk court records portal. However, the two courts have very different jurisdiction.
| Feature | Circuit Court | County Court |
|---|---|---|
| Civil Limit | Over $50,000; no upper cap | Up to $50,000 |
| Small Claims | Not handled | $8,000 or less |
| Criminal Jurisdiction | Felonies; misdemeanors concurrent with a felony | Misdemeanors without a concurrent felony; ordinance violations |
| Family Cases | Yes (divorce, custody, child support, adoption, juvenile, injunctions) | No family division; simplified dissolution of marriage is a county civil matter in limited situations |
| Probate / Guardianship | Yes (Probate and Guardianship Division) | No |
| Traffic | Not the primary traffic forum | Civil traffic infractions, criminal traffic, and traffic jury trials |
| Landlord-Tenant | Not the primary landlord-tenant forum | Yes (evictions, writs of possession, rent claims) |
| Appellate Path | Appeals generally go to the District Court of Appeal | Appeals from county court may go through circuit appellate jurisdiction or to the District Court of Appeal depending on case type |
| Case Number Example | 25-01828-CF-1 (felony); family and civil codes vary | Misdemeanor cases coded MM; small claims coded SC; county civil coded CC |
A case-number suffix tells you which court handled the matter. Felony cases end in CF. Misdemeanors end in MM. Small claims carry the SC designation. County civil cases carry CC. If you see a case number in the Clerk portal and want to know which court it came from, look at the type code. The Sixth Judicial Circuit handles both levels, and the Pinellas Clerk maintains records for both in the same public-access system.
Note: Florida does not have a separate "Justice of the Peace" court tier below County Court for most civil and criminal matters. County Court is the lower court in Florida's two-tier trial structure. Municipal enforcement goes through county court for ordinance cases, not through a separate municipal trial court system.
Pinellas County Court Criminal Cases
County Criminal is the division that handles misdemeanor cases when there is no concurrent felony charge. A first-degree misdemeanor in Florida can carry up to one year in the county jail and a fine up to $1,000. A second-degree misdemeanor can carry up to 60 days in jail and a fine up to $500. These cases are charged by the Sixth Judicial Circuit State Attorney's Office, currently led by State Attorney Bruce Bartlett, and they proceed through county court rather than the higher circuit criminal division.
Common county criminal case types include simple battery, petit theft, trespassing, criminal mischief, disorderly conduct, driving while license suspended when not habitual, and municipal or county ordinance violations. Pinellas is heavily municipalized, so ordinance charges may come from Clearwater, St. Petersburg, Largo, Pinellas Park, Tarpon Springs, or other city enforcement agencies. Those cases still flow through the county court criminal division. If the person is also charged with a felony from the same incident, the misdemeanor charge moves up to the Circuit Criminal division at the Pinellas County Justice Center, 14250 49th Street North, Clearwater.
Defendants who cannot afford an attorney may apply for appointment of a public defender. The Sixth Circuit Public Defender's Office, led by Sara Mollo, represents indigent clients in both circuit and county court criminal matters in Pinellas and Pasco counties. Eligibility is determined by the court based on a financial affidavit. Defendants who are not eligible for the public defender must hire private counsel or represent themselves.
County criminal case records are public unless sealed, expunged, or otherwise restricted by law. You can search Pinellas County Court criminal case records through the Pinellas Clerk court records portal without a login for most misdemeanor case information. Disposition, sentence, and docket entries are generally visible in the public view for completed county criminal cases.
Pinellas County Court Traffic Division
Traffic cases in Pinellas County move through the County Court traffic division. Florida divides traffic matters into two broad categories: civil traffic infractions and criminal traffic offenses. Civil infractions are not crimes. They are punishable only by a fine, and a driver does not face jail time for a standard civil citation. Criminal traffic offenses, such as driving while license suspended with knowledge, reckless driving, or leaving the scene of an accident, carry potential jail time and are treated as criminal matters in county court.
The Sixth Judicial Circuit uses contract hearing officers to handle traffic violations that are not punishable by incarceration. This is common for routine civil infractions. If a traffic case requires a jury trial, such as a criminal traffic charge that the defendant contests, it is assigned to a county court judge at the Pinellas County Justice Center. The Clerk's traffic and parking page gives payment instructions, election procedures, and contact information for traffic matters.
Most civil traffic citations must be paid or contested within 30 calendar days from the issue date. Failure to pay or elect a hearing can trigger a driver license suspension and additional penalties. DUI charges are criminal and carry felony potential in some cases, which routes them to Circuit Criminal rather than county court. For more on DUI and criminal traffic overlap, see the traffic court records page.
How a Pinellas County Court Case Moves
The flow of a county court case depends on whether it is criminal, civil, or a traffic matter. Each track has its own steps, but all county court cases are docketed and tracked by the Pinellas County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller. The clerk maintains the official case record from filing through disposition and beyond.
County criminal case flow:
Arrest or citation issued › First appearance / bond hearing › State Attorney files charging document › Arraignment (plea entered) › Pretrial motions › Trial or plea › Sentence / disposition › Probation or jail term if imposed › Appeal to circuit appellate or District Court of Appeal if applicable
County civil / small claims flow:
Plaintiff files statement of claim or complaint › Clerk issues summons › Service on defendant › Defendant's answer or default › Mediation (may be required) › Hearing or trial › Final judgment › Satisfaction or post-judgment collections (garnishment, levy)
Traffic infraction flow:
Citation issued › Defendant pays, elects hearing, or elects driver school › Hearing with contract hearing officer (most civil infractions) or county judge (criminal traffic / jury trial) › Disposition entered › Fines, points, or license consequences applied as applicable
After a county court judgment is entered, civil plaintiffs who win may need to take additional steps to collect. The Clerk records judgments, and a judgment may be used to pursue garnishment of wages or bank accounts, or to levy against property. The Clerk's civil division at Clearwater Courthouse handles judgment-related filings. Small-claims judgments follow the same collection rules as other civil judgments once entered by the court.
Pinellas County Court Judges
Pinellas County has 17 county court judges. That number comes from the Sixth Judicial Circuit's own description of the circuit's size and composition. County court judges in Florida are elected to six-year terms in nonpartisan elections. They handle the full range of county court divisions: county civil, county criminal, small claims, landlord-tenant/eviction, and traffic matters. Judge assignments within divisions are made by court administration and may rotate periodically.
County court judges are not circuit court judges and do not handle felony cases, family law, probate, or guardianship. Those matters go to the 30 circuit court judges in Pinellas. The two levels of trial court operate side by side in the Sixth Judicial Circuit but hear very different types of cases. If you have a question about which judge is assigned to a specific case, the Clerk's court records portal shows the assigned judge on each case docket.
The Sixth Judicial Circuit's overview page describes the circuit's overall size, judge counts, and court facilities. Administrative orders governing county court judge assignments are issued by the chief judge of the Sixth Circuit and updated periodically. The 2025 and 2026 administrative orders for Pinellas assign county judges to criminal, civil, traffic, small claims, and specialty sections including community violence court functions for certain injunction matters.
Clerk Services for Pinellas County Court
The Pinellas County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller, Ken Burke, CPA, serves as the official record custodian for both the Circuit Court and County Court. The office name includes "Circuit Court," but the Clerk maintains county court records as well. There is no separate county court clerk in Florida. This unified structure means you use the same portal, the same contact numbers, and the same office locations whether your case is a circuit civil lawsuit or a small claims county court matter.
For county civil and small claims records, the primary Clerk location is the Clearwater Courthouse, 315 Court Street, Clearwater, FL 33756, main phone (727) 464-7000. Civil records are in Room 170. For county criminal records, the Clerk's criminal court records services are at the Pinellas County Justice Center, 14250 49th Street North, Clearwater, FL 33762. The Clerk also maintains a Self Help Center at Clearwater Courthouse Room 114, the St. Petersburg Judicial Building Room 103, and the North County branch at 3165 McMullen Booth Road, Fessler Center, Building B, Clearwater, FL 33761.
Filing fees for county court matters are set by the Clerk's published fee schedule. Small claims filings and county civil complaints each carry specific fees. Copies of county court records cost $1.00 per page for court or official record copies, and $2.00 to certify a copy. If you need the Clerk to perform a record search by name, the fee is $7.00 for the initial search plus $2.00 for each year in which an offense or record is found.
The Clerk's civil court page covers county civil, small claims, landlord-tenant, judgments, appeals, and case-management orders. The criminal and juvenile page handles county criminal records, appearance dates, and related Sheriff inmate links. For more detail on Clerk operations and how to request records or certified copies, see the Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller page.
County Court Is Not the County Government
Florida's county courts have a name that creates confusion for many people. "County Court" sounds like a court run by the county government or a court that handles disputes with the county commission. Neither is correct. The Pinellas County Court is a state court, part of the Florida judicial branch, established under the Florida Constitution. It operates under the authority of the Sixth Judicial Circuit and the Florida Supreme Court, not under the Pinellas County Board of County Commissioners.
The Pinellas County Board of County Commissioners is part of county government and handles local ordinances, budgets, zoning, and county services. It is not a court. County court judges are elected officials of the judicial branch, not county government employees. This distinction matters when you are trying to file a case, request records, or contact the right office. A question about a county court case goes to the Clerk and the court, not to the county administrator or the Board of County Commissioners.
Similarly, "Pinellas County Court" is not the same as "Pinellas County courthouse," though court proceedings do happen in county buildings. Multiple Pinellas court facilities house both circuit and county court proceedings. The county government owns or leases the buildings, but the courts inside those buildings are state judicial institutions. If you are looking for county government records, permits, zoning decisions, or Board of County Commissioners meeting minutes, those go to Pinellas County government, not to the court clerk.
Note: Pinellas County's public records page confirms that independent constitutional offices like the Clerk, Sheriff, Property Appraiser, Tax Collector, and Supervisor of Elections are separate from county government and require direct requests to each individual office. The court and Clerk are in that category of independent constitutional offices.
Finding Pinellas County Court Records
County court case records are maintained by the Pinellas Clerk and are generally accessible through the same portal as circuit court records. The Pinellas Clerk court records portal allows free public access to many criminal, civil, and traffic case records without a login. You can search by case number or by party name. County criminal cases carry the MM code, small claims carry SC, and county civil cases carry CC in their case-number format.
For many county court records, the free public view shows the docket, parties, attorneys, hearing dates, and dispositions. Family court records and probate records require registered user access under Florida law. Juvenile records are not available online. If you need a document that is not visible online, it may be in a restricted category, awaiting redaction, or available only through a copy request.
To request a certified copy of a county court record, use the Clerk's public request center at pinellascountyfl.govqa.us or contact the Clerk at (727) 464-7000. The Clerk will quote the copy cost by email. Certified copies require the standard $1.00 per page copy fee plus the $2.00 certification fee. For more information on how to search Pinellas County court records, including county court cases, see the court records page. For court docket searches, see the court dockets page.
Florida's public records law, Chapter 119, Florida Statutes, governs access to most public records. Court records are also governed by Florida Rule of General Practice and Judicial Administration 2.420, which sets specific rules for judicial branch records, access levels, and confidential information. County court records are public to the extent not restricted by statute or court order.
Self-Help and Legal Aid for County Court Matters
County court matters, especially small claims, landlord-tenant cases, and county civil disputes, are common starting points for people who choose to represent themselves. Florida allows self-represented litigants, called pro se parties, but they must follow the same court rules and deadlines as attorneys. The Sixth Judicial Circuit's Representing Yourself in Court page provides administrative orders, case-progression checklists, and links to forms.
The Clerk's Legal Self Help Centers offer low-cost attorney consultations for family law, small claims, and landlord-tenant matters at a minimum of $15. Appointments are available at Clearwater Courthouse Room 114, St. Petersburg Judicial Building Room 103, and the North County Customer Information and Service Center. Telephonic appointments are also available. Visit the Clerk Self Help Center page to learn about scheduling.
Free civil legal aid is available through several Pinellas-area organizations for financially eligible residents. The Community Law Program in St. Petersburg provides free civil legal services including small claims, housing, family, and criminal record expunction clinics. Gulfcoast Legal Services assists with housing stability, domestic violence, immigration, elder law, and public benefits. Bay Area Legal Services provides free civil help to eligible residents across Pinellas and neighboring counties, plus seniors and veterans statewide.