What are Huntington Beach Public Records?
In complying with the requirements of the CPRA, Huntington Beach public records contain any information generated, processed, used, or maintained by government agencies. This is except the record is exempted or prohibited by law. Huntington Beach public records consist of typed or handwritten information. It could also be in an image format or content passed on via email. Publicly limited or redacted can be any part(s) of a public record. Some of such cases include:
- Private personal information that is in breach of personal privacy;
- Information and documents related to an active investigation being done by a law enforcement agency;
- Confidential information;
- Trade secrets;
- Preliminary drafts, annotations, or observations;
- Pending specifics of the case (attorney job product);
- Taxpayers’ data and private financial data;
- Information about juveniles
Huntington Beach Crime Statistics
The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program reports the official crime statistics in all cities, counties, and states on a yearly basis. In 2019, it reported that Huntington Beach recorded 4,530 major crimes, including 386 violent crimes and 4,144 property crimes. The violent crimes include two murders, 61 rapes, 99 robberies, and 224 aggravated assaults. The property crimes include 535 burglaries, 3,280 larcenies, 329 motor vehicle thefts, and 22 cases of arson. In over five years, there has been a decline in major crimes in Huntington Beach. Between 2015 and 2019, there was a decline in six out of the eight major crimes reported. Robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, larceny, motor vehicle theft, arson rates declined by 15%, 11%, 26%, 15%, 12%, and 4% respectively. Murder and rape rates increased by 100% and 17% respectively.
Are Huntington Beach Criminal Records Public?
Most Huntington Beach criminal records are considered public. However, in some instances, certain criminal records are not treated as public records. One common instance is where the criminal record or reports are generated and compiled by a local law enforcement authority. Access to those criminal records is limited to a small category of employers, such as child care centers, law enforcement agencies, security guard firms, and public service companies. The City of Huntington Beach Police Department provides persons that it has previously apprehended with copies of their own criminal records. It also provides criminal records to the representative of the record owner and insurance companies with an interest in the report.
Access to Huntington Beach criminal records and background checks is also limited at the state level. The California Department of Justice performs state criminal background checks and offers this service to individuals who want to search their own criminal records only. Law enforcement authorities, employers, and businesses can access this service. Huntington criminal records are public records under the Superior Court. Interested individuals can request copies from the keeper of the record.
How to Obtain Huntington Beach Police Reports and Arrest Records?
The Huntington Beach Police Department generates and keeps Huntington Beach arrest records and police reports. To obtain any of these records, a requester will be required to provide proof of valid identification. The Police Department provides arrest reports, incident reports, and traffic crash reports. These records are not available to the general public. Only eligible persons can request any of these reports. Below is the list of persons eligible to request each particular report.
Incident and Crime Reports:
- The victim(s)
- The victim’s authorized representative
- An insurance carrier that has an interest in the claim
- Any person who has suffered bodily injury, damage to property, or loss
A report will not be released where:
- The disclosure will jeopardize the safety of a witness or another involved party
- Disrupt the successful completion of an investigation
- The name and address of a victim of certain specified crimes will not be reveal
Traffic Collision Reports:
- Drivers involved in the accident
- The license owners of vehicles involved in the collision
- The parents of a minor driver involved in the collision
- Passengers or riders listed in the report
- Insurance Companies
- Persons that incurred property damage or civil liability as a result of the accident
- The attorneys of any of the persons or entities mentioned above
Traffic collision reports are not released to witnesses.
Arrest Reports:
Through the discovery process, copies of Huntington Beach arrest records or reports for pending court cases may be accessible. Subject to the approval of the Records Manager or Investigations, arrest reports that have been adjudicated are issued.
Arrest reports will not be released if:
- The disclosure would risk a person’s safety
- The disclosure will threaten the successful conclusion of the investigation or a related investigation
- Disclosure would constitute an infringement of privacy.
Interested persons can make online requests for any of the records through the Public Records Center. After a request has been made, the requester will be contacted once it is processed. For in-person requests, visit or contact the Police Department at:
City of Huntington Beach Police Department
2000 Main Street
Huntington Beach, CA 92648
Phone: (714) 960-8825
Phone: (714) 960-8811
Fax: (714) 536-5605
How to Find Sex Offender Information in Huntington Beach?
The California Department of Justice is responsible for keeping sex offender information in the state. It maintains the sex offender registry to the state. The general public can access this registry and search for sex offender information through the Megan’s Law website. Residents of Huntington Beach can search for information about sex offenders by name or address. To obtain a comprehensive list of registered Huntington Beach sex offenders, users will need to select Orange County in the search page, from the County drop-down menu. The search also returns results for transient offenders currently living in the county.
How to Find Huntington Beach Inmate Records?
Information on inmates in the Huntington Beach City Jail can be obtained by calling (714) 536-5691. The Orange County Sheriff’s Department is responsible for booking individuals into jails around the county. It updates its inmate database daily and offers complete records of recently booked and released individuals. To find an inmate in Orange County’s correctional facilities, use the inmate lookup tool on the website of the Sheriff’s Department. Enquirers can search for inmates by name, age, and gender. The database provides information about individuals currently in custody and those released in the last 30 days.
How Do I Visit an Inmate in Huntington Beach Jail?
The visiting hours in the Huntington Beach City Jail are between the hours of 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. An inmate can only have one visit in a day, and not more than two visitors in a visit. Each visit is to be for 15 minutes. To schedule an inmate visit, call (714) 536-5691.
Inmates at any of the Orange County Jails are allowed one visit per day. Each visit has a time limit of 30 minutes. Visit the jail facility to inquire about visitation or to schedule a visit.
Central Men’s Jail
550 North Flower Street
Santa Ana, CA, 92703
Hours: Friday - Monday 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Central Women’s Jail
550 North Flower Street
Santa Ana, CA, 92703
Hours: Friday - Monday 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Intake/Release Center (IRC)
550 North Flower Street
Santa Ana, CA 92703
Hours: Friday – Monday 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Theo Lacy Facility
501 The City Drive
Orange, CA 92868
Hours: Friday - Monday, 8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Court Records
The seven centers of the Orange County Supreme Court are a part of the California Judicial Branch. They provide access to various types of Orange and Huntington Beach court records and associated documents to the general public. The Orange County Superior Court of California County keeps all court records for cases heard within the county. These court records include civil, criminal, administrative, probate, domestic relations, and traffic records. All related information and documentation pertaining to court cases handled by the Orange County Superior Court are considered Huntington Beach court records. They contain case files, trial transcripts, affidavits, and evidence submitted.
Location of Courts in Huntington Beach
Orange County Superior Courts
Orange County Superior Court - Central Justice Center (CJC)
700 Civic Center Drive West
Santa Ana, CA 92701
Phone: (657) 622-6878
Orange County Superior Court - Community Court
909 North Main Street
Santa Ana, CA 92701
Phone: (657) 622-5800
Orange County Superior Court - Complex Civil Center (CXC)
751 West Santa Ana Boulevard
P.O. Box 22028
Santa Ana, CA 92702
Phone: (657) 622-6878
Orange County Superior Court - Harbor Justice Center Newport Beach (HJC/NB)
4601 Jamboree Road
Newport Beach, CA 92660
Phone: (657) 622-5400
Orange County Superior Court - Lamoreaux Justice Center (LJC)
341 The City Drive South
Orange, CA 92868
Phone: (657) 622-6878
Orange County Superior Court - North Justice Center (NJC)
1275 North Berkeley Avenue
Fullerton, CA 92832
Phone: (657) 622-5600
Orange County Superior Court - West Justice Center (WJC)
8141 13th Street
Westminster, CA 92683
Phone: (677) 622-5900
Are Huntington Beach Court Records Public?
The majority of Huntington Beach court records are available to the public in order to facilitate freedom of information. However, not all records from the court are open to the public. California state law limits public access to Huntington Beach court records involving confidential or sensitive proceedings. There are examples that can fall under this category. They include:
- Juvenile delinquency cases (when a juvenile is accused of committing a crime)
- Juvenile dependency cases (where a child is separated from his or her parents)
- Civil lawsuits alleging abuse
- Certain divorce cases
- Cases about child custody
Can you look up a Huntington Beach Court Case Online?
Interested persons can search and view Huntington Beach court cases and records online through the Online Services Section section of the Orange Court Superior Court’s website. This section provides various services to users, such as access to cases on the calendar, case access, case index search, case name search, court reporter transcript requests, and access to probate notes. Court records available through this portal include civil, criminal, family, probate, traffic, and small claims cases. It allows users to search by case number. To search court records with the name of an individual or business, use the search tool on the page. It requires a user to register or log in to the website.
How to Obtain Huntington Beach Civil Court Case Records?
Huntington Beach civil court records are available through in-person and mail requests to the Orange County Superior Court. For in-person requests, a requester should contact or visit any of the Superior Court of Justice Center locations.
For mail requests, a requester should fill out the Request for Record Search form or the Copy Request for Form to request copies of court records. Send the filled-out form, along with a check for the search or copy fees made payable to the Clerk of the Court, by mail to any of the locations below:
Orange County Superior Court - Central Justice Center (CJC)
700 Civic Center Drive West
Santa Ana, CA 92701
Phone: (657) 622-6878
Orange County Superior Court - Complex Civil Center (CXC)
751 West Santa Ana Boulevard
P.O. Box 22028
Santa Ana, CA 92702
Phone: (657) 622-6878
Orange County Superior Court - Harbor Justice Center Newport Beach (HJC/NB)
4601 Jamboree Road
Newport Beach, CA 92660
Phone: (657) 622-5400
Orange County Superior Court - Lamoreaux Justice Center (LJC)
341 The City Drive South
Orange, CA 92868
Phone: (657) 622-6878
Orange County Superior Court - North Justice Center (NJC)
1275 North Berkeley Avenue
Fullerton, CA 92832
Phone: (657) 622-5600
Orange County Superior Court - West Justice Center (WJC)
8141 13th Street
Westminster, CA 92683
Phone: (677) 622-5900
Getting a certified court record costs $25 per record. It costs $10 to search records where the search takes longer than 10 minutes. It is 50 cents for each page of court records ordered. The court also charges $1 per page to compare prepared copies with records on file.
How to Obtain Huntington Beach Criminal Court Records?
Interested persons can obtain copies of Huntington Beach criminal court records by making walk-in and mail requests. To make walk-in requests, visit any of the Orange County Superior Court Justice Center locations.
Make mail requests by completing the Request for Records Search form or the Request for Records Search and Copies form. Interested individuals may also look at the Instruction and Information Manual for more guidance. Attach payment to the completed form and submit the request to the Criminal Operations Division of any of the Justice Centers:
Orange County Superior Court - Central Justice Center (CJC)
700 Civic Center Drive West
Santa Ana, CA 92701
Phone: (657) 622-6878
Orange County Superior Court - Harbor Justice Center Newport Beach (HJC/NB)
4601 Jamboree Road
Newport Beach, CA 92660
Phone: (657) 622-5400
Orange County Superior Court - Lamoreaux Justice Center (LJC)
341 The City Drive South
Orange, CA 92868
Phone: (657) 622-6878
Orange County Superior Court - North Justice Center (NJC)
1275 North Berkeley Avenue
Fullerton, CA 92832
Phone: (657) 622-5600
Orange County Superior Court - West Justice Center (WJC)
8141 13th Street
Westminster, CA 92683
Phone: (677) 622-5900
What are Huntington Beach Vital Records?
Huntington Beach vital records are official documents that record the happenings of important life events in the city. They include documents and certificates for marriage, divorce, birth, and death. Apart from divorce records, access to certified copies of other vital records of Huntington Beach is restricted to authorized persons. However, authorized persons include:
- The registrant;
- The registrant’s parent or legal guardian;
- The registrant’s child, grandparent, grandchild, sibling, spouse, or domestic partner;
- A party entitled to receive the record by court order, or an attorney or a licensed adoption agency seeking the birth record to comply with the requirements of Section 3140 or 7603 of the Family Code;
- A member of a law enforcement agency or a representative of another governmental agency, as provided by law, who is conducting official business;
- An attorney representing the registrant or the registrant’s estate, or any person or agency empowered by statute or appointed by a court to act on behalf of the registrant or the registrant’s estate;
- Any funeral director ordering certified copies of a death certificate on behalf of any individual specified in paragraphs (1) to (5), inclusive, of subdivision (a) of Section 7100 of the Health and Safety Code.
For persons that do not fall under any of the above categories can only request informational copies of those vital records. The Orange County Superior Court maintains Huntington Beach divorce records. The Orange County Clerk-Recorder’s Office keeps all marriage, birth, and death records. At the state level, The California Department of Public Health - Vital Records (CDPH-VR) is the custodian of all vital records in California.
Where and How to Obtain Huntington Beach Divorce Records?
Interested persons can make walk-in and mail requests for Huntington Beach divorce records to the Orange County Superior Court. Visit any of the Orange County Superior Court of Justice Center locations to make walk-in requests.
To obtain copies of Huntington Beach divorce records by mail, fill out the Request for Record Search form or the Copy Request for Form. Enclose a check payment of $15 made to the Clerk of the Court with the filled-out form. Submit the request to any of the office locations below:
Orange County Superior Court - Central Justice Center (CJC)
700 Civic Center Drive West
Santa Ana, CA 92701
Phone: (657) 622-6878
Orange County Superior Court - Complex Civil Center (CXC)
751 West Santa Ana Boulevard
P.O. Box 22028
Santa Ana, CA 92702
Phone: (657) 622-6878
Orange County Superior Court - Harbor Justice Center Newport Beach (HJC/NB)
4601 Jamboree Road
Newport Beach, CA 92660
Phone: (657) 622-5400
Orange County Superior Court - Lamoreaux Justice Center (LJC)
341 The City Drive South
Orange, CA 92868
Phone: (657) 622-6878
Orange County Superior Court - North Justice Center (NJC)
1275 North Berkeley Avenue
Fullerton, CA 92832
Phone: (657) 622-5600
Orange County Superior Court - West Justice Center (WJC)
8141 13th Street
Westminster, CA 92683
Phone: (677) 622-5900
The CDPH-VR keeps divorce records of 1962 to June 1984. These records are available to requesters through mail requests only. Complete the Certificate for Record for a Divorce form (or the Spanish version) and enclose the applicable record fees. Send mail it to:
California Department of Public Health
Vital Records – MS 5103
P.O. Box 997410
Sacramento, CA 95899-7410
Where it is a courier service that needs a physical address that is used, provide the address below:
California Department of Public Health
Vital Records – MS 5103
1501 Capitol Avenue
Sacramento, CA 95814
Where and How to Get Public Huntington Beach Marriage Records?
The Orange County Office of the Clerk-Recorder keeps all Huntington Beach marriage records. It issues copies of Huntington Beach marriage certificates. Interested individuals can obtain copies of Huntington Beach by making requests in person or by mail. To make an in-person request, fill out the online application. Then visit any of the Clerk-Recorder’s offices below with a valid ID:
Hall of Records
12 Civic Center Plaza
Room 101 and Room 106
Santa Ana, CA 92701
The office opens from Monday to Friday between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.
South County Branch Office
Laguna Hills Civic Center
24031 El Toro Road
Suite 150
Laguna Hills, CA 92653
The office opens from Monday to Friday between 9:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.
North County Branch Office
Downtown Fullerton
201 North Harbor Boulevard
Fullerton, CA 92831
The office opens from Monday to Friday between 9:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.
For a mail request, fill out the Vital Records Request Form (also available in Spanish). Include the appropriate fee and a valid ID and mail them to:
Orange County Clerk-Recorder
Attn: Vital Records
P.O. Box 238
Santa Ana, CA 92702
A certified copy of the Huntington Beach marriage certificate costs $15. The Clerk-Recorder accepts payments in cash (for in-person requests only), check, credit/debit card, and money order. Checks and money orders should be made payable to the Orange County Clerk-Recorder Department.
The CDPH-VR has California marriage records from 1905 to the present and it processes mail requests for copies of marriage records. A requester should fill out the Marriage Record Request form (or the Spanish version). A requester that is interested in authorized copies should notarize the form. Mail the completed form, with payment, to:
California Department of Public Health
Vital Records – MS 5103
P.O. Box 997410
Sacramento, CA 95899-7410
If a requester uses a courier service that needs a physical address:
California Department of Public Health
Vital Records – MS 5103
1501 Capitol Avenue
Sacramento, CA 95814
Where and How to Get Confidential Marriage Records in Huntington Beach?
To obtain copies of Huntington Beach's confidential marriage records, contact the Orange County Clerk-Recorder.
Where and How to Find Huntington Beach Birth Records?
The Orange County Office of the Clerk-Recorder is in charge of maintaining birth records for Orange County. Huntington Beach birth records are available through in-person or mail applications. For in-person applications, requesters must complete the online application. Then the applicant requester should visit any of the Clerk-Recorder’s offices with a valid ID:
Hall of Records
12 Civic Center Plaza
Room 101 and Room 106
Santa Ana, CA 92701
The office opens from Monday to Friday between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.
South County Branch Office
Laguna Hills Civic Center
24031 El Toro Road
Suite 150
Laguna Hills, CA 92653
The office opens from Monday to Friday between 9:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.
North County Branch Office
Downtown Fullerton
201 North Harbor Boulevard
Fullerton, CA 92831
The office opens from Monday to Friday between 9:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.
To make a mail application for a Huntington Beach birth certificate, requesters must complete the Vital Records Request Form (also available in Spanish). Include payment and then send to:
Orange County Clerk-Recorder
Attn: Vital Records
P.O. Box 238
Santa Ana, CA 92702
A certified copy of a Huntington Beach birth certificate costs $28. The accepted payment methods include cash (in-person applications only), check, credit/debit card, and money order. Checks and money orders should be made payable to the Orange County Clerk-Recorder Department.
Copies of Huntington Beach birth records are also available at the CDPH-VR. To get birth records, a requester should fill out the Certified Copy of Birth Record form. The filled-out form and appropriate payment should be sent by mail to:
California Department of Public Health
Vital Records – MS 5103
P.O. Box 997410
Sacramento, CA 95899-7410
Or
California Department of Public Health
Vital Records – MS 5103
1501 Capitol Avenue
Sacramento, CA 95814
Where and How to Find Huntington Beach Death Records?
The Orange County Office of the Clerk-Recorder is the main repository of death records in the county. Interested individuals can request Huntington Beach death records from the office of the Clerk-Recorder. Requests can be made in person or by mail. To make an in-person request, complete the online application and then visit any of the Clerk-Recorder’s offices with a valid ID:
Hall of Records
12 Civic Center Plaza
Room 101 and Room 106
Santa Ana, CA 92701
The office opens from Monday to Friday between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.
South County Branch Office
Laguna Hills Civic Center
24031 El Toro Road
Suite 150
Laguna Hills, CA 92653
The office opens from Monday to Friday between 9:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.
North County Branch Office
Downtown Fullerton
201 North Harbor Boulevard
Fullerton, CA 92831
The office opens from Monday to Friday between 9:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.
To order a Huntington Beach death record by mail, complete the Vital Records Request Form (also available in Spanish). Attach payment to the completed form and send it by mail to:
Orange County Clerk-Recorder
Attn: Vital Records
P.O. Box 238
Santa Ana, CA 92702
The method of payments that Clerk-Recorder accepts include cash (for in-person requests only), check, credit/debit card, and money order. Check and money order payments should be made payable to the Orange County Clerk-Recorder Department. It costs $21 for a certified Huntington Beach death certificate.
Records of death registered between 1905 to date are available at the CDPH-VR Office. To submit mail requests for death records, interested persons should complete the Form for Certified Copy of Death Record. Notarize the form, including payment, and send the mail application to:
California Department of Public Health
Vital Records – MS 5103
P.O. Box 997410
Sacramento, CA 95899-7410
California Department of Public Health
Vital Records – MS 5103
1501 Capitol Avenue
Sacramento, CA 95814
