Normal Public Records Lookup

Normal public records are managed by the Town Clerk and several departments spread across multiple office locations in the Uptown area. The Town of Normal has about 53,600 residents and sits in McLean County in central Illinois. It is home to Illinois State University. The clerk's office coordinates records management for the town and serves as the FOIA officer. Normal uses a JustFOIA online portal for records requests. Police records go through a separate process at the Police Department. Court records, vital records, and property filings are handled by McLean County offices, not the town.

McLean County Records for Normal

Normal is part of McLean County, so court records, vital records, and land documents come from county offices. The McLean County Circuit Court handles civil and criminal cases. You can search court records through the McLean County court records search system.

Birth and death certificates are not available from the Town of Normal. You must go to the McLean County Clerk's office for those. Marriage records, land filings, and property documents are also at the county level. The McLean County Assessor handles property tax records. This is different from Cook County cities where much of this is centralized in Chicago. In McLean County, the offices are more accessible since Bloomington is the county seat and sits right next to Normal.

Note: Birth and death certificates are not available from the Town Clerk; go to the McLean County Clerk instead.

Normal Town Clerk and FOIA

The Town Clerk serves as the coordinator of records management for the Town of Normal. The clerk and deputy clerks are the FOIA officers. Their office is at City Hall, 11 Uptown Circle, Normal, IL 61761. The main phone number is 309-454-2444.

The clerk maintains all official records of the town. That includes agreements, business licenses, cemetery records, council meeting minutes, liquor licenses, ordinances, and resolutions. All FOIA requests must be directed to the clerk's office. You can submit requests through the JustFOIA online portal or in writing. Include your name, address, and phone number, and be as specific as you can about what records you need.

Unless you hear otherwise, your request will be handled within five business days. That is the standard under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act (5 ILCS 140). The Town of Normal Municipal Code is available through Municipal Code Online or through Municode.

Fees for Normal public records are straightforward. Accident reports cost $3.00. DVDs or CDs cost $2.00. Regular records are 10 cents per page after the first 50 pages, which are free.

Normal Police Records

The Normal Police Department is at the City Hall Annex, 100 E. Phoenix Avenue. Police reports, traffic accident reports, and other law enforcement records are available through the department. You can request a police report through the town website.

Keep in mind that police reports and general FOIA requests follow different paths. All FOIA requests still go through the clerk's office. But if you need a specific police report copy, contact the police department directly. Accident reports have a flat fee of $3.00.

Building and Zoning Records in Normal

The Inspections and Planning department handles building permits, code enforcement, and zoning records for Normal. Their office is at One Uptown Circle, which is a separate building from City Hall. If you need records about past construction projects, building permits, or code violations, contact the inspections office or submit a FOIA request through the clerk.

The Local Records Act (50 ILCS 205) governs how Normal stores and retains building and zoning records. Public Works operations are based at 1301 Warriner Street. The Fire Department headquarters is at 606 S. Main Street, with additional stations at 1300 E. College and 1200 E. Raab.

Normal Government Online

The Town of Normal website serves as the main hub for government information and public records access.

From here you can find links to the clerk's office, police department, inspections, and other departments that handle Normal public records.

The JustFOIA portal is where you submit and track all FOIA requests for Town of Normal records.

This portal lets you create requests, check their status, and view records that have been released.

Normal has several office locations across town. The office locations page shows where each department is based.

Use this page to find the right office for the type of records you need in Normal.

Normal Public Records Resources

Normal Township is a separate unit of government from the Town of Normal. It was established in 1857 and handles road maintenance, property assessment, and general assistance. The township has its own FOIA process at 304 E. Mulberry St., Normal, IL 61761 (phone: 309-452-2060). Do not confuse town records with township records.

If a FOIA request is denied by the Town of Normal, appeal to the Public Access Counselor at the Illinois Attorney General's office. Call 877-299-3642 or email publicaccess@atg.state.il.us.

Nearby Cities

Bloomington is the closest major city to Normal and shares many county services through McLean County.