Public Records

What Is a Public Record?

A public record is any record retained by a government body as further defined by statute and open to inspection. Public records include any writing containing information relating to the conduct of the public's business prepared, owned, used or retained by any local or state agency, regardless of physical form or characteristics.

How long are records retained?

The City of Belmont Records Retention Schedule defines how long a document is retained.

If you are unable to locate the records you want online, please submit a Public Records Request via our GovQA portal:

Public Records Center

Our goal is to provide you with timely access to the City’s public records. All requests for documents will be reviewed and responded to within ten (10) days, in compliance with the California Public Records Act.

Search Council Action Records Here:
Questys Online   

Below are direct links to frequently searched City documents

• Minutes for City Council - 1926 (incorporation) to present
• Minutes for RDA (Redevelopment Agency) - Inception to dissolution in 2012
• Minutes for BFPD - 1964 to present
• Ordinances 1927 - to present (complete list in progress)
• Resolutions - Various (Council, BFPD, RDA)
• Other miscellaneous document categories

Other documents are also available including planning and parks and recreation commission, public works and finance items.  

Use the "Category" tab to search for specific documents. 

**If you leave this area at "All Document Categories", the system will search on all Minutes, Ordinances and Resolutions**

Or, you may specify Minutes, Ordinances or Resolutions

Next, enter the specific criteria you are searching for:
Document name – use wildcard to search for the full name or part of the name of the document
Text for full search – use when searching with “key” word(s) within the document

Once you have entered the information you are searching for, click on the "Search" button which will search all documents currently available through this system based on the criteria you have entered.

Once the search has been completed, you will then be presented with a list of documents specific to your search criteria.  You may then click on the little magnifying glass to open the document or click on the specific title.

To print a single page document, open the document and click on the printer icon in the upper left corner.  To print a multiple page document, open the document and click on the "Thumbnails" button at the top of the screen, then click on the printer icon in the upper left corner.  When the print dialogue box appears, click "Ok".

Additional assistance is provided in the upper right hand corner by clicking "Help", and then click on "Search and Retrieval".

Codified Ordinances are available in the Muni Code - Click here to access

DISCLAIMER:
Documents scanned into this system is the result of a multi-year process. Not all documents from a particular year may be included at this time. If you need further assistance or are having difficulty finding a particular document, please contact the

City Clerk's Office at 650.595.7414