Ellicott City Residents Directory

The Ellicott City residents directory is your guide to public records in the Howard County seat. Ellicott City is where the Circuit Court, land records office, police headquarters, and sheriff's office are all located. Because it is the county seat, most in-person records requests for all of Howard County happen here. You can search court cases online, look up property data, and request police reports through county portals. This page covers the key offices and tools for finding records in Ellicott City.

Ellicott City Residents Directory at the Circuit Court

The Howard County Circuit Court is at 9250 Judicial Way, Suite 1900 in Ellicott City. Phone 410-313-2111. Clerk Wayne A. Robey oversees the office. This is where civil filings, criminal cases, family law matters, and land records are all handled for Howard County. Ellicott City is unincorporated, so it has no separate city court. Everything runs through the county system at this courthouse.

You can search cases online at casesearch.courts.state.md.us for free. The system shows party names, case numbers, charges, and outcomes. Use the percent sign (%) as a wildcard for partial name searches. Look under Howard County. The search covers civil, criminal, traffic, and domestic cases. It updates in near real time. Under GP Section 4-201, these records are public and you have the right to access them.

If you need to visit in person, the courthouse is open Monday through Friday. Hours run from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM for most offices. Parking is available on site.

Ellicott City Land Records Search

The land records office is inside the Circuit Court building in Ellicott City. Call 410-313-5850. Recording hours are 8:30 AM to 3:30 PM. Public access for searching runs until 4:30 PM. This office handles every deed, mortgage, and lien recording in Howard County.

Recording fees vary by document type. Releases of nine pages or less cost $10. Other instruments under nine pages are $20. Principal residence documents of any length cost $20. Non-residence documents of 10 or more pages cost $75. A $40 surcharge applies to most documents. The recordation tax is $2.50 per $500 of value. State transfer tax is 0.5%. County transfer tax is 1.25%.

Search land records online through mdlandrec.net with a free account. Howard County uses SDAT code 14 in the state system. You can find deeds, mortgages, liens, and other recorded instruments. For property assessments, use the SDAT portal at sdat.dat.maryland.gov.

The Howard County Interactive GIS at data.howardcountymd.gov offers 14 search types. You can search by owner, tax ID, plat number, or street intersection. Historical aerial photos go back to 1943, which is helpful for tracing property changes over time in Ellicott City.

Police and Sheriff Records in Ellicott City

The Howard County Police Department is at 3410 Court House Drive in Ellicott City. Main number is 410-313-3200. For records, email therecordssection@howardcountymd.gov. Accident reports can be pulled online through CrashDocs or BuyCrash.com. Body worn cameras have been on all sworn officers since August 2022. Footage requests go through PIA and average about three hours to process.

The Sheriff's Office sits at 8360 Court Avenue in Ellicott City. Call 410-313-4201. Report copies cost $10 for standard requests. Reports older than two years cost $19.80. Pay by check or money order only. The Sheriff's Office handles civil process, court security, and warrant service. Under GP Section 4-301, certain records categories are exempt from public disclosure.

Ellicott City Property and Tax Records

Look up property taxes for Ellicott City through the Howard County tax payment portal at payments.municipay.com. The system lets you view tax bills, check payment history, and pay online. It also sends email and text alerts. The portal moved to a new platform in late 2024.

For building permits and code enforcement in Ellicott City, use the ePermits system at dilp.howardcountymd.gov. Search for building permits, trade permits, fire permits, and enforcement cases. You can track permit status and view inspection results online. These are all part of the public record and useful for the Ellicott City residents directory.

Ellicott City Residents Directory for Vital Records

Marriage licenses in Howard County are issued at the Circuit Court in Ellicott City. The fee is $50. Only one party needs to appear, but you must bring valid ID for both people. There is a 48-hour waiting period. The license stays valid for six months. Civil ceremonies cost $25 and are by appointment.

The Maryland State Archives at msa.maryland.gov has historical vital records. Birth records through 1924, deaths older than 10 years, and marriages through 2013 are all searchable. The Howard County Historical Society also maintains archives at 9421 Frederick Road in Ellicott City, with maps, old deeds, marriage licenses, voter records, and photographs. Their online collection is at howardcounty.pastperfectonline.com.

Building and Permit Records in Ellicott City

Howard County runs the ePermits portal for all building activity. You can search permits for Ellicott City addresses to see what construction, renovation, or code enforcement actions are on file. The system tracks building permits, electrical, plumbing, and HVAC permits, along with fire permits and licenses.

Permit records are part of the residents directory because they tell you about changes made to a property. If someone added a deck, finished a basement, or built an addition, there should be a permit on file. You can also see if any violations were issued. This is useful for property buyers and for anyone trying to learn more about a specific address in Ellicott City.

Nearby Cities

These communities are near Ellicott City and share Howard County records systems. Select a city for its residents directory page.