Find Public Records in Fayetteville
Public records in Fayetteville, Arkansas are spread across city and county offices in Washington County. The city clerk, police department, district court, and county agencies each maintain separate files. This page explains where records are held, how to request them, and which free online tools let you search court cases, police reports, permits, and government documents from home or in person at city hall.
Fayetteville Records Overview
Fayetteville City Clerk and Government Records
The Fayetteville City Clerk Treasurer's Office is at 113 West Mountain Street, Room 308, Fayetteville, AR 72701. Phone: (479) 575-8323. Fax: (479) 718-7695.
This office maintains one of the longest government records archives in Arkansas. City Council meeting minutes go back to 1896, and ordinances are archived from 1889. The Clerk also keeps resolutions, agendas, proclamations, and the municipal code. The City Code is available online through Municode. City Council meetings are held on the first and third Tuesday of each month at 5:30 PM and are live-streamed.
The screenshot below is from the Fayetteville city website, the starting point for accessing the City Clerk's Office and archived government documents.
Archived agendas and meeting minutes are available online. This is useful for tracking city decisions, zoning votes, and ordinance history without visiting city hall.
Fayetteville FOIA Request Procedures
Fayetteville provides an online FOIA portal through the city website. Written requests are preferred but not strictly required. The city follows Arkansas Code 25-19-105, which requires immediate access to public records unless they are in active use, stored offsite, or exempt by law. Payment for copies is required before records are released.
The screenshot below is from the Fayetteville FOIA portal page, where you can find request procedures and frequently asked questions about public records access.
FOIA requests for city records can cover a wide range of documents. These include police reports, contracts, budget records, planning documents, inspection files, and correspondence between city officials. If you are not sure whether a record is public, file a written request and the city must tell you if the record is exempt and why.
Note: Certain records are exempt from public disclosure under Arkansas law. These include medical records, sealed juvenile records, active law enforcement investigation files, and some personnel records. If a request is denied, the agency must state the legal basis for the denial.
Fayetteville Police Department Records
The Fayetteville Police Department Records Division is at 1800 N. Stephen Carr Memorial Blvd., Fayetteville, AR 72704. Records Division Phone: (479) 587-3565. Hours: Monday through Friday, 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
Incident reports are available at no fee. Accident reports cost $10.00 at the police department or $15.00 if ordered online through LexisNexis. Case reports are generally free. Standard copies are $0.25 per page.
For background checks, arrests initiated by Fayetteville officers are searchable through the police department's records unit. The Arkansas Crime Information Center (ACIC) handles statewide criminal history requests through licensed providers. The Arkansas Department of Corrections inmate search is free online for state prison records.
Fayetteville District Court
The Fayetteville District Court is at 176 S. Church Avenue, Suite 1, Fayetteville, AR 72701. Phone: (479) 587-3590. Hours: Monday through Friday, 7:30 AM to 4:30 PM.
This court handles misdemeanors, traffic violations, municipal code violations, small claims up to $5,000, and landlord-tenant disputes. Fines can be paid in person, by mail, or online through the Arkansas Online Court Payment portal. Court case records are searchable through Arkansas CourtConnect by party name or case number at no cost.
The screenshot below is from the Fayetteville District Court FAQ page, which covers payment options and how district court proceedings work.
For felony and major civil cases, the Washington County Circuit Clerk handles those filings. Circuit court records are also searchable through CourtConnect. The Washington County page has full contact and access details for the circuit clerk's office.
Permits, Licenses, and Planning Records
Fayetteville has a Civic Access Portal through the city's development services department. It gives public access to building permits, planning and zoning records, code compliance cases, inspection records, business licenses, and certificates of occupancy. The portal is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, with no account required for most searches.
Contact for development records: Brianna Curry, (479) 575-8233; Email: developmentservices@fayetteville-ar.gov. The portal is one of the more complete permit and license databases among Arkansas cities and is regularly updated as new applications are filed and reviewed.
Washington County Records for Fayetteville
Most formal court records, property records, and vital records for Fayetteville residents are held by Washington County. The Washington County Courthouse handles circuit court civil, criminal, and domestic records. The County Clerk issues marriage licenses and maintains probate records. The Assessor and Collector handle property-related records.
Property searches are free through ARCountyData.com. Marriage licenses cost $60.00 and require both parties to appear in person with valid ID and social security cards. Birth and death certificates are issued by the Arkansas Department of Health statewide, not by city or county clerks.
Online Tools for Fayetteville Records
Arkansas CourtConnect is the best free tool for searching Fayetteville court cases. It covers circuit and district courts across Washington County and the rest of the state. Search by party name or case number. Most active cases and many older filings are available at no cost. The portal does not require a login for basic case lookups.
For property records in Fayetteville, ARCountyData.com gives free access to Washington County assessor data by owner name, parcel number, or address. The Arkansas Secretary of State website handles business entity searches and UCC filings statewide. Sex offender registry checks can be done at the Arkansas Sex Offender Registry site by name or location.
Nearby Qualifying Cities
These nearby cities also have public records pages on this site.