Alexandria County Public Records

What Are Public Records in Alexandria County?

Public records in Alexandria are defined under the Virginia Public Records Act, which establishes that all recorded information, regardless of physical form or characteristic, created or received by a public body in the transaction of public business constitutes a public record. Alexandria operates as an independent city in Virginia — functioning with the same authority as a county — and its agencies are fully subject to this statutory framework.

The following categories of records are currently available to members of the public through the appropriate Alexandria city offices:

Court records (civil, criminal, probate, and family matters) — maintained by the Clerk of Circuit Court and the Alexandria General District Court
Property records (deeds, mortgages, liens, and assessments) — maintained by the Clerk of Circuit Court for land records and the Office of Real Estate Assessments for assessment data
Vital records (birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates) — marriage licenses are issued by the Clerk of Circuit Court; birth and death records are maintained by the Virginia Department of Health
Business records (licenses, permits, and fictitious trade names) — maintained by the City of Alexandria Department of Planning and Zoning and the Clerk of Circuit Court
Tax records (property tax bills and real estate assessment records) — maintained by the Office of Real Estate Assessments
Voting and election records — maintained by the Alexandria Office of Voter Registration and Elections
Meeting minutes and agendas (City Council, boards, and commissions) — maintained by the City Clerk's Office and published on the city's official website
Budget and financial documents — maintained by the Office of Management and Budget
Law enforcement records (arrest logs and incident reports, where permitted by law) — maintained by the Alexandria Police Department, subject to applicable exemptions
Land use and zoning records — maintained by the Department of Planning and Zoning

Is Alexandria County an Open Records County?

Alexandria fully complies with Virginia's open records framework, which mandates broad public access to government-held information. Under the Virginia Public Records Act, Chapter 7 of Title 42.1 of the Code of Virginia, all public bodies are required to make public records available for inspection and copying upon request. The Act affirms that the free flow of information is essential to a democratic society and that the policy of the Commonwealth is to ensure the people's right of access to public records.

Key provisions currently in effect include:

Public bodies must respond to records requests within five working days of receipt
Failure to respond within the statutory period is treated as a denial, which may be appealed
Agencies may not require a requester to state a reason for seeking records in most circumstances
The Act applies to all city departments, boards, authorities, and other public bodies operating within Alexandria

The City of Alexandria maintains a dedicated public records request portal through which members of the public may submit Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests electronically. The city's FOIA policy is consistent with state law and does not impose additional local restrictions beyond those authorized by the Commonwealth.

How to Find Public Records in Alexandria County in 2026

Members of the public may obtain Alexandria public records through several official channels, depending on the record type sought. The following steps outline the current process:

Identify the record type and the custodial office. Court records are held by the Clerk of Circuit Court or the General District Court; property and assessment records are held by the Office of Real Estate Assessments; vital records are held by the Virginia Department of Health or the Clerk of Circuit Court.
Submit a FOIA request online. The City of Alexandria's online FOIA request portal allows requesters to submit inquiries, track request status, and receive responsive documents electronically.
Submit a written request by mail or in person. Requests may be directed to the specific custodial office in writing. No standardized form is required under state law, though the city provides optional forms for convenience.
Search online databases. The Virginia court system provides case status and information through its statewide online portal, enabling members of the public to search civil and criminal case records without submitting a formal request.
Visit the office in person. Members of the public may inspect records in person at the relevant office during regular business hours. Inspection of records is generally available at no charge.
Contact the Library of Virginia. For historical and archival public records, the Library of Virginia administers the Commonwealth's records management program and maintains archival collections accessible to researchers.

How Much Does It Cost to Get Public Records in Alexandria County?

The City of Alexandria follows the fee structure authorized under Virginia law, which permits public bodies to charge reasonable fees for the actual cost of responding to records requests. Current standard fees include:

Paper copies: Fees are assessed at the actual cost of reproduction, typically in the range of $0.10 to $0.50 per page depending on the office and format
Certified copies: Fees for certified copies of court records and vital records vary by document type; the Clerk of Circuit Court currently charges fees established by the Virginia Supreme Court's fee schedule
Electronic records: Agencies may charge for the actual cost of producing electronic copies, including staff time for search and retrieval when the request is voluminous or requires significant effort
Staff time: Under current law, agencies may charge for the time required to search, retrieve, and compile records when the request is extraordinarily burdensome, provided the requester is notified in advance

Pursuant to § 42.1-86.1 of the Virginia Public Records Act, public bodies must establish and publish their fee schedules. Fee waivers may be available at the discretion of the custodial office, particularly for requests made in the public interest or by nonprofit organizations. Accepted payment methods vary by office and may include cash, check, money order, or credit card.

Does Alexandria County Have Free Public Records?

Free inspection of public records is available to all members of the public under Virginia law, which requires that records be made available for in-person inspection at no charge. The following resources are currently available at no cost:

In-person inspection at any custodial city office during regular business hours, without charge for viewing records
Online court case information through the Virginia court system's statewide case information portal, which provides free access to civil and criminal case data
Real estate assessment data through the Office of Real Estate Assessments, which publishes property assessment information online at no cost
City Council meeting minutes, agendas, and budget documents published on the City of Alexandria's official website at no charge
Archival and historical records accessible through the Library of Virginia, which provides free online and in-person access to many state and local government records

Who Can Request Public Records in Alexandria County?

Any person may request public records from Alexandria city agencies under the Virginia Freedom of Information Act, regardless of residency, citizenship, or stated purpose. The Act does not restrict access based on the requester's identity in most circumstances. Specifically:

Residency is not required. Non-residents of Alexandria and Virginia retain the same right of access as city residents
Identification is generally not required. Agencies may not demand identification as a condition of fulfilling a routine records request
Purpose need not be stated. Requesters are not obligated to explain why they seek a particular record, except in limited circumstances involving certain sensitive record categories
Requesting one's own records. Individuals seeking records pertaining to themselves may be entitled to access records that would otherwise be withheld from third parties, such as certain personnel or law enforcement records
Restrictions for specific record types. Some records — including juvenile court records, sealed court files, and certain law enforcement investigative materials — are accessible only to parties with a demonstrated legal interest or by court order

Under the Virginia Public Records Act, the right of access extends broadly to all persons, and any denial of access must be accompanied by a written explanation citing the specific statutory exemption relied upon by the agency.

What Records Are Confidential in Alexandria County?

Certain categories of records are exempt from public disclosure under Virginia law and are not subject to routine inspection or copying. The Virginia Public Records Act and related statutes currently exempt the following from mandatory disclosure:

Sealed court records — records sealed by judicial order are inaccessible to the general public
Juvenile records — records pertaining to juveniles in delinquency, abuse, or neglect proceedings are confidential by statute
Ongoing criminal investigation records — law enforcement records compiled during active investigations are exempt to the extent disclosure would compromise the investigation
Personal identifying information — Social Security numbers, financial account data, and similar identifiers are protected from disclosure
Medical and health records — protected under both state law and the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)
Adoption records — sealed by statute and accessible only through court petition
Child welfare and protective services records — maintained as confidential by the Department of Social Services
Personnel records — employee records are generally exempt, with exceptions for certain information about public officials
Trade secrets and proprietary business information — submitted to government agencies under assurances of confidentiality
Security plans and critical infrastructure details — exempt to protect public safety

Pursuant to § 42.1-86.1 of the Virginia Public Records Act, public bodies are required to manage the disposition of records in accordance with approved retention schedules and applicable exemptions. When an agency withholds a record, it must identify the specific exemption and, where applicable, apply a balancing test to determine whether the public interest in disclosure outweighs the interest in confidentiality.

Alexandria County Recorder's Office: Contact Information and Hours

The principal offices responsible for maintaining and providing access to public records in Alexandria are listed below. Members of the public may visit these offices in person during the hours indicated or submit requests through the contact information provided.

Clerk of Circuit Court — City of Alexandria 520 King Street, Suite 307, Alexandria, VA 22314 703-746-4044 Public Counter Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Clerk of Circuit Court

Alexandria Circuit Court 520 King Street, Alexandria, VA 22314 703-746-4044 Alexandria Circuit Court

Alexandria General District Court 520 King Street, Alexandria, VA 22314 703-746-4050 Alexandria General District Court

Office of Real Estate Assessments — City of Alexandria 301 King Street, Room 2600, Alexandria, VA 22314 703-746-4646 Public Counter Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Office of Real Estate Assessments

City of Alexandria FOIA Office 301 King Street, Alexandria, VA 22314 703-746-4311 (Alex311) Requesting Public Records (FOIA)

Library of Virginia 800 East Broad Street, Richmond, VA 23219 804-692-3500 Public Hours: Monday–Saturday, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Library of Virginia