Colonial Heights Residents Directory

The Colonial Heights Residents Directory is your guide to public records and people search resources in the City of Colonial Heights, Virginia. Colonial Heights is a small independent city just south of Richmond, on the north bank of the Appomattox River. The city runs its own police force, court, and records office. Use this page to find court files, ask for police reports, look up vital records, and submit Virginia FOIA requests. Each link points to the office or state portal that holds the file you want.

City of Colonial Heights Government

The City of Colonial Heights website is the main place for resident services and city records. From the homepage you can reach the city council, the manager's office, the planning desk, and every department. The City Council holds public hearings on ordinances and city business. Notices of public hearings are posted in advance so residents can take part.

The Board of Zoning Appeals holds hearings on zoning matters. The Planning Commission reviews development proposals and makes recommendations to the City Council. The city also has many boards and committees with vacancies open to residents who want to serve.

The city posts audit statements and financial info to show how it spends tax money. Take a look at the city site at colonialheightsva.gov for the full list of services.

The site is the main starting point for any resident lookup or records request.

Colonial Heights Police Records

The Colonial Heights Police Department is the city's law enforcement agency. The department keeps records of every incident, arrest, and crash. Most of those records are open under Virginia FOIA, with the standard hold for active cases.

To get a copy of a report, call the records desk. You give the date, the address, and any names you have. The department also runs community safety programs and reports incident data to the Virginia State Police for the annual Crime in Virginia report.

For an emergency, call 911. For other questions, use the non-emergency line on the police page.

Colonial Heights Courts and Cases

Colonial Heights is part of the 12th Judicial Circuit, which it shares with Chesterfield County. The city has its own General District Court and Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court. Felony and large civil cases go to the Circuit Court that serves the city. Visit the Colonial Heights Courts page for the current contact list and hours.

General District Court hears traffic cases, misdemeanors, civil claims, small claims, and landlord-tenant matters. The Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court takes care of custody, support, abuse, neglect, and protective orders. Court records are kept by the clerk and are open during business hours.

For online case searches, use the Virginia Online Case Information System. You pick the court and search by name. The bulk download portal at virginiacourtdata.org has Circuit and District case data through the end of 2024.

Public Records Under Virginia FOIA

Public records in Colonial Heights are open under Va. Code § 2.2-3700, the Virginia Freedom of Information Act. The act says any record made or held by a public body is open unless an exemption applies. The city has five working days to reply to a request.

To file a request, contact the city clerk or the department that holds the file. Tell them what you want and how you would like to get it. The city may charge for staff time and copies. The state Freedom of Information Advisory Council can help with questions or appeals at foiacouncil.dls.virginia.gov, by email at foiacouncil@dls.virginia.gov, or by phone at (804) 225-3056.

Vital Records and State Sources

For birth, death, and divorce certificates, contact the Virginia Department of Health Office of Vital Records at 8701 Park Central Drive, Suite 100, Richmond. Each copy is $12. Phone is (804) 662-6200. Records are open to immediate family until they age into the public domain. Birth records open after 100 years; others after 25 years.

The Virginia State Police handles criminal history name searches for $15 through the Central Criminal Records Exchange. The free Sex Offender Registry is at sex-offender.vsp.virginia.gov. Driver records come from the Virginia DMV.

The Library of Virginia has historical records and free genealogy databases. The Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services publishes crime data by agency.

Related Pages

Colonial Heights sits between Chesterfield County and Petersburg. For nearby record offices, browse all Virginia counties or all cities. To return to the main hub, see the Virginia Residents Directory home page.