Fairfax County Residents Directory
The Fairfax County Residents Directory pulls together the public records and people search tools that serve more than 1.1 million people in this part of Northern Virginia. Use it to look up court cases, find property owners, check police reports, and access public records held by county offices. Most data is open under state public records law. You can search online from home or visit a county office in person. The Residents Directory points you to the right office for each type of record. From the courthouse to the police records unit, this guide shows where to look and how to get what you need.
Fairfax County at a Glance
Fairfax County Police Records
The Fairfax County Police Department keeps incident reports, accident reports, arrest records, and local background checks. The main office sits at 12099 Government Center Parkway, Fairfax, VA 22035. Chief Kevin Davis leads the force. Officers respond to calls 24 hours a day. Most reports are public, though some details get held back when a case is still open.
You can ask for a copy at the records section. Fees run from about $0.50 to $5.00 per page. Reports are usually ready three to five business days after the event. Bring a photo ID and the report number if you have it. Visit the Fairfax County Police Department page for forms and hours. We took a look at the source page for this section.
The county also publishes crime trend data each year. The department runs an online crime mapping tool so you can see what is happening near your block. Witness names and other private details get redacted under the Virginia Freedom of Information Act.
Read more about records access on the Fairfax County Police Department site.
The portal shows phone numbers for each district station and links to the records request form.
Note: Some incident details may be withheld while a case is active. Ask the records unit if you need a status check.
Fairfax County Court Records Search
Fairfax County runs three main courts. The Circuit Court is the largest trial court in Virginia, with fifteen full-time judges. It hears felonies, big civil cases, divorces, custody cases, and probate. Land deeds, marriage licenses, wills, and judgments are filed with the Circuit Court Clerk. The General District Court handles misdemeanors, traffic cases, and civil claims under $25,000. The Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court handles family cases.
You can check most case info online through the statewide system. The Virginia Judicial System portal lets you search by name or case number. It shows party names, hearing dates, charges, and final outcomes. For full case files, visit the courthouse in person.
The court is part of the 19th Judicial Circuit and serves both Fairfax County and the City of Fairfax. Visit the Fairfax County Circuit Court page for local rules and forms. We checked the official site for this overview.
The page lists the clerk's office hours, judge assignments, and links to the land records search.
Need a misdemeanor or traffic case? Try the Fairfax County General District Court page next. The General District Court page covers all of these areas.
You will see info on small claims, traffic prepayment, and landlord-tenant cases on the same page.
Property Records in the Residents Directory
The Department of Tax Administration keeps property records for all 350,000-plus parcels in Fairfax County. You can search by address, parcel number, or owner name. Records include the owner, mailing address, assessed land and building value, square footage, year built, and zoning. Sales history is also available. Tax bills can be viewed and paid online.
For deeper history, the Zoning Administration Division keeps Street Files at the Herrity Building, 12055 Government Center Parkway, Suite 250. Almost every address has a file. These files may include building permits, plats, photos, and drawings going back to the 1950s. Call 703-222-1082 about plats. For land development records, call the Records and Information Branch at 703-324-1895.
Older zoning applications run online from 1959 to 1976. Building permits are online from the 1980s on. Building plans only stay on file for three years per state law. After that, they are destroyed.
Vital Records and Public Records Access
Marriage licenses are issued by the Circuit Court Clerk. The clerk also keeps marriage records for ceremonies held in Fairfax County. Wills and probate records go through the same office. For birth and death records, you must contact the Virginia Department of Health.
Public records requests fall under the Virginia Freedom of Information Act. You can ask for almost any document a county office holds. Some items are exempt, such as active criminal investigation files and some personnel records. The county office has five business days to respond. Visit the Fairfax County Government portal to file a request. We pulled this from the main county site.
The page links to the FOIA request form and the 311 service for non-emergency questions.
Fairfax County Residents Directory Online Tools
The county portal at fairfaxcounty.gov is the main hub. From there, you can reach property search, tax payments, permit lookups, and records request forms. The 311 service handles non-emergency questions about county services. Property assessments are searchable through the Department of Tax Administration search system.
Statewide tools also help. The Library of Virginia in Richmond keeps historical Fairfax County records, including chancery court cases and old land records. The Virginia Public Access Project tracks campaign finance and voter info for Fairfax County races. Both sites are free.
We also relied on the Fairfax County Government page during our research.
From this page you can reach health, human services, transportation, and the records request center.
Local Resources and Cities
Fairfax County is home to several incorporated towns and independent cities that share the area. The City of Fairfax sits inside county lines but runs its own court system. The town of Vienna and the town of Herndon stay under county courts. The City of Falls Church is also nearby.
Use these city pages in the Residents Directory to find local police and court info:
You can also reach the Fairfax County General District Court portal for cases tied to these towns. Nearby counties in the directory include Loudoun County and Prince William County.
The page also shows traffic court hours and how to prepay tickets online.
Note: The City of Fairfax is independent for some functions but shares the Circuit Court with the county. Check the right office before you file.