Search Austin Public Records

Austin public records come from both the City of Austin and Travis County. The city handles municipal court files, police records, city clerk documents, and records from city departments, while Travis County courts maintain civil, criminal, and family law case files. Austin is the capital of Texas and home to nearly 978,000 people, making it the fourth largest city in the state. This guide covers where to find city records, how to request them and what each source provides.

Travis County Court Records

Most court records for Austin residents are maintained by Travis County. The Travis County District Clerk handles district court cases including felony criminal matters, civil suits, and family law filings like divorce and child custody. The Travis County Clerk manages county court records, probate filings, real property documents, and misdemeanor cases. For full details on county records and how to search online, visit the Travis County public records page.

Travis County offers online case search through its public access portal. You can look up cases by party name or cause number and view docket entries and case status. Getting copies of full documents requires an in-person visit or a written request. You can also search Travis County cases through re:SearchTX, the statewide court records tool. Basic information is free; downloading full documents requires a subscription.

Austin City Website and Official Records

The City of Austin maintains records through multiple departments including the city clerk, police department, municipal court, planning and zoning, code compliance, and public works. Many city records are available online or through formal open records requests. The city's official website is the best starting point for finding the right department.

The city website at austintexas.gov provides department pages, council meeting agendas and minutes, ordinances, permit information, and links to online services. Council records and city ordinances are often posted directly without requiring a formal request. The site also links to the city's open records portal for submitting PIA requests.

Below is a screenshot of the City of Austin's official website, which serves as the main hub for city services and public records access.

Each department manages its own records, but the City Clerk's office can direct you to the right place if you're not sure where to start. The city also proactively posts a wide range of datasets and records through its open data portal at data.austintexas.gov, covering topics from permit activity to police calls for service.

Austin Police Department Records

Austin Police Department records include incident reports, accident reports, arrest records, body camera footage, and 911 call recordings. APD is one of the larger police departments in Texas, and its records are generally available through the city's open records process or direct request to the APD Records Division.

Accident reports can often be requested through the APD Records Division by phone. Police incident reports generally go through the city's open records process. Active investigation files are exempt from public release. Records involving juveniles are confidential. Some personal details, like home addresses, may be redacted before release. When requesting records, include the incident date, location, and report number if you have it.

Below is a screenshot of the Austin Police Department's official page, which provides information about record requests, crime reporting, and department contact information.

APD also publishes crime statistics and incident data through the city's open data portal. If you need general crime trend information or area-level statistics rather than a specific incident report, check the public data portal first. It's free and often has what you need without a formal request.

Austin Municipal Court Records

Austin Municipal Court handles Class C misdemeanor cases including traffic citations, city ordinance violations, and minor criminal charges. These cases are handled by the city, not Travis County. Municipal court records are separate from county court or district court files and are maintained by the city.

Austin Municipal Court has an online case and citation lookup system. You can search by citation number or defendant name to check case status, scheduled hearings, and outstanding fines. Contact the court directly at (512) 974-4800 for help with specific records or cases that aren't in the online system. For older closed cases, a formal open records request may be needed.

Below is a screenshot of Austin Municipal Court's official page, which provides access to citation lookup, hearing schedules, and court procedures.

Municipal court cases in Austin are city cases. Traffic tickets are the most common type. The court also handles violations of Austin city ordinances, public intoxication charges, and other Class C matters. If you received a citation within Austin city limits, your case is here. If you were arrested on a state charge, that case goes to Travis County courts.

Austin City Clerk Records

The Austin City Clerk's office maintains official city records including city council meeting minutes, ordinances, resolutions, contracts, and board and commission records. Most of these records are publicly available and many are posted online. The City Clerk's office also receives and routes open records requests when the appropriate department isn't clear.

Below is a screenshot of the Austin City Clerk's official page, which provides access to council records, agendas, and public records request information.

City council meeting agendas and minutes are posted online after each meeting. These records are free to access. Specific contracts, agreements, or older documents may require a request. The City Clerk's office at Austin City Hall, 301 W. 2nd Street, 4th Floor, Austin, TX 78701, handles in-person requests as well as written and online submissions.

Austin Open Records Requests

The Texas Public Information Act, at Texas Government Code Chapter 552, gives anyone the right to request records from the City of Austin. You don't need to explain why you want them. The city has 10 business days to respond by providing the records, asking you to confirm a cost estimate, or seeking a ruling from the Texas Attorney General if it believes certain records may be exempt from disclosure.

Austin has a detailed fee schedule for records copies. Standard paper copies (single-sided, black and white) cost $0.10 per page. Oversize paper runs $0.50 per page. CDs cost $1.00 each and DVDs cost $3.00 each. If the request involves more than 50 pages, the city may charge $15 per hour for staff labor. Programming work is billed at $28.50 per hour. Overhead is added at 20% of personnel and programming costs. Off-site document retrieval costs $45.00.

If the total cost of filling a request will exceed $40, the city must send a written cost estimate before proceeding. You have 10 days to confirm whether you want to move forward. If you don't confirm in time, the city may close the request. You can narrow a large request to reduce costs before confirming.

The Texas Attorney General's Open Government Division at texasattorneygeneral.gov/open-government provides guidance on what records cities must release. If you believe Austin is withholding records without a valid legal basis, you can file a complaint or request an AG ruling. This process is free.

Nearby Cities

Other major cities near Austin with public records offices.