Carrollton Public Records

Carrollton public records span three counties, Dallas, Denton, and Collin, depending on where a property sits or where a case was filed. The city straddles county lines in the DFW area, so knowing which county covers your address is the first step in finding the right records. City-level records come from the City Secretary, Police Department, and Municipal Court. County offices handle property records, court filings, and vital records. This guide explains how to access both city and county records for Carrollton.

County Public Records for Carrollton

Carrollton sits across three county lines. The largest portion falls in Dallas County, with sections also in Denton County and Collin County. Each county clerk office handles property records for the land within its jurisdiction. Deeds, mortgage filings, liens, and real estate documents for a Carrollton property go to the clerk office for whichever county that parcel falls in. All three counties offer online property record searches through their clerk portals.

Court cases for Carrollton residents are filed based on the county where the offense or civil matter occurred. Dallas County district courts handle the bulk of cases, with Denton and Collin County district courts covering their respective portions. You can search district and county court cases across all three counties through the statewide re:SearchTX portal at no charge. Search by name, case number, or filing date. For certified copies, contact the district clerk in the relevant county.

Property tax records for Carrollton are split among three appraisal districts: the Dallas Central Appraisal District, the Denton County Appraisal District, and the Collin County Appraisal District. Each maintains separate ownership and valuation records for properties within its boundaries. All three are publicly searchable online. Tax payment records and delinquency status go through each respective county tax office.

Carrollton City Secretary and Open Records

The Carrollton City Secretary handles open records requests for city government documents. The office is at 1945 E Jackson Road, Carrollton, TX 75006. Phone: (972) 466-3001. Fax: (972) 466-3002. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Submit requests in writing by email to citysecretary@cityofcarrollton.com or by fax or mail to the office.

The re:SearchTX portal provides free statewide court case searches covering all three counties where Carrollton sits: Dallas, Denton, and Collin.

City Secretary records include council meeting minutes and agendas, ordinances and resolutions, city contracts, budget documents, building permits, and code enforcement records. Standard copy fees are $0.10 per page. The city must respond to written requests within 10 business days under the Texas Public Information Act. If the city wants to withhold any records, it must seek an opinion from the Texas Attorney General's Office before doing so. Email, fax, and mail requests to the City Secretary all trigger the legal response timeline.

Carrollton Police Department Records

The Carrollton Police Department is at 2025 E Jackson Road, Carrollton, TX 75006. Non-emergency line: (972) 466-3333. Records division: (972) 466-3334. The department handles requests for incident reports, accident reports, and arrest records. You can request records in person, by mail, or through the city's written open records process.

The Texas Attorney General's Open Government resources explain how to submit public records requests to Carrollton and other Texas government bodies, including timelines and enforcement options.

Police records available to the public include offense reports, accident reports, and arrest booking information for non-exempt cases. Active investigations are not subject to disclosure. Victim information is typically redacted from released documents. Cases that led to criminal charges may have additional court records on file at the Dallas, Denton, or Collin County District Clerk, depending on where the offense occurred. For state highway accidents, DPS-submitted reports are available through the Texas Department of Public Safety for a separate fee.

Carrollton Municipal Court Records

The Carrollton Municipal Court is at 3030 N Josey Lane, Carrollton, TX 75007. Phone: (972) 466-3002. The court handles Class C misdemeanor cases including traffic violations and city ordinance offenses within the city's jurisdiction. Citation lookup and payment are available through the municipal court's online portal.

Municipal court records cover traffic tickets, speeding citations, ordinance violations, and other Class C offenses. These are separate from the Dallas, Denton, and Collin County district court and county court at law records. For felony cases, civil matters, or Class A and B misdemeanors, check with the appropriate county district clerk. The re:SearchTX portal does not include municipal court cases.

For proof of case disposition, certified copies of judgments, or confirmation that a citation was paid or dismissed, contact the Carrollton Municipal Court directly at (972) 466-3002. These documents are often needed for driver's license reinstatement, employer background checks, or other processes that require official case documentation beyond a basic name search result.

Fees and Processing Times

City of Carrollton standard copy fees are $0.10 per page. All open records requests must receive a written response within 10 business days. If costs exceed $40, the city must provide an estimate first.

Dallas, Denton, and Collin County clerk offices charge standard state copy fees, typically around $1.00 per page plus certification fees for certified copies. Online record searches at all three county clerk portals are generally free. Court case searches through re:SearchTX are free. Criminal history checks through the Texas DPS Crime Records Division cost $3.15 per name search. Municipal court citation lookups are free online. Police report fees depend on the request size and type.

Texas Public Information Act

The Texas Public Information Act, Government Code Chapter 552, gives the public the right to request records from Texas government bodies, including the City of Carrollton and all three county offices. You do not need to explain why you want the records or show ID for a basic written request. Any person can submit a request.

Requests submitted in writing, including email, start the 10-business-day response clock. The governmental body must respond by providing records, estimating costs, asking for clarification, or seeking an Attorney General opinion if it believes some records are exempt. Common exemptions include active investigations, attorney-client communications, and personnel records. If a body fails to respond in time, the records are presumed public. Complaints can be filed with the Attorney General's Open Government division.

Nearby Cities

Other major cities near Carrollton in the DFW area.