Colonial Heights Public Records

Colonial Heights is an independent city in the Richmond metro area of Virginia, surrounded by Chesterfield and Prince George counties but legally separate from both. As an independent city, it maintains its own government, court system, and records offices. Public records in Colonial Heights include court filings, land documents, FOIA requests, police records, and tax data held by city and state agencies.

Colonial Heights Circuit Court Records

The Colonial Heights Circuit Court Clerk maintains all official court records for the city. This includes civil cases, criminal filings, land records, marriage licenses, probate proceedings, and divorce decrees. Colonial Heights is an independent city. That means its court records are entirely separate from Chesterfield County's records and Prince George County's records, even though the city sits between both. If you are looking for a case that was filed in Colonial Heights, you will not find it in either county court.

Search Colonial Heights Circuit Court cases online through the Virginia Judicial System circuit court portal. You can search by party name or case number and see filings, hearing schedules, and case status at no charge. For certified copies or full documents, contact the circuit court clerk directly. The Virginia Courts website lists the clerk's contact information and courthouse hours.

Land records from the Colonial Heights Circuit Court can be searched remotely through the Virginia Secure Remote Access system. This tool lets you look up deeds, mortgages, and other property instruments by name or book and page number. Older records may only be available in person at the courthouse.

Virginia Code § 17.1-208 requires circuit courts to make records available to the public. The clerk can provide plain or certified copies for a fee.

Land Records in Colonial Heights

All deeds, liens, mortgages, and plats for property within Colonial Heights city limits are recorded at the Colonial Heights Circuit Court Clerk. These records are separate from Chesterfield and Prince George county records. This is important for title research or any property transaction that involves land in the city.

The Virginia Secure Remote Access system is the best online tool for searching Colonial Heights land records. Enter a grantor or grantee name to find instruments. For older records or copies, a visit to the courthouse may be needed. The clerk's office can tell you what is available remotely and what requires an in-person request.

For current property assessments, the City of Colonial Heights Commissioner of the Revenue handles real estate and personal property records within city limits. Contact the city through colonialheightsva.gov for current office hours and lookup tools.

FOIA Requests in Colonial Heights

City records are available under Virginia Code § 2.2-3700. All public records held by city employees are presumed open unless an exemption applies. Under Code § 2.2-3704, Colonial Heights must respond within five working days. If the city needs more time, it must notify you and has an additional seven days to respond.

Submit FOIA requests to the city's FOIA officer. Contact the city through colonialheightsva.gov to find the current submission method, whether online, by email, or in writing. Include your name, contact information, and a specific description of the records you want. The more precise your request, the faster the city can respond.

Reasonable fees may apply for copying and staff search time. For general guidance on Virginia FOIA, the Freedom of Information Advisory Council is a free resource. Remember that court records, vital records, and criminal history are not covered by city FOIA. Each has a separate process outlined on this page.

Vital Records

Birth and death certificates for Colonial Heights residents are issued by the state. Contact the Virginia Department of Health, Division of Vital Records, at 804-662-6200. Certified copies cost $12 each. You can order online or by mail through VDH.

Marriage licenses issued in Colonial Heights and divorce decrees filed in the city are maintained by the Colonial Heights Circuit Court Clerk. Contact the clerk to request copies, bring valid ID, and ask about the current fee schedule.

Under Code § 32.1-272, certified copies of vital records are available to the person named, parents, legal guardians, and spouses. Others must show a legal basis to obtain copies.

Property and Tax Records

Colonial Heights handles its own property tax system as an independent city. The Commissioner of the Revenue sets assessed values for real estate and personal property within city limits. These records are separate from both Chesterfield and Prince George county records.

Tax billing and payment records are managed by the city treasurer. Property owners can check balances, see due dates, and get payment documentation by contacting the treasurer's office through the city website. Some Virginia independent cities offer online tax lookup tools. Check the city's website for current online access options.

Police Records in Colonial Heights

The Colonial Heights Police Department serves the city and maintains local law enforcement records, including incident reports and arrest records. Contact the department through the city website for information on how to request records and what fees apply.

For Virginia-wide criminal history records, go to the Virginia State Police. Under Code § 19.2-389, access to criminal history is restricted. The state police handle statewide records; local police handle city-level incident reports.

Online Records Access

The Virginia circuit court portal is the primary online tool for Colonial Heights court cases. The Virginia Secure Remote Access system handles land records. Together these cover most courthouse records without a trip downtown.

The Library of Virginia holds historical archives for older Virginia records. The OpenGovVA platform provides open government data. The Virginia General Assembly's law portal has the statutes that govern public records access in full text.

The city website at colonialheightsva.gov is the starting point for city-specific FOIA requests, department contacts, and any online tools for tax and property data.

The Library of Virginia holds historical archives and older records for Virginia independent cities, including Colonial Heights.

Older Colonial Heights court records and historical documents may be found in the Library of Virginia's collections.

Surrounding County Records

Colonial Heights is surrounded by Chesterfield County to the west and north, and Prince George County to the east. Records for properties and residents in those areas fall under the respective county's jurisdiction. Visit either county page for records outside city limits.

View Chesterfield County Records View Prince George County Records

Nearby Cities

These independent Virginia cities are in the Richmond and Petersburg area near Colonial Heights.