Find Public Records in Covington
Covington is an independent city in the Alleghany Highlands region of Virginia, nestled in the mountains and surrounded by Alleghany County. As an independent city, Covington runs its own government and court system, separate from any county. Public records in Covington cover court cases, land documents, FOIA requests, property taxes, police reports, and vital records held by city departments and state agencies.
Covington At a Glance
Covington Circuit Court Records
The Covington Circuit Court Clerk's Office holds the official record of all cases filed in the city. Civil cases, criminal cases, land records, marriage licenses, probate cases, and divorce filings are all maintained here. Covington is an independent city, so its court is separate from Alleghany County's court system. Cases filed in Covington do not appear in Alleghany County records and vice versa.
You can search Covington court cases online through the Virginia Judicial System circuit court portal. The portal shows case filings, hearing dates, and status at no cost. For certified copies or full case documents, visit or call the Covington Circuit Court Clerk. The Virginia Courts website provides clerk contact information and courthouse details.
The clerk also maintains land records for the city. Deeds, liens, and plats are accessible through the Virginia Secure Remote Access system for remote lookup by name or instrument number.
Under Virginia Code § 17.1-208, circuit court records are public. The clerk can provide plain or certified copies for a set fee.
Land Records in Covington
Property deeds, mortgages, liens, and plats for land within Covington city limits are recorded at the Covington Circuit Court Clerk. Because Covington is an independent city, these records are completely separate from Alleghany County's land records. If you are researching property near the city/county boundary, you may need to check both offices.
The Virginia Secure Remote Access system is the easiest way to search Covington land records online. You can enter a grantor or grantee name and pull up historical deeds without visiting the courthouse. For older records or copies, the clerk's office can help in person.
For current property assessments, the Covington Commissioner of the Revenue handles real estate and personal property within city limits. Contact the city through covingtonva.gov for office hours and any online lookup options currently available.
FOIA Requests in Covington
Public records from Covington city agencies are available under Virginia Code § 2.2-3700. All records prepared or held by city employees in the normal course of business are presumed open unless a specific exemption applies. Under Code § 2.2-3704, the city must respond within five working days, not counting weekends or holidays.
To make a FOIA request, contact the city's FOIA officer through covingtonva.gov. Submit your request in writing with your name, contact information, and a clear description of the records you are seeking. The city may charge reasonable fees for copying and search time.
For guidance on Virginia FOIA rights, the Virginia Freedom of Information Advisory Council provides free help. Court records, vital records, and criminal history are not subject to city FOIA. Those are covered by separate processes on this page.
Note: FOIA does not require the city to create records that do not exist or answer general questions. Requests must target existing records that can be described specifically.
Vital Records
Birth and death certificates for Covington residents are issued by the Virginia Department of Health, Division of Vital Records. Copies cost $12 each. Call 804-662-6200 or order through the VDH website. The city does not hold birth and death certificates.
Marriage licenses and divorce decrees are filed with the Covington Circuit Court Clerk. Contact the clerk's office to request copies. You will need valid ID and must pay the clerk's copy fee. The clerk can tell you what forms of ID are required and how to submit your request.
Under Code § 32.1-272, certified vital records are restricted. The person named on the record, parents, legal guardians, and spouses may request copies. Others need a legal basis.
Property and Tax Records
Covington maintains its own property tax system as an independent city. The Commissioner of the Revenue assesses real estate and personal property within city limits. These records are entirely separate from Alleghany County's records. Property owners in the city deal with city offices, not the county.
Tax billing and payments are handled by the city treasurer. Contact the city through covingtonva.gov for the treasurer's contact information and any online payment or lookup tools currently available. Tax records can help verify payment history and outstanding balances on a property.
Police Records in Covington
The Covington Police Department handles law enforcement for the city and maintains local incident reports and arrest records. Contact the department through the city website to ask about requesting records and applicable fees.
For Virginia-wide criminal history records, the Virginia State Police maintains the statewide database. Under Code § 19.2-389, criminal history is restricted and only available to certain requestors. Local incident reports and statewide criminal history come from different agencies.
Online Records Access
The Virginia circuit court portal covers Covington court cases. The Virginia Secure Remote Access system handles land records. These two tools cover most courthouse-based records without a trip to the city.
The Library of Virginia holds historical archives useful for older Covington records. The OpenGovVA platform provides access to open data from Virginia agencies. The Virginia law portal has the full text of statutes that govern records access.
The city website at covingtonva.gov is the best starting point for city-specific records, department contacts, and FOIA procedures.
The Virginia Department of Health issues certified vital records for all Virginia cities and counties, including Covington.
Birth and death certificates for Covington residents are ordered through VDH at $12 per copy.
Alleghany County Records
Covington is an independent city surrounded by Alleghany County. The county handles its own records for residents and properties outside Covington city limits. For records in the surrounding mountain area, visit the Alleghany County page.