Find Alabama City Records

Alabama has 465 municipalities with varying levels of public record access. Larger cities offer online databases for court records, business licenses, and permits. Municipal courts handle traffic and misdemeanor cases. Property records stay at the county level. This page lists major Alabama cities where local databases exist. Each city page explains which records are available and how to search them.

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Major Alabama Cities

These cities have public record systems online. Court cases go through county courts in most places. Business license lookups are city-based. Code enforcement records may be searchable too. Each link shows what databases that city offers.

Birmingham Huntsville Mobile Montgomery Tuscaloosa Hoover Dothan Auburn Decatur Madison Florence Gadsden Vestavia Hills Prattville Phenix City Alabaster Bessemer Enterprise Opelika Homewood Northport Anniston Prichard Athens Daphne Pelham Oxford Trussville Albertville Mountain Brook Helena Fairhope Cullman Troy Selma Talladega Alexander City Ozark Scottsboro Fort Payne Saraland Gardendale Jasper Hueytown Hartselle Foley Gulf Shores Millbrook

City vs County Records

Most public records in Alabama are county-based. Property searches go through the county Revenue Commissioner. Circuit Court cases are filed at the county level. Inmate rosters come from the county jail. But cities do maintain some databases. Municipal courts handle city ordinance violations. Business license records are city-specific. Permit databases track building and zoning approvals in Alabama.

City websites vary in what they offer online. Large cities like Birmingham and Huntsville have robust online systems. Smaller cities may require phone calls or in-person visits. The city pages on this site show what each city offers for people searches and public records in Alabama.

How to Search City Records

Start by checking the city's official website. Look for a "Public Records" or "Open Records" link. Some cities use third-party portals for records requests. Business license searches are often on the city clerk's page. Municipal court case search may be separate from the main city site in Alabama.

If no online search exists, call city hall. Ask for the department that handles the record type you need. The city clerk can direct you to the right office. For court records that involve county courts, use the Alacourt ACCESS portal instead of calling the city in Alabama.