Tempe Public Records
Tempe public records include police reports, court cases, council documents, and city records from this university city home to Arizona State University.
Tempe Quick Facts
Tempe Public Records Overview
The city serves about 185,000 residents in Maricopa County. Tempe sits between Phoenix and Mesa, with Arizona State University at its heart. The university brings students, faculty, and research to the city. This creates a mix of permanent residents and a large transient population. Both groups generate public records through permits, court cases, and city services.
Arizona law gives everyone the right to inspect public records. A.R.S. 39-121 says public records are open to any person at all times during office hours. You do not need to explain why you want the records. The city cannot ask your reason. This law applies to Tempe city records as well as state and county documents throughout Arizona.
Tempe offers several online portals for accessing public records. The city aims to respond to 90% of requests within 3 business days. This fast response time makes Tempe one of the more accessible cities for records requests in the Phoenix metro area.
How to Request Tempe Public Records
Tempe uses the JustFOIA system for public records requests. The city aims to respond to 90% of requests within 3 business days. This goal shows the city takes records access seriously.
Submit requests through tempe.justfoia.com/publicportal. Create an account to track your submissions. The system shows the status of your request and sends email updates. You can also email requests to clerk@tempe.gov if you prefer not to use the portal.
Contact the City Clerk at 31 E. Fifth St., 2nd Floor. Phone: (480) 350-4311. Staff can help with questions about available records. They can point you to the right department if you are not sure where to look.
Be specific about what records you want. Include addresses, names, and dates when you can. Vague requests take longer to process. The city may ask for more details before they can search.
Tempe Council Documents
City council meeting documents are searchable online. These records show what the city government discusses and decides. Anyone can review them to see how their local government operates.
The Tempe Council Documents Search provides access to agendas, minutes, and supporting materials. Search by date or topic to find specific meetings. You can view reports and presentations that were given to the council.
Council meetings are also recorded. Video archives let you watch past meetings to see the full discussion on topics you care about. This goes beyond the written minutes to show the actual debate.
Tempe Court Records
Tempe Municipal Court handles city ordinance violations and misdemeanors. Traffic tickets, minor criminal offenses, and code violations go to this court. Court records are searchable online.
The Tempe Court Case Information system lets you search cases by name or case number. Find hearing dates, charges, and case status. The system updates as cases move through the court process.
Court phone: (480) 350-8271. Court minimum fee is $17. For Superior Court cases like felonies and civil lawsuits, use the Maricopa County court system. The municipal court and county court are separate with different records.
Tempe Police Records
The Tempe Police Department handles requests for police reports and accident reports. Police records include incident reports, arrest data, and other law enforcement documents.
For accident reports, Tempe uses the BuyCrash system operated by LexisNexis. You can purchase accident reports online through this service. The system lets you search by date and location to find reports from crashes in Tempe.
Contact Police Records at 120 E. 5th St. Phone: (480) 350-8598. Email: PD_RecordsRequests@tempe.gov. Some police records are exempt from disclosure under Arizona law. Records tied to open investigations are typically not released until the case closes.
Tempe Records Fees
Tempe offers generous free access to many records. The first 20 pages are free. This means many simple requests cost nothing. The city wants to make records accessible without cost barriers.
Fee structure for Tempe records includes the first 20 pages free, additional pages at $0.25 per page, and a court minimum fee of $17. These fees are lower than many other Arizona cities. Electronic delivery may save on copy costs if you request records by email.
If your request requires extensive staff time, the city may charge for labor. Ask about fee estimates for large requests before the city starts work. This lets you decide if you want to narrow your request or proceed as planned.
Tempe Property and Superior Court Records
Property records and Superior Court cases go through Maricopa County. The city of Tempe does not maintain these records. You need to contact county offices for deeds, liens, property tax data, and court filings.
Visit the Maricopa County Public Records page for property and court information. The county Recorder keeps property deeds, mortgages, and liens. The Assessor maintains property tax records and valuations. The Clerk of Superior Court handles civil and criminal case files.
Tips for Tempe Records Requests
Check the online portals first. Council documents and court cases are searchable online. You may find what you need without filing a formal request.
Use the JustFOIA portal. It tracks your request and sends updates. You can see exactly where your request stands in the process.
Take advantage of free pages. The first 20 pages are free in Tempe. For small requests, you may pay nothing at all.