About Arlington County
Arlington County, Virginia is a unique urban county located directly across the Potomac River from Washington, D.C., covering approximately 26 square miles, making it the geographically smallest self-governing county in the United States. With a population of approximately 238,000 residents as of recent census estimates, Arlington is one of the most densely populated counties in Virginia. The county has no incorporated municipalities; all services are provided directly by the county government, with the county seat located at 2100 Clarendon Boulevard in Arlington.
Arlington is home to iconic national landmarks including Arlington National Cemetery, the Pentagon, the Marine Corps War Memorial (Iwo Jima Memorial), and the Air Force Memorial. The county was originally part of the District of Columbia, ceded by Virginia in 1789, but was retroceded to Virginia in 1846. Arlington's proximity to the nation's capital has shaped its identity as a hub for federal government employees, defense contractors, and technology companies.
The Arlington County Clerk of the Circuit Court, located at 1425 North Courthouse Road, maintains vital records, land records, and court documents. The Commissioner of the Revenue office, situated at 2100 Clarendon Boulevard, handles property assessments and business licenses. Arlington is known for its exceptional public transit connectivity via the Metro system, highly educated workforce, diverse international community, and urban village development model that has transformed former automobile-oriented corridors into walkable, mixed-use neighborhoods.
The county consistently ranks among the highest in the nation for median household income and educational attainment.
Sheriff, Police & Law Enforcement
Sheriff & Law Enforcement
The Arlington County Sheriff's Office is responsible for maintaining public safety and order within the county. This office manages the Arlington County Detention Facility, oversees the processing of arrests, and maintains criminal records. The Sheriff's Office is also tasked with providing security for the Arlington County Courthouse and executing civil processes. Notable programs include community outreach initiatives and inmate rehabilitation programs, which aim to reduce recidivism and promote public safety.
Police Departments
Arlington County is served by the Arlington County Police Department, which is the primary law enforcement agency responsible for policing the county. The department handles a wide range of duties, including patrol, investigations, and community policing. In addition to the county police, the Arlington County Sheriff's Office provides law enforcement services, particularly in areas related to the detention facility and court security. These agencies coordinate on major crimes and public safety initiatives to ensure comprehensive coverage and effective law enforcement throughout the county.
Law Enforcement & Arrests
Law enforcement in Arlington County is provided by the Arlington County Police Department (ACPD), headquartered at 1425 North Courthouse Road, Arlington, VA 22201, with a non-emergency phone number of 703-558-2222. The ACPD is a full-service municipal police agency serving the entire county, as Arlington has no incorporated towns with separate police forces.
- Mugshots and booking photographs are typically available through the Sheriff's Office inmate search system and may also be requested as part of arrest records from ACPD.
- Virginia law requires that arrest records be made available within five business days of a FOIA request unless specific exemptions apply under Virginia Code § 2.2-3706.
The Arlington County Sheriff's Office, led by the elected Sheriff and located at 1425 North Courthouse Road, Suite 4300, phone 703-228-4460, operates the Arlington County Detention Facility and provides courthouse security and civil process services. Inmates housed at the Arlington County Detention Facility can be searched through the Sheriff's Office website at sheriff.arlingtonva.us, which provides an online inmate locator with booking information, charges, and bond status. The detention facility is located at 1435 North Courthouse Road.
Arrest records in Arlington County are public records under the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (Virginia Code § 2.2-3700 et seq.), and requests can be submitted to the Arlington County Police Department's Records Management Unit at 1425 North Courthouse Road or via their online portal. The county also hosts various federal law enforcement agencies due to its proximity to Washington, D.C., including facilities at the Pentagon and other federal installations, though these agencies operate under federal jurisdiction. Response times in Arlington are among the fastest in the region due to the county's compact geography and well-resourced public safety infrastructure.
Criminal, Arrest & Jail Records
Criminal Records
The criminal records ecosystem in Arlington County, Virginia, includes records of felonies, misdemeanors, traffic violations, and the sex offender registry. The Arlington County Police Department and the Arlington County Sheriff's Office maintain these records, with additional oversight by the Virginia State Police. Residents can conduct background checks through the Virginia State Police, which provides access to statewide criminal history information.
- The sex offender registry is publicly accessible, providing information on registered offenders residing in Arlington County.
Arrest Records
Arrest records in Arlington County, Virginia, are maintained by the Arlington County Police Department and the Arlington County Sheriff's Office. These records provide detailed information about arrests made within the county, including the nature of the charges and the arresting agency. Residents and attorneys can request arrest records by contacting the respective law enforcement agency directly, following the guidelines set forth by the Virginia Freedom of Information Act.
Jail & Inmate Records
The Arlington County Detention Facility is the primary jail facility serving the county. It is responsible for the booking and housing of individuals arrested within Arlington County. Inmate lookup services are available through the county's official website, allowing residents to find information about current detainees. Visitation rules are specific to the facility, requiring visitors to schedule appointments and adhere to strict security protocols.
- The bond and bail process in Virginia allows for the release of detainees pending trial, with specific procedures outlined by the Arlington County Detention Facility.
Mugshots & Booking Photos
In Arlington County, Virginia, mugshots are taken and retained by the Arlington County Sheriff's Office during the booking process. These booking photos are part of the individual's arrest record and can be accessed through official channels. Mugshots may be available through the Sheriff's Office website or by submitting a formal request under the Virginia Freedom of Information Act.
Courts & Case Records
Arlington County is served by the 17th Judicial Circuit of Virginia, with the Arlington County Circuit Court located at 1425 North Courthouse Road, Courtroom 5C, Arlington, VA 22201, phone 703-228-7010. The Circuit Court has jurisdiction over felony criminal cases, civil cases exceeding $4,500, domestic relations matters including divorce, and appeals from lower courts.
- Copies of court documents cost $0.50 per page, and certified copies are $2.00 for the first page and $0.50 for each additional page.
The Arlington County General District Court, located at 1425 North Courthouse Road, Courtroom 1D, phone 703-228-4860, handles misdemeanor criminal cases, traffic violations, civil cases up to $25,000, and preliminary hearings for felonies. The Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court, phone 703-228-4590, is also located at the courthouse and handles juvenile delinquency, child abuse and neglect, custody and visitation, protective orders, and support enforcement. Court records are accessible under Virginia Code § 17.1-208 and § 17.1-293, which govern access to court records in the Commonwealth.
Arlington County participates in the Virginia Judiciary's online case information system at eapps.courts.state.va.us/ocis, which allows free public searches of case records by name, case number, or hearing date for cases in all Arlington courts. The Clerk of the Circuit Court, located at 1425 North Courthouse Road, Suite 2100, phone 703-228-7010, maintains permanent records including land records, civil case files, criminal felony cases, wills and probate, marriage licenses, and chancery records. The clerk's office is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
Online remote access to land records and some court documents is available through the clerk's website at courts.arlingtonva.us for certain record types, with subscriptions available for frequent users.
Property & Public Records
Property and land records in Arlington County are maintained by the Clerk of the Circuit Court, Real Estate Division, located at 1425 North Courthouse Road, Suite 2100, Arlington, VA 22201, phone 703-228-7010, website courts.arlingtonva.us. The office maintains all deeds, deeds of trust, mortgages, liens, releases, plat maps, easements, subdivision plats, and other instruments affecting real property in Arlington County dating back to 1870 (earlier records were destroyed during the Civil War).
- The county's Geographic Information System (GIS) mapping portal at gis.arlingtonva.us provides interactive parcel maps, aerial imagery, and property boundaries.
- Certified copies of recorded land documents cost $2.00 for the first page and $0.50 for each additional page.
- The Real Estate Division accepts walk-in customers and also processes requests by mail or online.
The clerk's office provides free public access to land records through computer terminals at the courthouse and offers online remote access through a subscription-based system for title companies and frequent researchers. The Real Estate Assessment Division of the Department of Real Estate Assessments, located at 2100 Clarendon Boulevard, Suite 314, Arlington, VA 22201, phone 703-228-3920, maintains property assessment records, property characteristic data, sales information, and tax maps. Arlington County offers a comprehensive free online Real Property Search tool at propertysearch.arlingtonva.us where the public can search by owner name, address, or parcel identification number to view current assessments, property characteristics, sales history, tax assessment history, and zoning information.
Property tax bills and payment information are available through the Office of the Treasurer, 2100 Clarendon Boulevard, Suite 201, phone 703-228-3060. Arlington County has been a leader in digitizing historical land records, with images of documents from recent decades readily accessible online.
Vital Records
Vital records for Arlington County, Virginia are maintained by the Clerk of the Circuit Court, located at 1425 North Courthouse Road, Suite 2100, Arlington, VA 22201, phone 703-228-7010. Birth and death certificates that occurred in Arlington County from 1912 to present are available from the clerk's office. Birth certificates cost $12.00 for the first certified copy and $10.00 for each additional copy ordered at the same time; death certificates cost $12.00 per certified copy.
- Processing time is typically same-day for walk-in requests during business hours (Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM) or 7-10 business days for mail requests.
- Marriage licenses are issued by the Clerk of the Circuit Court in Arlington County; couples must apply in person with valid photo ID and Social Security numbers, pay a $30 license fee, and observe no waiting period.
- Marriage records are public and copies cost $2.00 per certified copy.
- The Arlington County clerk's office does not offer online ordering of vital records, so requests must be made in person or by mail with appropriate documentation and payment.
Applicants must provide valid photo identification and proof of eligibility (immediate family member, legal representative, or person with a tangible interest). Virginia vital records are governed by Virginia Code § 32.1-250 et seq., which restricts access to birth records for 100 years and death records for 25 years to authorized individuals. For births and deaths occurring elsewhere in Virginia, or for expedited service, requesters may contact the Virginia Department of Health, Division of Vital Records, 2001 Maywill Street, Suite 101, Richmond, VA 23230, phone 804-662-6200, or order online through VitalChek at vdh.virginia.gov/vital-records with additional service fees.
Divorce records are maintained by the Circuit Court clerk and are available to parties of the divorce, their attorneys, or by court order.
Business & Licensing
Business licensing in Arlington County is administered by the Commissioner of the Revenue, Business License Division, located at 2100 Clarendon Boulevard, Suite 314, Arlington, VA 22201, phone 703-228-3060, website revenue.arlingtonva.us. All businesses operating in Arlington County must obtain a local business license, with annual fees based on gross receipts. Applications can be submitted online through the county's business portal or in person. The Commissioner of the Revenue maintains records of all licensed businesses, which are public records accessible under Virginia FOIA.
- Contractors must register with Arlington County and maintain required state licensing.
- The Arlington Chamber of Commerce, located at 2009 14th Street North, Suite 100, phone 703-525-2400, website arlingtonchamber.org, provides resources and networking for local businesses.
- Arlington County has streamlined business licensing processes through online portals and offers a Business Investment Group to assist new and expanding businesses with navigating county requirements.
Trade name (DBA - Doing Business As) certificates and fictitious name registrations are filed with the Clerk of the Circuit Court at 1425 North Courthouse Road, Suite 2100, phone 703-228-7010, with a filing fee of $10.00. For businesses incorporating or registering as LLCs, partnerships, or other formal entities in Virginia, filings must be made with the Virginia State Corporation Commission, Clerk's Office, at scc.virginia.gov/clk/begin, which maintains a free online business entity search at cis.scc.virginia.gov where anyone can look up corporations, LLCs, limited partnerships, and other registered business entities operating in Virginia. Professional and occupational licenses are typically issued by the Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR).
Building permits, certificates of occupancy, and zoning approvals are handled by the Department of Community Planning, Housing and Development, 2100 Clarendon Boulevard, Suite 700, phone 703-228-3525. Sales tax registration is handled by the Virginia Department of Taxation.
Elections & Voter Records
Elections in Arlington County, Virginia are administered by the Arlington County Office of Elections, Department of Voter Registration and Elections, located at 2100 Clarendon Boulevard, Suite 320, Arlington, VA 22201, phone 703-228-3456, website vote.arlingtonva.us. The office is led by the General Registrar and Electoral Board. Voter registration in Virginia requires applicants to be U.S. citizens, residents of Arlington County, at least 18 years old by the next general election, and not currently declared mentally incompetent or convicted of a felony (unless rights have been restored).
- Virginia offers online voter registration at vote.elections.virginia.gov, and the deadline to register is 22 days before any election.
- Arlington County voters can also register in person at the Office of Elections, by mail, or at various state agencies.
- Virginia allows no-excuse absentee voting; any registered voter may request an absentee ballot online at vote.elections.virginia.gov, by mail, fax, or in person.
- include registered voter lists (with certain personal information redacted), precinct-level election results, candidate filings, and campaign finance reports.
- Arlington County consistently demonstrates high voter turnout, with the November 2024 general election seeing approximately 78% turnout of registered voters, well above state and national averages.
Voters can find their polling place, view sample ballots, and check registration status at vote.arlingtonva.us or through the Virginia Department of Elections website at elections.virginia.gov. Arlington County operates approximately 50 precincts on Election Day, with locations at schools, community centers, and public buildings. Early voting (in-person absentee) is available at the Office of Elections starting 45 days before any election, including Saturdays, with extended evening hours during the final week.
Absentee ballot applications must be received by 5:00 PM on the Tuesday before Election Day for mail ballots, or Saturday before for in-person absentee voting. Election records that are public under Virginia Code § 24.2-101 et seq. The county provides detailed precinct-by-precinct results on its website shortly after polls close.
The next major election is November 3, 2026, featuring U.S. House of Representatives races (Virginia's 8th Congressional District covers Arlington), potential U.S. Senate races, and Virginia state legislative elections for the House of Delegates and State Senate.
Campaign finance filings for local Arlington County Board and School Board candidates are maintained by the Office of Elections and accessible to the public, while state-level campaign finance data is available through the Virginia Department of Elections' Public Access system at apps.elections.virginia.gov/SBE_CSV/CFREPORTS. Arlington County provides language assistance in Spanish and other languages as required by federal law, and all polling places are ADA-accessible. The county has implemented ballot marking devices and modernized voting equipment to ensure accuracy, security, and accessibility.
Economy & Demographics
Arlington County has one of the most robust and diversified economies in Virginia, with a median household income exceeding $137,000, among the highest in the United States. The county's economy is heavily influenced by its location adjacent to Washington, D.C., with major sectors including federal government employment, defense contracting, technology, professional services, hospitality, and real estate. Major employers include the U.S.
Department of Defense (Pentagon), which employs tens of thousands; Amazon Web Services, which selected Arlington's National Landing area for its HQ2 headquarters bringing an anticipated 25,000 high-paying jobs; Boeing, Raytheon Technologies, Deloitte, Accenture Federal Services, and numerous other defense and technology contractors. The county hosts major corporate offices including Nestle USA headquarters, The Nature Conservancy, and Consumer Technology Association. Arlington National Cemetery is both a solemn national landmark and a significant employer.
The unemployment rate in Arlington County typically runs well below state and national averages, often under 3% even during economic downturns, due to the stable federal government presence. Educational attainment is exceptionally high, with over 75% of adults holding bachelor's degrees. Key economic development initiatives include the transformation of Crystal City, Pentagon City, and Potomac Yard into National Landing, a mixed-use innovation district; redevelopment along Columbia Pike; and expansion of Virginia Tech's Innovation Campus.
Tourism contributes significantly, with millions visiting Arlington National Cemetery, Pentagon memorials, and utilizing the county's hotels for business and leisure travel. Reagan National Airport, while technically in Arlington, generates substantial economic activity. The retail and restaurant sectors benefit from high disposable incomes and population density.
Real estate values are among the highest in Virginia, reflecting strong demand. Arlington County government actively supports economic development through incentives, workforce development programs, and infrastructure investments including Metro connectivity and fiber optic networks.
Transparency Score
Court Records: ✅ Online | Property: ✅ Free Search | Arrest/Jail: ✅ Online | Vital Records: ⚠️ In-Person or Mail Required | Business: ✅ Online | Elections: ✅ Online | Overall Score: 9/10 — Arlington County provides exceptional digital access to public records with comprehensive online portals for property searches, court case lookups, inmate information, business licenses, and detailed election data, though vital records still require in-person or mail requests.
Official Government Resources
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Cities & Towns in Arlington County
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