Georgia, Clarke County
Where Athens's records are kept. Athens has its own town government, police department, municipal court and permit and planning office; county and state offices keep its other public records.
Start here
The cards below include Athens's own offices, along with the Clarke County and State of Georgia offices that keep the rest of its public records. Use the category buttons to narrow the list.
City records
The Athens-Clarke County, Georgia government site, with Mayor and Commission meetings, planning commission calendars, the department list and staff contacts, water and sewer billing updates and the building permit portal.
Open official site Athens-Clarke County Government (ACCGov)Police & jail
The Athens-Clarke County Police Department, with 243 sworn and 82 civilian positions, posts its mission, transparency in policing material, a public transparency site with report FAQs and a link to obtain accident reports.
Open official site Athens-Clarke County Police DepartmentCity records
Athens-Clarke County Police traffic accident reports come from two vendors the department approves; reports for crashes on private property come from ACCPD or the East Precinct.
Open official site ACCPD Obtain Accident ReportsMunicipal court
Athens-Clarke County Municipal Court at 325 East Washington Street, Suite 170, hears county ordinance violations, state misdemeanor traffic cases including DUI and some state misdemeanors, and handles domestic partnership filings and fine payments.
Open official site Athens-Clarke County Municipal CourtCity records
Open records requests to Athens-Clarke County go through the online portal or to named records officers for police and corrections at 3035 Lexington Road, general government, the sheriff and the tax commissioner and assessor.
Open official site Athens-Clarke County Open Records RequestCity records
Athens-Clarke County Building Inspections at 120 W Dougherty St takes permit applications through its online portal or dropped off during front counter hours, and schedules inspections and certificate requests.
Open official site Athens-Clarke County Building Permits and InspectionsPolice & jail
The GBI explains Georgia criminal history records: your own copy comes from most sheriff's offices or police departments, and another person's record needs that person's signed consent on a state form.
Open official site Georgia Bureau of Investigation Criminal History Record FAQFederal
Athens-Clarke County unified government (balance), Georgia in Census Bureau QuickFacts, estimated at 128,612 residents on July 1, 2025. The table adds housing, income and poverty, education, health insurance, commuting and business statistics.
Open official site U.S. Census Bureau QuickFactsState records
Part of the University System of Georgia, the archives has collected the state's historical records since 1918; browse its Virtual Vault online or research in Morrow, Tuesday to Saturday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Open official site Georgia ArchivesCounty court
Offices in Macon at 433 Cherry Street and in Columbus at One Arsenal Place, open 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; the court posts dial in and virtual hearing details, opinions, forms and online payment.
Open official site U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Middle District of GeorgiaCounty court
The Judicial Council of Georgia's Administrative Office of the Courts runs this gateway to ticket payment, the child support calculator, court record searches, directories and forms; some features need a login.
Open official site Georgia Judicial GatewayVital records
The Department of Public Health office that registers, preserves, amends and certifies Georgia vital records; order certificates online from listed vendors, by mail, or at a vital records office near you.
Open official site Georgia Department of Public Health Vital RecordsPolice & jail
After a usage agreement, the Georgia Department of Corrections search finds current and former inmates by name, alias, physical description, offense or GDC ID, and shows photos when available.
Open official site Georgia Department of Corrections Find an OffenderPolice & jail
Missing person cases posted by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation show race, height, weight, sex and last seen date for each; tips reach the bureau by phone or its online form.
Open official site Georgia Bureau of Investigation Missing PersonsPolice & jail
In one list sortable by case date or posting date, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation shows its unsolved homicides, missing persons, unidentified remains and robberies.
Open official site Georgia Bureau of Investigation Unsolved CasesPolice & jail
By state law the Georgia Bureau of Investigation keeps the sex offender registry, fed by other agencies and changing often, with links to the offender search, a bimonthly report and a data download.
Open official site Georgia Sex Offender RegistryPolice & jail
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation explains what a state criminal history record holds: identity, arrests, charges, court outcomes and prison custody. Get your own copy at most sheriff's offices or police departments.
Open official site Georgia Bureau of Investigation Criminal HistoryCity records
Official site of the Athens-Clarke County Unified Government in Georgia, with county news, utility billing updates, elections notices and links to departments and services.
Open official site Athens-Clarke County Unified GovernmentEverything else, organized
11 more Athens sources not listed above.
Local record guide
Local profile
Athens, a place of 127,315 people, is the seat of Clarke County. Court and property records sit with Clarke County, and birth and death certificates come from the State of Georgia. Athens's own offices are in the cards above, and our Clarke County page lists each county office.
Straight answers
Open only the answer you need.
Voter registration in Georgia is run by the Georgia Secretary of State and local election officials. Its site lists the registration deadline, online voter registration, polling places and the local election office for Athens.
Deeds for property in Athens are recorded by the Clarke County Clerk of Superior Court, and the county office that assesses property keeps the tax values. Our Clarke County page lists the county offices.
Certified birth and death certificates for events in Georgia come from the state vital records office, Georgia State Office of Vital Records. Its site lists who may order a copy, the fee and how to order.
Businesses that operate in Athens register with the Georgia Corporations Division, which runs the state business entity search. A local business license, where Athens requires one, comes from the town or Clarke County.
Same county
Use the city page when a record was created by a municipal police department or city office; use the county page for courts, deeds, vital records and jail custody.