How to Search District of Columbia Public Records

District of Columbia's court, criminal, vital, property, voter, and licensing records are maintained across state agencies and the 1 the district listed below. Use the tabs to filter by record type, or jump directly to any source.

  • Courts: The D.C. Court of Appeals sits at the top of the system; trial-court business is handled by the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. Most courts publish dockets and case lookups online.
  • Criminal history: Official background checks run through the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) - Arrest and Criminal History Section; the District of Columbia criminal records page covers the current fee and request process.
  • Vital records: Birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates are issued by the DC Health (Vital Records Division) and may also be available locally.
  • Property & recorded documents: Maintained at the district level by the Assessor, Recorder, or Clerk's office.
  • Business filings: the Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection operates the official business-entity search.
Population
702,250
Households
324,491
Median Income
$108,210
Median Home Value
$737,100

District of Columbia Public Records at a Glance

The District compresses everything into one layer of government, which makes it simpler than any state. One trial court — DC Superior Court — holds civil, criminal, probate, and family cases, with its own online case search covered on the DC court records page. The Metropolitan Police Department produces criminal history reports, but only local DC arrests; federal cases from the US District Court are a separate system, which trips people up — our criminal records page explains the split. Birth and death certificates come from DC Health, deeds from the Recorder of Deeds, and business registrations from DLCP rather than a secretary of state. All 591 sources below are official.

Official Databases
591
Record Categories
8
Directory Since
1997

Figures reflect sources indexed in this directory and the latest official reports. Content reviewed July 30, 2026 by the SearchSystems editorial team.

District of Columbia Guides

Step-by-step pages for the searches people actually run:

Statewide Databases

591 official District of Columbia government databases. Click a tab to filter by record type.

Court Records

PACER U.S. District Court D.C. Bankruptcy
Official Paid
District Court of District of Columbia. Register with the fee-based PACER system to search for Federal bankruptcy court records by case number, name, SSN/Tax ID, or case type. Provides dockets and documents. Note: PACER charges $0.10/page; the first $30 per quarter is free.
🌐 ecf.dcb.uscourts.gov
Court Records
Official Free
CourtView access to District of Columbia Superior Court and Court of Appeals records.
🌐 dccourts.gov
PACER U.S. District Court D.C. Civil and Criminal
Official Paid
Provided by: U.S. District Court of District of Columbia. Register with the fee-based PACER system to search for Federal civil & criminal court records by case number, party name, filing date, or last update. Provides dockets and documents. Note: PACER charges $0.10/page; the first $30 per quarter is free.
🌐 ecf.dcd.uscourts.gov
Court Records
Official Free
District of Columbia CourtView access to Court of Appeals and Superior Court civil, criminal, criminal domestic, probate, and tax court records.
🌐 dccourts.gov

Criminal Records

No records available in this category yet.

Wants & Warrants

Criminal Histories
Official Free
District of Columbia Metropolitan Police Department information on how to order criminal histories and police clearance reports.
🌐 mpdc.dc.gov
Crime Maps
Official Free
Provided by: Discrict of Columbia Metropolitan Police Department. Search for crime maps that detail the type of crime, locate, frequency, and date of occurrence.
🌐 dcatlas.dcgis.dc.gov
Most Wanted - D.E.A.
Official Free
Provided by the Washington Division of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. Browse photos of most wanted criminals & view information including name, year of birth, physical description, charges, and last known address / location.
🌐 dea.gov
Criminal Histories
Official Free
Information from the District of Columbia Metropolitan Police Department on how to order criminal histories and police clearances.
🌐 mpdc.dc.gov
Cold Cases
Official Free
District of Columbia Metropolitan Police Department unsolved crimes.
🌐 mpdc.dc.gov
Crime Maps
Official Free
Provided by: District of Columbia Metropolitan Police Department. Search for crime maps that detail the type of crime, locate, frequency, and date of occurrence.
🌐 dcatlas.dcgis.dc.gov
Most Wanted
Official Free
Provided by the Metropolitan Police Department in the District of Columbia. Browse photos of most wanted criminals & view information including name (when available), physical description, and offense.
🌐 mpdc.dc.gov

Vital Records

Voter Records

Licenses

Optometrists
Official Free
DC Department of Health license verification for optometrists, and therapeutic pharmacy agents, and diagnostic pharmacy agents.
🌐 dohenterprise.my.site.com
Accountants
Official Free
District of Columbia license verification for public accountants, certified public accountants, partnerships and firms.
🌐 dlcp.dc.gov
Dentistry
Official Free
Department of Health license verification database for dentistry licensees, including dentists, dental assistants, dental hygienists, local anesthesia, and nitrous administration.
🌐 dohenterprise.my.site.com
Pharmacies
Official Free
License verification for pharmacies and pharmaceutical facilities, including hearing aid clinics, and pharmaceutical manufacturers, wholesalers, and distributors.
🌐 dohenterprise.my.site.com
Nurses
Official Free
Nursing license verification service from the DC Department of Health, including registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, certified nurse midwives, clinical nurse specialists, nurse practitioners, registered nurse anesthetists, home health aides, and trained medication employees.
🌐 dohenterprise.my.site.com
Dogs
Official Free
DC Department of Health dog license searches, including local, visitor pass, law enforcement, and designated dangerous dogs.
🌐 dohenterprise.my.site.com
Check Cashers
Official Free
District of Columbia Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking check casher licensing database.
🌐 disb.dc.gov
Appraisers | FFIEC
Official Free
Financial Institutions Examinations Council certified appraisers in the District of Columbia.
🌐 asc.gov
Plumbers
Official Free
License verification from the District of Columbia Board of Industrial Trades for plumbers, plumber masters, journeymen, apprentices, and plumber contractors.
🌐 dlcp.dc.gov
Pharmacists
Official Free
DC Department of Health pharmacist licensee search for pharmacists, interns, pharmaceutical interns, preceptors, and vaccination and immunization agents.
🌐 dohenterprise.my.site.com
Gasfitters
Official Free
License verification search for District of Columbia gasfitters, apprentices, journeymen, masters, and gasfitter contractors.
🌐 dlcp.dc.gov
Boxing & Wrestling
Official Free
District of Columbia Boxing & Wrestling Commission license search for boxers, wrestlers, agents, physicians, judges, seconds, matchmakers, promoters, inspectors, and referees.
🌐 dlcp.dc.gov
Interior Designers
Official Free
License verification for interior designers from the District of Columbia Board of Architecture, Interior Design, and Landscape Architecture.
🌐 dcratransition.dc.gov
Barbers
Official Free
District of Columbia Board of Barber and Cosmetology license search for barbers, barber students, barber teachers, managers, and owners.
🌐 dcratransition.dc.gov
Asbestos
Official Free
License verification search for District of Columbia asbestos workers and supervisors.
🌐 dlcp.dc.gov
Electricians & Contractors
Official Free
License verification search for District of Columbia electricians, journeymen, masters, master specialists, and electrician contractors.
🌐 dlcp.dc.gov
Business Licenses
Official Free
All businesses in the District of Columbia must be licensed. Use this service to search for the status of a business license in DC.
🌐 business.dc.gov
Insurance Companies & Producers
Official Free
National Association of Insurance Commissioners search for licensed District of Columbia insurance companies, producers, and public insurance adjusters.
🌐 sbs.naic.org
Engineers | Operating & Steam
Official Free
License verification from the District of Columbia Board of Industrial Trades for operating engineers, operating crane and port engineers, steam, and boiler engineers.
🌐 dlcp.dc.gov
Notaries
Official Free
Interactive map of business and residential DC Notary Public locations from the DC Office of the Secretary.
🌐 os.dc.gov
Nurse Aides
Official Free
District of Columbia Department of Health registry search for Nurse Aides and Nursing Assistants.
🌐 cna365.examroom.ai
Elevator
Official Free
License verification for elevator contractors, mechanics, and inspectors from the District of Columbia Board of Industrial Trades.
🌐 dlcp.dc.gov
Landscape Architects
Official Free
License verification from the District of Columbia Board of Architecture, Interior Design, and Landscape Architecture for landscape architects.
🌐 dcratransition.dc.gov
Cosmetology
Official Free
License verification search for District of Columbia cosmetologists, cosmetology owners, managers, instructors, manicurists, braiders, electrologists, estheticians, and body artis.
🌐 dcratransition.dc.gov
Crime Reports
Official Free
Washington Post reports of crimes and accidents in the D.C. area.
🌐 dc.gov
Code
Official Free
DC Code online. Browse the text by Title or search by keyword or term.
🌐 advance.lexis.com
Agency Index
Official Free
Browse this alphabetical listing by name for District of Columbia Agencies and Services. Provides web site address, phone, fax, address, and description.
🌐 dc.gov
Legislation
Official Free
Council of the District of Columbia for Legislative information, DC Code, and DC Statutes.
🌐 dccouncil.gov
Jobs
Official Free
Search for job opportunities in the District of Columbia by keyword, occupational group, through an advanced search feature (recently added, by education, experience, etc.), or browse by occupation. For residents only. Access requires registration.
🌐 dcnetworks.org
Unclaimed Property
Official Free
Unclaimed property program sponsored by the District of Columbia Office of the Chief Financial Officer.
🌐 cfo.dc.gov
Towed Vehicle Locator
Official Free
District of Columbia Department of Public Works searcj for towed vehicles by state, license tag, or VIN.
🌐 dpw.dc.gov
Library Catalog
Official Free
Search this Washington District of Columbia Library Catalog by keyword, call number browse the catalog, or use the power search to locate catalog entries by word, phrase, author, title, subject, series, or periodical title.
🌐 dclibrary.org
Business Licenses
Official Free
Verify a business license status in the District of Columbia by business name, address, license category, or license number.
🌐 mybusiness.dc.gov
Libraries
Official Free
Online interactive map of DC public library locations. Read! It's good for you.
🌐 dclibrary.org
Retail Sites
Official Free
DC Economic Partnership interactive and searchable map of available retail sites.
🌐 dc.gov
GIS Map
Official Free
Interactive map of DC data, including crime incidents, service requests, public space permits, building permits, and schools.
🌐 dc.gov
Addresses
Official Free
DC Master Address database. Find registered addresses by street, intersection, map, block, or place name.
🌐 developers.data.dc.gov
Property | GIS
Official Free
DC PropertyQuest service. Find property information, including historic district status, by map, address, or square.
🌐 propertyquest.dc.gov
Business Licenses
Official Free
DC Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs business license verification by business name, address, category, or license number.
🌐 business.dc.gov

Recorded Documents

Property Records

Real Estate
Official Free
District of Columbia real estate license lookup from the Association of Real Estate License Law Officials.
🌐 arello.com
Property
Official Free
Search the Washington D.C. real property tax database by address, neighborhood, property ID, mortgage co., use code, and/or ward.
🌐 mytax.dc.gov
Licenses | Professional, Medical & Business
Official Free
Find District of Columbia licenses for professionals and businesses. Includes attorneys, CPAs, dentists, physicians, real estate agents, nurses, veterinarians, and more.

District of Columbia

The District of Columbia is a federal district and has no counties. All public records are administered at the district level—see the categories above for direct access.

Frequently Asked Questions

District of Columbia keeps public records at three levels: federal (FBI, federal courts via PACER), state (court of last resort, state police, department of health, secretary of state), and county-level (sheriffs, clerks, recorders, assessors). Each county maintains its own court, criminal-justice, property, and vital-records offices linked from the county pages below.

For statewide trial-court information, start at the District of Columbia Courts: www.dccourts.gov. District of Columbia federal cases are searched through PACER. For local case dockets, see the Court Records tab and the county page for your area.

District of Columbia's official statewide criminal-history check is run by the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) - Arrest and Criminal History Section at mpdc.dc.gov. Most state-level checks require fingerprints and a fee. A nationwide FBI Identity History Summary is available separately.

Certified District of Columbia vital records are issued by the Official District of Columbia Vital Records at dchealth.dc.gov. Recent local events (births, deaths, marriages) can often also be requested from the county clerk or local registrar where the event was filed.

Most online record indexes in District of Columbia are free to search; fees apply for certified copies, fingerprint background checks, full document images at the recorder, and statewide bulk data. Each agency publishes its current fee schedule — for example the District of Columbia Courts (courts), the Official District of Columbia Vital Records (vital records), the Official District of Columbia Voter Records (elections), and the Official District of Columbia Professional & Occupational Licenses (licenses).