Please include the following information in your request:

• For a CAD report for an incident, provide the local event ID number. If you don’t know the number, give the date and time of the incident AND street address or approximate location with nearest cross streets or businesses, plus nature of incident (traffic accident, suspicious activity, etc.).
  
  
• For a list of events (911 call history) for a specific location, include the date range (beginning and ending dates) AND street address, main street with cross streets, street name without block numbers, or business name with location.

We cannot search for personal names or telephone numbers. 911 audio recordings are purged after sixty days. Pursuant to NCGS 132-1.4(c)(4), we must protect information that reveals “the natural voice, name, address, telephone number, or other information that may identify the caller, victim, or witness.”

Social Services departments should call Guilford Metro 911 at 336-373-2933 or send an e-mail, rather than use the public records request website.

See the Greensboro Police Department P2C for instructions or you can order a report from the NC Division of Motor Vehicles.  For accidents investigated by the State Highway Patrol, go to Collision Reports.

NC General Statute (NCGS) 132-1 defines public records as “all documents, papers, letters, maps, books, photographs, films, sound recordings, magnetic or other tapes, electronic data-processing records, artifacts, or other documentary material, regardless of physical form or characteristics, made or received pursuant to law or ordinance in connection with the transaction of public business by any agency of North Carolina government or its subdivisions.”

The City follows the 2021 updated records retention policy.

It is the City’s policy to comply with all public records requests in accordance with the law.  For more, read the City’s Public Records Policy, approved by City Council in March, 2019.

The City recommends making your request on our public records request website.  Describe in detail the records you seek and how you want to receive those records.  You will receive an e-mail acknowledging your request.  Each request is assigned a tracking number.

Records also can be requested by e-mail or mail to:

Public Records Requests Administrator
Greensboro Central Library
219 North Church Street
Greensboro, NC  27402-3136

Many public records are accessible on Greensboro’s website.  Use the Search box at the top right of every page.  See our guide to records you don’t have to request.

According to NCGS 132-6.2(e), “Nothing in this section shall be construed to require a public agency to respond to a request for a copy of a public record by creating or compiling a record that does not exist.”  Please keep in mind that the City’s Public Records Policy does not require City staff to do research, analyze data, or answer questions.

The Public Records Requests Administrator is the main contact for all requests.  Contact the Public Records Requests Administrator at 336-373-3636 or by e-mail.

North Carolina’s Public Records law does not give a specific amount of time. According to NCGS 132‑6(a), “Every custodian of public records shall permit any record in the custodian’s custody to be inspected and examined at reasonable times and under reasonable supervision by any person, and shall, as promptly as possible, furnish copies thereof ...”

We work on a timely, thorough, and transparent response to all requests within five business days.  If a response takes longer than five business days, the Public Records Requests Administrator will contact you.  Please take into account the volume of records requested.  You may check the status of your request under the Main Menu.

In most cases, public records are provided electronically via e-mail at no cost to the requester.

Yes.  According to North Carolina’s Public Records law, public records are the property of the people.  You have the right to inspect or receive copies of any public records.  You do not have to disclose a purpose for your request.

All Greensboro records, including e-mails, are public unless they are a type of record, such as criminal investigation records or personnel records, that is exempt from disclosure under specific laws, including, but not limited to, NCGS 132 and 160A-168.  If we deny a records request or redact information in a record, we cite the law that prohibits disclosure.  The City’s Public Records Policy has a list of common exempt records.