Fairbanks North Star Borough Public Records
Public records in the Fairbanks North Star Borough are available through the Borough Clerk, the Fairbanks courts, and several other local and state agencies. The borough is Alaska's second-largest population center, and it has well-organized systems for public records access across court documents, property data, law enforcement files, and vital records. The Alaska Public Records Act under AS 40.25.110 gives every person the right to inspect records held by public agencies, and the Fairbanks North Star Borough follows standard APRA procedures for all requests.
Fairbanks North Star Borough Overview
FNSB Borough Clerk Public Records
The Fairbanks North Star Borough Clerk's Office is the official custodian of borough records and the first stop for municipal public records requests. The Clerk is located at 907 Terminal Street, Fairbanks, AK 99701, phone 907-459-1401. Mailing address is P.O. Box 71267, Fairbanks, AK 99707. The office maintains assembly minutes, ordinances, resolutions, initiative and referendum petitions, election records, and official borough documents.
To submit a public records request, download the fillable PDF form from the FNSB Public Records Request page on the borough website. The form asks for your name and contact information, a description of the records you want, a date range, your preferred format (paper, electronic, or inspection), and which of the 18 borough departments the records come from. You must also sign a certification under penalty of perjury. Requests can be submitted by mail, email, or fax. A tracking number is assigned for follow-up.
The FNSB fee schedule waives the first $5 of copy costs per person per month. After that, standard copies are $0.25 per page, 11-by-17 copies are $0.50 per page, and color copies run $0.50 to $1.00 per page. If staff search time exceeds 5 hours in a calendar month, actual personnel costs at salary plus benefits are charged. The borough's standard response is 5 working days, and extended timelines up to 15 days require Chief of Staff approval with written notification to the requester.
The Fairbanks North Star Borough website provides access to the public records request form, department contacts, assembly agendas, and other official documents.
The FNSB website is the primary portal for borough public records requests, assembly minutes, and department-specific documents.
Fairbanks Court Records
The Fairbanks Superior and District Courts handle court records for the Fairbanks North Star Borough as the hub of the Fourth Judicial District. The Rabinowitz Courthouse is at 101 Lacey Street, Fairbanks, AK 99701, phone 907-452-9300, fax 907-452-9330. Superior Court handles felony criminal cases, civil cases over $100,000, domestic relations matters including divorce and custody, probate and estate matters, and appeals from District Court. District Court covers misdemeanors, civil cases up to $100,000, small claims up to $10,000, traffic violations, and preliminary felony hearings.
The CourtView online case search provides free public access to Fairbanks court records. You can search by party name, case number, or citation. Case types are identified by suffix: CI for civil, CR for criminal, SC for small claims, PR for probate, and MO for minor offenses. Cases filed before 1990 may only appear as paper index cards, so for older records contact the Fairbanks clerk directly. Research fees of $30 per hour apply when no case number is provided.
Copy fees at the Fairbanks courts are set by the Alaska Court System. Regular copies are $5 for the first document and $3 for each additional copy of the same document. Certified copies cost $10 for the first copy and $3 for each additional. Audio recordings are $20 per CD. Court forms specific to Fairbanks are designated TF-311 FBKS. Under AS 22.35.030, the court may remove acquittal and dismissal records from public online access after 60 days in certain circumstances.
Note: CourtView is a public reference tool. For official legal purposes, certified copies must be obtained directly from the Fairbanks court clerk, not from the online search system.
Fairbanks North Star Borough Property Records
The FNSB provides one of the most detailed local property search systems in Alaska at propertysearch.fnsb.gov. You can search by owner name (last name first), property address, PAN (Property Account Number), parcel number, subdivision name, or legal description. The database shows ownership information, mailing address, legal description, assessment values for land and improvements, exemptions and deferments, tax payment history, and property characteristics including square footage, year built, bedrooms, and bathrooms. Sales history is also included.
The Assessing Department that manages this database is at 907 Terminal Street, Fairbanks, AK 99701, phone 907-459-1428, open Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Assessment notices go out each January, and property owners have 30 days from the mailing date to appeal to the Board of Equalization. The Treasury Division handles tax payment questions at 907-459-1441, and online payment is available through the borough website.
The FNSB property search portal lets you look up any parcel in the borough by owner name, address, or PAN number with no login required.
The property search tool shows full assessment and ownership data for parcels throughout the borough, which is useful for research, title work, and ownership verification.
For recorded real property documents like deeds and mortgages, the DNR Recorder's Fairbanks office at 1979 Peger Road, phone 907-452-3521, maintains the Fairbanks Recording District records under AS 40.17.030. Recording fees are $20 for the first page and $5 per additional page. All recorded documents become part of the permanent public record available for anyone to view or purchase. The Alaska Land Records Information System covers grantor and grantee indexes from 1970 to present, searchable online.
Law Enforcement Records in Fairbanks
Two main law enforcement agencies maintain public records for the Fairbanks North Star Borough. The Fairbanks Police Department covers the city of Fairbanks. It is at 911 Cushman Street, Fairbanks, AK 99701, phone 907-450-6500, email fpd@fairbanks.us. FPD runs an online public records request portal at cityoffairbanksak.nextrequest.com where you can submit and track requests. The department also provides a P2C (Police to Citizen) portal for online access to recent crime data and activity maps.
The Alaska State Troopers Fairbanks Post covers unincorporated areas of the borough. The post is at 1979 Peger Road, Fairbanks, AK 99709, phone 907-451-5100. Trooper records requests go through the DPS Criminal Records and Identification Bureau in Anchorage at 5700 East Tudor Road, phone 907-269-5511. Include date, location, and party names in your request for faster processing. Certain law enforcement records are exempt from disclosure under AS 40.25.120(a).
The University of Alaska Fairbanks Police Department at 1788 Yukon Drive, phone 907-474-7721, maintains campus law enforcement records including a Daily Crime Log covering 60 days of incidents. Campus security statistics are published under the Clery Act requirements. For records involving UAF campus incidents, contact UAFPD directly at uaf.edu/police.
For criminal history background checks, the DPS self-service portal provides name-based checks online. The fee is $20 for the initial report and $5 per additional copy. You need a Social Security number and an Alaska driver's license or DMV ID to use the online system.
Vital Records in the Fairbanks Area
The Alaska Bureau of Vital Statistics maintains all birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates. For Fairbanks residents, the Anchorage walk-in office at 825 L Street typically offers same-day service. Under AS 18.50, births are restricted for 100 years and marriage, divorce, and death records for 50 years. Only people listed on a record or their authorized representatives may order non-historical copies.
Online orders go through VitalChek.com and take 2-3 weeks plus shipping. Mail orders take 2-3 months. The cost is $30 for the first certified copy and $25 for each additional copy of the same record. For births, eligible requesters include parents listed on the certificate, the person named on the certificate if 14 or older with school ID, legal guardians with certified guardianship documents, and attorneys or government agencies on official letterhead. Contact BVSOffice@alaska.gov for processing questions. Amendments, corrections, and adoptions go to BVSSpecialServices@alaska.gov.
Business and Other Public Records
Business entity records for companies registered in the Fairbanks North Star Borough are maintained by the Alaska Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing. You can search by entity name, entity number, officer name, or registered agent name through the online database. The division handles corporations, LLCs, limited partnerships, trademarks, and professional licenses for more than 40 regulated professions. Contact the division at 907-465-2550 or by email at Corporations@Alaska.Gov.
The Alaska State Archives holds historical government records from 1884 to the present and is the right place for older Fairbanks area documents that are no longer in active agency files. Researchers can search the online catalog, contact archives@alaska.gov, or call 907-465-2270. The Legislative Reference Library at the Terry Miller Building in Juneau at 907-465-3808 handles inquiries related to Alaska law and legislation, including access to current statutes through akleg.gov.
Note: APRA does not require agencies to answer research questions or create records. The right of access applies to existing documents only, and agencies may charge for lengthy searches exceeding 5 person-hours in a calendar month.
Cities in Fairbanks North Star Borough
The Fairbanks North Star Borough includes the city of Fairbanks and several unincorporated communities. Qualifying cities with their own pages are listed below.
Nearby Alaska Boroughs
These neighboring areas border or are close to the Fairbanks North Star Borough and have their own court and records systems.