Find Newark Public Records

Newark public records cover city council minutes, property taxes, planning and zoning files, police reports, and discovery requests tied to local cases. Newark is home to the University of Delaware and sits within New Castle County. The City Secretary serves as the FOIA Coordinator and handles both FOIA requests and discovery requests. The state Freedom of Information Act under 29 Del. C. Chapter 100 controls access to Newark public records, backed by the city's own FOIA policy. A written request reaches the right desk within 15 business days.

Newark Record Requests

The City of Newark splits records work into two tracks. Discovery requests cover open criminal or traffic cases filed in Newark. FOIA requests cover everything else. The Newark Record Requests page hosts both forms.

City Secretary Tara Schiano is the FOIA Coordinator. Reach her at 302-366-7000 or citysecretary@newark.de.us. The Secretary's office is at 220 South Main Street, Newark, DE 19711.

The Record Requests page above is the Newark FOIA entry point. It explains the difference between a FOIA request and a discovery request, so you pick the right path.

For a discovery request on a pending criminal or traffic case, send the form by email to discovery@newark.de.us. Needed info includes full name, date of birth, charge, date of arrest, and case number.

Note: Your Newark FOIA request may itself be treated as a public record. Keep sensitive personal data out of the description.

Newark Property Tax Records

Newark property tax data is online at newarkde.gov/134/Property-Taxes. The current rate for 2025-2026 is $0.2385 per $100 of assessed value, a 2.5% increase over the prior year.

Annual tax bills go out in July. The current-year due date was extended to October 31, 2025. A 5% late penalty applies after November 1. Senior School Tax Credits and Disabled Veterans School-Property Tax Credits are available to those who qualify, with deadlines in April and June.

The Newark property tax page above links to the Real Estate Tax Self-Service portal. You can view and pay property tax bills online any time.

Assessments for Newark properties are set by New Castle County. Appeals are heard by the New Castle County Board of Assessment Review. Call (302) 395-5520 for appeal details. Address changes on tax records must be updated through the county, not the city.

What the Newark tax portal shows:

• Current and historical tax bills
• Payment status and history
• Tax amounts due
• Assessment info from New Castle County
• Exemption status when applicable
• Disability and over-65 exemption eligibility

Note: Payments made online post to the account in a day or two. Keep any confirmation email until the payment shows on the Newark portal, especially near the late fee cutoff. Address changes must route through New Castle County, not the city.

Newark City Council and Planning Records

The Newark City Council keeps comprehensive legislative and administrative records. Regular meetings are on the second and fourth Monday of each month at 7:00 PM. The location is the Newark Municipal Building at 220 South Main Street. Special meetings and work sessions are scheduled as needed.

Council records include meeting agendas and minutes, ordinances and resolutions, council correspondence, committee reports, budget documents, and city contracts. FOIA requests for these records go to the City Secretary. Email citysecretary@newark.de.us or call (302) 366-7000. Written requests can also be mailed to the Municipal Building.

Planning and Development services sit under a separate division. Zoning verification, building permits, site plans, subdivision plats, and historic preservation records live there. Newark runs a GIS map application gallery where property data is integrated with zoning classifications. Assessment values, tax rates, and payment history all show on the integrated property reports.

The Newark Historic District has its own rules. A Certificate of Appropriateness is required for some work on historic properties. Records for historic property applications are kept by the Planning Division. Code enforcement records, including active violations and compliance letters, are available through FOIA.

The Delaware DOJ has reviewed Newark FOIA complaints in past opinions. In Opinion 18-IB23 the DOJ ruled that individual council member discussions with a consultant over hiring did not amount to a quorum meeting and did not violate FOIA. Opinion 22-IB20 found that Newark did violate FOIA by failing to meet its burden of proof when denying access to redacted info. That opinion also noted there is no FOIA duty to collect certain materials from board nominees or to follow a specific vetting process.

Newark Municipal Code and Ordinances

The City of Newark maintains its Municipal Code containing all current ordinances, resolutions, and regulations. The code is available for public review at City Hall and in an online searchable database. New ordinances are added as they pass. Historical ordinances can be requested from the City Secretary if not posted.

The Newark code covers charter provisions, zoning and land use, building and construction, business licensing, health and safety, traffic and parking, environmental rules, and historic preservation. Anyone researching what is allowed on a Newark parcel should start with the zoning section of the code. Code enforcement records are listed alongside the code itself.

Newark election records are also maintained by the City Secretary. Voter registration runs through the New Castle County Department of Elections. Poll results, council vote records, and audit reports for past elections are part of the city's Newark public records set.

New Castle County and State Resources

Newark sits in New Castle County. County-level deeds, property assessments, and GIS data flow through county offices, not the city. Visit the New Castle County public records page for the Recorder of Deeds, parcel search, and FOIA contacts. The Recorder's office is at 800 N. French Street in Wilmington.

Court records for cases filed in Newark run through CourtConnect. The Justice of the Peace Court 12 sits in Newark and handles minor civil and criminal matters. Serious cases move up to Superior Court in Wilmington or New Castle.

Criminal history checks for Newark residents go through the State Bureau of Identification. Newark has two SBI fingerprint sites, making it one of the easier places in Delaware to book a check. Reserve at uenroll.identogo.com. The certified state-only check costs $72.00 through the state police. A combined state and federal check is $85.00 when mandated by law.

Delaware business entities with Newark addresses show up in the state Division of Corporations search. Many University of Delaware spinoffs and startups register here. License-based background checks for professions go through the Division of Professional Regulation.

Nearby Cities and County

Newark shares New Castle County with several other cities. Each has its own FOIA process for local municipal records, though they all share county offices for real estate and court data.