Fort Worth Municipal Open Data - API Access & Datasets

Technology and Data Texas 3 Minutes Read · published February 06, 2026 Flag of Texas

The City of Fort Worth, Texas publishes an open data portal to share municipal datasets, APIs, and related governance information. This guide explains how to discover datasets, use API endpoints, submit public information or data requests, and where to find official policy and contacts for Fort Worth open data administration.

Start by identifying the dataset you need on the city portal before requesting special access.

Accessing the Open Data Portal

Most Fort Worth datasets and API endpoints are published on the city portal. Use the portal catalog to search by department, topic, or format and copy dataset API endpoints for programmatic access via REST or Socrata-compatible interfaces. For the portal listing and API documentation, see the city portal Open Data Portal[1].

Data Governance & Policy

Open data governance—responsible departments, terms of use, licensing, and acceptable use—are documented by city IT and the records office. Check the municipal policy pages and the public information procedures for guidance on exemptions and record redaction. For municipal code and public information procedures refer to the city code and the city secretary resources Fort Worth Code of Ordinances[2] and the city public information request page Public Information Requests[3].

Penalties & Enforcement

Enforcement of open-data policy and misuse of municipal data is handled administratively by the responsible city department (commonly Information Technology and the City Secretary) and through city code provisions where applicable. Specific monetary fines or statutory penalties for improper API access or misuse of open data are not specified on the cited pages. Administrative actions may include suspension or revocation of programmatic access, takedown requests, and referral to legal counsel for civil remedies; specific escalation rules and dollar amounts are not specified on the cited pages.

If you believe data has been misused, report it to the City Secretary or IT department using official contacts.

Applications & Forms

To request records not available via the portal, file a public information request with the City Secretary. The city maintains a procedure and contact point for Public Information Requests; where a specific form exists it is published on the City Secretary page cited above. For data access exceptions or API account requests, contact the Information Technology department via the portal or the IT department contact listed on the city site; a dedicated API account form is not universally published on the portal and may be handled case-by-case.

  • Submit a public information request for non-published records.
  • Contact IT for API account or usage questions.
  • Provide dataset identifiers and example queries when requesting assistance.

How-To

  1. Find the dataset on the Fort Worth Open Data Portal and open its metadata page.
  2. Copy the API endpoint (Socrata/REST) or download a CSV for offline use.
  3. If data is restricted, file a Public Information Request with the City Secretary identifying the records needed.
  4. For API access problems, contact IT with dataset identifiers and example requests.

FAQ

How do I get programmatic API access to Fort Worth datasets?
Locate the dataset in the Open Data Portal and use the provided REST/Socrata endpoint; for restricted access contact the city IT department or file a Public Information Request if the dataset is withheld.
Where can I find the city open data policy or terms of use?
Policy and terms are published by the city on the portal and by city departments; consult the portal metadata and municipal pages cited above for legal terms.
What if the dataset I need is not on the portal?
File a Public Information Request with the City Secretary specifying the dataset, date ranges, and format desired.

Key Takeaways

  • Start at the Open Data Portal catalog to locate datasets and API endpoints.
  • Use the City Secretary public information process for records not published online.
  • Contact IT for account, technical support, or to clarify permissible use.

Help and Support / Resources

  1. [1] Open Data Portal - City of Fort Worth
  2. [2] Fort Worth Code of Ordinances - Municode
  3. [3] City Secretary - Public Information Requests

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