What does Ennis Municipal Court handle?
The city court is limited to fine-only cases. Anything carrying possible jail time is filed with Ellis County, not the city.
- Court
- Ennis Municipal Court — official court page
- Address
- 107 N. Sherman St., Ennis, TX 75119 (P.O. Box 220)
- Phone
- (972) 875-4457 (Court Administrator) · City main (972) 875-1234
- Handles
- Class C misdemeanors — traffic, municipal ordinances, and fine-only offenses
- Online payment
- ennistx.municipalonlinepayments.com
- Hours
- Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
A Class C misdemeanor is the lowest level of criminal charge in Texas. It is punishable by a fine only (generally up to $500, plus court costs) with no jail sentence, which is why these cases stay in the city's municipal court. Common examples are speeding and most traffic violations, public-intoxication-type citations, and violations of local ordinances such as parking, code, or animal rules.
If a charge is a Class B or Class A misdemeanor (for example, most DWI, possession, or assault cases) or a felony, it is not handled by Ennis Municipal Court. Those cases are filed with the Ellis County courts in Waxahachie and follow the county process — booking, magistration, and a setting in a county court at law or district court. Our Ellis County hub walks through that side step by step.
Ennis city jail
Ennis is one of the Ellis County cities that operates its own detention center — but felony defendants still bond through the county.
- City facility
- Ennis Detention Center (Ennis Police Department)
- Address
- 1700 Lake Bardwell Dr., Ennis, TX 75119
- Phone
- (817) 290-5070
- Hours
- 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
- Holds
- Pretrial individuals and people serving misdemeanor sentences from Ennis Municipal Court
- County jail (for felonies)
- Wayne McCollum Detention Center, 300 S. Jackson St., Waxahachie — jail & booking details
The Ennis Police Department operates the Ennis Detention Center at 1700 Lake Bardwell Dr., open around the clock. For City of Ennis (Class C) charges, bond is paid in cash (exact change) or by money order on-site — there is no ATM at the facility. For felonies and higher misdemeanors, bond is posted at the Ellis County Sheriff's Office, 300 S. Jackson St., Waxahachie, (972) 825-4931.
Released individuals exit through the Communications Center lobby at the Police Department. To confirm exactly where someone is held — and their charges and any bond on a county case — use the county tools: inmate search and jail & booking details.
How do I pay or handle an Ennis ticket?
You usually have more options than just paying. Paying a ticket is a guilty plea — sometimes the wrong move.
| Option | What it means | Effect on your record |
|---|---|---|
| Pay the fine | Pay online, by phone, or in person at 107 N. Sherman St. | Counts as a guilty/no-contest plea — the conviction goes on your record |
| Defensive driving | Ask the court to take a state-approved driving course (eligibility rules apply) | Can keep one qualifying traffic offense off your record |
| Deferred disposition | Probation-style period set by the court; complete the terms and the case is dismissed | Dismissal if you finish the terms — keeps the conviction off your record |
| Appear / contest | Request a court date and plead not guilty to a judge or jury | Depends on the outcome of the case |
Whichever path you choose, watch the deadline printed on your citation. The City of Ennis's online payment portal lets you pay or look up many citations. If you are not sure whether to pay or fight a ticket — especially a no-insurance, invalid-license, or CDL-affecting citation — it is worth a quick call to a lawyer first, because the cheapest option today is not always the cheapest for your record or insurance.
Someone was arrested in Ennis — where are they and how do I get them out?
A city arrest may start at the Ennis Detention Center; a felony moves to Ellis County. Here's the fast path to find them and post bond.
- Find themFor a city case, call the Ennis Detention Center at (817) 290-5070. For a felony or higher misdemeanor, run the Ellis County inmate search by name — it shows charges and bond amount once set.
- Confirm by phone if neededIf the online lookup is down or the person isn't showing yet, call the Ellis County jail at (972) 825-4931, available 24 hours.
- Wait for magistrationA magistrate reviews the charges and sets the bond — Ellis County has no published bail schedule, so each bond is set individually. The amount appears in the inmate search once it's set.
- Post bondFor City of Ennis charges, pay cash or money order at the Ennis Detention Center. For county charges, post at the Wayne McCollum Detention Center bond counter, 300 S. Jackson St. See the full bonding-out guide.
Because the county detention facility, the bond counter, and the magistrate are all part of the Ellis County system, everything about getting someone out on a felony or higher-misdemeanor case is covered on the Ellis County hub rather than here.
Worried about an Ennis warrant?
A missed ticket deadline or unpaid fine can turn into a warrant — but you have options before you walk into a court.
If you think you may have an active warrant out of Ennis — a failure-to-appear, capias, or traffic warrant from an unpaid citation — don't show up at the court counter or the jail blind. Understand how to check for and resolve it first.
Ennis court & jail FAQ
What does Ennis Municipal Court handle?
Only Class C misdemeanors, traffic citations, and city-ordinance violations — all fine-only, with no jail time. Class A/B misdemeanors and felonies are filed with the Ellis County courts in Waxahachie, not the city court. The court is at 107 N. Sherman St.; call (972) 875-4457.
How do I pay an Ennis ticket?
Pay online at ennistx.municipalonlinepayments.com, or by phone or in person at 107 N. Sherman St. Remember that paying is a guilty plea — defensive driving or deferred disposition may keep the offense off your record.
Does Ennis have its own city jail?
Yes — the Ennis Police Department runs the Ennis Detention Center at 1700 Lake Bardwell Dr., open 24/7, for pretrial holds and municipal-sentence inmates. Class C bonds are paid in cash or money order on-site; felonies and higher misdemeanors bond through the Ellis County Sheriff's Office, (972) 825-4931.
Someone was arrested in Ennis — where are they?
They may be at the Ennis Detention Center (1700 Lake Bardwell Dr., (817) 290-5070). Felony and higher-misdemeanor cases run through the Ellis County jail at 300 S. Jackson St., Waxahachie. Use the Ellis County inmate search to confirm, or call (972) 825-4931.
What happens if I ignore an Ennis ticket?
The court can issue a warrant, add a failure-to-appear charge, and flag your driver's license renewal. Call the Court Administrator at (972) 875-4457 before the deadline to ask about a payment plan or alternatives — and if a warrant has already issued, learn how to check and lift it before going in.
Have a question this page didn't answer? Browse more DFW jail, bond & court FAQs.
Arrested in Ennis? Talk to L&L Law Group
If you or a loved one is facing a charge that's headed to the Ellis County courts, L&L Law Group can review the case — free and confidential. (Fine-only tickets are usually handled directly with the municipal court above.)
Nearby & related pages
Other Ellis County city pages and the county-wide tools you may need next.