What does Kennedale Municipal Court handle?
The city court is limited to fine-only cases. Anything carrying possible jail time is filed with the county, not the city.
- Court
- Kennedale Municipal Court — official court page
- Address
- 405 Municipal Drive, Kennedale, TX 76060
- Phone
- (817) 985-2140
- Handles
- Class C misdemeanors, traffic citations, and city-ordinance violations (all fine-only)
- Online payment
- Kennedale citation payment methods
- Hours
- Monday–Friday 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. (closed noon–1 p.m. for lunch)
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 Kennedale Municipal Court. Those cases are filed with the Tarrant County courts in Fort Worth and follow the county process — booking, magistration, and a setting in a county criminal court at law or district court. Our Tarrant County hub walks through that side step by step.
Does Kennedale have its own jail?
This is the most common point of confusion. The short version: plan on the county jail, not a city jail.
- Likely facility
- Tarrant County Corrections Center
- Address
- 100 N. Lamar, Fort Worth, TX 76196
- Detention Bureau
- (817) 884-3000, 24 hours
- Confirm custody
- Tarrant County inmate search
People often say someone is “in the Kennedale jail” when the person has actually been taken to the county facility in Fort Worth. If a Kennedale officer made a custodial arrest above a fine-only offense, the person is generally transported to the Tarrant County Corrections Center for booking. To confirm exactly where someone is held — and their charges and any bond — use the county tools: inmate search and jail & booking details.
How do I pay or handle a Kennedale 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 405 Municipal Drive, Kennedale, TX 76060 | 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 Kennedale’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 Kennedale — where are they and how do I get them out?
For a custodial arrest, this is a county process. Here’s the fast path to find them and post bond.
- Find themRun the Tarrant County inmate search by name. It shows charges, bond amount (once set), and whether the person is still in custody. If a booking is very recent, give it a few hours to appear.
- Confirm by phone if neededIf the online lookup is down or the person isn’t showing yet, call the Detention Bureau at (817) 884-3000, available 24 hours.
- Wait for magistrationA magistrate at Central Magistration reviews the charges and sets the bond — Tarrant County uses an individualized assessment, not a published bail schedule. The amount appears in the inmate search once it’s set.
- Post bondBonds are posted around the clock at the county’s 24/7 Bond Desk at 100 N. Lamar, Fort Worth. See the full bonding-out guide for bond options (cash, surety, or personal).
Because the detention facility, the Bond Desk, and the magistrate are all part of the county system, everything about getting someone out is covered on the Tarrant County hub rather than here. That page has the inmate search, money on the books, visitation, and bond details in one place.
Worried about a Kennedale 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 Kennedale — 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.
Kennedale court & jail FAQ
What does Kennedale Municipal Court handle?
Kennedale Municipal Court handles Class C misdemeanors, traffic citations, and city-ordinance violations — all fine-only offenses with no jail sentence. Class A or Class B misdemeanors and felonies are filed in the Tarrant County courts in Fort Worth, not the city court. The court is at 405 Municipal Drive, Kennedale, TX 76060; call (817) 985-2140.
How do I pay a ticket in Kennedale?
You can pay a Kennedale citation online (Kennedale citation payment methods), or pay by phone or in person at the Municipal Court, 405 Municipal Drive, Kennedale, TX 76060. Before you simply pay, remember that paying a traffic ticket is a guilty/no-contest plea that puts the offense on your record — defensive driving or deferred disposition may keep it off.
Does Kennedale have its own jail?
The Kennedale Police Department handles arrests, but no standalone city jail that holds people overnight was confirmed on the city’s official pages. Note: Kennedale Municipal Court is a Safe Harbor Court — you may appear with ID at any time to resolve outstanding Class C cases without fear of arrest on Kennedale municipal warrants. People arrested on charges above a fine-only offense are generally taken to the Tarrant County Corrections Center at 100 N. Lamar, Fort Worth, (817) 884-3000. Confirm where a specific person is held using the Tarrant County inmate search.
Someone was arrested in Kennedale — where are they?
For a custodial arrest in Kennedale, the person is generally booked into the Tarrant County Corrections Center at 100 N. Lamar, Fort Worth. Use the Tarrant County inmate search at inmatesearch.tarrantcounty.com to confirm custody, charges, and any bond amount, or call the Detention Bureau at (817) 884-3000. Bond is set individually at Central Magistration; Tarrant County does not publish a fixed bail schedule.
What happens if I ignore a Kennedale ticket?
If you miss the deadline on a Kennedale citation or fail to appear, the court can issue a warrant and add a failure-to-appear charge, and your case can be reported to flag your driver’s license renewal. Contact the Municipal Court at (817) 985-2140 before the deadline to ask about options. If a warrant has already issued, learn how to check and lift a Texas warrant before going to court.
Have a question this page didn’t answer? Browse more DFW jail, bond & court FAQs.
Arrested in Kennedale? Talk to L&L Law Group
If you or a loved one is facing a charge that’s headed to the Tarrant 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
The Tarrant County hub and the county-wide tools you may need next.