Do Guards/NPCs Respawn
Generic NPCs will respawn some time after they die. These include generic guard NPCs and the following NPCs:
- Farmers
- Fishermen
- Hunters
- Imperial Legion soldiers
- Nobles
- Peddlers
- Stormcloak soldiers
- Thalmor
- Vigilants of Stendarr
- Afflicted
- Bandits
- Dremora
- Falmer Servants
- Forsworn
- Thugs
- Vampires
- Warlocks
List of all re-spawning NPCs
Most named NPCs, on the other hand, are either 'Essential' (unkillable) or will not respawn after they have died. (Some named NPCs are killable and respawn - see the list of all re-spawning NPCs.)
Source: UESP article on Skyrim NPCs
Yes they do, if you look them up on UESP you can see if they respawn or not.
Source: http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Skyrim:Riften_Guard