Lancaster City Phone Directory
Lancaster is the county seat of Lancaster County in southeastern Pennsylvania. The city sits in the heart of a region known for its agricultural heritage and Amish community. About 59,000 people live within Lancaster city limits. Lancaster is one of the oldest inland cities in the United States. The Lancaster phone directory lists contacts for city hall, the police bureau, county offices, and public records departments. Residents and businesses rely on these listings to reach local government services, request records, and find the right office for permits, taxes, and other needs.
Lancaster Quick Facts
Lancaster City Government Contacts
The City of Lancaster runs its operations from city hall and maintains an online directory of departments. The city keeps records for permits, licenses, and administrative matters. Each department has its own phone line and email contact.
The city website provides the main Lancaster phone directory for all municipal departments.
Lancaster has a mayor-council form of government. City Council sets policy and approves the annual budget. The mayor oversees daily operations and department heads. Meeting agendas and minutes are public records available through the city.
The city also runs a Right-to-Know request portal online. You can submit requests at the Lancaster RTK portal. Click "Make a Request" and fill out the form. The site also has FAQ pages, policies, and a downloadable request form in PDF format.
Lancaster Police Phone Directory
The Lancaster City Bureau of Police has a Records Department on the third floor of the police station. The Records Department is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. The direct phone number is 717-735-6670.
All visitors to the Records Department must sign in at the front desk and get a visitor badge. Take the lobby elevator to the third floor. You need a valid, current form of identification for all requests. If your ID does not show your current address, bring a current billing envelope with your address on it.
The Lancaster phone directory for police records includes these fees:
- Accident Report: $15.00
- Verification Letter: $15.00
- Good Conduct Letter: $22.00
- Local Background Check: $22.00
The department accepts cash for in-person visits, or checks and money orders made payable to the City of Lancaster. Reports go through multiple levels of review before release. If a report is not ready right away, you can ask to be contacted when it is done. You can also have it sent by email if you pay in advance.
You can mail requests to: Lancaster City Police/Records Division, 39 W Chestnut St, Lancaster PA 17603. Include a check or money order for $15.00 and a stamped, self-addressed envelope.
Note: Criminal History Record Checks and Good Conduct Certificates must be obtained through the Pennsylvania State Police at epatch.pa.gov, not through the Lancaster city police.
Lancaster County Phone Directory
The Lancaster County government operates from the county courthouse and administrative buildings in the city of Lancaster. The county maintains separate offices for the Recorder of Deeds, the courts, and open records.
The Lancaster County Recorder of Deeds handles property records for the entire county. Deeds, mortgages, and other land records are filed and stored at this office. The courts division manages civil and criminal case filings. The Open Records office handles Right-to-Know requests directed at the county government.
Lancaster County has a rich agricultural history. The county is home to one of the largest Amish populations in the country. This heritage shapes the local economy and culture. Many public records in Lancaster County relate to farmland, agricultural zoning, and rural property transactions.
Note: County offices and city offices in Lancaster are separate entities with different phone numbers. Make sure you contact the right one for your needs.
Phone Directory for Public Records
Pennsylvania's Right-to-Know Law (65 P.S. 67.101) gives every resident the right to request records from government agencies. This includes city, county, and state offices in Lancaster. Every agency must designate an Open Records Officer to handle these requests.
Requests must be in writing. You can submit them in person, by mail, email, or fax. The agency has five business days to respond. Standard copy fees are $0.25 per page for black and white copies. If the expected cost exceeds $100, the agency may ask for prepayment before processing.
The Lancaster phone directory helps you find the right Open Records Officer for each agency. The city solicitor's office handles requests for city records. The county has its own open records officer for county-level documents. State agencies in the Lancaster area follow the same law but have their own designated officers.
If your request is denied, you can appeal to the Pennsylvania Office of Open Records within 15 business days. The OOR is at 555 Walnut Street, Suite 605, Harrisburg, PA 17101. Their phone number is 717-346-9903.
State Services for Lancaster Residents
Lancaster residents can access state services through the Pennsylvania State Portal. The portal links to all state agencies and online tools. You can renew a driver's license, register a vehicle, or search for grants and funding programs.
The PA Department of Health manages vital records. Birth certificates are available from 1915 onward. Death certificates go back to 1906. The Division of Vital Records can be reached at 724-656-3100 or by mail at P.O. Box 1528, New Castle, PA 16103.
The Pennsylvania State Police handle criminal history checks and background reports. Their emergency number is 1-800-932-0586. For statewide background checks, visit epatch.pa.gov. The Lancaster phone directory for state offices helps you find the right contact for each service.
Nearby Pennsylvania Cities
Other cities in the region have their own phone directory listings. Select a city below to find contacts and public records information.