Lakeland Phone Directory

The Lakeland phone directory covers city government offices, the City Clerk, police department, and public service contacts in the largest city in Polk County. Lakeland has about 125,000 residents and sits between Tampa and Orlando along the I-4 corridor. All phone numbers use the 863 area code. This page lists the main Lakeland contacts, explains how to get public records by phone and online, and connects you to county and state resources. Florida's Chapter 119 makes government phone contacts and most records open to the public.

Lakeland City Clerk and Records

The Lakeland City Clerk maintains all official city records. The clerk's office handles public records requests, city commission meeting minutes, ordinances, resolutions, and official documents. This is the primary records contact in the Lakeland phone directory.

Lakeland City Hall is at 228 South Massachusetts Avenue, Lakeland, FL 33801. The main phone number is (863) 834-6000. The front desk staff can route your call to the City Clerk or any other department. Office hours are Monday through Friday. Lakeland uses a commission-manager form of government with an elected city commission and an appointed city manager.

To request records, you can call, email, or submit a written request to the clerk's office. Be specific. Include dates, names, or reference numbers whenever possible. The city has to respond in a reasonable time. Florida law caps standard copy fees at 15 cents per single-sided page and 20 cents for two-sided copies. Requests that require extensive staff time may have additional fees, but the city must notify you of the cost before they begin the work.

Lakeland Public Records and Chapter 119

Under Chapter 119, anyone can request records from any Florida government office. You do not need to live in Lakeland. You do not need to give a reason. The law puts the burden on the government to produce records or cite a specific legal exemption for withholding them.

Records people commonly request from the Lakeland phone directory include building permits, code enforcement actions, meeting agendas, city budgets, contracts, and employee salary data. These are all public. Some records have limited exemptions. Active criminal investigation files may be held back. Social Security numbers and certain personal identifiers get redacted. But the starting point is that everything is open. If Lakeland denies a request, the city must tell you which statute allows the denial.

The screenshot above shows the official Chapter 119 page on the Florida Legislature's website. You can read the full text of the public records law at no cost. It applies to every office in the Lakeland phone directory and to all county and state agencies serving the Lakeland area.

Lakeland Department Phone Numbers

Lakeland runs a large city government with many departments. Each has direct phone numbers. Here are the main contacts in the Lakeland phone directory.

Lakeland is one of the few Florida cities that runs its own electric utility. Lakeland Electric at (863) 834-6300 is a city-owned utility, and its records are also public under Chapter 119. This is worth noting because most cities in Florida get power from a private company, which would not be subject to public records law. In Lakeland, utility records are part of the city phone directory system.

The Lakeland Police Department at (863) 834-6900 maintains its own records division. For police reports, accident reports, and arrest records, contact the police department directly. Police records are separate from the city clerk's office. Most law enforcement records are public under Florida law, but active investigation files may be exempt from disclosure until the case is closed.

Community Development at (863) 834-6011 covers planning and zoning. Building Inspections at (863) 834-6015 handles permits, inspections, and building records. If you need permit history on a Lakeland property, that is the number to call. Public Works at (863) 834-6780 covers streets, stormwater, and infrastructure.

Florida State Directory for Lakeland

Florida has a statewide phone directory at 411.myflorida.gov that covers all state agencies. State offices serving the Lakeland area include the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, the Department of Revenue, the Department of Children and Families, and more.

State agencies follow the same Chapter 119 rules as city and county offices. You can request records from any of them. The State of Florida public records check page helps you figure out which agency has the records you need. For professional licensing, the Department of State licensing directory lists all boards and contacts.

The Florida State Information Center answers at 1-866-693-6748 or 850-488-1234. This is the statewide switchboard. They can connect you to any state agency. It is the state equivalent of calling the Lakeland City Hall main line to get transferred to the right office.

Polk County and Lakeland

Lakeland is the largest city in Polk County, though the county seat is Bartow. Court records, property records, marriage licenses, and official recorded documents go through the Polk County Clerk of Court in Bartow. The county courthouse is about 15 minutes from downtown Lakeland.

Polk County runs online search tools for court cases, official records, and property information. These cover all cities in the county, including Lakeland. If you need a deed, a lien, or a court filing, you go through the Polk County Clerk. The Polk County phone directory page on this site has all the county contacts and online search links.

For city-level records like permits, code enforcement actions, meeting minutes, and city contracts, use the Lakeland contacts on this page. The city and county are separate governments with separate offices. Knowing which one holds your record saves you time. Lakeland records go through City Hall. County records go through Bartow.

Using the Lakeland Phone Directory

Call (863) 834-6000 to start. The main line can route you to any city department. For police records, call (863) 834-6900 directly. For court or property records, use the Polk County Clerk in Bartow. For state contacts, try the 411 directory.

Quick reference:

• Call (863) 834-6000 for general city questions
• Call (863) 834-6200 for the City Clerk and records requests
• Call (863) 834-6900 for police records
• Call (863) 834-6300 for Lakeland Electric utility questions
• Use the Polk County Clerk for court and property records
• Check 411.myflorida.gov for state agency numbers
• Visit City Hall at 228 S. Massachusetts Ave. for in-person help

The Lakeland phone directory covers a bigger range of services than most Florida cities because of Lakeland Electric. Between city departments, the municipal utility, county offices in Bartow, and state agency contacts, you have full coverage for any government record or phone number in the Lakeland area. Florida law backs up your right to access all of it.

Nearby City Phone Directories

These Florida cities near Lakeland also have phone directory pages on this site.