West Palm Beach Phone Directory Search
The West Palm Beach phone directory covers a city with deep roots as the seat of Palm Beach County. City Hall is at 401 Clematis Street, West Palm Beach, FL 33401, and the main phone line is (561) 822-2222. The City Clerk's Office manages public records and serves as the central point for residents who need to find a government phone number or request official documents. This guide lists the key contacts, search tools, and public records resources that make up the West Palm Beach phone directory. All city records are subject to Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes, which guarantees public access to government information.
West Palm Beach Quick Facts
West Palm Beach City Hall Phone Directory
City Hall is the hub of the West Palm Beach phone directory. The main number, (561) 822-2222, connects to a general line that can route calls to any department. The building is at 401 Clematis Street in downtown West Palm Beach. Walk-in hours follow standard business days, and most offices keep their doors open until 5:00 PM. If you know which department you need, calling the direct line saves time. If you do not, the main number is the right starting point.
The City Clerk's Office handles records, official documents, and public records requests. Call (561) 822-1210 to reach the clerk directly. The Mayor's Office is at (561) 822-1300. Human Resources picks up at (561) 822-1620. Each of these offices sits inside City Hall, so you can visit in person if you prefer face-to-face contact over a phone call. Staff at the front desk can direct you to the right floor and office once you arrive.
Here are the most used numbers in the West Palm Beach phone directory:
- Main City Hall: (561) 822-2222
- City Clerk: (561) 822-1210
- Police Records Division: (561) 822-1880
- Development Services: (561) 822-1400
- Mayor's Office: (561) 822-1300
- Human Resources: (561) 822-1620
- TTY Line: 800-955-8771
The TTY line at 800-955-8771 is available for residents who are deaf or hard of hearing. This is a state relay number that connects to West Palm Beach city offices through an operator. It works the same way as a regular call, just with relay assistance built in.
Note: If you are unsure which department handles your question, call (561) 822-2222 first and the operator can transfer you to the correct office.
West Palm Beach Public Records Phone Contacts
Public records in West Palm Beach are open to anyone. Florida law does not require you to give your name or state a reason for your request. You can call, email, visit in person, or use the online portal. The City Clerk at (561) 822-1210 is the primary contact for general records requests. For police records, call (561) 822-1880. Development Services records, which include planning, zoning, permitting, and code enforcement files, go through (561) 822-1400. Each department manages its own records but follows the same state rules.
The West Palm Beach Public Records Center on GovQA provides a central place to submit and track records requests.
One thing to know about West Palm Beach is the cost structure. If your request takes less than 15 minutes of staff time and does not use significant resources, there is no labor charge. You only pay for the cost of copying the documents. Standard copy fees in Florida are $0.15 per one-sided page and $0.25 per two-sided page. Certified copies cost $1.00 per page. If your request goes over 15 minutes, the city can charge for the staff time spent pulling and preparing the records. They will let you know before the work starts if a charge is going to apply.
Under Florida's public records law, the city must respond within a "limited reasonable time." There is no exact deadline written into the statute, but agencies are expected to act promptly. Simple requests often get turned around within a few business days. Larger or more complex requests can take longer, especially if they involve multiple departments or a large volume of documents.
Note: Under Florida law, email addresses sent to a government entity are public records, so consider using the "Submit Anonymously" option on the portal if privacy matters to you.
West Palm Beach Phone Directory and Online Portal
West Palm Beach uses the GovQA platform as its Public Records Center. This is where you submit new requests, check on the status of open ones, and browse past requests that others have filed. The system sends email updates as the city works on your request. When documents are ready, you download them from the portal.
The West Palm Beach GovQA Public Records Center allows online submission and tracking of all records requests.
You can submit a request without giving your name by choosing the anonymous option. This is a feature built into the portal, and the city respects it fully. However, be aware that if you do provide an email address, that email becomes a public record under Florida law. If someone later files a records request for all emails sent to the city, yours could show up in the results. The anonymous submission feature avoids this issue entirely.
The portal also has a FAQ section that covers common questions. It explains costs, timelines, and how to check on an existing request. The support home page on GovQA is a good first stop if you have not used the system before. It walks through the process step by step. If you get stuck or prefer not to use the portal, calling the City Clerk at (561) 822-1210 works just as well. Staff can take your request over the phone and process it the same way.
West Palm Beach Police Records Phone Number
The Police Records Division is at (561) 822-1880. This is the direct line for requesting accident reports, incident reports, arrest records, and other law enforcement documents held by the West Palm Beach Police Department. Police records are separate from general city records, even though both fall under the same public records law.
Response times for police records can vary. A simple accident report is usually available within a few days of the incident. More complex records, like internal affairs files or records tied to ongoing investigations, may take longer or may be exempt from disclosure under specific provisions in the law. If a record is exempt, the police department has to tell you which exemption applies and why. They cannot just refuse without an explanation.
Walk-in requests are also an option at the police department. Bring a form of ID if you are picking up records in person, though the department cannot legally require you to show ID just to make a request. Payment for copies follows the same fee schedule as other city records. Cash and checks are typically accepted at the window, but call ahead to confirm current payment methods.
West Palm Beach Code of Ordinances
The West Palm Beach Code of Ordinances is available online through Municode. This is the full collection of local laws that govern the city. You can search by keyword, browse by title, or jump to a specific section. The code covers zoning rules, building codes, noise ordinances, parking regulations, and much more. Access is free. No login is needed.
The West Palm Beach Code of Ordinances on Municode gives public access to all local laws and regulations.
If you need help finding a specific ordinance or understanding how it applies, the City Clerk's Office can point you to the right section. For legal advice about what an ordinance means for your situation, the city will refer you to a private attorney. The Palm Beach County Bar Association has a referral service that can help you find one. City staff are helpful with general questions, but they draw the line at giving legal opinions.
Palm Beach County Phone Directory for West Palm Beach
West Palm Beach is the county seat of Palm Beach County. Court records, property records, and tax matters all run through the county rather than the city. The Palm Beach County phone directory page has detailed contacts for the Clerk of the Circuit Court, the Property Appraiser, and the Tax Collector. If you need a court case file, a deed, a lien, or a tax bill, those records are at the county level.
The Clerk of the Circuit Court in Palm Beach County handles all circuit and county court filings. This includes civil cases, criminal cases, family law, probate, and traffic matters. The clerk also manages the official records division, where deeds, mortgages, and other recorded instruments are stored. Online search tools are available through the clerk's website. Basic lookups are free and do not need an account.
The Property Appraiser maintains assessed values, ownership records, and exemption data for every parcel in the county. If you are looking up a West Palm Beach property, this is where the data lives. The Tax Collector handles billing and payment. These are separate offices with separate phone lines, and the Palm Beach County page covers both in full.
Note: As the county seat, West Palm Beach is home to many Palm Beach County offices, so some county services are just a short drive from City Hall on Clematis Street.
Development Services Phone Directory
The Development Services Department in West Palm Beach has its own records and its own phone line at (561) 822-1400. This department is the custodian of all planning and zoning records, permitting records, and code enforcement records. If you need a building permit, a zoning determination, or a code violation file, this is the office to call. They handle their own public records requests for these categories of documents.
West Palm Beach also offers a permitting and licensing portal online. You can search for permits, check the status of an application, or look up a license. The portal is open to the public and does not need a login for basic searches. If you need certified copies of permits or official documents from the department, call (561) 822-1400 and ask about the process. Fees follow the same structure as other city records, with the 15-minute threshold for labor charges.
How to Use the West Palm Beach Phone Directory
The West Palm Beach phone directory breaks down into a few main contact points. For general city questions, call (561) 822-2222. For records and official documents, call the City Clerk at (561) 822-1210 or use the GovQA portal. For police records, go straight to (561) 822-1880. For building, zoning, and code records, call Development Services at (561) 822-1400. And for court records, property data, or tax questions, check the Palm Beach County phone directory.
Between the phone lines, the GovQA portal, and the city website, you can reach any West Palm Beach government office or get any public record the city holds. The system is set up to be accessible. Florida law backs it up. You do not need to explain why you want a record, and you do not need to fill out a specific form to ask for one. Just call, click, or walk in. The West Palm Beach phone directory exists to make that process as simple as it can be.
Nearby City Phone Directories
These South Florida cities near West Palm Beach also have full phone directory pages on this site.