Washington County Phone Directory
Washington County is a small, rural county in the Florida Panhandle with its seat in Chipley. About 25,000 people live here, and the government is compact. Most offices are in or near the courthouse in Chipley. The Washington County phone directory covers every department, and all contacts are public records under Florida law. This page pulls together the key phone numbers and records resources for reaching Washington County offices. You can get any government phone number just by asking, with no reason needed.
Washington County Quick Facts
Washington County Government Offices
Washington County government runs from Chipley. The Board of County Commissioners manages county operations. Offices are small compared to metro areas, but every department has a phone line and staff. The county website lists departments with contact info. If you cannot find what you need on the site, call the main county office. Staff in a county this size tend to know everyone and can point you to the right person fast.
Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes makes all government phone numbers and staff names in Washington County public records. You do not have to explain why you want a phone number. The county must give it to you. This covers calls, emails, and in-person visits. Even work email addresses for county staff are public records.
The state of Florida runs a phone directory at 411.myflorida.gov covering state agencies. The Florida State Information Center at 1-866-693-6748 or (850) 488-1234 can route your call to any state department. These resources work well when your question involves a state agency that serves the Washington County area.
Washington County Clerk of Court
The Clerk of the Circuit Court handles court records, official records, and public records requests in Washington County. The Clerk's office is at the courthouse in Chipley. This is the go-to office for anyone who needs records from the county.
You can make a public records request by phone, email, mail, or in person. Florida law does not require you to give your name or say why you want a record. The Clerk processes requests as they come in. In a small county, turnaround can be fast for simple requests. More involved requests may take longer.
The Clerk maintains court records for civil, criminal, family, and traffic cases. Official records include deeds, mortgages, liens, and other filed documents. Where online search tools are available, they are free to use. If you cannot find a record online, call the Clerk's office. Staff can check the physical files at the courthouse. Older records in particular may only exist on paper.
Copy fees follow state law. Standard copies run $1.00 per page. Certified copies cost $2.00 extra per document. The first 30 minutes of staff time on a request is free under Chapter 119. If the request takes more time, the office will quote you a price before doing the extra work.
14th Judicial Circuit Information
Washington County is part of Florida's 14th Judicial Circuit, which also covers Bay, Calhoun, Gulf, Holmes, and Jackson counties. The circuit court handles felonies, family law, civil matters, and appeals from county court. Judges rotate among the counties in the circuit.
Bay County, which includes Panama City, is the largest county in the 14th Circuit. Washington County is on the smaller end. Despite the size difference, the same court rules and public records laws apply everywhere in the circuit. Court cases filed in Washington County are heard at the courthouse in Chipley.
The State Attorney and Public Defender for the 14th Circuit handle criminal cases across all six counties. Both offices have phone numbers you can get through the county directory or the Florida Courts website. The Clerk in Washington County can also give you these contacts if you ask.
Washington County Public Records Access
Florida's open records law gives you access to nearly all government records in Washington County. Chapter 119 covers phone numbers, emails, meeting minutes, contracts, budgets, and much more. A few categories are exempt. Active criminal investigations, sealed court records, and certain personal data for law enforcement are the main exceptions. But the vast majority of records are open to anyone.
Inspecting a record is free. Copies cost money, with fees set by state law. The county cannot make up its own rates. If your request needs a lot of staff time, the office may charge for labor past the first 30 minutes. They tell you the cost before starting the work.
State-level records are searchable at stateofflorida.com/public-records-check. That tool covers databases the Washington County Clerk does not manage. Professional licensing info is at dos.fl.gov. Both are free.
Washington County Property and Tax Contacts
The Property Appraiser handles property values, ownership data, and exemptions for every parcel in Washington County. You can search property records online or call the office for help. Results show assessed values, ownership history, and exemption status. All property data is public under Florida law.
The Tax Collector handles tax payments, vehicle registrations, and some driver license services. The office is in Chipley. In a rural county, hours may be shorter or certain services available only on specific days. Call first to check before visiting.
The appraiser sets the value. The collector takes the payment. Two different offices. Call the right one based on what you need. Both show up in the Washington County phone directory.
Finding Washington County Phone Numbers
Here are the ways to track down phone numbers for Washington County offices:
- Check the county website for department listings
- Call the main county office in Chipley
- Walk into the courthouse and ask in person
- Search the state directory at 411.myflorida.gov
- Call the Florida State Info Center at 1-866-693-6748
In a county with 25,000 people, showing up in person at the courthouse often works better than anything else. Staff know the directory by heart and can walk you to the right office. For phone lookups, mornings are usually the best time to call. Most Washington County offices keep regular business hours on weekdays.
Chapter 119 works the same way here as in Miami-Dade or any other county. You ask for a phone number, they give it to you. No paperwork. No waiting. That is the law in Florida.
Key Washington County Directory Listings
| County Seat | Chipley, FL |
|---|---|
| Judicial Circuit | 14th Circuit (Bay, Calhoun, Gulf, Holmes, Jackson, Washington) |
| Area Code | 850 |
| State Info Center | 1-866-693-6748 / (850) 488-1234 |
| State Directory | 411.myflorida.gov |
| Public Records Check | stateofflorida.com/public-records-check |
Start with the county offices in Chipley for local questions. For state-level contacts, use the Florida 411 directory or call the State Info Center. The 14th Judicial Circuit links Washington County to five other Panhandle counties, including Bay County and Panama City. If you need court resources beyond what Washington County offers, the circuit office can help.
Cities in Washington County
Washington County includes Chipley, Vernon, Caryville, Ebro, and Wausau. Chipley is the county seat and the largest city. None of these cities have dedicated pages on this site. All city and county phone numbers are public under Florida law. You can find city contacts through each city's website or by calling the Washington County government offices in Chipley.
Nearby County Phone Directories
Washington County borders Holmes, Jackson, Bay, Calhoun, and Walton counties in the Florida Panhandle. Walton County has a phone directory page on this site.