Lancaster Phone Directory

The Lancaster phone directory puts city office contacts, Fairfield County departments, and court phone numbers in one place for this southeast Ohio city. Lancaster is the county seat of Fairfield County, so both city and county government offices are right in town along East Main Street. This page has the key phone numbers, addresses, and web links you need to reach the right department for records requests, permits, court lookups, or general city services. If you are not sure which office to call, start with the main city number or use the search tool below to look up records across Ohio databases.

Lancaster City Hall Phone Numbers

Lancaster City Hall is at 104 East Main Street. The main switchboard number is (740) 687-6600. Hours run Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. The building holds the Mayor's office, City Auditor, Law Director, and other key departments that keep the city running.

The Lancaster phone directory for city services includes the Utilities Department for water and sewer billing, the Public Works Department for streets and maintenance, and the Planning Department for zoning and land use questions. Code Enforcement handles property complaints and housing inspections in Lancaster. If a neighbor has tall grass or a building code issue, that office takes the call. The city income tax rate is 1.5%, and the Tax Department sits in City Hall. You can file returns in person, by mail, or through the city website. For most residents, the main city number is the fastest way to get connected to the right department.

City Council meets on a regular schedule, and all meeting minutes are public. The Clerk of Council provides copies of meeting records, resolutions, and ordinances. These documents are free to inspect during business hours.

The city also runs a Parks Department that manages Rising Park, Zane Square, and other public spaces. The Lancaster phone directory includes these contacts through the main switchboard.

Fairfield County Records Phone Directory

Fairfield County offices are in Lancaster at the county courthouse complex on East Main Street. The county handles property records, court cases, and vital records for all of Fairfield County.

The Fairfield County Auditor at (740) 687-7030 manages property tax assessments and real estate data. Their online search tool lets you look up parcels by owner name, address, or parcel number. You will find assessed values, tax bills, building details, and past sale prices. The Auditor also runs the Homestead Exemption and CAUV programs. Dog licenses and vendor permits come through this office as well. The Lancaster phone directory for property lookups relies on the Auditor's data since all real estate valuations start there.

The Fairfield County Recorder at (740) 687-7050 keeps deeds, mortgages, liens, plats, and military discharge records. You can search their index by name or document type. The Recorder's website may have an online search tool. Copies cost standard per-page rates. The Recorder also handles e-recording for title companies and attorneys who need to file documents electronically.

The Clerk of Courts at (740) 687-7040 manages all court case files. Civil, criminal, and domestic cases can be searched by name or case number. Court records in Lancaster are public under Ohio law. The clerk must provide access when asked.

Note: The Fairfield County Probate Court handles marriage licenses, estate filings, and name changes separately from the Clerk of Courts.

Lancaster Public Records Law

Ohio's public records law is ORC 149.43. It applies to every public office in Lancaster and Fairfield County. The law says you can see any public record without giving your name or explaining your reason.

When you call a Lancaster phone directory number and ask for records, the office must respond within a reasonable time. Looking at records in person costs nothing during business hours. Paper copies run about $0.05 to $0.10 per page at most offices. Certified copies have higher fees that vary by office. If an office says no to your request, they have to cite the specific law that allows the denial. You can challenge it through a mandamus action in court. Property records, court filings, police reports, permit files, and council minutes are all open for public inspection. Electronic delivery by email is often free when the office can do it, which saves a trip downtown.

The ORC 149.43 statute page is shown below. It spells out the public records rules that govern every Lancaster and Fairfield County office.

The screenshot above shows the actual text of the Ohio public records law that gives you the right to access records from any Lancaster government office.

Lancaster Police and Safety Contacts

The Lancaster Police Department is at 130 South Broad Street. For emergencies, dial 911. The non-emergency number is (740) 687-6680. The department handles incident reports, accident reports, and criminal complaints within city limits.

Police records become public in Ohio once the investigation wraps up. You can get copies by calling the records section or going in person to the station. Fees are small for standard reports. Crash reports can also be ordered through the state buycrash.com system. The Lancaster Fire Department is reachable at (740) 687-6640 for non-emergency issues. Fire incident reports and inspection records are public documents as well. The Fairfield County Sheriff at (740) 652-7900 covers law enforcement outside Lancaster city limits and runs the county jail. The Sheriff also handles civil process serving for the courts.

Note: For animal control issues in Lancaster, call the city service department or the Fairfield County Dog Warden at (740) 652-7940.

State Phone Directory for Lancaster

The Ohio State Directory has contact info for every state agency. Use the State Employee Phone Search to find specific workers at state offices. The state main number is (614) 466-2000.

The Ohio Supreme Court website connects you with every court in the state, including the Fairfield County courts that serve Lancaster. The Ohio Department of Health handles vital records at the state level for birth and death certificates. The BMV covers vehicle titles and registrations. The Secretary of State elections page has voter information and business filings. These state contacts work alongside the Lancaster phone directory when you need something beyond local services.

Lancaster Municipal Court

The Lancaster Municipal Court handles local cases including traffic violations, misdemeanors, and small civil claims. The court is at 128 South Broad Street in Lancaster. Court records are public and searchable through the court clerk's office.

The clerk keeps docket sheets, case files, and judgment entries. You can call the court or visit in person to get copies. Under ORC 149.43, these records must be provided on request. Certified copies have set fees. The Lancaster phone directory for court matters starts with this office for city-level cases. For Common Pleas cases and larger civil suits, go through the Fairfield County Clerk of Courts instead. The municipal court also processes eviction filings, protection orders, and preliminary hearings for felony cases before they move up to Common Pleas.

Nearby Cities

Lancaster is southeast of Columbus in the Hocking Hills region. These nearby cities have phone directory pages: