Boston Phone Directory Search

The Boston phone directory gives you a way to find contact info for city departments, public offices, and local services across the state capital. Boston is home to more than 673,000 people and runs a large network of city agencies. Each one has its own phone line, hours, and staff. This page lists the key numbers you need to reach Boston city government. Whether you want to file a complaint, ask about a permit, or get a copy of a public record, these are the lines to call. You can also use Boston 311 to reach most departments in one step.

Boston City Hall Phone Directory

Boston City Hall sits at 1 City Hall Square in the Government Center area of downtown. It is the hub for most city services and houses dozens of departments. The main phone line is (617) 635-4000. Most offices close to the public by 4:30 PM even though City Hall stays open until 5:00 PM. You can walk in to handle business in person, but calling first saves time. Security checks all visitors at the door, so bring a valid photo ID. The building is near the Government Center MBTA stop on the Green and Blue lines.

The fastest way to reach any Boston city service is through 311. Call 3-1-1 from a local phone or dial (617) 635-4500 from a cell or out-of-area line. Boston 311 takes calls around the clock, seven days a week. Agents can connect you to the right department, take service requests, and log complaints. You can also submit requests online through the Boston 311 website or through the BOS:311 app on your phone. The system handles things like pothole reports, missed trash pickups, graffiti removal, and street light outages.

The Boston 311 service page shows how city residents can report issues and track their status in real time.

If your call is about a life-threatening emergency, always dial 911 instead of 311. The 311 line is only for non-emergency city services.

Boston Department Phone Numbers

Boston runs more than 50 city departments. Below are the ones residents call most often. Each has a direct line so you can skip the main switchboard when you know which office you need. Keep in mind that some department phone lines stop taking calls 30 minutes before closing time, so plan accordingly if you need to speak with someone the same day.

City Clerk: The Office of the City Clerk is in Room 601 at City Hall. Call (617) 635-4600 for vital records, marriage licenses, business certificates, and other official documents. The clerk's office is open from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM on weekdays. You can look up business certificates through the City Clerk page on boston.gov. The office also handles notary services and city council records.

Police Department: For non-emergency police calls, dial (617) 343-4911. This line connects you to the Boston Police dispatch for reports that do not need an immediate response. You can also find contact info for each district station on the Boston Police directory page. The department runs community programs and takes tips through its anonymous tip line at 1-800-494-TIPS. For emergencies, call 911.

Fire Department: The Boston Fire Department handles fire calls, EMS, and fire prevention permits. For fire prevention questions and permit info, call (617) 343-3628. For fire reports and records, the number is (617) 343-3402. The Fire Prevention page lists all station locations and phone numbers. Like the police, all fire emergencies go through 911.

Assessing Department: Call (617) 635-4131 to reach the Boston Assessing Department. This office handles property tax assessments, exemptions, and abatements. The office is at Window M-30 on the main floor of City Hall. You can look up property values, tax bills, and ownership data through Boston Assessing Online. For residential exemption questions, a separate line is available at (617) 635-4287.

The Boston Assessing search tool lets you look up any parcel in the city by owner name or address.

Note: Boston Assessing Online updates once a year when new fiscal year values are set, so mid-year changes may not show right away.

Find Boston Phone Numbers

There are a few ways to find phone numbers for Boston city services. The most direct path is the boston.gov departments page, which lists every city agency with its contact info. You can browse by name or search for a specific service. Each department page has the office phone, address, and hours. Some pages list individual staff members with direct lines.

If you are not sure which department to call, 311 is the best starting point. The agents have a directory of all city offices and can transfer you or give you the right number. This works well for things like building permits, parking issues, code enforcement, and school questions. You can also text 311 at (617) 635-4500 for quick answers.

For state employees who work in Boston, the Commonwealth does not keep a single public directory. You would need to contact each state agency on its own. The Secretary of the Commonwealth's Citizen Information Service at 1-800-392-6090 can help point you in the right direction. The Division of Public Records handles questions about what government contact info is available under the state public records law.

• Call 311 or (617) 635-4500 for any city service
• Visit boston.gov/departments for a full list of offices
• Use Boston Assessing Online for property data
• Check the Boston Police directory for district stations
• Contact the City Clerk at (617) 635-4600 for vital records

Massachusetts law protects certain personal phone numbers from public disclosure. Under M.G.L. c. 66, Section 10B, home addresses and phone numbers of government employees are exempt from public records requests. Cell phone numbers for private residents are also not public record. The phone numbers on this page are all published government lines meant for public use.

Boston Public Records Requests

You can request public records from the City of Boston under the Massachusetts Public Records Law, M.G.L. Chapter 66, Section 10. Any person can make a request. You do not need to live in Boston or even in Massachusetts. The law does not require you to give a reason for your request. Agencies must respond within 10 business days.

To make a request, contact the Records Access Officer for the department that holds the records you want. The City Clerk's office at (617) 635-4600 can help you figure out which department to ask. Copies cost $0.05 per page for black and white. The first four hours of staff search time are free for state agencies, and the first two hours are free for the city. After that, the rate caps at $25 per hour. If you think a fee is too high, you can ask the Supervisor of Records at the Secretary of the Commonwealth's office to review it. That office is at (617) 727-2832.

The MassCourts system is another way to look up court records filed in Suffolk County. It is free to use and covers all trial court departments. You can search by name or case number. Some records, like juvenile cases and sealed files, are not available online.

Note: Public records requests made by email should include a clear subject line and a specific description of what you want to avoid delays.

Suffolk County Phone Directory

Boston is the county seat of Suffolk County. The county also includes Chelsea, Revere, and Winthrop. Suffolk County government was abolished in 1999, so most county-level functions now fall under state agencies or the City of Boston. The Suffolk County Superior Court, Probate and Family Court, and Registry of Deeds still operate in Boston. For a full list of Suffolk County offices and phone numbers, see the county page.

View Suffolk County Phone Directory