Amherst Phone Directory
Amherst is the largest town in Erie County and one of the biggest suburbs in the Buffalo metro area. A phone directory search here taps into public records held by the Amherst Town Clerk, Erie County offices, and state agencies. The town sits just north of Buffalo and has well over 120,000 residents, which means there is a deep pool of property filings, voter rolls, permits, and court documents on file. New York's Freedom of Information Law makes most of these records open to anyone who asks. You do not need to live in Amherst or give a reason for your search.
Amherst Phone Directory Overview
Amherst Town Clerk Records
The Amherst Town Clerk is the first place to check for local public records. This office files and stores a wide range of documents that list names, addresses, and phone numbers. Dog licenses, marriage licenses, death certificates, and business filings all pass through the clerk. The office also handles FOIL requests for the town and keeps meeting minutes from the Town Board on file.
You can reach the Town Clerk at (716) 631-7021. The office is at Amherst Town Hall, and hours are standard business days. The Town of Amherst website has contact info and some records available online. Marriage licenses go back decades and each one lists the full names and addresses of both parties. Death records filed locally show the name, last known address, and next of kin.
Business filings are another key source. Anyone who opens a business in Amherst under an assumed name must file a certificate with the town. These certificates list the owner's full legal name and business address. They are public and can be searched by name.
Town Board minutes are public too. Every meeting produces a record that names residents who speak, file complaints, or submit petitions. These can be useful for a phone directory search when other records come up short.
New York State Public Records
The NYS Department of State FOIL page explains how public records access works across the state, including towns like Amherst.
This page covers the basics of FOIL requests, which apply to every town, city, and county office in New York. Amherst follows the same rules as all other municipalities in the state.
Erie County Records for Amherst
Amherst is part of Erie County, and the county clerk holds a big chunk of the records you would use for a phone directory search. Property deeds, mortgages, liens, and UCC filings are all kept at the county level. Each document lists at least one name and an address, and most are searchable online through the county's land records portal.
The Erie County Clerk's office lets you search deed records by name or address for free. When someone buys a home in Amherst, the deed gets filed with the county. It shows the buyer's name, the seller's name, and the property address. Mortgages are filed the same way and include the lender's info too. Over time, these records build a trail that can help you find where someone lives or used to live.
Tax liens and judgment records are also on file with the county. If someone owes back taxes or has a court judgment against them, that record lists their name and address. These are public and available through FOIL or the clerk's online search tools.
Amherst Property and Assessment Records
The Town of Amherst keeps its own property assessment rolls. Every parcel in town has an entry that shows the owner's name, mailing address, and assessed value. The Assessor's office maintains these records and updates them each year. You can check assessments in person at Town Hall or look them up through Erie County's real property tax service.
Assessment rolls are public under New York law. They are a solid source for phone directory searches because they tie a name to a physical address. If someone owns property in Amherst, their name is on the roll. Even if they live elsewhere and rent the property out, the owner's mailing address is still on file.
Tax bills go out to property owners each year. The billing records show the owner's name and the address where the bill was sent. If the owner's mailing address is different from the property address, both are listed. These small details can be very useful when you are trying to track down current contact info for someone in the Amherst area.
Grievance filings create more records. When a property owner challenges their assessment, the filing includes their name, contact details, and property info. The Board of Assessment Review handles these cases, and the filings are part of the public record.
Building Permits and Inspections
The Amherst Building Department handles permits for construction, renovations, demolitions, and sign installations. Each permit application lists the property owner's name and address, along with the contractor's info. These are public records.
Certificates of occupancy are issued when a building passes final inspection. They name the owner and confirm the property address. Code enforcement records show violations and complaints tied to specific properties. Each violation notice names the property owner. If you are searching for someone who owns or owned a building in Amherst, these records can fill in the gaps that other sources miss.
Inspection reports are kept on file too. When a town inspector visits a site, the report goes into the public record. It names the owner, describes the property, and notes any issues found. You can get copies through FOIL.
Filing a FOIL Request in Amherst
FOIL gives you the right to access any record held by the Town of Amherst. The law is broad. It covers everything from meeting minutes to permit applications to correspondence between town officials. You do not need to be a resident or explain why you want the records.
Send your request to the Amherst Town Clerk in writing. Be as specific as you can. Name the type of record, the date range, and any names or addresses involved. The town must respond within five business days. They can grant the request, deny it with an explanation, or send an acknowledgment with a time estimate for when the records will be ready.
Copy fees are $0.25 per page for standard paper. If you want to inspect the records in person, there is no charge. The town cannot charge you just for looking at documents. If your request is denied, you can appeal within 30 days. The appeal goes to the Records Appeals Officer. If the appeal fails, you can take the matter to court under Article 78.
The NYS Committee on Open Government is a free resource if you run into trouble with a FOIL request. They give advice and can intervene on your behalf. Their phone number is (518) 474-2518.
Voter Registration and Election Records
Erie County's Board of Elections keeps voter registration rolls for Amherst residents. These rolls show each voter's name, home address, party affiliation, and voting history. New York law makes voter data available for political and non-commercial use. It is a useful source for a phone directory lookup because it connects a name to a current home address.
You can request voter data from the Board of Elections. The data covers everyone registered to vote in Amherst. It does not include phone numbers directly, but the address info is current and reliable. Election results, campaign finance filings, and candidate petitions also contain names and addresses. These are public records held by the county.
Court Records in the Amherst Area
The Amherst Town Court handles local cases including traffic violations, small claims, and code enforcement matters. Court records list the parties by name and address. You can search for records at the court or submit a FOIL request to the court clerk.
For more serious matters, the Eighth Judicial District covers Erie County. Supreme Court and County Court cases in this district produce records that list parties, attorneys, and addresses. Civil cases, family court matters, and criminal proceedings all generate public filings. The state court system's website lets you search some of these records online by party name.
Judgment records are especially useful. When a court issues a judgment, the record lists the debtor's name and address. These judgments are filed with the Erie County Clerk and show up in a name search on the county's portal. Liens filed against property in Amherst are recorded the same way.
Historical Records and Archives
The Amherst Museum and the Buffalo and Erie County Public Library hold historical records that can help with a phone directory search going back decades. Old city directories, phone books, and census data are available for research. The library's local history room at the central branch in Buffalo has directories that cover Amherst and the surrounding area from the mid-1800s forward.
The New York State Archives also hold records from Erie County towns. Tax rolls, vital records, and court documents from earlier eras are on file in Albany. You can search the catalog online and order copies by mail. These older records can help you trace a family or find a person who lived in Amherst years ago.
Nearby Cities and Towns
Amherst borders several other communities in Erie County. If you cannot find the person you are looking for in Amherst records, try searching in these nearby places. People move between towns in the Buffalo metro area often, and records in one town may lead you to another.
Erie County Records
For county-level records that cover all of Amherst, visit the Erie County page.