Colonie Phone Directory
Colonie is the largest town in Albany County, with a population of roughly 85,000 people spread across a mix of suburban neighborhoods just north of Albany. A phone directory search here draws from town records, Albany County filings, and state-level databases that hold names, addresses, and contact details. The Town Clerk manages most local documents, and New York's Freedom of Information Law gives you the right to access nearly all of them. Whether you need to track down a property owner, check a business filing, or find someone who lives in the area, Colonie's public records are a solid place to start.
Colonie Phone Directory Overview
Colonie Town Clerk Records
The Colonie Town Clerk is the main office for local public records. This is where you go for vital records, dog licenses, permits, and FOIL requests. The clerk's office sits at Memorial Town Hall, 534 Loudon Road in Newtonville. You can call them at (518) 783-2754 or visit colonie.org for hours and forms.
Birth and death records are a big part of what the Town Clerk holds. If someone was born or died in Colonie, the certificate is on file here. Marriage licenses are kept here too. Each of these documents lists full names and home addresses. That makes them useful for a phone directory search when you know a person lived in the area.
The clerk also handles hunting and fishing licenses. These list the person's name and address. Dog licenses are the same. They are small records, but they add up. If you are looking for someone and you know they had a dog registered in Colonie, it is one more way to find them. All of these records fall under FOIL and can be requested by anyone.
Meeting minutes from the Town Board are public too. They name every person who speaks at a session or files a comment. These go back years and are kept on file at the clerk's office.
New York State Public Records Access
The NYS Committee on Open Government oversees FOIL compliance for every town in New York, including Colonie. They can answer questions about your right to access records and help resolve disputes with local agencies.
The site explains how FOIL works. It also has model request letters and contact info for getting help. If the Town of Colonie denies your records request, the Committee on Open Government is the first place to call.
Albany County Records for Colonie
Colonie sits in Albany County, and the county clerk's office holds a large share of the public records tied to town residents. Property deeds, mortgages, liens, and business certificates are all filed at the county level. Each one lists at least a name and an address.
The Albany County Clerk's office is at 16 Eagle Street in downtown Albany. They keep land records that go back decades. When someone buys or sells property in Colonie, the deed goes on file with the county. It shows the buyer's and seller's names and their mailing addresses. Mortgage documents do the same thing. These are among the most reliable sources for address info in a phone directory search.
Business certificates are another good source. Sole proprietors and partnerships in Colonie must file with Albany County. The filing lists the owner's full name and business address. UCC financing statements are on file here too, and they show debtor names and addresses. These are all public records. No FOIL request is needed for most of them since the county clerk makes them available as part of standard filing access.
The Albany County Board of Elections maintains voter registration data for Colonie residents. Voter rolls include each person's name, home address, party affiliation, and voting history. New York law makes this data available for political and non-commercial use.
Property and Assessment Records
The Town of Colonie Assessor's office keeps records on every parcel in town. Assessment rolls, tax maps, and property cards all show the owner's name and mailing address. If you need to find out who owns a specific property in Colonie, this is the place to check.
Tax bills go out each year to the owner of record. The town maintains a database of all parcels that you can search by address or owner name. Property assessment data is public under New York law. You can view it at the assessor's office or look it up on the town's website.
Exemption records add another layer of data. Seniors, veterans, and nonprofits that get property tax breaks all had to file an application. Those applications list the owner's name and address, and they sit in town files. Grievance filings are public too. If someone challenged their assessment, the paperwork shows their name and contact details.
Planning and Zoning Records
Colonie has an active Planning and Economic Development department. This office handles site plans, subdivisions, variances, and zoning changes. Every application lists the property owner and often the developer or contractor. These are public records that get presented at open meetings.
The Planning Board and Zoning Board of Appeals hold regular meetings. Minutes from these meetings are public. They name every applicant, property owner, and person who speaks. If someone applied for a variance or a special use permit in Colonie, their name and address are in the record.
Building permits produce similar data. When a homeowner or contractor pulls a permit for construction, renovation, or demolition, the application goes on file. It shows the owner's name and the property address. These records can be searched at the town's building department.
Police and Court Records
The Colonie Police Department keeps incident reports, accident reports, and arrest logs. These records list names and addresses of people involved. You can request them through the department's records office or by filing a FOIL request with the town.
Accident reports are common. Colonie has major roads like Central Avenue and Wolf Road that see a lot of traffic. Each accident report lists the drivers, their addresses, insurance info, and vehicle details. Incident reports from other police calls include similar info. The department must respond to your FOIL request within five business days.
The Colonie Town Court handles traffic violations, small claims, and some criminal cases. Court records list parties by name and address. The New York State Unified Court System website has search tools for some case types. For others, you may need to visit the court clerk in person.
The Albany County courts handle more serious cases that involve Colonie residents. Civil lawsuits, criminal cases, and family court filings all produce records with names and addresses. The Third Judicial District covers Albany County.
Filing a FOIL Request in Colonie
New York's Freedom of Information Law applies to the Town of Colonie just like every other municipality in the state. You have the right to access records held by town offices. You do not need to live in Colonie. You do not need to give a reason.
Send your request to the Records Access Officer at the department that holds the records you want. Be specific. Include names, dates, and the type of record. The town must acknowledge your request within five business days. They can grant it, deny it with a written reason, or give you a time estimate for producing the records.
Copy fees are capped at $0.25 per page for standard paper. If you want to look at records in person instead of getting copies, there is no charge. That is your right under the law. If the town denies your request, you have 30 days to appeal. After that, you can take it to court under Article 78 of the Civil Practice Law and Rules.
Other Colonie Phone Directory Resources
Several other offices hold records that can help with a phone directory search in Colonie. Here are the ones worth knowing about.
The William K. Sanford Town Library serves Colonie and keeps local history files, old town reports, and reference materials. Staff can help you find archived records or point you to the right office for what you need.
The Albany County government website lists all county departments and their contact info. If you need county-level records for a Colonie address, this is a good starting point. The county runs its own FOIL process that is separate from the town.
The New York State Archives in Albany holds historical records from every county and town in the state. Old property records, tax rolls, and vital records from past decades are on file. You can search their catalog online and order copies by mail.
For legal help with records access, the Legal Aid Society of Northeastern New York offers free advice to people who qualify. They can help with FOIL disputes and other public records issues.
Nearby Towns and Cities
Colonie borders several other communities in the Capital District. If you are searching for someone in the greater Albany area, you may need to check records in these nearby places as well. Albany is right next door to the south. Guilderland sits to the west. Troy is across the Hudson River to the east. Clifton Park is north in Saratoga County. Schenectady is about 15 miles west.
New York State Records
For state-level records covering all of Colonie and Albany County, visit the main page.