Nassau County Phone Directory Search
Nassau County sits on Long Island just east of New York City and holds public records for over 1.4 million residents. The Nassau County phone directory draws from land records, business certificates, property filings, and other government documents kept by the County Clerk and related offices in Mineola. You can search these records to find names, addresses, and phone numbers tied to people who live or own property in the county. Most records are open to the public under New York's Freedom of Information Law, and many can be looked up online without a formal request.
Nassau County Phone Directory Overview
Nassau County Clerk Office
The Nassau County Clerk is the main office for public records in the county. It sits at 240 Old Country Road in Mineola, NY 11501. The phone number is (516) 493-4111. Office hours run Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. This is where you go to search land records, file business certificates, get notary services, and handle other public filings. The clerk also processes passport applications, pistol permits, and UCC filings.
The Nassau County government website provides an overview of all services the clerk handles.
From that main page you can find links to each department and their contact info, which is a good starting point for any phone directory search in the county.
For a phone directory search, the clerk's land records are one of the best sources. Nassau County has land records that date back to the 1600s. These include deeds, mortgages, liens, and other filed documents. Each one lists the names of the parties and their mailing addresses. The clerk offers an online search tool where you can look up recorded documents by name, date, or document type. You can also view images of the documents and order certified copies through the site.
Business certificates are another useful source. When someone starts a sole proprietorship or partnership in Nassau County, they file a certificate with the clerk. That filing includes the owner's name and business address. These are public records. You can search them at the clerk's office or request copies by mail.
Land Records and Property Search
Nassau County's online land records database lets you search for deeds, mortgages, and other recorded documents without visiting the clerk's office. The system covers records going back centuries. You type in a name or address and the system pulls up matching filings. Each result shows the document type, recording date, and the parties involved.
The clerk's office page for land records and other services gives you direct access to these search tools.
That page also lists fees for certified copies, which you may need if you want official documents for legal purposes.
Property records are a core part of any phone directory lookup. When someone buys a home in Nassau County, the deed gets recorded with the clerk. That deed lists the buyer's name and mailing address. Mortgages do the same for the lender and borrower. If you are trying to find where someone lives, a property search is often the fastest way. The online system shows document images in many cases, so you can see the actual filing with all the details.
UCC filings are worth checking too. These are records of secured transactions, like when someone uses personal property as collateral for a loan. The filing lists the debtor's name and address. Nassau County's clerk handles UCC searches and can provide copies of filings on request.
Property Assessment Records
The Nassau County Department of Assessment keeps detailed property records for every parcel in the county. Their phone number is (516) 571-1500. The department maintains property cards, tax maps, and exemption records. All of this data ties property addresses to owner names, which feeds into phone directory searches.
The assessment department's website offers online lookup tools for property data.
You can search by address or section-block-lot number to pull up property details, assessed values, and owner info.
Property cards show the physical details of a property along with the owner's name and mailing address. Tax maps show how parcels are divided and who owns what. Exemption records list people who get tax breaks, such as seniors, veterans, or people with disabilities. All of these are public records under New York law. You can view them online, visit the assessment office in person, or file a FOIL request to get copies.
The assessment roll is published each year. It lists every property in the county with the owner's name, address, and assessed value. This is one of the most complete lists of property owners in Nassau County. It is public and can be searched for free.
Filing a FOIL Request
Nassau County has a centralized FOIL portal where you can submit records requests to any county department. You can also send requests by email. Under Public Officers Law Article 6, any person can ask for government records without giving a reason. The county must respond within five business days. They can either give you the records, deny the request in writing, or send a letter saying they need more time.
Standard copy fees in New York are set by law. Under Public Officers Law Section 87(1), copies of records up to 9 by 14 inches cost no more than 25 cents per page. Some agencies charge 50 cents. Larger copies and electronic records may cost more. In-person inspection of records is free at most offices if you set up an appointment first.
If the county denies your request, you have the right to appeal. The denial must cite a specific exemption under Public Officers Law Section 87(2). Common exemptions include personal privacy, law enforcement records, and trade secrets. You have 30 days to file an appeal with the county. If the appeal fails, you can go to court within 120 days under Article 78 of the Civil Practice Law and Rules.
For phone directory searches, FOIL can help you get records that are not online. Voter rolls, for example, are public records kept by the Nassau County Board of Elections. They list each voter's name, home address, and party affiliation. You can request a copy of the voter file through FOIL. The data is useful for finding where someone lives, though it can only be used for non-commercial purposes under New York election law.
Nassau County Vital Records
Nassau County's Office of Vital Statistics holds birth and death records dating back to 1881 and marriage records from the 1800s. These records list names, addresses, and other details that can help with a phone directory search. You can get certified copies in person at the clerk's office, by mail, or through an online ordering system.
Genealogy copies are also available for older records. These are non-certified copies used for family history research. They cost less than certified copies and can be a good option if you just need the information rather than an official document. The clerk's office can tell you which records are available in genealogy format and what the fees are.
Keep in mind that vital records have some restrictions. Recent birth and death records may have limited access under state law. Marriage records are generally more open. If you need a certified copy, you may have to show that you have a direct interest in the record, such as being the person named or a close family member.
Sheriff and Law Enforcement Records
The Nassau County Sheriff's Department handles arrest records, inmate information, civil process, and pistol permit records. You can request these records through FOIL. The sheriff also posts inmate lookup tools online where you can search by name to find someone currently in custody.
Arrest records in Nassau County are not always public right away. Active cases and ongoing investigations are exempt from FOIL under the law enforcement exemption. But once a case is closed or charges are resolved, the records generally become available. The sheriff's department can tell you what is available for a specific request.
Civil process records are another source of contact info. When someone gets served with a lawsuit, the sheriff's office records the service. That record includes the person's name and the address where they were served. These records are public and can be useful for finding a current address.
Business and Consumer Records
The Nassau County Office of Consumer Affairs handles business licenses, consumer complaints, and related filings. Their phone number is (516) 571-2600. Business license records are public and list the owner's name, business name, and address. These can be useful for a phone directory search when you are looking for someone who runs a business in the county.
Consumer complaint records may also hold useful data. When someone files a complaint, the record includes the business name and address, and sometimes the owner's contact info. Not all complaint details are public, but the basic filing info usually is.
Nassau County also runs a 311 service for general government inquiries. You can call 311 from within the county to get directed to the right office. The county's open data portal publishes datasets that include business registrations, property data, and other public records. This data is free to search and download.
How to Search Nassau County Records
Start with the free online tools. The clerk's land records database, the assessment department's property lookup, and the open data portal all give you results without a formal request. Type in a name or address and see what comes up. These searches are free and instant.
If you can't find what you need online, file a FOIL request. Be specific about the records you want. Include the person's name, any dates you know, and the type of document you are looking for. Send the request through the county's online portal or by email to the relevant department. The county has five business days to respond.
You can also visit the clerk's office in person. Bring a valid ID. The staff can help you search land records, business certificates, and other filings. In-person inspection of records is free. If you need copies, they cost 25 cents per page for standard sizes. Certified copies cost more, usually a few dollars per document depending on the type.
For older records, check with the Vital Statistics office or the county archives. Birth and death records from 1881 and marriage records from the 1800s are on file. These older records can fill in gaps when newer databases come up short. The clerk can also point you to state-level resources if the county does not have what you need.
Here are some tips to make your search go faster:
- Check the land records database first for property owners
- Use the assessment roll for the most complete owner list
- Try the open data portal for business records
- File FOIL requests for records not available online
- Call (516) 493-4111 if you are not sure where to start
Cities and Towns in Nassau County
Nassau County is home to several large towns and cities, each with their own local government offices that keep public records. These local offices can be another source for phone directory data, since town clerks handle local filings and permits.
Nearby Counties
If your search extends beyond Nassau County, these neighboring counties also have public records you can search.