Find DeKalb Phone Directory

The DeKalb phone directory provides contact numbers for all city departments and offices in this northern Illinois community. DeKalb has a population of about 40,443 and is the county seat of DeKalb County. It is also home to Northern Illinois University. The City Manager's Office is the main hub for local government, and most department phone lines connect through the main city number. This page puts all the key contacts in one place so you can find the right number fast. Use the search tool or browse below for phone numbers, addresses, and office hours for DeKalb city government.

DeKalb City Hall Phone Directory

DeKalb City Hall is at 164 East Lincoln Highway, DeKalb, IL 60115. The main phone number is 815-748-2000. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The City Manager's Office runs out of this building, and the main phone line connects you to the front desk. From there, staff can transfer your call to any city department. If you are not sure who to ask for, describe your issue and they will point you the right way.

The City of DeKalb website is the main source for department contacts, meeting schedules, and city service info.

From this site you can reach every department page and look up specific phone numbers for any office in the city.

Walk-ins are welcome at City Hall during normal business hours. The front lobby has a service area where you can ask questions, pick up forms, or talk to staff. Phone calls are the quickest route for most questions, since the staff can pull up info on the spot. If you visit in person, you might need to wait a few minutes if the office is busy. Calling first can save you a trip if all you need is a phone number or a quick answer.

Note: City Hall is closed on state and federal holidays, and hours may change around major holidays, so call ahead if you are planning a visit on a day near a holiday.

DeKalb Police Phone Numbers

The DeKalb Police Department can be reached at 815-748-2000 for non-emergency calls. For emergencies, call 911. The non-emergency line routes through the city's main phone system. You can ask for the police department when someone picks up, and they will transfer you. The police handle reports, case inquiries, and general questions through this line.

The police department has its own front desk for walk-in visits. If you need to pick up a copy of a police report or file paperwork, you can go in person during business hours. After hours, the non-emergency line routes to dispatch, and dispatch can send an officer or take a message depending on what you need.

Under 5 ILCS 140, you can request staff lists, phone directories, and other records from the DeKalb Police Department through a FOIA request. The city's general FOIA officer is Scott Zak, and requests can be submitted online through the city's FOIA center or by contacting City Hall. The city has five business days to respond under state law.

FOIA and Public Records in DeKalb

DeKalb has an online FOIA center on the city website. This is the easiest way to submit a records request. You can ask for phone directories, department contact lists, staff rosters, meeting minutes, and most other city records. The general FOIA officer for the city is Scott Zak. You can also submit requests by mail or in person at City Hall, 164 East Lincoln Highway.

The Illinois Freedom of Information Act (5 ILCS 140) applies to the City of DeKalb the same as it does to every public body in the state. The city must respond within five business days. If the request is complex, DeKalb can extend the deadline by another five days, but it has to notify you in writing. Most routine requests for phone numbers and contact info get turned around quickly.

The Illinois Local Records Act (50 ILCS 205) requires DeKalb to keep and preserve all public records for set periods. Phone directories are classified as administrative records. The city stores these at City Hall or in a secure archive. If you need a past directory or a list from a specific year, file a FOIA request with the date range and the FOIA officer will check what is on file.

Note: The first 50 pages of black-and-white copies are typically free for FOIA requests in Illinois, but the city may charge a small fee for larger document sets.

DeKalb Department Phone Contacts

The city has a staff directory on its website that lists phone numbers and email addresses for employees and departments. This directory is updated when staff changes happen. The main number at 815-748-2000 reaches the front desk, and they can transfer you to any department. Some offices also have direct lines listed on the website.

The city website directory page is a good place to look up specific contacts.

That page lists names, titles, phone numbers, and email addresses for city staff across all departments.

Here are some of the key numbers for DeKalb city departments:

• City Manager's Office: 815-748-2000
• Police non-emergency: 815-748-2000 (ask for police)
• City Clerk: 815-748-2000 (ask for clerk)
• FOIA Officer (Scott Zak): scott.zak@cityofdekalb.com
• General inquiries: 815-748-2000

DeKalb routes most calls through the same main number. This keeps things simple. You call one number, and the staff at the front desk route your call to the right department. If you reach voicemail, leave a message and someone will call you back. Staff are usually quick about returning calls during business hours.

How to Use the DeKalb Phone Directory

The main number is all you need. Call 815-748-2000, tell the front desk what you are looking for, and they will transfer you. If you want to bypass the front desk, check the city website for a direct line to the department you need. The staff directory page lists individual numbers and email addresses.

DeKalb is a mid-size city with a university campus, so the phones can get busy during peak times. Try calling early in the morning for the shortest wait. Most departments are responsive and will pick up within a few rings. If you get voicemail, leave your info and expect a callback the same day or the next morning.

The Illinois state government maintains a contact page for FOIA officers across local and state agencies. The state FOIA contacts page is helpful if you need to reach a state office that works alongside DeKalb city government.

You can also reach DeKalb's FOIA officer by email at scott.zak@cityofdekalb.com. This is sometimes faster than calling, especially for records requests. Email gives you a written record of when you submitted your request and what you asked for, which can be useful if there is a dispute about timing later on.

DeKalb Phone Directory Records

Under the Local Records Act (50 ILCS 205), DeKalb must keep public records for set retention periods. Phone directories, department contact lists, and staff rosters are all part of the city's administrative records. The city stores these at City Hall. Older directories may be in the city archives. If something is no longer posted on the website, a FOIA request is the way to get it.

The City Clerk's office at City Hall handles many types of public records. If you need a document that is not available online, the clerk is a good first contact. They can look up what the city has on file and help you submit a formal request if needed. The clerk can be reached at the main city number, 815-748-2000.

The state also keeps records through FOIA that may overlap with local records in DeKalb. The Illinois Department of Labor FOIA page is one example of a state agency that publishes its own records and FOIA process.

State agencies each have their own FOIA process, so check the specific agency page if your request involves state-level records.

Nearby Cities Phone Directory

DeKalb sits in the north-central part of Illinois, about 65 miles west of Chicago. Elgin is the nearest qualifying city with its own phone directory page on this site. Other nearby communities like Sycamore and Rochelle are smaller and do not have their own pages. Use the link below to check the Elgin phone directory for that city's government contacts.

DeKalb County Phone Directory

DeKalb is in DeKalb County. County-level offices handle property records, vital records, court filings, and other services that are separate from city government. The county seat is Sycamore, which is where most county offices are based. If your question involves county government rather than city government, contact the DeKalb County offices directly. Many DeKalb residents need both city and county phone numbers depending on what they are looking for, so keep in mind that the two governments are separate and have different phone lines.