Find Lake County Phone Numbers

Lake County sits in the northeast corner of Illinois, just north of Cook County and along the shore of Lake Michigan. The county government runs dozens of departments from its main offices in Waukegan. This Lake County phone directory lists all the key numbers you need to reach county offices, from the county board to the clerk, sheriff, and more. With a population over 727,000, Lake County is one of the largest in the state, and its phone directory covers a wide range of services. Use this page to look up the right contact for any Lake County department.

Lake County Government Phone Directory

The main hub for Lake County government is at 18 N. County Street in Waukegan, IL 60085. Call the main line at 847-377-2000 to reach the switchboard. The operator can transfer you to any department. Office hours run from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. The Lake County website also lists contacts for each office. If you know which department you need, it is often faster to call the direct line. The phone directory for Lake County government includes numbers for all elected offices, administrative departments, and public services.

The county board office picks up at 847-377-2323. This is where you call for questions about county policy, board meetings, or general county administration. The Lake County Board oversees the budget and sets rules for how county offices run. You can also reach the board through the main county website.

The Lake County contact page has a full list of department phone numbers and email addresses. It is one of the best starting points if you are not sure which office to call.

That page breaks down every department with its own direct line so you can skip the main switchboard.

Lake County Clerk Phone Numbers

The Lake County Clerk handles vital records, elections, and other public filings. Call 847-377-2400 for the clerk's office. The Lake County Clerk website has more details on services and hours. The clerk's office is one of the most called numbers in the Lake County phone directory. Residents reach out for copies of birth and death certificates, marriage licenses, and voter registration records. The office also manages property tax extensions and Freedom of Information Act requests at the county level.

Under 5 ILCS 140, the Illinois Freedom of Information Act, you have the right to request public records from the Lake County Clerk. That includes staff phone lists, department directories, and other contact records kept by the office. Most requests get a response within five business days. The first 50 pages are free. After that, expect to pay around 15 cents per page for copies.

Note: The Lake County Clerk's office also processes passport applications during regular business hours.

Lake County Department Phone Directory

Lake County has a long list of departments, each with its own phone number. The departments and offices page on the county website shows every department and its contact information. Here are some of the most important numbers in the Lake County phone directory.

That page groups departments by name and gives you a direct link to each one. The Lake County Sheriff can be reached at 847-377-4000. This line covers general inquiries about law enforcement services in Lake County. For crime reports, jail information, or court-related questions, the sheriff's office is your first call. The State's Attorney handles criminal cases and picks up at 847-377-3000. The Treasurer's office, which manages county funds and tax payments, shares the county board line at 847-377-2323. The Recorder of Deeds is at 847-377-2575 and deals with property records and document filings.

• County Board: 847-377-2323
• County Clerk: 847-377-2400
• Sheriff: 847-377-4000
• State's Attorney: 847-377-3000
• Treasurer: 847-377-2323
• Recorder of Deeds: 847-377-2575

These are the core offices. But Lake County runs many more departments that handle health services, public works, transportation, planning, and parks. Each one has its own line. The full directory is on the county website.

Note: Some Lake County departments share phone lines, so you may be transferred if you call the wrong extension.

Lake County Online Phone Directory

Lake County keeps an online staff directory at lakecountyil.gov/Directory.aspx. This tool lets you search for county employees by name or department. Type in a last name and the system pulls up their phone number, email address, and office location. It is the fastest way to find a direct line for someone who works for the county. The directory covers all departments and elected offices in Lake County.

The search results show each person's title, department, and direct phone extension. If you need to reach a specific person rather than a general department, this is the tool to use. The Lake County phone directory search works for all staff who have a county email or phone number on file.

The Illinois Local Records Act (50 ILCS 205) requires county governments to keep and preserve their public records. Phone directories and staff contact lists fall under this law. Lake County meets this rule by keeping its online directory current and open to the public. If you need records that go beyond what the website shows, you can file a FOIA request with the county clerk's office.

How to Reach Lake County Offices

There are three main ways to get in touch with Lake County government. The first is to call the main phone number at 847-377-2000. The switchboard routes you to any department. The second way is to use the online staff directory to find a direct number. The third is to visit in person at 18 N. County Street in Waukegan during business hours.

For written requests or formal correspondence, mail goes to 18 N. County Street, Waukegan, IL 60085. Most departments also accept email. You can find email addresses on the Lake County contact page or in the online phone directory. If you need a record that is not posted online, put your request in writing. A written FOIA request gives you a paper trail and a legal timeline for a response.

The Lake County phone directory is most useful during office hours. Calls made outside of 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on weekdays will go to voicemail. Leave a message with your name, number, and what you need. Most offices call back within one business day.

Note: Lake County offices close on all major state holidays, so plan your calls around those dates.

Lake County Phone Directory Website

The Lake County government homepage is the starting point for all county services and phone numbers. The site has a clean layout that makes it easy to find what you need.

From the homepage, you can click into departments, elected officials, services, and the staff directory. The site also has a search bar at the top. Type in any keyword, like "phone" or "contact," and it pulls up matching pages. The Lake County website is one of the better county sites in Illinois for finding phone numbers and office information quickly. It gets updated regularly as staff and phone numbers change.

Lake County also posts meeting agendas, minutes, and public notices on the site. These documents sometimes include direct phone numbers for project managers or department heads that are not in the main phone directory. If you are looking for a contact tied to a specific project or initiative, check the meeting documents.

Requesting Lake County Phone Records

If you need a copy of the full internal phone directory for Lake County, you can submit a Freedom of Information Act request. Address it to the FOIA officer at the Lake County Clerk's office. Include what records you want, such as "a complete phone directory of all Lake County departments and employees." Be as specific as you can. General requests take longer to process.

The county must respond within five business days under Illinois law. If they need more time, they can extend by five more days with a written notice. Most phone directory requests are straightforward and get filled quickly. There is no fee for the first 50 pages. Larger requests may cost 15 cents per page for black-and-white copies. Electronic copies are often free or low cost. You can submit your request by mail, email, or in person at the clerk's office in Waukegan.

Cities in Lake County

Lake County is home to several cities and villages with their own local phone directories. Each city runs its own government offices separate from the county. For city-level contacts, visit the city phone directory pages below. These cover city hall numbers, police, fire, public works, and other local departments.

These cities all fall within Lake County and use Lake County offices for certain services. But for day-to-day city business, call the city directly.

Nearby County Phone Directories

Lake County borders several other counties in Illinois. If you need contacts outside of Lake County, check these nearby county phone directory pages for their office numbers and department listings.