Valdosta Phone Directory
The Valdosta phone directory covers contact info for city government offices, the city clerk, open records services, and Lowndes County court contacts that serve Valdosta residents. Valdosta has a population of about 55,667 and serves as the county seat of Lowndes County in south Georgia. This page gathers the phone numbers, office locations, and web links you need to connect with the right department on the first call.
Valdosta Quick Facts
Valdosta City Hall Phone Directory
The main phone number for the City of Valdosta is 229-259-3500. City Hall is at 216 East Central Avenue, Valdosta, GA 31601. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. From the main line you can be routed to any city department, though calling a direct number is faster if you know which office you need.
The City of Valdosta is committed to conducting city business in a transparent manner. That commitment shows up in how they handle open records, public meetings, and contact with residents. The city website at valdostacity.com lists phone numbers and email addresses for individual departments, which can save you time over the general switchboard.
Walk-in service is available during business hours for payments, permits, and document requests. The front desk can point you to the right department or help you get started on a records request. For after-hours needs, the city website has online payment portals and service request forms you can use anytime.
Valdosta Phone Directory for Open Records
Valdosta handles open records requests through a JustFOIA portal at valdostaga.justfoia.com. This online system lets you submit a request, track its status, and download records once they are ready. It is the fastest way to get public records from the city. The portal keeps a log of all your requests, so you have a record of what you asked for and when the city responded.
You can also learn about the process and find the portal link on the city's open records page at valdostacity.com/administration/open-records-request. The screenshot below shows this page.
From this page you get details on what to include in your request, how fees work, and what to expect for response times. It is worth reading before you submit.
The Georgia Open Records Act, codified at O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70 through § 50-18-77, gives every person the right to inspect and copy public records. You do not need to live in Valdosta or even in Georgia. You do not need to explain why you want the records. The city must respond within three business days. If they need more time, they must let you know within that window.
One thing to keep in mind: City of Valdosta employees do not have to prepare reports not in existence. That means if the information you want is not already in a document, the city is not required to create a new report just for your request. You can only request records that already exist. If you are not sure whether a record exists, call the clerk's office first and ask before filing a formal request.
Valdosta Phone Directory Fee Info
Fees for open records in Valdosta follow state law. The first quarter hour of staff time is free. After that, the charge is based on the hourly wage of the lowest-paid full-time employee who can pull the records. Paper copies cost 10 cents per page. Electronic copies sent by email or through JustFOIA may not carry a per-page fee, but staff time charges still apply for requests that take more than 15 minutes.
The city will provide a cost estimate before pulling large or complex records. If the estimate is more than you expected, you can narrow your request to reduce the time and cost. Be specific about the records you need. A focused request asking for a particular document or date range will get processed faster than a broad request for "all records related to" a general topic.
If the city denies your request, they must explain the reason in writing and cite the specific exemption under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-72.
Valdosta Lowndes County Phone Directory
Valdosta is the county seat of Lowndes County. Court-level records for Valdosta residents, including civil cases, criminal filings, real estate records, and probate matters, are handled by the Lowndes County courts. The Lowndes County Courthouse is at 327 North Ashley Street, Valdosta, GA 31601. Since Valdosta is the county seat, the courthouse is right in town, which makes in-person visits convenient for city residents.
The Lowndes County Clerk of Superior Court manages case filings, court records, and real estate transactions. You can call the clerk's office for case lookups, certified copies, and filing questions. The office also handles notary commissions and business filings at the county level.
For statewide record searches that cover all 159 Georgia counties, the GSCCCA at gsccca.org/search provides access to deed records, lien filings, and court documents. This is a useful tool when you need to search beyond Lowndes County or verify records that may have been filed in another jurisdiction. The GSCCCA database is free for basic searches and covers every county in the state.
Valdosta Police Phone Directory
The Valdosta Police Department handles records requests for incident reports, accident reports, and other law enforcement documents. Police records are separate from general city records. If you need a police report, submit your request through the JustFOIA portal and indicate that it is for police records, or contact the police department directly.
Routine reports like accident reports and closed case files are typically available within a few business days. Reports connected to active investigations may be withheld under the exemptions in O.C.G.A. § 50-18-72. Once a case is closed, those records generally become available. If a request is denied, the department must provide a written explanation citing the specific exemption that applies.
For insurance claims or legal matters where you need a report quickly, let the records staff know your timeline. They can sometimes prioritize requests when there is a deadline involved, or at least tell you the expected turnaround so you can plan accordingly.
Valdosta Phone Directory Tips
Valdosta is a smaller city, and that works in your favor when you need to reach someone by phone. Wait times are generally shorter than in metro Atlanta, and the staff tend to be more accessible. Still, a few tips help.
Use the JustFOIA portal for open records. It is faster than email or phone and gives you a clear record of your request and the city's response. For general questions, a phone call to 229-259-3500 is fine, but remember that a written request is required to start the formal open records process under state law.
For county matters, the Lowndes County offices are right in Valdosta since it is the county seat. That means you do not have to drive to another city for court filings, property records, or probate business. The courthouse is within a few blocks of City Hall, which makes it easy to handle both city and county business in one trip.
Nearby Cities
If you need contact info for government offices in nearby cities, check the pages below. These cities have their own phone directories with office numbers and public records contacts.