Office of the City Clerk

Angela Williams: City Clerk Priscilla Roberts: Deputy City Clerk

City Hall First Floor
317 E. Church Street
Elmira, New York 14901
»Show map to City Hall
»Show map of First Floor

Tel: (607)737-5673
Fax: (607)737-5783

Regular Office Hours
M-F:8:30am to 4:30pm
Except Holidays
»Email the City Clerk's Office

FOIL Requests

The Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) allows an individual to request existing public records such as laws, budgets, reports, etc. from the agency responsible for maintaining those records. The City of Elmira has a designated Records Management Officer that is responsible for accepting and responding to FOIL requests.

To make a request for records under FOIL, use the Application for Public Access to Records online form to request records in an electronic or paper format or download and complete the Application for Public Access to Records hard copy form and return it to the City Clerk's Office or fax it to (607) 737-5783.

When you submit this form, FOIL allows the City five (5) business days to make the record available, deny access to the record with reason, or acknowledge receipt of your request and inform you of the timeframe required to respond to your request.

To read the complete FOI Law, please click here.

FOIL Requests will only be fulfilled when a request has been submitted using the hard copy form or the electronic form. The City of Elmira does not accept FOIL requests by email.

Proposed Laws & Existing Laws

Copies of proposed laws and ordinances are available for review in the City Clerk's Office along with supporting documents (maps, drawings, etc.) at least 4 days before the City Council meeting at which they will be considered.

Review and copies of existing laws and ordinances are available in the City Clerk's Office.

There is a fee of .25 per page for all copies from the Clerk's Office.

Dog Licenses

All dogs must be licensed at four months of age. The issuance of a new dog license must be processed in person at City Hall. To obtain a new dog license, a certificate of rabies vaccination from a licensed veterinarian must be presented. If the dog has been spayed or neutered, a certificate of verification must be presented as well. After the application and appropriate certificates are filed and the license fee has been paid, the license will be validated for one year by the Clerk's Office. Each dog is assigned a permanent official identification (ID) number and issued a metal ID tag which is to be attached to the dog's collar.

Licenses must be renewed on an annual basis - one year from the month the original license was purchased. License renewal forms will be mailed directly to the dog owner by the Department of Agriculture and Markets by the first day of the month that your license is due to expire. Renewals can be completed through the mail. The owner must sign the renewal application, return all three parts of the license, and the required fee. The City Clerk will process the license and mail your receipt copy back to you. Proof of rabies vaccine must be presented if the vaccine has expired since the last time you licensed your dog.

Specific details may be obtained from New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets website
»Go to New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets

If you move into or out of the City or if the dog is transferred to a new owner or becomes deceased, please contact us at (607) 737-5672 or by clicking here to send email so we can make changes to the Dog License.

License fees for dogs in the City of Elmira are as follows:

Spayed/Neutered:	$7.50 per year
Unspayed/Unneutered:	$15.50 per year
Replacement Tag:	$2.00 (4 to 6 weeks)

Senior Citizens over the age of 65 receive a $5.00 discount on licensing.

Marriages

Licenses

All marriages performed in New York State require a New York State Marriage License. The license is obtained from a municipal clerk and is good anywhere in New York State.

• Licenses must be processed with both the groom and bride in person at City Hall and are only valid in New York State.
• The marriage ceremony may not take place within 24 hours from the exact time that the license is issued.
• The marriage license is only valid for 60 days, beginning the day after it is issued.
• Each person must have a current driver's license and an original birth certificate from the Health Department (not a hospital certificate). No blood tests or physicals are required.
• If both applicants are 18 years of age or older, no consents are required.
• If there has been a previous marriage, a certified copy of the Decree of Divorce, Certificate of Dissolution of Marriage, or Spouse's Death Certificate must be presented for all previous marriages at the time of obtaining the new license.
• If one person is 17 or 16, both parents must sign consent or one parent if that parent has sole custody (proof of custody required)
• If one person is 15 or under, approval from family court is required
• The fee for Marriage Licenses in the City of Elmira is $40.
  
• Additional details may be obtained from the New York State Department of Health
  »Go to New York State Department of Health
  

Marriage Certificate Copies

When obtaining a copy of a marriage certificate, identification must be shown to the Clerk and there is a $10 fee. If a person is requesting a copy of their marriage certificate and does not live in the City, that person needs to submit a notarized statement which should include the groom's name, the bride's maiden name, and the marriage date, along with a certified check or money order for $10 made payable to the City of Elmira. Marriage certificates may be requested by the bride or groom only as this information is not public record. If the couple is deceased, relatives can request a verified marriage transcript (through a Genealogy Marriage Search).

The City Clerk's Office does not maintain the records for Birth Certificates and Death Certificates. These records are maintained by the Chemung County Department of Vital Records.
»Go to the Chemung County Department of Vital Records

Genealogy Marriage Search
Relatives of a deceased couple who wish to obtain verification of the date and location of a marriage within City limits may request a Genealogy Marriage Search. The name of the groom and maiden name of the bride is required for the search. The fee for this search is $22.00. If the person requesting the search does not live in the area, that person should send a certified check or money order payable to the City of Elmira.

Other Licenses

Bingo/Gaming License
The City Clerk's office issues Bingo and Gaming Licenses. The fee for the gaming license is $25 per year. The fee for a bingo license is $18.75 per occasion of Bingo games. Please visit the Clerk's office for applications and more information.

Taxi Driver's License
The City Clerk issues a City License for anyone who drives a taxi. The fee for the licenses are $5 for the first year and $2 for each successive year. All Taxi licenses expire June 30th. A license may be renewed anytime during the month of June. You must bring to the City Clerk's office the following:

• Proof of a physical exam
  
• Class E driver's license
  
• 3 photos will be taken by the Clerk for a fee of $2.00 each.
  
• 3 references from persons who have known you over 1 year.
  

Taxi Owner's License
You must have a license to operate a taxi in the City of Elmira. Please bring proof of New York State Inspection on each taxi to be licensed. The fee is $10 per taxi, renewable each year in January and a certificate of Insurance showing coverage for vehicles must be turned in.

Bicycle Registration

It is recommended that all bicycle owners in the City of Elmira take advantage of this program. You will be issued an ID card with your name, address, number of bicycle license, and the owner's signature. This ID also serves as an excellent form of identification for children. When visiting the City Clerk's office, please have the following information available:

• Serial number off of the bicycle frame
  
• Make of the bicycle
  
• Model
  
• Color

Handicapped Parking Permits

Applicants for Handicapped Parking Permits must live within the City of Elmira. Parking Permits are issued to the person, NOT the vehicle. Only one Parking Permit is permitted per applicant. The application is available in the Clerk's Office at City Hall or visit the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles website and complete form MV-664.1.
»Handicapped Parking Permit Form MV-664.1

Applicants must complete the top portion. The second part, Medical Certification, must be completed and signed by an appropriate physician prior to obtaining your permit. Bring the completed application to the City Clerk's Office with a driver's license or a signed affidavit if you do not possess a driver's license.

There is no charge for the a Handicapped Parking Permit.

Miscellaneous Permits

The City Clerk's office also issues the following miscellaneous permits:

Alcoholic Outdoor Consumption Permits	Free to file.
Solicitors	Contact Clerk's Office
Transient Merchants Permit	$100.00 per day
Scrap Processing Permit	$75.00 per year
Junk License	$5.00 per year
Peddler's Permit	$50.00 per year
Going out of Business Permit	$50.00 per year
Theater License	$300.00 per year per screen
Auctioneer's License	$50.00 per year

Special Events Permit Application

A Special Events Permit is required for any event open to the public that takes place on City sidewalks, streets, or parks. Applications must be submitted 90 days prior to the event. A Certificate of Insurance is necessary with certain limits and wording. See the application for more information. There is a $50 application fee plus the following fees:

• $10.00 per vendor for all non-food vendors
  
• $15.00 per vendor for all food vendors
  
• $10.00 if electricity is needed
  
  If you have any questions regarding Special Events Permits or the application, contact the City Clerk.
  »Send Email to the City Clerk

Application
»Application Directions
»Special Events Permit Application
Resources
»Ordinance 95-73 on Special Events
»City Parks and Recreation

Dial-A-Truck and Furniture and Appliance Pickup Registration

Registration and payment for the Dial-A-Truck and Furniture and Appliance Pickup programs is in the City Clerk's Office. To register for these programs, bring proof of residency and the fee to the City Clerk's Office.

»more on sanitation programs

Services Offered by other agencies in Elmira

Driver's License and Vehicle Registration
	available at the Department of Motor Vehicles at the County Resource Building (map)	425 Pennsylvania Ave. Elmira, NY 14904 Phone: (607) 737-5470
	»Licensing Bureau Website

"Doing Business As" (DBA) Forms
	available from the Chemung County Clerk's Office (map)	210 Lake Street P.O. Box 588 Elmira, NY 14902-0588 Phone: (607) 737-2920
	»Chemung County Clerk's Website

Birth Certificate and Death Certificate
	for any information regarding a Birth Certificate or a Death Certificate please contact the Chemung County Health Department (map)	Chemung County Health Department 103 Washington Street Elmira, New York 14901 Phone: (607) 737-2018 »Vital Records