City Clerk

The role of the City Clerk is established in the City of Beacon Charter § C-4.04. The Clerk receives all official records of the City, records ordinances, issues licenses, etc. City of Beacon Municipal Center.

Payments are accepted until 3:30 p.m.

We are now accepting online applications for dog licenses, marriage licenses, and vital records copies. Please use this link to submit an application, and email supporting documents to records@beaconny.gov

Online FOIL Request Form

The above link can be used to submit FOIL requests online. A printable copy of the form can be found on the Forms and Documents page. Request for motor vehicle accident reports can be submitted directly to the Police Department.

We will publish our responses to recent FOIL requests involving the Police Department, as such responses become available. The documents can be viewed here.

FOIL (Freedom of Information Law)

New York State’s Freedom of Information Law (Public Officers Law §87 et. seq.) allows members of the public to access records of governmental agencies. FOIL provides a process for the review and copying of an agency’s records.

More about the Freedom of Information Law is available from the Committee on Open Government.

The FOIL Request Form is available online, or on the Forms and Documents page.

For your convenience and immediate processing, we encourage use of our online FOIL request form.

We will publish our responses to recent FOIL requests involving the Police Department, as such responses become available. The documents can be viewed here.

Motor vehicle accident reports can be requested and obtained directly from the police department. All other requests for incident reports should use the FOIL request form or our online FOIL application.

Completed forms may be submitted in person or via mail to:
Iola C. Taylor, City Clerk
1 Municipal Plaza, Suite 1
Beacon, NY 12508

Or via email to beaconcityclerk@beaconny.gov
Or by fax to 845-838-5012

Marriage License

A marriage license can be applied for online, using The City of Beacon Self-Service module. There is a $40.00 fee (Payable by Discover, MasterCard, Visa, and electronic check online, or cash & check in-office). There is a 24 hour waiting period and the license is valid for 60 days. The following documents are required for BOTH applicants — a valid picture ID, a certified birth certificate containing parents names, and if married prior, copies of all certified filed divorce decrees and/or death certificates. Second ceremonies must bring in original Marriage Certificate. All documents must be officially translated into English. After applying online, all supporting documentation must be sent to records@beaconny.gov making sure to note your order number or the name the order was placed under.

Officiants must be able to perform ceremonies in New York State. The City of Beacon has no additional requirements or registry of officiants. It is the officiant’s responsibility to ensure their qualifications are sufficient.

Marriage License Fee — $40

Dog Licensing

All dogs, three months and older living in the City of Beacon, must be licensed with the City. Licenses are renewed on an annual basis. Dog licenses can be applied for and renewed through The City of Beacon Self-Service module, or in-office. If applying online, all required documentation should be sent to records@cityofbeacon.org

We are only able to license dogs living within the City of Beacon. Residents of other localities should apply for a dog license within their home municipality.

Required Documentation: EMAIL TO RECORDS@BEACONNY.GOV IF APPLYING ONLINE

Updated copy of the dog’s rabies certificate, including serial number and manufacturer of vaccine
Proof of spaying / neutering
(if this info is not printed on rabies certificate)

Dog licensing yearly fees:

Spayed/neutered — $12.50
Not-spayed/Not-neutered — $22.50
Replacement tags — $5.00

Dog Control:

Dog Control Officers, Timothy Sanker and Matt Brochhausen, may be contacted though the City of Beacon Main Office during regular business hours at 845-838-5000, ext. 0. After-hours, they may be contacted for dog matters requiring immediate attention by contacting the Beacon Police Department at 845-831-4111.

DOG OWNERS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR CLEANING UP AFTER THEIR DOG. NEGLECTING TO CLEAN UP AFTER YOUR DOG ON PUBLIC PROPERTY IS A VIOLATION OF THE CITY CODE:

§ 99-14Presence on public property.

“If any dog shall defecate upon public property, the owner or keeper of the dog must immediately clean up the feces and make proper disposition of it so as not to endanger the health and safety of the public.”

Miscellaneous

The City Clerk receives all service of process for lawsuits.

The City Clerk’s Office issues the following:

Garbage/recycle tickets
Parking permits
Unregistered vehicle permits

Notice of Claim

Notice of Claim forms can be found here and submitted to the City Clerk’s Office. Please include any supporting documentation, including photos, police reports, etc.

Please review the Notice of Claim Disclaimer prior to submitting the forms.

Vital Statistics

Certified copies of birth, death and marriage records are available through the City Clerk’s office. The City only maintains records for births and deaths that occurred within the City of Beacon. Marriage records are maintained by the municipality from which the marriage license was issued (this may, in some instances, differ from the municipality in which you were married).

Note, all records (regardless of municipality) are maintained by New York State. Certified copies of those records are available through the NYS Health Department.

Copies of all vital statistics may be obtained through The City of Beacon Self-Service module, including applications for marriage licenses. We accept payment by Discover, MasterCard, Visa, and electronic checks for all services. (Please note that credit card transactions include a $2.00 fee)

Upon completion of the application, photo ID and supporting documents must be sent to records@cityofbeacon.org. Your application will NOT be processed until we receive the required documentation.

Birth records: May be provided only to the individual named on the birth record, a parent named on the birth record, or someone with a court order, or power of attorney. All applicants must provide photo ID. If your name has changed from that listed on the birth record (due to marriage or any other reason) you must provide proof of such name change.

Marriage records: May be provided only to the parties named on the marriage license, or someone showing legal claim to the record. Legal claim would include power of attorney. Photo ID and documents showing such legal claim (if applicable) should be sent to records@beaconny.gov noting your order number if your order was placed online.

Death records: May be released to family members, with proof of relation provided, or the informant listed on the certificate. The records may also be provided to those with a legal claim. All required documentation should be sent to records@cityofbeacon.org noting your order number if your order was placed online.

MUNICIPAL ID PROGRAM

We will be accepting applications and taking photos at the Clerk’s office during regular business hours, until 3:30pm. We will take the completed application, check supporting documentation, take a photo, and then mail the ID card to residents after printing at a later date. The card will not be issued the same day. You can find the application forms here: English and Spanish.
Please come prepared with all required documents.

DO NOT KNOCK REGISTRY

The City of Beacon has established a Do-Not-Knock Registry for City of Beacon residents who do not wish solicitors, peddlers, or hawkers to come to their homes for the purpose of selling. This includes anyone who would come to a door for the purpose of “…requesting, either directly or indirectly, money, credit, funds, contributions, personal property, or anything of value; taking or offering to take orders for goods, wares, and merchandise, except milk or newspapers, or for services to be performed in the future, or for selling, making, manufacturing; or repairing any articles or thing whatsoever for future delivery.”

This change applies only to those individuals selling as described above. It cannot prohibit the distribution of leaflets, pamphlets, or other literature such as commercial, political, or religious material distributed in a lawful manner.

PEDDLING PERMITS SUSPENDED THROUGH 2021

The City of Beacon will not be issuing peddlers permits through the remainder of the year. Please note that no one shall be permitted to peddle goods or services without a peddler’s permit, and doing so is a violation of the City Code

§ 163-1