The primary mission of the Office of the City Clerk is to provide the taxpayers of West Haven with the following services:

• Handles all birth, marriage and death certificates recorded by the city clerk.
• Issues licenses for dogs, hunting/fishing, liquor, marriage and trade names.
• Maintains maps of land records.
• Records all land records (15,000 for the year).
• Records notary public certificates.
• Provides free Valentine’s Day weddings.

See the Fee Increase Summary [Effective July 1, 2018] (PDF).

Land records are recorded from 9 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. weekdays.

NOTARY PUBLICS: The Office of the Secretary of the State, Business Services Division, licenses all notaries public in Connecticut. The fee for a new notary commission is $120, and the fee to renew a notary commission is $60. Notary commissions are valid for five years. For licenses/renewals, go to Notary Public Licensing. More details at Online Notary Public Applications and Renewals (PDF).

An important letter from Mayor Nancy R. Rossi on the Real Estate Conveyance Tax (PDF).
 
LEGAL NOTICE: West Haven Warning of Election — November 8, 2022 (PDF)
 
Party-Selected Delegates to Conventions Legal Notice (PDF) from the Office of the Secretary of the State.
Democratic Town Committee Primary Legal Notice (PDF) from the Office of the City Clerk.
Republican Town Committee Primary Legal Notice (PDF) from the Office of the City Clerk. 

One is All You Need!

Registered voters may receive more than one absentee ballot application in the mail. Voters will receive an absentee ballot from the city clerk’s office if they requested one. Please note that different campaigns are sending out applications. Please only return one absentee ballot application to the city clerk’s office. Do not worry if you returned more than one application — only one ballot can be issued.

Notice for Primary on August 9, 2022

Applications are ready in the city clerk’s office on the first floor of City Hall, 355 Main St. Ballots will be sent out starting July 19, 2022.

Ballot boxes are open. You can drop off your application in the city clerk’s office or in the secure drop box at the back entrance of City Hall, 355 Main St.; or at John Prete Senior Housing, 1187 Campbell Ave., or at Surfside Senior Housing, 200 Oak St. 

Vital Statistics Online Ordering System

Get vital records on the new West Haven City Clerk's Vital Statistics Online Ordering System. Requests for birth, death and marriage certificates are processed from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. Once all information is available, orders are processed within two business days, excluding weekends and holidays. 

Fraud Alert — SearchIQS

Sign up here to receive an email when documents are recorded under your name. If you have any questions about what has been recorded, please contact us.

Weddings at City Hall

Weddings are officiated by a certified justice of the peace from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday. Starting June 1, 2023, the city clerk's office will no longer offer weddings on Fridays. Find a JP on the Registry List.

• The fee is $50 for a license and $20 for a copy. The fee for a justice of the peace is separate.
• IDs are required.
• No appointment is needed.

Dog Licenses (Dog License Notice: Renew by June 30)
Dog license renewal offered online; penalty accrues after June 30

Dogs must be at least 6 months old and have an up-to-date rabies shot. A copy of a rabies vaccination and the fee — $8 for a neutered male/spayed female and $19 for a non-neutered male/non-spayed female — can be mailed to the city clerk. The dog license is mailed to the individual, saving a trip to City Hall. Licenses can be issued through the mail, if desired. New: Renew a dog license online at Dog License Renewal.