What Does a City Hall Do?

City hall is the foundation for how cities are run. Each city hall has seperate departments where specific matters are addressed. All the departments within a city hall work separately and collaboratively to keep its city successful by providing a clean, safe environment for all citizens and visitors to live, work, and play.

City hall is the foundation for how our cities are run. Every city hall has separate departments where specific issues are addressed. While the names of the departments in each city hall may vary, generally they carry out the same services.  In all cases, however, it is city hall’s job to make sure our cities are a safe place for us to live and raise our families.

Listed below are a few of the departments you may find at your local city hall, and a short breakdown of what each department does:

• Building and Planning - This is where you would go to obtain building and zoning permits if you were planning on building a home or another type of structure or adding onto an existing home. This department also inspects buildings to make sure they are safe and up to code.


• The Clerk’s Office – This is the office where official documents are kept, such as deeds, contracts, and other important documents. The clerk’s office is sometimes where you will go to pay certain fees like property taxes and speeding tickets. You can also find general information about your city from the clerk’s office.


• Finance – This department decides what the budget is for the city to use, such as for road repairs, buying police cars, or building new buildings.


• Police – In most cities, the police department is located in city hall. The police department keeps our cities safe.


• Public Works – The public works department tests the city’s water to make sure it is safe; they maintain and repair roads, and keep the city parks clean and safe for the city's citizens.

To find a full list of departments in your city hall, visit your city government's website.  You may also visit with an employee at your city hall to learn more about its departments and functions.