City Clerk

The City Clerk’s office is the official record keeper for the City of Melrose. Our mission is to maintain and protect these records in the best possible manner and serve the public by providing the information in an efficient and timely manner. The City Clerk supports the City Council with meeting preparation, agenda creation, clerking their meetings and production of meeting minutes. Further the Clerk serves as a member of the Board of Registers of Voters and supervises the Election Administrator.  The office also serves as a link to the residents of the City by assisting with the annual city census and street listing.  Additionally, planning and zoning board cases and decisions are filed with the clerk's office. 

The City Clerk serves as the Records Access Officer (RAO) for all Public Records requests with the exception of – Fire, Police, DPW, Retirement Office and Schools, as they have a designated as RAO for these respective departments

The clerk's office holds City Vital Records (Birth, Death, & Marriage) dating back to the 1800s.

• Vitals Records
  • Birth Records (online ordering available)
  • Death Records (online ordering available)
  • Marriage Licenses (online ordering available)
  • Marriage intentions (must be done in the office)
  • Amendments to Vital Records (within the regulations set forth by the Registry of Vital Records)
• Dog Licensing (online licensing available)
• Business Registration and Certificates 
• Licensing of Hackney/Taxi, Livery, Class I & II Motor Vehicles, Common Victualler, Secondhand Dealer, Fuel Storage
• Claim forms
• Planning Board/ ZBA Filings
  • Document filings
  • Decisions and Appeal recordings
• Public Meeting postings
• Raffle and Bazaar Permits

We also provide:

• Elections Support (Voter information/registration/absentee ballots/campaign finance)
• Marriages via Justice of the Peace in city hall (please call for further details - 781-979-4113)
• Oaths for Public Office

VITAL RECORDS

For Birth Records - you will need the date of the birth and the first/last name of the person.

Birth Records notes: If you were born in Melrose or if your Mother lived in Melrose at the time of your birth we can provide you with your birth record.  In some cases the birth record is restricted. There are many reasons for a restriction. If the record you are inquiring about is restricted; we can’t give you any information about the record over the phone. You will be required to provide identification for the restricted record(photo with your name at the time of the child’s birth). Only the people listed on the record can receive a copy of the record or receive information about the record. However, if you have a court order granting you the rights to the record we will accept that (must be within 60 days and have an official seal).

For Death Records - you will need the date of the event and the first/last name of the person.

Death Record notes: If the cause of death on the death certificate is pending, it means that an autopsy needs to be performed. The Office of the Medical Examiner will send us their findings once they have completed them. Often it takes between 3-6 months to receive this information. 

For Marriage Licenses - for certified copies you will need the date of the event, the first/last name of Party A and Party B. If you filed your marriage intentions in Melrose, we will have your marriage license. If you filed marriage intentions in another community, you will need to visit that community for a copy of your marriage license.