- Home
- County Services
- Public Records
Public Records
How to file a Public Records Request
Snohomish County provides public records in compliance with all applicable laws. To obtain records, we recommend reviewing the Commonly Requested Records list below in case the records you seek are available without the need to file a public records request. Alternatively, you can submit a public records request through the Public Records Request Portal. When making your request please be as specific as possible so we can conduct a thorough and accurate search. If you have questions about how we process public records requests, please see our FAQs and procedures in the links to the left, or contact us via the information provided in the Contact List. Snohomish County recognizes that in some cases, requestors may encounter technical difficulties requiring a special accommodation on a request by request basis. In order to provide all requestors with the fullest assistance, we encourage you to contact us if you have technical difficulties with any of our processes. If there is a way we can assist you with a particular request, please let us know.
Obtaining Commonly Requested Records
In an effort to make frequently requested records conveniently accessible for the public, some records collections have been made available through expedited access methods provided under Snohomish County Code 2.51.060. To assist in your search for records, the tabs at the bottom of this page categorize and list records frequently requested from the County – and where available, expedited access methods have been described.
This list is not comprehensive, and many records are not made available online for a variety of reasons – such as the inclusion of confidential information or being too large for online publication. If the record you are seeking does not have an expedited access method or is not listed below, please note the department that holds the record and submit a Public Records Request through our Public Records Request Portal. Most records can be obtained in this way, though there are some exemptions to disclosure as determined by state and federal law.
If you do not find what you are seeking in the following list, you can also check our Department Description Guide (PDF) to get a better idea of the responsibilities and records held by each department.
Contact Us
-
Cecilia Wilson
Public Records Officer
3000 Rockefeller Avenue
Everett, WA 98201
Ph: 425-388-5004
Fax: 425-388-3985
Hours
Monday - Friday
8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. (Closed 12 p.m. - 1 p.m.)
- Court Records
- Personal Records
- Licensing & Permitting
- Property Records
- Complaints & Violations
- Law Enforcement & Legal
- Codes & Legislation
- Taxes, Finances, Purchasing & Contracts
- Construction and Maintenance Projects
Court Records
| Record Type | Description | Department |
|---|---|---|
| District Court Cases and Administrative Records | District Court case records (including dockets, judgment and sentencing, motions, as well as records regarding the administration of the District Courts) are provided pursuant to Washington State Court General Rule GR 31* for Court Records and GR 31.1* Administrative Records respectively. Submitting a Request For information about requesting records from District Court, please visit District Court’s Records Request Website. |
District Court |
| Superior & Juvenile Court Cases | The Superior and Juvenile Court Clerk’s offices handle case records (including dockets, judgment and sentencing, motions, etc.) and are provided pursuant to GR 31*. For information about requesting records from Snohomish County Superior Court Clerk's Office, please visit their Court Records Information website. | Clerk |
| Superior & Juvenile Court Administrative, Probation, and Detention Records | Requests for access to administrative records maintained by Snohomish County Superior Court and Juvenile Court (including arbitration, probation, detention, etc.) are subject to the provisions of Washington State Court General Rule GR 31.1*. Submitting a Request For information about requesting Superior or Juvenile Court administrative records, please visit Superior Court's Records Request Website. |
Superior Court Administration |
Personal Records
| Record Type | Description | Department |
|---|---|---|
| Birth Certificates | Birth Certificates are retained or managed by Snohomish County Health Department.
Submitting a Request Snohomish County Health Department’s Vital Records office can provide official copies of birth certificates for individuals born in Washington State. Information about how to request a birth certificate can be found on the Snohomish County Health Department’s website.
|
Snohomish County Health Department |
| Death Certificates | Death Certificates are retained or managed by Snohomish County Health Department Submitting a Request The Snohomish County Health Department’s Vital Records office can provide certificates for deaths occurring in Snohomish County. Information about how to request a death certificate can be found on the Snohomish County Health Department’s website.
|
Snohomish County Health Department |
| Divorce Decrees | The Superior Clerk’s office handle case records (including dockets, judgment and sentencing, motions, etc.), and are provided pursuant to GR 31*.
Submitting a Request – Limited Online Availability
Certain Superior Court records can be viewed online through the Washington State Digital Archives. To receive certified copies of divorce decrees, call (425) 388-3466.
|
Clerk |
| Marriage Records | The Auditor is responsible for issuing and recording marriage licenses.
Submitting a Request
Information about how to request certified copies of marriage records can be viewed on the Auditor’s Recording website.
|
Auditor |
| Name Changes | The County maintains records pertaining to legal name changes filed in Snohomish County.
Submitting a Request
Depending on the method of the name change, name change records may be found in the Superior or District Court Clerk’s office, or in the Auditor’s office if changed through marriage. For information about requesting records from District Court, please visit District Court’s Records Request website. Additionally, certain Superior Court records can be viewed online through the Odyssey portal. For all other case types or to obtain hardcopies, call (425) 388-3466. Finally, recorded documents with the Auditor may be available by contacting the Recording Division directly at (425) 388-3483.
|
Auditor & District Court & Superior Court |
| Employee & Benefit Records | The County maintains records pertaining to employment, training, disability, civil service, compensation, employee relations, wellness and benefits for its employees.
Submitting a Request – Limited Online Availability
Much information about employee pay, benefits, programs, and job opportunities can be found on the Human Resources website. Employee & Benefit records not available on the Human Resources website can be requested through our Public Records Request Portal. |
Human Resources |
| Autopsy Reports | The Snohomish County Medical Examiner's Office determines the cause and manner of death of persons who died suddenly, violently, or unexpectedly while in apparent good health.
Submitting a Request
The release of postmortem records is limited to certain parties per state law. More information about requesting these records can be found on the Medical Examiner website.
|
Medical Examiner |
Licensing & Permitting
| Record Type | Description | Department |
|---|---|---|
| Business, Marriage, & Pet Licensing | The County provides various licensing services – the records for which can be requested from the Auditor’s office, with the exception of Vehicle Licensing information. Please contact the Washington State Department of Licensing. Submitting a Request – Limited Online Availability Records recorded with the County are available through the Auditor’s Recording Division**, with many being accessible online via the Online Recorded Document Search. Additional recorded documents, such as certified Marriage Licenses, may be available by contacting the Recording Division directly at (425) 388-3483. Licensing records not provided through the Recording division can be requested through our Public Records Request Portal. |
Auditor |
| Building & Land Use Permitting | The County reviews applications and provides permits for various land use and construction projects. Some of these records are available online. For more information, visit the Planning and Development Services Website. | Planning and Development Services |
Property Records
| Record Type | Description | Department |
|---|---|---|
| Property Information & Tax Assessments | The County assesses all taxable real and personal property for property tax purposes. The County also administers a variety of property tax exemption and special classification programs, maintains the official parcel maps for Snohomish County, and calculates the levy rates for all taxing districts. Submitting a Request – Limited Online Availability Some property information is accessible online via the Property Summary Search by visiting the Assessor’s website. Property sales and static parcel maps are also available online. Additional information may be available by calling the Assessor’s office at (425) 388-3433. Property Information & Tax Assessment records not available online can be requested through our Public Records Request Portal. |
Assessor |
| Deeds, Easements, Liens, and other Recorded Documents | The County is responsible for recording real property transactions (deeds, mortgages, real estate contracts, liens, and releases), recording plats and surveys, and issuing and recording marriage licenses. Submitting a Request – Limited Online Availability Records recorded with the County are available through the Auditor’s Recording Division**, with many being accessible online via the Online Recorded Document Search. Additional recorded documents, such as certified Marriage Licenses, may be available by contacting the Recording Division directly at (425) 388-3483. |
Auditor |
| Maps & GIS | The County compiles maps and geospatial information – much of which is available online by visiting the Maps & GIS Portal. Submitting a Request – Limited Online Availability The Department of Information Technology provides access to copies of their map data by contacting their GIS group. Map and GIS records not available online can be requested through our Public Records Request Portal. |
Department of Information Technology |
| Building & Land Use Permits, Plans, & Inspections | The County keeps current and historical property permitting records such as site plans, construction plans, applications, and permits, as well as review of land use files (subdivision, short plat, commercial files, zoning adjustments, etc.). Some of these records are available online. For more information visit the Planning and Development Services website. | Planning and Development Services |
| Septic Systems & Wells | Septic systems and wells are regulated by Snohomish County Health Department. Submitting a Request To submit a request for records pertaining to Septic Systems or Wells, visit the Snohomish County Health Department’s website. Some records are available online through their OnlineRME database without submitting a request. |
Snohomish County Health Department |
Complaints & Violations
| Record Type | Description | Department |
|---|---|---|
| Code Enforcement – Building & Fire | The County responds to citizen complaints regarding building, zoning, land use, and nuisance issues in unincorporated Snohomish County. Some of these records are available online. For more information, visit the Planning and Development Services website. | Planning and Development Services |
| Animal Control | The County handles complaints and calls for service associated with animals such as cats, dogs, and livestock. Submitting a Request These records can be requested through our Public Records Request Portal. |
Auditor |
| Damage Claims | The County is self-insured for property damage and/or bodily injury liability. Claims for Damages against the county are filed with the Risk Management division of Finance Submitting a Request These records can be requested through our Public Records Request Portal. |
Finance – Risk Management |
Law Enforcement & Legal
| Record Type | Description | Department |
|---|---|---|
| Fire Incident Reports | The County provides professional fire investigation services to the unincorporated areas of Snohomish County, as well as many cities with established inter-local agreements. Submitting a Request These records can be requested through our Public Records Request Portal. |
Planning and Development Services |
| Traffic Collision Reports | The County Sheriff’s officers are often called to the scene of a traffic collision, resulting in the creation of a Collision Report. Submitting a Request To better serve our citizens and their insurance carriers in need of a traffic collision report, the Sheriff’s office has partnered with LexisNexis for secure electronic dissemination of traffic collision reports. For more information, visit the Sheriff’s website. |
Sheriff |
| Criminal History Records | Criminal History Records, or background checks, consist of fingerprint-based records and disposition information submitted by law enforcement agencies and courts throughout Washington. Submitting a Request – External Agency Snohomish County does not provide certified Criminal History Reports. These records are available through the Washington State Patrol. More information can be found on their website. |
Washington State Patrol |
| Jail Inmate Register & Records | The County serves the community and criminal justice system by providing safe, secure, humane, and cost effective detention in accordance with constitutional guidelines. Submitting a Request The Corrections department posts a jail register publicly on their website. For information about requesting jail records, please visit Corrections Records Request website. |
Sheriff & Corrections |
| Criminal Prosecution | The County prosecutes adult and juvenile felony cases referred by county law enforcement agencies, and misdemeanor and gross misdemeanor cases referred by the county sheriff, the State Patrol, all state agencies, and some cities who have contracted with the county for misdemeanor prosecution services. Submitting a Request These records can be requested through our Public Records Request Portal. |
Prosecuting Attorney – Criminal |
Codes & Legislation
| Record Type | Description | Department |
|---|---|---|
| County Code & Charter | Through ordinances, resolutions, and motions, the County Council manages and maintains the Snohomish County Code. Submitting a Request – Available Online The Snohomish County Code and Charter are available online at the Council's website.
|
Council |
| Motions, Ordinances, Resolutions & Minutes of Meetings | The County Council adopts and enacts ordinances, resolutions, and motions; levies taxes; appropriates revenue; and adopts budgets for the county.
Submitting a Request – Limited Online Availability
The Snohomish County Council offers convenient public access to electronic versions of official documents dating back to 1980, including Council motions, ordinances, resolutions and minutes of meetings through their website. County Legislative records not available online can be requested through our Public Records Request Portal.
|
Council |
Taxes, Finances, Purchasing & Contracts
| Record Type | Description | Department |
|---|---|---|
| Tax Foreclosures | The County conducts an annual Tax Lien Foreclosure Sale through the Treasurer’s office.
Submitting a Request The Treasurer’s office posts a copy of last year’s sold properties on their website. Tax foreclosure records not available on line can be requested through our Public Records Request Portal. |
Treasurer |
| Property Tax Assessments | The County administers a property assessment system that meets constitutional and statutory requirements.
Submitting a Request Some property information is accessible online via the Property Summary Search by visiting the Assessor’s website. Property sales and static parcel maps are also available online. Additional information may be available by calling the Assessor’s office at (425) 388-3433. Property Tax Assessment records not available online can be requested through our Public Records Request Portal. |
Assessor |
| Financial Transactions & Payroll | The Finance Department is responsible for reporting, payment processing, billing and collections, fiscal management policy, debt issuance / debt service, and management of the countywide accounting and payroll systems. It also assists in budget analysis and consultation.
Submitting a Request These records can be requested through our Public Records Request Portal.
|
Finance – Budget/Ops |
| Bids & Proposals | The County maintains and expands relationships with vendors and promotes fair and equitable opportunities to purchase quality goods and services at the best values while conducting business in a legal, fair, open, and competitive manner.
Submitting a Request Current Bid/RFP opportunities, as well as other information such as current award information, vendor registration and bid tabs are listed on the Finance Department’s Procureware site. Bid & Proposal records not available on the Procureware site can be requested through our Public Records Request Portal. |
Finance – Purchasing |
Construction and Maintenance Projects
| Record Type | Description | Department |
|---|---|---|
| Transportation & Road Maintenance | The County is responsible for the planning, design, construction and maintenance of the transportation infrastructure system in unincorporated Snohomish County.
Submitting a Request
Some information and records (such as aerial photos, historical road information, deeds, and surveys) are available through the Public Works Customer Service Center by calling (425) 388-6453, emailing or walking in. For more information on current and past road improvement projects, you can visit their website. Transportation & Road Maintenance records not available through the Public Works Customer Service Center can be requested through our Public Records Request Portal. |
Public Works |
| Surface Water Management Records | The County is responsible for correcting drainage problems, cleaning up water pollution and improving stormwater systems in unincorporated Snohomish County.
Submitting a Request
Planning and Development Services utilizes Snohomish County Code 2.51.060 to allow for expedited access to selected records. To use this option, contact the PDS Records Room at 425-388-3622 or submit an Information Request. Surface Water Management records not available through the PDS Records Room can be requested through our Public Records Request Portal. |
Public Works / Planning & Development Services |
| Paine Field Projects | The County provides aviation and industrial services, facilities, and interaction with our customers through Paine Field.
Submitting a Request
Some information and records about improvement projects are available online through the Airport’s website. Paine Field Project records not available through the Airport’s website can be requested through our Public Records Request Portal. |
Airport |
*Case records are records that relate to in-court proceedings, including case files, dockets, calendars, and the like. Case records are not subject to the Public Records Act (the “PRA”), Chapter 42.56 of the Revised Code of Washington (“RCW”). Please see Nast v. Michels, 107 Wn.2d 300, 730 P.2d 54 (1986). Case records are also not considered administrative records in accordance with General Rule 31.1.
**The Snohomish County Recording Division will have the official record for real property transactions for Snohomish County, including deeds, liens, surveys, etc. They are deemed "public" by statute, RCW 65.04.140, and as such, are available for searching by the public. They may be searched on our website via the Internet on the Recording Page. They may also be viewed in person in our Recording Public Records customer service area during normal business hours (9:00am to 12:00 and 1:00pm to 5:00pm). You can also call this office at 425-388-3483 or mail your request to our office, and they will perform a search for you. The fee for searching recorded documents is $8.00 per hour. The state-governed fee for copies of our records is $1.00 per page.