Public Records
Governor’s Proclamation Regarding Public Records
On March 24, 2020, Governor Jay Inslee issued Proclamation 20-28 temporarily suspending certain provisions of the Public Records Act. Proclamation 20-28.9 has extended these suspensions until October 1, 2020:
- All in-person business pertaining to requests for records is suspended, including:
- Making a request for records in person
- Inspecting records in person
- Picking up records in person
Responses to requests for records may be somewhat delayed during the period of the Covid-19 emergency, but Jefferson County will make every effort to provide a first response to public records requests within five days and to maintain communication with records requestors in a timely manner as staffing availability and workloads allow.
Access to Jefferson County Public Records
Chapter 42.56 RCW, the Public Records Act, requires each agency to make public records available for inspection and copying. Jefferson County Resolution No. 21-18 adopted the Jefferson County Public Records Act Compliance Policy to comply with RCW 42.56.040 which requires agencies to publish their public records access policies and procedures.
Many Jefferson County public records are readily available online and free of charge.
The links below will help you navigate to various document archives where you can find, view, and download public records from your own computer or device. If you fail to locate the records you are looking for, or if they are not available online, please proceed to the Jefferson County Public Records Portal to submit a public records request online. (See the information at the bottom of this page for submitting a public records request by mail).
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Court Records
Access to judicial records is not governed by the Public Records Act. See this page for links to order court records directly.
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Recorded Documents
Documents recorded by the county auditor since Aug. 3, 1981. (Provided by the Jefferson County Auditor's Office)
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Real Estate, Property and Map Records
List of real estate, property, and map records, with links to searchable document archives and department web pages.
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Permits, Building and Planning Records
List of permits, building and planning records, with links to searchable document archives and department web pages.
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Administrative, Legislative and Financial Records
List of administrative, legislative and financial records, with links to searchable document archives and department web pages.
The most simple and effective way to make a public records request is via our online Public Records Center. Click the link below and choose the Submit Records Request button. (If this is your first request, you'll be asked to create a user account.) There are two forms to choose from: One for the Sheriff's Office and one for all other county departments. Each form is short and easy to complete. When you click submit, your records request will be immediately entered into our public records management system and we will be alerted.
Go to the Public Records Center to submit a Records Request
Other ways to submit a public records request:
If you have limited internet access or prefer to use a different mode of submission, you can download a fill-able PDF form by clicking here. Fill out the form on your computer, or by hand, and send it to Jefferson County by:
Email publicrecords@co.jefferson.wa.us
Fax (360) 385-9195
Mail Public Records Officer
Central Services
1820 Jefferson St., PO Box 1220
Port Townsend, WA 98368
Jefferson County Organizational Chart
The Jefferson County Public Records Officer is Mark McCauley, Central Services Director.
1820 Jefferson Street - PO Box 1220, Port Townsend, WA 98368. Phone: (360) 385-9174 FAX: (360) 385-9195
E-mail: publicrecords@co.jefferson.wa.us
As of May 14, 2018 Jefferson County Ordinance No. 02 0514 18 authorizes charges for copies of public records, including electronically-transmitted copies. Per Section 3.4 of the Ordinance, these charges are in effect immediately and apply to all pending Public Records Act requests (this includes new installments of public records provided for pending requests). See the approved Public Records Requests Costs Schedule below. For any individual public records request, all costs listed on the schedule are cumulative. However, if total cumulative costs do not exceed $2.00, those charges will be waived.