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How to Find Public Records in Clark County in 2026

Members of the public seeking government documents in Clark County, Washington, may access a broad range of publicly available information through ClarkWARecords.us as well as through official county and state government channels. Clark County maintains records across multiple departments, and the availability of specific documents depends on the record type, the custodial office, and applicable state law. Records that may be accessible include court filings, property documents, vital records, land use permits, business licenses, and meeting minutes, among others. Not all records are available in every format, and some categories are subject to statutory exemptions.

Online Access:

Members of the public may submit requests and search available records through several official portals:

The Public Records Request Portal allows individuals to create an account and submit requests directly to Clark County Community Development.
Property and land records may be searched through the Landmark Web Official Records Search, maintained by the Clark County Auditor's Office.
Superior Court case information and court dates are accessible through the Washington State Courts case search portal.
The Clark County Councilors public records page provides access to legislative and council-related documents.

Registration may be required for certain online portals prior to submitting a formal request.

In-Person Requests:

Court records are maintained at the Clark County Clerk's Office, located on the First Floor of the Clark County Courthouse, 1200 Franklin Street, Vancouver, WA 98660. Members of the public may access court records in person at a public computer terminal available during regular business hours, Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM.

Written/Mail Requests:

Written requests may be submitted by mail to the relevant custodial department. Requests should include the requester's name, contact information, a description of the records sought, and the preferred format for response. Under RCW § 42.56.520, agencies are required to respond to public records requests within five business days of receipt.

Phone/Email:

Clark County Clerk's Office: (360) 397-2292
Clark County Community Development: (360) 397-2375

What Are Public Records in Clark County?

Public records in Clark County are defined under Washington State law as any writing containing information relating to the conduct of government or the performance of any governmental or proprietary function prepared, owned, used, or retained by any state or local agency. Under RCW § 42.56.010, the definition encompasses a broad range of documents regardless of physical form or characteristics.

The following record types are currently maintained by Clark County departments:

Court records (civil, criminal, probate, family law) — maintained by the Clark County Clerk's Office
Property records (deeds, mortgages, liens, plats, easements) — maintained by the Clark County Auditor's Office and searchable via the Landmark Web property records database
Vital records (birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates) — maintained by the Washington State Department of Health; county-level marriage records are filed with the Auditor's Office
Business records (licenses, permits, fictitious business names) — maintained by the Clark County Auditor's Office and Community Development
Tax and assessment records — maintained by the Clark County Assessor's Office
Voting and election records — maintained by the Clark County Elections Office
Meeting minutes and agendas — available through the Clark County public records portal
Budget and financial documents — available through the Clark County Finance Department
Law enforcement records (arrest logs, incident reports, where permitted) — maintained by the Clark County Sheriff's Office
Land use and zoning records — maintained by Clark County Community Development

Is Clark County an Open Records County?

Clark County operates in full compliance with Washington State's Public Records Act. Under RCW § 42.56, all state and local agencies, including county governments, are required to make public records available for inspection and copying upon request, subject to specific statutory exemptions.

As stated in the Washington State Public Records Act, "The people of this state do not yield their sovereignty to the agencies that serve them. The people, in delegating authority, do not give their public servants the right to decide what is good for the people to know and what is not good for them to know." This foundational principle governs how Clark County processes and responds to public records requests.

Clark County has adopted internal policies consistent with state law to ensure timely and complete responses to records requests. The county's Community Development department, among others, processes requests through the Public Records Request Portal and adheres to the five-business-day acknowledgment requirement established under state statute. The Washington State Attorney General's Office provides guidance to agencies on compliance with the Public Records Act, and Clark County agencies are subject to that oversight framework.

How Much Does It Cost to Get Public Records in Clark County?

Clark County applies a fee structure consistent with Washington State law for the reproduction and delivery of public records. Fees are assessed based on the actual cost of reproduction and, in some cases, the cost of electronic transmission.

Record Type	Standard Fee
Black-and-white paper copies (letter/legal)	$0.15 per page
Color copies	Actual cost
Electronic records (scanned to PDF)	$0.10 per page
Certified copies (court records)	Varies by document type
USB/CD/DVD duplication	Actual cost of media

Inspection of records is available at no charge.
Certification fees for court documents are set by the Clark County Clerk's Office and vary by document type.
Payment is accepted by cash, check, or money order at in-person counters; online payment options may be available through the request portal.
Under RCW § 42.56.120, agencies may charge for the actual cost of copying but may not charge for the time spent locating or reviewing records unless a customized service charge applies.
Fee waivers are not broadly mandated under Washington State law, though agencies retain discretion to waive fees in certain circumstances.

Does Clark County Have Free Public Records?

Free inspection of public records is available to all members of the public under Washington State law. Individuals are not required to pay any fee to view records in person at the custodial office, provided the records are not exempt from disclosure.

The following free access options are currently available:

In-person inspection at the Clark County Clerk's Office, where a public computer terminal is available for viewing court records at no cost
Online property record searches through the Landmark Web Official Records Search, which provides free access to recorded land documents maintained by the Auditor's Office
Court case lookups through the Washington State Courts case search portal, which allows free searches of court dates and case information
Legislative and council documents accessible at no cost through the Clark County councilors public records page

The distinction between free inspection and free copies is significant: while viewing records carries no charge, obtaining physical or electronic copies is subject to the fee schedule described above.

Who Can Request Public Records in Clark County?

Any person may request public records from Clark County agencies. Washington State law does not restrict access to public records based on residency, citizenship, or stated purpose. Requesters are not required to identify themselves or explain why they are seeking a particular record in order to obtain non-exempt documents.

Specific conditions that apply under current law include:

Identification: Requesters are not required to provide identification for standard public records requests, though identification may be required when requesting certified copies of certain vital records or when accessing records that contain personal information about the requester.
Residency: Non-residents of Washington State retain the same right of access to public records as residents.
Purpose: Agencies may not condition the release of public records on the requester's stated purpose, except in limited circumstances defined by statute.
Requesting personal records: Individuals seeking records about themselves may be required to verify their identity to prevent unauthorized disclosure of personal information.
Restrictions by record type: Certain records, such as juvenile court files, adoption records, and sealed court documents, are subject to access restrictions regardless of who is requesting them.

As the Washington State Attorney General's Office has noted, "The Public Records Act reflects the Legislature's intent that agencies make records available to the public as a fundamental right."

What Records Are Confidential in Clark County?

Not all government records are subject to public disclosure. Washington State law establishes a comprehensive set of exemptions that apply to Clark County agencies. Under RCW § 42.56.200–42.56.480, the following categories of records are exempt from mandatory disclosure, in whole or in part:

Sealed court records — records sealed by judicial order are not available for public inspection
Juvenile records — records pertaining to juvenile offenders are confidential under RCW 13.50
Ongoing investigation records — law enforcement records compiled for active criminal investigations are exempt to the extent that disclosure would endanger any person or jeopardize the investigation
Personal identifying information — Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, and similar data are redacted prior to disclosure
Medical and health records — protected under both state law and the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)
Adoption records — sealed by statute and accessible only through court order
Child welfare and protective services records — confidential under RCW 74.13
Personnel records — certain employee records are exempt, though records relating to public employees' official duties may be disclosed
Trade secrets and proprietary business information — exempt when submitted to a government agency under a confidentiality agreement
Security plans and critical infrastructure details — exempt to protect public safety

When a record contains both exempt and non-exempt information, the custodial agency is required to redact the exempt portions and release the remainder, rather than withholding the entire document.

Clark County Recorder's Office: Contact Information and Hours

Clark County Auditor's Office (Recording Division)
1300 Franklin Street, Suite 470
Vancouver, WA 98660
(360) 397-2252
Clark County Auditor's Office

Office Hours:
Monday – Friday: 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM
Closed on state and federal holidays

Clark County Clerk's Office
1200 Franklin Street, First Floor
Vancouver, WA 98660
(360) 397-2292
Clark County Clerk's Office