How to File a Public Records Request in Washington
Washington's Public Records Act (PRA), codified at Chapter 42.56 RCW, was born from Initiative 276, which voters approved in 1972. It establishes one of the broadest public records mandates in the country, requiring all state and local government agencies to make public records available for inspection and copying upon request. The law declares that the people 'do not yield their sovereignty to the agencies that serve them' and must be liberally construed in favor of disclosure (RCW 42.56.030). Agencies must provide an initial response within five business days of receiving a request. The burden of justifying any withholding rests entirely on the agency, which must cite the specific statutory exemption that applies. Washington has no distinction between residents and non-residents — the right of access is universal.
The Washington Public Records Act
- Statutory Citation
- Chapter 42.56 RCW (RCW 42.56.001–42.56.904)
- Response Deadline
- 5 business days
- Fee Provisions
- Under RCW 42.56.120, agencies may not charge for inspecting records or for locating and making them available for copying. Copying fees may not exceed actual cost. Default statutory rates are up to 15 cents per page for photocopies, 10 cents per page for scanning, 5 cents per four electronic files emailed, and 10 cents per gigabyte for electronic transmission. Agencies may also charge a flat fee of up to $2.00 for any request when allowable statutory costs clearly equal or exceed that amount. No redaction fees are permitted.
- Key Exemptions
- Exemptions are enumerated in RCW 42.56.230–.475 and must be narrowly applied. Major categories include: personal privacy (RCW 42.56.230), law enforcement investigatory records (RCW 42.56.240), attorney-client privileged communications (RCW 42.56.290), deliberative process materials (RCW 42.56.280), certain personnel and medical records (RCW 42.56.250), and records whose disclosure would violate personal privacy. Agencies cannot withhold records solely based on the requester's identity or to avoid embarrassment (RCW 42.56.080).
- Appeal Process
- If a request is denied, the requester may seek informal, non-binding review from the Washington Attorney General's Office Public Records Ombudsman (RCW 42.56.530) by emailing AGOOmbuds@atg.wa.gov or calling (360) 570-3418. For local agency denials, judicial review may be sought in the superior court of the county where the record is maintained (RCW 42.56.550). Courts may award attorney fees and a penalty of $5 to $100 per day for each day of wrongful denial. Actions must be filed within one year of the denial or the last installment production.
- Ombudsman
- The Washington Attorney General's Office operates a Public Records Ombudsman that provides informal, non-binding assistance to members of the public having difficulty obtaining public records. The ombudsman can be reached at AGOOmbuds@atg.wa.gov or (360) 570-3418; note that the AG review applies primarily to state agency denials, and for local agencies the superior court is the primary enforcement avenue.
City FOIA Guides in Washington
Select a city below for a detailed guide on how to file a public records request with that municipality.
Need Help with Public Records in Washington?
If you're dealing with missing records or unresponsive agencies in Washington, Project Paper Trail can help you follow the paper trail on development approvals.
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