SUPERIOR & DISTRICT COURT RECORDS REQUESTS are not currently available through the GovQA portal. See links below.
Clark County Public Disclosure Process (Public Records)
In the interest of transparency and responsibility to all residents, taxpayers and other constituents, Clark County aims to make the process of obtaining public records as easy as possible. Many public records are readily available on our website www.clark.wa.gov using the search function. For example, the Clark County Open Data page on our website contains a wide variety of assessment, taxation, and GIS data.
Some records are not automatically posted online for many reasons, including that they may not be of widespread interest, they are simply too large or they contain confidential information. Many of these records can be obtained through a public records request, though there are some exemptions to disclosure as determined by state law.
Prior to submitting your request, please take a few moments to consult this reference guide for information regarding what type of records are available pursuant to the Washing State Public Records Act (PRA) Chapter 42.56 RCW.
Submitting a request
Clark County responds to requests for access to public records in accordance with the Public Records Act, RCW 42.56.
The Public Records Portal is currently unavailable for District and Superior Courts. Click below to submit a request for records from:
To obtain copies of liens, deeds and other recorded documents, please go to the Auditor's Office
As of Jan. 1, 2017, the Clark County Sheriff's Office no longer maintains police reports for the Vancouver Police Department. To make a public records request for a Vancouver Police Department record, please send your request through one of the options below:
- vpdpdr@cityofvancouver.us
- PO Box 1995, Vancouver, WA 98668.
For other records requests:
Requests of records should be submitted through the GovQA Public Records Request Portal, an online public portal. Through the GovQA portal, customers have the ability to create an account, submit requests, review FAQs, download records, monitor the status of their current/previously submitted requests(s), and communicate with County public records representatives.
If you are unsure which department to choose when entering your records request, please use our Public Records Reference Guide to review the most common records request types and the location in which they can be sought.
What to expect after you submit a request
Within five business days after the receipt of a request, County public disclosure representatives will do one or more of the following:
- Make requested records available for inspection or copying
- Acknowledge the receipt of the request and provide a reasonable estimate of when requested records will be available.
- Seek clarification of unclear requests.
- Deny the request and cite the legal exemption.
Will I be charged for public records?
Clark county has adopted the fee schedule set forth in RCW 42.56.120(2) & (3). (http://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=42.56.120). For more information, please view the County Records officer information and regulations page below.
PRA Fee Schedule
Copies
| 15 cents / page | Paper copies, printed copies of electronic records when requested by the requester, or for the use of agency equipment to make photocopies |
| 10 cents / page | Paper records scanned to electronic format or for use of agency equipment to scan records |
| 5 cents / every four electronic files | Electronic records uploaded to email, cloud-based data storage, or other means of electronic delivery |
| 10 cents / gigabyte | Records transmitted in electronic format or for use of agency equipment to send records electronically |
Other
| Actual cost | Digital storage media or devices |
| Actual cost | Any container or envelope used to mail copies |
| Actual cost | Postage or delivery charges |
| Actual cost | Custom IT service charge for use of information technology expertise to prepare data compilations or to provide customized electronic access services when such compilations and customized access services are not used by the agency for other agency purposes |
Is my request confidential?
Public disclosure requests received by Clark County are public records. Absent applicable exemptions, public disclosure requests are subject to disclosure upon request. This includes any personal information a requestor provides to the County in making a public disclosure request, such as name, residential address, email address or telephone number.