Public Records FAQs
Public Disclosure FAQs
RCW 42.56.520 states that a response to a public records request must be made within five business days. The date the request is received does not count as part of the five days (per RCW 1.12.040).
In general, records that are exempt from public disclosure are listed by category in RCW 42.56.230-280. Reference must be made to this statute to determine whether a particular record is exempt, on a case-by-case basis.
When the City denies a request for disclosure of a public record, it must identify the specific statutory exemption upon which the denial is based and provide a brief explanation of how that exemption applies.
Note: Certain statutes outside of the public records law also prohibit the disclosure of particular records.
When the City denies a request for disclosure of a public record, it must identify the specific statutory exemption upon which the denial is based and provide a brief explanation of how that exemption applies.
Note: Certain statutes outside of the public records law also prohibit the disclosure of particular records.
We do not charge for inspection of public records.
No. Under the federal Freedom of Information Act, an agency is not required to create a record which is otherwise non-existent.