Walla Walla County Public Records

What Are Public Records in Walla Walla County?

Public records in Walla Walla County are defined under Washington State's Public Records Act (RCW § 42.56) 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. Members of the public may inspect and obtain copies of a broad range of documents maintained by county offices. The following record types are currently available through various Walla Walla County departments:

Court records — civil, criminal, domestic/divorce, probate, and juvenile offender case files maintained by the Superior Court Clerk
Property records — deeds, mortgages, liens, and recorded instruments maintained by the County Auditor's Recording Division
Vital records — birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates maintained by the County Auditor and the Washington State Department of Health
Business records — licenses, permits, and fictitious name registrations maintained by the County Auditor
Tax records — property tax and assessment records maintained by the County Assessor
Voting and election records — voter registration data and election results maintained by the County Auditor's Elections Division
Meeting minutes and agendas — Board of County Commissioners meeting records maintained by the Clerk of the Board
Budget and financial documents — annual budgets and expenditure reports maintained by the County Auditor
Law enforcement records — arrest logs and incident reports available through the Walla Walla County Sheriff's Office, subject to applicable exemptions
Land use and zoning records — permits, plats, and zoning decisions maintained by the Department of Community Development

The county's central public records portal provides online search functionality and directs requestors to the appropriate custodial office for each record category.

Is Walla Walla County an Open Records County?

Walla Walla County fully complies with Washington State's open records framework, which is among the broadest in the nation. Under RCW § 42.56.070, each agency of state and local government is required to make all public records available for public inspection and copying unless a specific exemption applies. The statute establishes a strong presumption of disclosure, placing the burden on the agency — not the requestor — to justify any withholding of records. Walla Walla County agencies are further subject to Washington's Open Public Meetings Act, codified at RCW § 42.30, which requires that deliberations and actions of governing bodies be conducted openly and that meeting records be accessible to the public. County departments maintain written public records policies consistent with state law, and the county's designated Public Records Officer coordinates compliance across all offices.

How to Find Public Records in Walla Walla County in 2026

Members of the public may access Walla Walla County records through several channels, depending on the record type and the custodial office. The following steps outline the standard process:

Identify the custodial office. Determine which county department maintains the record sought. Court records are held by the Superior Court Clerk; property and vital records are held by the County Auditor; law enforcement records are held by the Sheriff's Office.
Submit a public records request. Requests may be submitted in person, by mail, by telephone, or through the county's online portal. The county public records search tool allows requestors to search for criminal, civil, domestic/divorce, probate, juvenile offender, passport, and other legal documents filed in Walla Walla County.
Use the online document search. The County Auditor's Recording Division provides a searchable database of recorded documents, accessible through the recorded documents search portal.
Access archived court records. Historical Superior Court case files dating from 1926 onward are available through the Walla Walla County Superior Court case files archive maintained by the Washington State Archives, Eastern Region Branch.
Await agency response. Under current law, agencies must respond to public records requests within five business days, either by providing the records, acknowledging the request and providing an estimated timeline, or denying the request with a written explanation citing the applicable exemption.

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

Standard fees apply to the reproduction of public records in Walla Walla County, consistent with the fee schedule authorized under RCW § 42.56.120. Current fees vary by record type and the office providing the copies:

Standard photocopies: Typically $0.15 per page for black-and-white letter or legal size copies
Certified copies of recorded documents: The County Auditor charges a per-page certification fee in addition to the base copy fee
Electronic records: Agencies may charge the actual cost of electronic production, including staff time for locating, redacting, and transmitting records in certain circumstances
Court record copies: Fees for Superior Court documents are set by the Office of the Administrator for the Courts and may differ from Auditor fees
Recording fees: Fees for recording new documents are established by state statute and are listed on the County Auditor's recording page

Accepted payment methods at county offices generally include cash, check, and money order; some offices accept credit or debit cards. Fee waivers may be available when disclosure is primarily in the public interest and not for commercial purposes, as provided under current state law.

Does Walla Walla County Have Free Public Records?

Free inspection of public records is available to all members of the public under Washington State law. Agencies are not permitted to charge for the mere inspection of records; fees apply only when copies are requested. The following resources are currently available at no cost:

In-person inspection at the custodial office during regular business hours, without charge
Online document search through the County Auditor's recording and vault portal, which allows free searching of recorded instruments
Court case lookup through the county's public records portal, which provides free online search access to filed legal documents
Washington State Archives digital collections, including the Walla Walla County Superior Court case files, which are accessible online through the Washington State Digital Archives at no charge

Who Can Request Public Records in Walla Walla County?

Any person may request public records from Walla Walla County agencies under current Washington State law, without regard to residency, citizenship, or stated purpose. RCW § 42.56.080 affirms that the right to inspect and copy public records belongs to every person. Specific eligibility provisions include the following:

Residency: Requestors are not required to be Washington State residents or Walla Walla County residents
Identification: Agencies generally do not require requestors to provide identification for standard public records requests
Purpose: Requestors are not required to state the reason for their request, except in limited circumstances involving certain sensitive record categories
Non-residents: Non-residents retain the same rights of access as residents under state law
Requesting one's own records: Individuals seeking their own records, such as personal court filings or vital records, may be required to provide proof of identity to protect against unauthorized disclosure
Restrictions by record type: Certain categories, including juvenile records, adoption records, and sealed court files, are subject to additional access restrictions regardless of the requestor's identity

What Records Are Confidential in Walla Walla County?

Washington State law establishes numerous exemptions to public disclosure, codified throughout RCW § 42.56 and in other applicable statutes. The following categories of records are currently exempt from mandatory disclosure in Walla Walla County:

Sealed court records — records sealed by judicial order are not available for public inspection
Juvenile records — records pertaining to juvenile offenders are restricted under RCW § 13.50 and related provisions
Ongoing investigation records — law enforcement records compiled in connection with an active investigation are exempt to the extent that disclosure would impede the investigation
Personal identifying information — Social Security numbers, financial account data, and similar identifiers are redacted prior to disclosure
Medical and health records — protected under both state exemptions 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 — exempt under RCW § 74.13 and related child welfare statutes
Personnel records — certain employee records are exempt, with exceptions for records relating to public employee misconduct
Trade secrets and proprietary business information — exempt when submitted to a government agency under a claim of confidentiality
Security plans and critical infrastructure details — exempt to protect public safety

When an agency withholds a record or portion of a record, it is required under current law to provide a written explanation identifying the specific exemption relied upon and to disclose any reasonably segregable, non-exempt portions of the document.

Walla Walla County Recorder's Office: Contact Information and Hours

The Walla Walla County Auditor's Office serves as the official recorder of documents for the county, maintaining records of deeds, mortgages, liens, and other instruments affecting real property, as well as vital records and election documents.

Walla Walla County Auditor's Office — Recording Division 500 West Main Street, PO Box 1856 Walla Walla, WA 99362 Phone: (509) 524-2549 Walla Walla County Auditor — Recording

Public counter hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., excluding state and federal holidays.

Walla Walla County Superior Court Clerk County Courthouse, 315 West Main Street, PO Box 836 Walla Walla, WA 99362 Phone: (509) 524-2549 Superior Court Clerk — Walla Walla County

The Superior Court Clerk's office maintains all civil, criminal, domestic, probate, and juvenile court case files. Public counter hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., excluding court holidays.

Washington State Archives — Eastern Region Branch 960 Washington Street Cheney, WA 99004 Phone: (509) 235-7508 Washington State Digital Archives