Request Public Records

The City of Kirkland responds to records requests in accordance with 42.56 R.C.W. and City legislation included on the sidebar. Requests will be responded to within five business days. Review the types of records that the city maintains and then choose the process of requesting below via the tabs that fits your preferences:

  • Fire medical records (City does not process billing records)
  • Fire reports inspections and permits (fire prevention)
  • Geographical Information System (GIS) maps or layers
  • Municipal Court records
  • Planning and Building records including code enforcement records (e.g., civil cases such as tree code violations, surface water violations, etc.)
  • Police records including Body-Worn Camera (BWC) recordings (see BWC tab below for details)
  • Public Works records
  • Other records (City DOES NOT process marriage or divorce paperwork- contact King County for records)

Online

Step 1.Make your request via our online request portal

When making your records request, be as specific as possible.

Examples:

  • Date ranges for the request - dates can narrow the search across thousands of documents.
  • Keywords - search terms reduce the amount of time taken to find documents.
  • Case numbers - when requesting records associated with a case (e.g., police reports)
  • Addresses or parcel numbers

Submit your request

Step 2.Your request is reviewed

After submitting a request, you will receive an Email confirmation with a tracking number.  A follow up Email will be sent within the next five business days.  If the request requires more than five business days to complete or requires clarification you will be provided an estimated date when you will receive your records or be asked to provide clarification.

Step 3.Receive your records

 When you receive the response to your records request you can expect one or more of the following: 

  • Full or partial release.
  • A reference to your records request that is already available on the city's website. 
  • Some records may be withheld or redacted.
  • There may be no responsive records found for your request.

Note: There will be a minimum charge of $5.00 per certified record (if requested) along with copying fees.* 

In Person

Step 1.Obtain a Public Records Request form from the Customer Service Desk at City Hall

When making your records request, be as specific as possible. We recommend for accuracy to request records through our portal site directly.

Examples:

  • Date ranges for the request - dates can narrow the search across thousands of documents.
  • Keywords - search terms reduce the amount of time taken to find documents.
  • Case numbers - when requesting records associated with a case (e.g., police reports)
  • Addresses or parcel numbers

Download the PDF version of our public records request form(PDF, 283KB)  

Your request is reviewed for completeness

An Email address is required to complete a request via paper form as all requests are entered into our online portal system. If the request is not complete, you can expect a follow up phone call from the City Clerk's Office. After submitting a request, you will receive an Email confirmation with a tracking number.  A follow up Email and letter (if applicable) will be sent within the next five business days. If the request requires more than five business days to complete or requires clarification you will be provided an estimated date when you will receive your records or be asked to provide clarification.

Step 2.Receive your records

 When you receive the response to your records request you can expect one or more of the following:  

  • Full or partial release.
  • A reference to your records request that is already available on the city's website. 
  • Some records may be withheld or redacted.
  • There may be no responsive records found for your request.

Note: There will be a minimum charge of $5.00 per certified record (if requested) along with copying fees.

 

Phone/Email

Step 1.Make your request via phone or email

You can call the City Clerk's phone at 425-587-3190 or email PublicRecords@kirklandwa.gov for records requests. We recommend for accuracy to request records through our portal site directly. 

Submit your request

When making your records request, be as specific as possible.

Examples:

  • Date ranges for the request - dates can narrow the search across thousands of documents.
  • Keywords - search terms reduce the amount of time taken to find documents.
  • Case numbers - when requesting records associated with a case (e.g., police reports)
  • Addresses or parcel numbers

Step 2.Your request is reviewed

If the request is by phone or left via voicemail, an Email address is required in order to enter the request into our public records portal. If the request is not complete, you can expect a follow up phone call from the City Clerk's Office. You will receive an Email confirmation with a tracking number.  A follow up Email will be sent within the next five business days. If the request requires more than five business days to complete or requires clarification you will be provided an estimated date when you will receive your records or be asked to provide clarification.

Step 3.Receive your records

 When you receive the response to your records request you can expect one or more of the following:  

  • Full or partial release. 
  • A reference to where your records request that is already available on the city's website.
  • Some records may be withheld or redacted.
  • There may be no responsive records found for your request.

Note: There will be a minimum charge of $5.00 per certified record (if requested) along with copying fees.*

BWC

Body-Worn Camera Public Records Requests

For complete information regarding the Body-Worn Camera Program see the Police Department website here.

Requests for Body-Worn Camera (BWC) recordings can be made online or in-person at the Kirkland Police Department or City Hall. We highly suggest submitting the request online for accuracy purposes. 

Per RCW 42.56 requests for body-worn camera recordings must include one of the following or risk the request being denied:

a) Name of person involved in the incident;

b) lncident or case number(s);

c) Date(s), time(s), and location(s) of the incident(s); or

d) ldentifying information of law enforcement or corrections officer(s) involved in the incident(s)

Charges associated with BWC records requests

With the exception of the following requestors, the PRA allows an agency to charge a requestor the reasonable costs of redacting, altering, distorting, pixelating, suppressing, or otherwise obscuring any portion of the body-worn camera recording prior to disclosure:

  • A person directly involved in an incident recorded by the requested body worn camera recording;
  • An attorney representing a person directly involved in an incident recorded by the requested body worn camera recording;
  • A person or his or her attorney who requests a body worn camera recording relevant to a criminal case involving that person;
  • The executive director from either the Washington state commission on African-American affairs, Asian Pacific American affairs, or Hispanic affairs; or
  • If relevant to a cause of action, an attorney who represents a person regarding a potential or existing civil cause of action involving the denial of civil rights under the federal or state Constitution, or a violation of a United States department of justice settlement.

See the approved memo regarding Body Worn Camera Public Disclosure Redaction Cost Recovery(PDF, 213KB) for information regarding charging cost analysis and application. 

Submit your request

 

     

     

    Submit Your Request Here

    See below for records information and other ways to submit your request.

    Submit your request

    *Subpoenas shall not be accepted via the Public Records Portal. Please see the Service of Process page for more details.

    Contact Us

    Kathi Anderson
    City Clerk/Public Records Officer

    City Clerk's Office

    425-587-3190

    PublicRecords@kirklandwa.gov

     

    Legislation

    The City of Kirkland responds to Requests for Access to Public Records in accordance with 42.56 R.C.W. and Kirkland City Council Ordinance O-4887 and Resolution R-5648, adopting Public Records Act Rules. The public records act rules may be periodically and independently updated to reflect current pricing and process.

     

    These pieces of legislation were adopted at the July 16, 2013 Kirkland City Council meeting. The intent of the ordinance and resolution, working in tandem, is to ensure that the city can manage its resources and continue to provide all of the essential services its citizens expect, including responding to routine public records requests, promptly, without the system becoming congested by one or more large requests.

     

    Related Information

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