Request for Public Records

The City of Chehalis utilizes a web-based Records Center for submission, tracking and delivery of records requests. You can use this portal to submit a request, track the request status of Public Records and download responsive records. If you have questions, please see our FAQs .

The City Clerk is the City of Chehalis’ Records Officer.  It is the role of this office to assure the City is in compliance with the Public Records Act and the City's Public Disclosure Policy.  The City's Public Records Act ordinance is codified in the Chehalis Municipal Code Chapter 1.14.  This includes providing public access to current and historical documents.  The City of Chehalis provides access to public records under the provisions of the Washington State Public Records Act (RCW 42.56).

A public record is any state or local record relating to the conduct of government or the performance of a governmental function, and which is prepared or retained by any state or local agency.  The record may be in a variety of forms such as writing, a recording, a picture, an electronic disk, a magnetic tape, etc.

All records maintained by the City of Chehalis are available for public inspection unless specifically exempted by law.  You are entitled to access public records, under reasonable conditions, and to copies of those records upon paying the costs of making the copy.  In most cases, you do not have to explain why you want the records.  However, specific information may be necessary to process your request.  We may require information necessary to establish if disclosure would violate certain provisions of law.

The more precisely you can identify the record you seek, the more responsive we can be.  The City of Chehalis provides access to existing public records in its possession; however, the City is not required to collect information or organize data to create a record not existing at the time of the request.

How to submit a public records request

Requests may be submitted by the online portal link above.

1. Chehalis City Clerk
    350 N Market Blvd. Rm. 101, Chehalis​
    recordrequests@ci.chehalis.wa.us

2. Chehalis Police Department for police and incident reports
    350 N Market Blvd. Rm. 201, Chehalis​
    chehalispd@ci.chehalis.wa.us

Please call 360-345-1042 with any questions.

Fees

Inspecting records:                    No Charge   
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Photocopies:

     100 pages or less                  No Charge

     101 or more pages               $.15 per page (includes first 100 pgs.)

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Scanning paper documents:

     100 pages or less                 No Charge

     101 or more pages               $.10 per page (includes first 100 pgs.)

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Outside Copying Costs:            Actual cost invoiced to the city by the vendor
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Digital storage media,
container,  envelope:               Actual cost of supplies
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Postage/Delivery:                      Actual postage/delivery costs
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Deposits:       Requests exceeding $50 may require a deposit not to exceed
                      10% of the estimated costs prior to the duplication of  records.