Auburn Public Records
Auburn public records are available through the City Clerk's office using the GovQA online portal. Auburn sits in both King and Pierce counties in the Green River Valley with about 85,000 residents. The city handles its own records separate from the county. City documents, police reports, permits, contracts, and meeting minutes can all be requested through the same portal. This page covers how to access Auburn public records, which offices handle what, and where to look for court and county records that involve Auburn residents.
Auburn Overview
Auburn City Public Records Portal
The City of Auburn uses the GovQA portal for all public records requests. You can submit requests online at auburnwa.gov/city_hall/legal_city_clerks/public_records_request. The portal covers city government records including contracts, permits, ordinances, budgets, meeting minutes, and administrative documents. You can also request police records through the same system. Auburn responds in order of receipt under RCW 42.56.
The City Clerk's Office is the main point of contact for public records. For general questions, call 253-931-3039. Deputy City Clerk Hannah Scholl handles records requests and can be reached at (253) 931-3007. Records can be delivered through GovQA, by mail, or picked up in person. If you prefer to inspect records on site, the office can arrange that too.
| Office | Auburn City Clerk, Public Records |
|---|---|
| Portal | auburnwa.gov - Public Records Request |
| Phone | 253-931-3039 |
| Deputy City Clerk | Hannah Scholl, CMC, (253) 931-3007 |
| Delivery Options | GovQA portal, mail, in-person pickup, on-site inspection |
Note: A 3% service fee applies to all credit card transactions for records payments, effective August 1, 2016.
How to Request Auburn Public Records
Start at the GovQA portal linked from the city's website. You do not need to explain why you want the records. Under Washington's Public Records Act, anyone can request any non-exempt public record. Be as specific as you can, though. Include dates, department names, subject matter, or case numbers if you have them. Vague requests take longer to fill.
Within five business days, the city must respond. It will either provide the records, give you a reasonable estimate of when they will be ready, ask for clarification, or deny the request in writing with a legal basis. The five-day rule comes from RCW 42.56.520. Auburn processes requests in the order they come in, so large backlogs can extend wait times beyond the initial estimate. The city will keep you updated through the GovQA portal as records are compiled and released.
For complex requests, Auburn may release records in installments. The first installment often includes police reports, CAD incident reports, and photos. Later installments may contain in-car video or body camera footage, which requires more time to review and redact.
Auburn Police Department Records
Police records in Auburn go through the same GovQA portal as all other city records. Visit auburnwa.gov/city_hall/police for more about the department. When you submit a request for police records, identify the type of record you need: incident report, collision report, CAD log, body-worn camera footage, or other material. The more detail you provide, the faster Auburn can locate and release the records.
Auburn Police records, including incident reports and body camera footage, are requested through the city's GovQA portal.
Police-related requests in Auburn often generate large sets of records. The city releases them in stages. Body camera footage takes extra time because staff must review and redact exempt information such as personal details about third parties or ongoing investigative material. Fees may apply for large requests. Standard copy fees under state law cap at $0.15 per page unless actual costs are higher.
What Auburn City Records Include
Auburn city records cover everything the city government creates, uses, or keeps. This is a broad category. The city's records include City Council meeting minutes and agendas, adopted ordinances and resolutions, permits and land use applications, public works contracts, bid documents, budgets and financial reports, and administrative correspondence. If the city government made it or used it in official business, it is likely a public record under Washington law.
The Washington Public Records Act defines "writing" very broadly. It covers not just paper, but also emails, text messages, photos, videos, voicemails, and electronic files of all kinds. So if you need an email chain between city staff about a permit, or a contract the city signed with a vendor, those are requestable through the same GovQA portal.
Note: Auburn Municipal Court records are governed by Washington Court General Rules 31 and 31.1, not the Public Records Act. Contact the court directly for case files and court documents.
King County Records for Auburn
Auburn sits in King County for most of its area. Many records that affect Auburn residents are held by King County rather than the city. Superior Court filings, property records, deeds, mortgages, and Sheriff's Office records all belong to King County. If you need records from a Superior Court case, the county recording office, or county law enforcement, go to the county directly.
King County Superior Court serves Auburn for felony criminal cases, family law, civil litigation, and probate. Property records for Auburn parcels are available through King County's eReal Property tool at no cost. The King County Recorder handles deeds and title documents. For county-level records, visit the King County public records page.
Online Search Tools for Auburn Records
The Washington State Courts Odyssey Portal at odysseyportal.courts.wa.gov provides free public access to Superior Court case information across the state, including King County cases that involve Auburn residents. You can search by name, case number, or other identifiers without creating an account.
The Washington State Digital Archives at digitalarchives.wa.gov holds historical records from Auburn and surrounding areas. The archive includes older court records, property filings, and government documents going back decades. It is a free resource that does not require a records request. For questions about a records denial or a request that has stalled, the Washington State Attorney General's Office runs a public records ombudsman. Call (360) 570-3418 or email AGOOmbuds@atg.wa.gov. More detail is at atg.wa.gov/open-government.
Nearby Washington Cities
These cities are close to Auburn. Each maintains its own city-level public records separate from county records.