Access Bothell Public Records

Bothell public records are managed by the City Clerk's Office, which serves as the city's Public Records Officer under Washington's Public Records Act. Bothell sits along the Snohomish-King county border with a population of about 50,000. The city handles its own records, separate from both counties. City contracts, ordinances, permits, police reports, and meeting minutes can all be requested through the city's records system. This page explains how to request Bothell public records, what to expect, and where to find related county and state resources.

Bothell City Clerk Records Office

The City Clerk serves as Bothell's Public Records Officer. All public records requests go through this office. The records requests page is at bothellwa.gov/792/Records-Requests. You can submit requests by email at PublicRecords@bothellwa.gov or call (425) 806-6154. The city uses Records Information Management Coordinators (RIMC Members) in each department to help locate and compile records. At least one RIMC Member and a backup are designated per department.

Bothell's records requests page provides the submission portal and contact information for the City Clerk's public records process.

Bothell responds under RCW 42.56 within five business days of receiving a request. The city will either provide the records, give a time estimate, ask for clarification, or issue a written denial with a specific legal basis. RIMC Members assist requestors, maintain request logs, and communicate directly with you about record status.

Requesting Records from Bothell

Send your request to PublicRecords@bothellwa.gov or call (425) 806-6154. You can also use the city's online form at the records page. Include the type of record, the time period, relevant department names, and any case or permit numbers you have. The more precise you are, the faster Bothell can respond.

You do not need to say why you want the records. Washington law gives all members of the public equal access. The city must respond within five business days. Large requests may be fulfilled in batches. Standard copy fees are $0.15 per page for paper. Electronic delivery is available for digital files at no charge for the copy itself. If you believe a denial is wrong, you can seek informal help from the Washington State Attorney General's public records ombudsman at AGOOmbuds@atg.wa.gov or (360) 570-3418.

Bothell Police Department Records

Bothell Police Department records are handled through a separate process. Call the Public Records Specialist at (425) 487-5120 for police records. The records page for police matters is at bothellwa.gov/373/Police-Records-Requests. The basic copy fee for police records is $0.15 per page. If you are a victim of a crime or were involved in a traffic accident, there is no charge for your records.

Bothell Police records requests are handled through a dedicated process with no fee for crime victims or parties involved in traffic accidents.

Some police records may require in-person pickup with a valid photo ID. The city will let you know when that is required. Municipal Court records are not subject to the Public Records Act in Bothell. Those records fall under Washington State Court General Rules 31 and 31.1. Contact Bothell Municipal Court directly for court files and case documents.

What Bothell Public Records Cover

Bothell city records include all documents made or used by city departments in official functions. City Council minutes and agendas, ordinances, resolutions, permits, contracts, public works documents, bid records, and budget materials are all public records. So are emails, texts, photographs, and electronic files created by city staff in the course of their work. Washington's Public Records Act defines "writing" broadly to cover all recorded information regardless of format.

The city's RIMC system means each department actively manages its own records. That makes it easier to locate specific records quickly. If a request spans multiple departments, the City Clerk coordinates with each RIMC Member to pull all responsive documents together. This internal system helps Bothell stay on top of complex, multi-department requests.

Snohomish County Records for Bothell

Bothell sits primarily in Snohomish County, though a portion extends into King County. Superior Court filings, property records, deeds, and Snohomish County Sheriff records are held at the county level. If you need records from a Superior Court case involving a Bothell address, or property transaction data, go to Snohomish County rather than the city.

Snohomish County Superior Court handles felony criminal cases, family law, civil disputes, and probate for Bothell. The county recorder documents property transfers and title records. For office contacts, search tools, and more information on county-level records, visit the Snohomish County public records page.

Online Tools for Bothell Records

The Washington State Courts Odyssey Portal at odysseyportal.courts.wa.gov gives free public access to Superior Court case information across Washington. Search Snohomish County cases that involve Bothell by name or case number. No account is needed to look up basic case data.

The Washington State Digital Archives at digitalarchives.wa.gov holds historical records from Bothell and surrounding areas going back many decades. Access is free and does not require a records request. For state agency records guidance, visit atg.wa.gov/open-government.

Nearby Washington Cities

These cities are near Bothell in the greater Seattle area. Each maintains its own city-level public records process.