Tacoma Public Records

Tacoma public records are available through the City's Public Disclosure Office using NextRequest. Tacoma is Pierce County's largest city and county seat, with roughly 225,000 residents. The city has a dedicated Public Disclosure Officer and uses the NextRequest platform for all records requests. This page covers how to submit requests, who handles them, fees, and how to find Pierce County records for Tacoma residents.

Tacoma City Public Records

The City of Tacoma uses the NextRequest portal at tacoma.nextrequest.com for public records requests. The Public Disclosure Officer is James Kauffman. Contact the office at publicdisclosure@tacoma.gov or by phone at 253-231-0240. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM and 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM. Mailing address is PO Box 11007, Tacoma, WA 98411.

The city must respond within five business days under RCW 42.56.520. Within that time, the city will provide the records, provide a link if records are already online, acknowledge with an estimate, ask for clarification, or issue a written denial with the specific legal basis. Standard copy fees are $0.15 per page under RCW 42.56.120. Inspection is free. Electronic records may be available at reduced cost or no charge.

City records include City Council meeting minutes and agendas, ordinances, resolutions, land use and building permits, contracts, budgets, utility records, and administrative correspondence. Washington law defines "writing" broadly to include emails, texts, digital files, and any electronic format used in city business. Personnel records, attorney-client communications, and records that would harm active investigations are exempt under RCW 42.56.

Tacoma Police Department Records

Tacoma Police Department handles law enforcement records separately from the Public Disclosure Office. Police records include incident reports, arrest records, collision reports, body-worn camera footage, and other law enforcement documents. Submit police records requests through the NextRequest portal or contact the Police Department directly.

Body-worn camera footage requests may take longer to process due to the time required for mandatory redactions under Washington law. The fees for body-worn camera video can be higher than standard copy fees because of the redaction work involved. The department must still respond within five business days to acknowledge your request and provide an estimate.

Some police records are exempt under RCW 42.56.240 if disclosure would harm an active investigation or endanger someone's safety. Collision reports may also be obtained from the Washington State Patrol for accidents on state roads within Tacoma. The department must provide a written denial with the specific legal basis if records are withheld.

What Tacoma City Records Include

Tacoma city records cover all documents the city creates, owns, uses, or retains in official business. City Council materials, planning and zoning files, building permits, code enforcement records, utility records, contracts, budget documents, and staff correspondence are all public records. Tacoma operates its own municipal utilities including Tacoma Public Utilities (power, water, broadband), so utility records are also city records subject to RCW 42.56.

Some records are exempt from disclosure. Personnel records, attorney-client communications, and records tied to active investigations are the most common exemptions. When Tacoma denies a request, it must provide the specific statutory basis in writing. Requestors who disagree can seek review through the city or petition Pierce County Superior Court.

Tacoma Municipal Court handles traffic infractions, misdemeanor criminal cases, and civil infractions within Tacoma city limits. Municipal court records are governed by court rules and GR 31, not the Public Records Act. Contact the court directly for court case records. For felony criminal cases and major civil matters, those are filed at Pierce County Superior Court, located in Tacoma since it is the county seat.

Pierce County Records for Tacoma Residents

Superior Court filings, property records, recorded documents, and Sheriff records for Tacoma are held by Pierce County. Tacoma is the Pierce County seat, so the county courthouse is in the city. For county records, contact Pierce County directly. Visit the Pierce County public records page for county contacts and online tools.

Pierce County Superior Court handles felony criminal cases, civil cases above $100,000, family law, probate, and appeals. The Pierce County Clerk maintains court files at the courthouse in Tacoma. Property records including deeds, liens, and mortgages are recorded with the Pierce County Auditor. The Pierce County Assessor maintains parcel and property tax records. Pierce County Sheriff provides law enforcement to unincorporated Pierce County areas outside Tacoma.

Online Search Tools

The Washington State Courts Odyssey Portal provides free access to Pierce County Superior Court case information. The Washington State Digital Archives holds historical records from Pierce County free to search. For vital records, contact the Washington State Department of Health.

Nearby Washington Cities

These cities are near Tacoma in Pierce County. Each has its own public records process.