Getting Public Records
RCW 42.56.520 — five business days to respond, and up to $100 a day for a wrongful denial
In Washington, each agency makes all public records available for inspection and copying unless a specific exemption applies, and explains in writing any deletion it makes to protect personal privacy.
A response within five business days. Within five business days of receiving a request, the agency provides the record, provides a link to it, acknowledges the request with a reasonable estimate of the time it needs, asks for clarification of an unclear request, or denies it. A denial comes with a written statement of the specific reasons.
A person denied a record can ask the superior court to require the agency to show cause, and the agency bears the burden of proving an exemption. A person who prevails recovers all costs and reasonable attorney fees, and the court may award up to one hundred dollars for each day the record was denied. The action is filed within one year of the agency's claim of exemption or last production.
Sources for this section (3)
- RCW 42.56.520 — Public records; prompt responses required
- RCW 42.56.550 — Public records; judicial review
- RCW 42.56.070 — Documents and indexes to be made public; statement of costs
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of September 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Washington attorney.