Search Spokane Residents Directory
The Spokane Residents Directory points you to the public records people search most for the city of Spokane, Washington. Use it to find city clerk records, municipal court files, police records, and open data on residents and permits. The City Clerk is the designated Records Officer for Spokane under SMC 3.01A.235. Most requests now go through the online GovQA portal. This page gathers the main portals in one place and links you straight to each source. Find the right office, the right form, and the right fee before you file.
How the Spokane Residents Directory Works
Spokane is the seat of Spokane County and the largest city in eastern Washington. Records for Spokane residents sit across three main places. The City Clerk holds general records. The Spokane Municipal Court holds court records. The Police Department records unit handles police files. Each has its own portal. This directory shows where to go for each.
Under the Washington Public Records Act, RCW 42.56, the City will respond to a request within five business days. The City uses the GovQA online portal for most requests. You can also email clerks@spokanecity.org or mail the Office of the City Clerk, 808 W. Spokane Falls Blvd., Spokane, WA 99201. The Clerk is the Records Officer by ordinance.
See the City of Spokane Public Records page for the full request process, fees, and contact info.
That page is the top starting point for any public records request in Spokane.
Spokane Residents Directory Court Records
Spokane Municipal Court handles misdemeanor and gross misdemeanor cases under city ordinances. The court sits at 1100 W. Mallon Ave., Spokane, WA 99260. Email for court records requests is mcrecords@spokanecity.org. The court follows General Rule 31.1, which confirms the right of the public to examine administrative court records created on or after January 1, 2016.
Court records come in two flavors. Administrative records involve the management of the court and its business. Case records tie to a specific judicial proceeding. Each type has its own form. Bulk data requests need a Data Dissemination Agreement. The court cannot do legal research or build a new record that does not already exist.
For a full walk-through of the request steps, see the Spokane Municipal Court Record Requests page.
The court records page lists the PDF forms and the email address for requests.
Note: Spokane cannot charge for staff time spent locating a record, but it can charge the actual cost of making a copy under RCW 42.56.120.
City Clerk Records and Document Types
The City Clerk's public document search covers ordinances, resolutions, contracts, council minutes, and other formal files. The index uses document type codes. CPR covers council meeting agendas, packets, and minutes. ORD covers ordinances. RES covers resolutions. OPR covers contracts. LGL covers legal files like appeals and elections. PLN holds historical plat and annexation records. PRO holds old engineering and street action files.
Use the City Clerk Search Help page to understand these codes. The Clerk's archive lets you pull city files without a formal records request, which is the fastest route for many lookups.
The search help page explains every document type the Clerk stores and how to find it.
Spokane also runs an open data hub that carries administrative policies, executive orders, financial reports, and interlocal agreements. See Spokane Open Data Documents.
The open data hub is a fast way to pull city reports without filing a records request.
Police Records and Criminal History
Police records for Spokane are requested through the same GovQA portal used for general city records. Body camera video requests are subject to a redaction fee of $0.76 per minute under RCW 42.56.240(14), effective December 1, 2023. That fee helps pay for blur work and audio redaction.
For a statewide criminal history check, use the Washington State Patrol WATCH tool. WATCH runs name-based searches for $11 and returns felony and misdemeanor convictions from Washington courts. RCW 10.97 limits non-conviction data release. For court cases beyond the Municipal Court, the Odyssey Portal covers many Washington Superior and District Courts.
Spokane Residents Directory Vital Records
Birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates for Spokane events come from the Washington Department of Health. Birth and death records go back to 1907. Marriage and divorce records go back to 1968. Older records may sit at the county level. Fees are $25 for the first certified copy. Under RCW 70.58A.560, only qualified applicants can get certified birth and death records.
The Washington State Digital Archives in Cheney holds earlier vital records and historical county records. Many records are free to view online.
Property records for Spokane sit with the Spokane County Assessor and Treasurer. The Washington Department of Revenue keeps a directory of all 39 county assessor sites. Recorded documents follow RCW 65.04 and RCW 36.18.
Business Filings and State Law
Business filings, registered agents, and UCC records are free at the Washington Secretary of State CCFS. Search by business name, UBI number, or agent name. The RCW itself is searchable at the Washington State Legislature site.
Note: Under RCW 42.56.070(9), Spokane cannot release lists of individuals to be used for commercial purposes.
Spokane County Residents Directory Link
Spokane is in Spokane County. Superior Court files, recorded deeds, jail rosters, and property data live at the county level. See the Spokane County Residents Directory for the full set of county portals.
Nearby Cities
Other Spokane-area cities have their own city clerks and records offices.