Tacoma Residents Directory
The Tacoma Residents Directory helps you search public records tied to people who live, work, or have open cases in Tacoma, Washington. Use it to look up city clerk files, municipal court cases, police records, and code enforcement history. Most records flow through the Tacoma City Clerk, the citywide Public Records Office, and the Tacoma Municipal Court. This page pulls the main portals into one spot. The goal is simple. Find the right record, at the right office, with the right link. You can also reach Pierce County resources when a city tool falls short.
How the Tacoma Residents Directory Works
Tacoma is the seat of Pierce County and home to more than 220,000 residents. City records are split across a few offices. The City Clerk holds the official record of all formal City Council meetings and codifies ordinances into the Tacoma Municipal Code. The citywide Public Records Office (PRO) handles all public disclosure requests on behalf of every department. Police records, court files, and permit data each have their own portal. This Residents Directory points you to each one.
Under the Washington Public Records Act, RCW 42.56, the City must respond to any records request within five business days. Tacoma uses an online records portal at tacoma.gov/PDR. You can email publicdisclosure@tacoma.gov or call 253-502-8144. The City Clerk's Office is at 747 Market Street, Tacoma, WA 98402, and can be reached at 253-591-5505.
Look up the City Attorney's Office if you need to understand who handles prosecution, civil matters, or records oversight in Tacoma.
The next image shows the City Attorney page, which explains the Clerk's role and the public records process.
That page is the top entry point for anyone trying to find the right Tacoma department for a records request.
Tacoma Residents Directory Court Records
Tacoma Municipal Court hears misdemeanor, gross misdemeanor, and infraction cases under city ordinances. The court sits at 930 Tacoma Avenue South, Room 841. Phone is 253-591-5357. You can request case records by mail or email using the Records Request Form. Include the person's name, date of birth, and case number if known. The court charges 50 cents per page after the first ten pages. Certified copies cost $5 per document. Audio recordings on CD cost $10. Turnaround for a CD is five to ten business days.
Felony cases for Tacoma residents go to Pierce County Superior Court, not the Municipal Court. For those, use the Pierce County Legal Information Network Exchange (LINX). LINX covers Superior Court, District Court, and Municipal Court calendars, charges, proceedings, and jail rosters. It is the main people search tool for court data in the county.
See the Tacoma Municipal Court page for details on filing, virtual hearings, and record requests.
The municipal court page lists the exact fees, forms, and contact info for court record requests.
Note: Electronic filing is required for most criminal cases and infractions under Local Rule 30.1, so new case records appear in the system quickly.
City Clerk and Public Records
The City Clerk is the custodian of the City seal and all official records. The Clerk keeps council minutes, agendas, ordinances, and resolutions. While the Clerk holds the official record, public disclosure requests are routed through the citywide Public Records Office. This split is important. Many people contact the Clerk first and then get sent to the PRO.
You can file a records request online at the tacoma.gov/PDR portal. The request should list the type of record, a date range, and your contact info. Under RCW 42.56.520, the City must respond within five business days. The response may be the record itself, an acknowledgment with a time estimate, a request for clarification, or a denial with a statutory citation.
Visit the City Clerk's page to read how the Clerk's Office works with the Public Records Office.
The Clerk's page also notes how to buy a City of Tacoma flag, a small but real city service.
For a full list of departments and contact numbers, see the Tacoma City Departments directory.
This directory is the fastest way to find the right department when a records request needs to go to a specific office.
Search Tacoma Police and Court Records
Tacoma Police records are handled by the department's records unit. For broader state criminal history, use the Washington State Patrol WATCH system. WATCH runs name-based searches for $11 and returns felony and misdemeanor convictions from Washington courts. It does not cover other states or federal courts. RCW 10.97 limits the release of non-conviction data.
For statewide case lookups, the Washington Courts Odyssey Portal covers Superior, District, and Municipal courts. Not every Tacoma case appears in Odyssey, so check the Pierce County LINX system as well. Court records are governed by General Rule 31 and GR 31.1, not the Public Records Act.
Note: Bulk court data requests in Tacoma require a Data Dissemination Agreement, and the court will not release large data sets without one.
Vital Records and Property Data
Birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates for events in Tacoma come from two places. The Washington Department of Health issues certified copies for events from 1968 to present at $25 for the first copy. Older records may sit with the Pierce County Auditor. Under RCW 70.58A.560, only qualified applicants can get certified copies of birth and death records.
For property records and parcel data, start with the Pierce County Assessor. The Washington Department of Revenue also lists every county assessor site. Recorded documents like deeds and liens are filed with the Pierce County Auditor under RCW 65.04 and RCW 36.18.
Historical records are at the Washington State Digital Archives, which holds territorial, county, and early vital records. Many records are free to view and download.
Tacoma Residents Directory Business Lookups
Business filings, registered agents, and UCC records are free at the Washington Secretary of State CCFS. You can search by name, UBI number, or registered agent. Most filings are available as PDF downloads. The Secretary of State keeps the official record for every entity doing business in Washington.
The Tacoma Municipal Code is on the city website and handles local rules on zoning, business licensing, and code enforcement. The Washington State Legislature site is the source for all RCW citations used across this Residents Directory.
Pierce County Residents Directory Link
Tacoma sits inside Pierce County. Many records for Tacoma residents live at the county level. Superior Court cases, recorded deeds, property assessments, and jail roster data all come from the county. Visit the Pierce County Residents Directory for the full set of county portals.
Nearby Cities
Other Pierce County and South Sound cities have their own records offices.