Find Residents in Vancouver
The Vancouver Residents Directory helps you find public records tied to people who live or have open cases in Vancouver, Washington. Use it to search city clerk files, police records, code compliance reports, and council documents. Most records flow through the Office of the City Clerk and the Vancouver Police Records Division at the West Precinct. Vancouver is the largest city in Clark County and home to more than 190,000 residents. This page lines up the right intake link for each type of record so your search moves quickly and lands at the correct office the first time.
How the Vancouver Residents Directory Works
The City of Vancouver complies with the Washington Public Records Act under RCW 42.56. You can make a public records request online, by mail, by fax, in person, or verbally. If you make a verbal request, the Public Records Officer memorializes it in writing. The city defines a public record as any writing containing information about the conduct of government or the performance of any governmental or proprietary function. That covers email, paper files, council minutes, ordinances, resolutions, staff reports, and the Vancouver Municipal Code.
Under RCW 42.56.520, the city must respond within five business days. Under RCW 42.56.100, the city must provide the fullest assistance possible. Copy fees are $0.15 per black and white page, $0.52 per color page, and actual-cost for postage or other media. The city may require a deposit of up to ten percent for large requests. There is no charge for retrieval or inspection. The city does not release lists of individuals for commercial purposes under RCW 42.56.070(9).
Start at the Vancouver Public Records Request page to reach the online intake form.
The image below shows the city's main records request page.
That page is the first stop for any Vancouver records request that is not a police report.
Vancouver City Clerk Records
The Office of the City Clerk is at P.O. Box 1995, Vancouver, WA 98668-1995. Phone is 360-487-8711. Fax is 360-487-8719. Email is publicrecordsofficer@cityofvancouver.us. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., except legal holidays. The Clerk keeps the index of council records and manages the public records process for every department. The city charter, first drafted in 1951, sets the structure and the public access rules for council meetings, journals, and proceedings.
Vancouver groups requests into five categories. Category 1 is an imminent danger request. Category 2 is routine and usually filled within five business days. Category 3 is routine but needs coordination and can take 5 to 30 business days. Category 4 is complex and broad, and may take several weeks to several months. Category 5 requires legal review and an exemption log, and may take many months. These rules come from the city's formal public records rules.
See the Vancouver City Charter page for the council meeting rules under Section 2.10 and 2.11.
Vancouver Residents Directory Police Records
The Vancouver Police Records Division is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., at the Vancouver Police Department West Precinct, 2800 NE Stapleton Road. The Records Division provides 24-hour support to law enforcement by processing police reports, citations, and entries into NCIC and WACIC. Public services include Concealed Pistol Licenses, Firearms Dealer Licenses, and local background checks. A local background check only shows any contact with Vancouver PD. It does not include conviction or court disposition information. Citizens may request a local background check online or in person.
For statewide conviction records, use the Washington State Patrol WATCH system. WATCH runs name-based searches and returns Washington court convictions only. It does not cover other states or federal courts. RCW 10.97 limits the release of non-conviction data.
Police reports can be requested online or by mail using the Police Request Form. The image below shows the police records page.
The page also notes that department camera footage may be exempt from disclosure under RCW 42.56.240.
Note: Under RCW 42.56.240, the identity of witnesses or complainants can be withheld if disclosure would endanger their life, safety, or property.
Code Compliance and Permit Records
Code Compliance maintains the safety and livability of Vancouver neighborhoods through the Vancouver Municipal Code, the Minimum Property Maintenance Code, the Building Code, and zoning ordinances. The office investigates reports of property maintenance or solid waste violations. Report concerns online or by leaving a message at 360-487-7810. Violations must be visible from the public right-of-way. If not, you must provide access from your property. The city may have to release your name under the Public Records Act.
See the Vancouver Code Compliance page for the intake form and exemption notices.
The page explains the complaint process and the witness protection rule under RCW 42.56.240.
Vancouver Court and Vital Records
Vancouver Municipal Court hears misdemeanor and infraction cases that arise under city ordinances. Felony cases go to Clark County Superior Court. For statewide case lookups, the Washington Courts Odyssey Portal covers Superior, District, and Municipal courts. Court records are governed by General Rule 31 and GR 31.1, not the Public Records Act.
Birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates for events in Vancouver come from two places. The Washington Department of Health issues certified copies for events from 1968 to present. Older records may sit with the Clark County Auditor or the Washington State Digital Archives. Only qualified applicants can get certified copies of birth and death records under RCW 70.58A.560. For property data, start with the Clark County Assessor. The Washington Department of Revenue lists every county assessor site. Deeds and liens are filed under RCW 65.04 and RCW 36.18.
Vancouver 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 PDF downloads. The Secretary of State keeps the official record for every entity doing business in Washington. The Washington State Legislature site is the source for any RCW citation used across this Residents Directory.
Clark County Residents Directory Link
Vancouver sits inside Clark County. Many records for Vancouver residents live at the county level. Superior Court cases, recorded deeds, property assessments, and jail roster data all come from the county. Visit the Clark County Residents Directory for the full set of county portals.
Nearby Cities
Other Clark County and Southwest Washington cities have their own records offices.