Washington County Public Records

How to Find Public Records in Washington County in 2026

Members of the public seeking publicly available information related to government activities, legal proceedings, and property transactions in Washington County, Oregon may access a broad range of documents through official county and state channels. WashingtonORRecords.us provides a directory of resources that may assist individuals in locating relevant record categories. The types of records that may be available include, but are not limited to:

Court case files and docket entries
Property deeds, liens, and assessment records
Vital records such as birth, death, and marriage certificates
Law enforcement incident reports and arrest logs
Business licenses and permits
Land use, zoning, and planning documents
County commission meeting minutes and agendas
Budget and financial documents

Records can be searched through official court resources, clerk offices, public access terminals, and online tools.

Online Access:

The Washington County public records request portal allows members of the public to submit requests for Sheriff's Office records electronically.
The Oregon Judicial Department provides online access to Washington County Circuit Court records for civil, criminal, probate, and family case information.
The Washington County Assessment & Taxation Division maintains an online property search tool accessible through the county's official website.
Some online tools require account registration; court case records may require payment of applicable copy fees prior to document release.

In-Person Requests:

Members of the public may visit the Washington County Clerk's Office or the Washington County Sheriff's Office Criminal Records Section to submit requests in person.
The Washington County Circuit Court is located at 145 NE 2nd Avenue, Hillsboro, Oregon 97124. Case file copies are available on the first floor of the courthouse.
Requestors should bring a valid government-issued photo identification and be prepared to complete a written request form.
Staff will advise on applicable fees at the time of the request.

Written/Mail Requests:

Written requests must include the requestor's full name, contact information, a description of the records sought, and the time period covered.
Under Oregon Revised Statutes § 192.329, public bodies are required to respond to public records requests within five business days, either by providing the records, denying the request with a written explanation, or providing an estimated timeline for fulfillment.
Mailing addresses for specific offices are listed in the contact section of this page.

Phone/Email:

Washington County Sheriff's Office Criminal Records Section: (503) 846-2700
Washington County Clerk's Office: (503) 846-8752
Washington County Circuit Court Records: (503) 846-8888

What Are Public Records in Washington County?

Public records in Washington County are defined under Oregon Revised Statutes § 192.311 as any writing that contains information relating to the conduct of the public's business, prepared, owned, used, or retained by a public body regardless of physical form or characteristics. The following record types are maintained by various county and state offices:

Record Type	Maintaining Office
Civil, criminal, probate, and family court records	Washington County Circuit Court
Property deeds, mortgages, and liens	Washington County Clerk's Office
Property tax and assessment records	Washington County Assessment & Taxation
Vital records (birth, death, marriage)	Oregon Center for Health Statistics / County Clerk
Business licenses and permits	Washington County Land Use & Transportation
Voting and election records	Washington County Elections Division
Meeting minutes and agendas	Washington County Board of Commissioners
Law enforcement records	Washington County Sheriff's Office
Land use and zoning records	Washington County Land Use & Transportation

The Washington County Records Inventory maintained by the Oregon Secretary of State provides a comprehensive catalog of record series held by county departments, including retention schedules and access classifications.

Is Washington County an Open Records County?

Washington County operates in full compliance with Oregon's statewide open records framework, which mandates public access to government documents. Under Oregon Revised Statutes § 192.314, every person has the right to inspect any public record of a public body in Oregon, subject to specific statutory exemptions. The Oregon Public Records Law, codified in ORS Chapter 192, serves as the primary legal authority governing access to government records throughout the state, including all Washington County agencies.

The Oregon Attorney General's Public Records and Meetings Manual states: "The Public Records Law reflects a legislative policy that favors disclosure. Exemptions from disclosure are to be narrowly construed." This principle guides how Washington County departments respond to records requests. County departments are required to provide access to non-exempt records within the statutory timeframe and may not impose conditions on inspection beyond those authorized by law.

Washington County does not maintain a separate county-level open records ordinance; all access rights and procedures are governed by state statute. The county's public records request process is administered through individual departments, with the County Counsel's Office providing legal oversight on disputed or complex requests.

How Much Does It Cost to Get Public Records in Washington County?

The fee structure for public records in Washington County is governed by state law and individual agency schedules. Under ORS § 192.324, public bodies may charge fees that reflect the actual cost of making records available, including staff time for locating, reviewing, and copying documents.

Standard Copy Fees:

Fee Type	Amount
Paper copies (black and white)	$0.25 per page
Certified copies (Clerk's Office)	$3.75 per document (first page) + $0.25 per additional page
Electronic copies	Actual cost of production
Postage (mail requests)	Actual postage cost
Staff time for extensive searches	Actual cost at the applicable hourly rate

Inspection of records at a public counter is available at no charge in most cases.
Certification fees apply when a document requires an official seal or attestation.
Payment is accepted by cash, check, money order, or credit card depending on the office.
Fee waivers may be granted at the discretion of the public body when disclosure is determined to be in the public interest, as provided under ORS § 192.324(4).
Court copy fees are set by the Oregon Judicial Department; case file copies from the Washington County Circuit Court are subject to the statewide court fee schedule, with actual postage added for mail requests.

Does Washington County Have Free Public Records?

Free inspection of public records is available at Washington County government offices during regular business hours. Oregon law requires that public bodies permit inspection of non-exempt records without charge; fees apply only when copies are requested.

The following resources provide free access to certain records:

Washington County Circuit Court public access terminals are available on the first floor of the courthouse at 145 NE 2nd Avenue, Hillsboro, Oregon 97124, allowing members of the public to view case index information at no cost.
Washington County Assessment & Taxation online portal provides free access to property assessment data, tax payment history, and parcel information through the county's official website.
Washington County Elections Division makes voter registration data and election results available online at no charge.
The Washington County Records Inventory hosted by the Oregon Secretary of State is freely accessible online and identifies which record series are open to the public.

The distinction between free inspection and free copies is significant: members of the public may inspect records at no cost, but obtaining physical or electronic copies is subject to the fee schedule described above.

Who Can Request Public Records in Washington County?

Any person may request public records in Washington County, regardless of residency, citizenship, or stated purpose. Oregon's Public Records Law does not restrict access based on the requestor's identity or reason for the request. Specifically:

Residency in Oregon or Washington County is not required.
Requestors are not required to provide identification for most records, though identification may be required for certain sensitive record types or to verify eligibility for restricted records.
Requestors are not required to state the purpose of their request for standard public records.
Non-residents retain the same access rights as Oregon residents under ORS Chapter 192.
Attorneys, journalists, researchers, and members of the general public are all entitled to submit requests.

Certain record categories impose additional requirements. For example, individuals requesting their own criminal history records from the Washington County Sheriff's Office must provide valid photo identification and may be required to submit fingerprints. Requests for records involving third parties, such as juvenile records or sealed court files, are subject to statutory restrictions regardless of the requestor's identity. The public records and documents section of the Sheriff's Office outlines specific procedures for law enforcement record requests.

What Records Are Confidential in Washington County?

Not all government records are subject to public disclosure. Oregon law identifies numerous categories of exempt records that public bodies are authorized or required to withhold. The exemptions are set forth primarily in ORS Chapter 192 and related statutes. The following record types are currently treated as confidential or restricted in Washington County:

Sealed court records: Records sealed by judicial order are not accessible to the public.
Juvenile records: Records pertaining to juvenile court proceedings are confidential under ORS § 419A.255.
Ongoing investigation records: Law enforcement records compiled for criminal investigation purposes may be withheld if disclosure would interfere with enforcement proceedings.
Personal identifying information: Social Security numbers, financial account data, and similar identifiers are exempt from disclosure.
Medical and health records: Protected under both state law and the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).
Adoption records: Sealed by statute and accessible only under specific legal circumstances.
Child welfare and protective services records: Confidential under Oregon Department of Human Services regulations.
Personnel records: Employee records are exempt to the extent they contain personal information, with limited exceptions for disciplinary actions involving public officials.
Trade secrets and proprietary business information: Exempt when submitted to a public body under a claim of confidentiality.
Security plans and critical infrastructure details: Withheld to protect public safety.

As stated in the Oregon Attorney General's guidance: "The fact that a record is exempt does not mean the public body must withhold it; the body retains discretion to disclose exempt records unless another law prohibits disclosure." Public bodies in Washington County apply a balancing test when determining whether the public interest in disclosure outweighs the interest in confidentiality for discretionary exemptions.

Washington County Recorder's Office: Contact Information and Hours

Washington County Clerk's Office
155 N First Avenue, Suite 130
Hillsboro, OR 97124
(503) 846-8752
Washington County Clerk's Office

Office Hours:
Monday – Friday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Closed on federal and state holidays.

Washington County Sheriff's Office – Criminal Records Section
215 SW Adams Avenue
Hillsboro, OR 97123
(503) 846-2700
Washington County Sheriff's Office

Office Hours:
Monday – Friday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Washington County Circuit Court
145 NE 2nd Avenue
Hillsboro, OR 97124
(503) 846-8888
Washington County Circuit Court

Office Hours:
Monday – Friday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Court records counter is located on the first floor.

Washington County Assessment & Taxation
155 N First Avenue, Suite 130
Hillsboro, OR 97124
(503) 846-8741
Washington County Assessment & Taxation