Washington Administrative Code
Title 48 - Auditor, Office of State
Chapter 48-13 - Access to public records
Section 48-13-070 - Costs of providing copies of public records
Current through Register Vol. 24-06, March 15, 2024
(1) Copying fees - Payments. The following copy fees and payment procedures apply to requests to the office under chapter 42.56 RCW and received on or after July 23, 2017.
(2) Pursuant to RCW 42.56.120(2)(b), the office is not calculating all actual costs for copying records because to do so would be unduly burdensome for the following reasons:
(3) The office will charge for copies of records pursuant to the default fees in RCW 42.56.120(2)(b) and (c). The office will charge for customized services pursuant to RCW 42.56.120(3). Under RCW 42.56.130, the office may charge other copy fees authorized by statutes outside of chapter 42.56 RCW. The office may enter into an alternative fee agreement with a requestor under RCW 42.56.120(4). The charges for copying methods used by the office are summarized in the fee schedule available on the office's web site atwww.sao.wa.gov.
(4) Requestors are required to pay for copies in advance of receiving records. Fee waivers are an exception and are available for some small requests under the following conditions.
(5) The public records officer may require an advance deposit of ten percent of the estimated fees when the copying fees for an installment or an entire request, or customized service charge, exceeds twenty-five dollars.
(6) All required fees must be paid in advance of release of the copies or an installment of copies, or in advance of when a deposit is required. The office will notify the requestor of when payment is due.
(7) Payment should be made by check or money order to the state auditor's office. The office prefers not to receive cash. For cash payments, it is within the public records officer's discretion to determine the denomination of bills and coins that will be accepted.
(8) The office will close a request when a requestor fails by the payment date to pay in the manner prescribed for records, an installment of records, or a required deposit.
Statutory Authority: RCW 42.56.070, 43.21C.120, and 43.09.281. 10-22-022, § 48-13-070, filed 10/22/10, effective 11/22/10.