Public Records Requests are still being accepted and fulfilled. Changes due to COVID-19 measures are as follows:
This information may change as the COVID-19 situation continues to develop. Please email PRR@sammamish.us with any public records request questions or concerns.
You may submit requests via the following methods:OnlineThe quickest way to submit your request is online. To do so, please complete the online submission form.E-mail, Fax, or MailComplete this form to submit your request via e-mail, fax, or physical mail.Alternatively, you may provide the following information in place of using the form:
Please submit the form or the above information to one of the below options:
In Person or PhoneIf making a request in person at City Hall or by phone, a City staff member will confirm its receipt to you in writing. The confirmation will be deemed correct unless you respond with a statement that it is incorrect.
You may request any public record maintained by the City in existence at the time of your request. For Police, Fire & EMS, or Water & Sewer records, please see the “How do I request Police, Fire & EMS, or Water & Sewer Records?” FAQ.
You may request records such as housing permits and plans, meeting minutes, e-mails, and any other record relating to the conduct of government or the performance of a governmental function which is prepared or retained by the City. The record may be in a variety of forms such as physical or digital writing, pictures, recordings, etc.
The City of Sammamish provides access to public records under the provisions of the Washington State Public Records Act (RCW 42.56). Anyone may request records maintained by the City but some content may be exempt and withheld (e.g. bank account numbers, attorney-client privileged communications, etc.). For more information on this, please view the “What is an Exemption or Redaction?” FAQ.
Sammamish contracts its Police, Fire & EMS, and Water & Sewer services. To obtain these records, please submit a request to the following:
Below are online resources where records or commonly requested information are located. If you do not find the record you are looking for, please submit a public records request.
Permits & Planning
Current Development
Subdivision As-Builts
Property, Zoning, Sensitive Areas Map
Stormwater Map
City Government Meeting Records
Ordinances and Resolutions
Hearing Examiner Decisions
City Finance Records
The City will respond to your request within five (5) business days in the following ways:
For additional information about how public records requests are processed, please see PRA Rule 040.
To more fairly address the volume of requests the City receives and to be more transparent about their processing, requests are categorized into one of four groups according to the nature, volume, and availability of the requested records as well as the complexity of the request. Please see PRA Rules 050 and 060 for additional information.To change your request’s assigned category and reduce the time it may take to receive your requested records, you may contact the City Clerk’s Office to provide additional information to assist in locating your requested records or narrow your search to return fewer records.Example:
You will receive an expected completion date from the staff member fulfilling your request. This date is primarily based upon the complexity of your request, the current backlog of requests submitted prior to yours, and scheduling additional staff necessary to assist in locating the records. The more complex your request, the longer it will take staff to locate all responsive records.Depending on the nature, volume, and availability of the requested records as well as the complexity of the request, it will be assigned a category. Each category has an estimated range of time in which it may be fulfilled.
A request’s category and expected completion date may change due to unanticipated circumstances, such as determining that a request’s complexity is different than originally anticipated once staff begins processing it. Requestors will be notified should their category or expected completion date change.
You may check the status of your request by viewing the Public Records Request Log. Should you have additional questions, you may e-mail the City Clerk’s Office at PRR@Sammamish.us or call 425-295-0512.
To expedite the response, please have available the 4-digit request ID that was provided via email upon submitting your request.
An exemption refers to content within a public record, or possibly the entire record itself, which is protected by law and will not be disclosed. This protected content will be redacted, or blacked out, from the record. If the entire record is exempt, it will not be provided at all. In either case, the reason for the exemption will be provided along with the portion of law allowing its exemption.See WAC 458-276-045, RCW 42.56, and Appendix C of the MRSC Public Records Act guide for additional information.
No. Once the City receives a public records request, it becomes a public record. It is immediately available to the public on our Public Records Request Status webpage.
No. The City of Sammamish provides access to existing public records in its possession. It is not required to collect information or organize data to create a record not existing at the time of the request.
No. The City of Sammamish provides access to existing public records in its possession at the time of the request. It is not required to provide records created after the request has been submitted. You are welcome to submit a new public records request in the future.
No. The City of Sammamish intersection cameras do not record. Video is not available for collision investigations or for contesting citations.
The City is not allowed to provide lists of individuals for commercial purposes per RCW 42.56.070(8).
There is no charge for requesting or inspecting a public record. However, fees may be charged for the following:
Unless otherwise stated in the City’s fee schedule, actual costs will be charged. For more information on public records request fees, please see RCW 42.56.070 and RCW 42.56.120.
Please view the Sammamish Public Records Act Rules.
The City Clerk is the local official who administers democratic processes such as access to city records and all legislative actions ensuring transparency to the public. The Sammamish City Clerk is the City’s Public Records Officer. It is the role of this office to ensure that the City is in compliance with the Public Records Act and the City's Public Records Act Rules. The City Clerk acts as a compliance officer for federal, state, and local statutes, assists with managing public inquiries and relationships, and arranges for ceremonial and official functions.
Government