Clallam County

Clallam County is home to spectacular natural landmarks including portions of Olympic National Park, Hurricane Ridge, Lake Crescent, and the western end of the Discovery Trail. Clallam County's history dates to its formation in 1854, making it one of Washington's oldest counties, with an economy historically rooted in timber, fishing, and port activities. Today, tourism plays a major economic role due to Clallam County's proximity to Olympic National Park and the scenic beauty of Clallam County.

Clallam County Auditor's Office, located at 223 East 4th Street, Suite 1 in Port Angeles, is the County Recorder and Elections Department. Clallam County Assessor's Office, responsible for property valuations and tax assessment, is located at 223 East 4th Street, Suite 6. Clallam County Clerk's office handles superior court records and is situated in Clallam County Courthouse at 223 East 4th Street.

What makes Clallam County unique is its position as the only county in the contiguous United States bordering both an international waterway and containing significant portions of a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve within Olympic National Park, along with being home to several federally recognized Native American tribes including the Lower Elwha Klallam, Jamestown S'Klallam, and Makah tribes.

Inmate lookup and current custody information can be accessed through the Sheriff's Office website, where the public can search by name or booking number to find current inmates, booking dates, charges, and bail information. Municipal police departments operate independently in Port Angeles (Port Angeles Police Department, 321 East 5th Street, 360-452-4545) and Sequim (Sequim Police Department, 152 West Cedar Street, 360-683-7227). The tribal nations within Clallam County maintain their own law enforcement agencies with jurisdiction on tribal lands, including the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribal Police, Jamestown S'Klallam Tribal Police, and Makah Tribal Police.

Arrest records in Clallam County are public records subject to disclosure under Washington's Public Records Act, RCW 42.56. Online access to some booking information is available through the jail roster on the Sheriff's website, though full criminal history reports require fingerprint-based background checks through the Washington State Patrol.

The Superior Court Clerk's office can be reached for Clallam County District Court has jurisdiction over misdemeanor criminal cases, traffic infractions, civil cases up to $100,000, small claims (up to $10,000), protection orders, and preliminary hearings for felonies. Clallam County Court office phone is. Municipal courts operate in Port Angeles and Sequim, handling violations of city ordinances, traffic infractions within city limits, and misdemeanors committed within city boundaries.

Court records in Washington are presumed to be public under GR 31, the General Rule on Public Access to Court Records, and Article I, Section 10 of the Washington State Constitution. Users can search civil, criminal, family, and probate cases by party name or case number. Remote access to some documents is available through the court website, but sensitive documents such as sealed records, certain family law documents, and juvenile records are restricted from public access.

These records date back to Clallam County's formation in 1854 and create the chain of title for all real property in Clallam County. The public can search land records online through Clallam County Official Records Search, accessible at clallam.net/auditor, which provides free searching and viewing of recorded documents from approximately 1984 to present. The online system allows searches by grantor/grantee name, document type, recording date, or legal description.

Viewing documents online is free; printing or downloading may require payment. Property tax assessment information is managed by Clallam County Assessor's Office at 223 East 4th Street, Suite 6, Port Angeles, WA 98362, phone. The Assessor maintains property valuation records, ownership information, legal descriptions, and assessment history.

A free online parcel search and GIS mapping system is available at www.Clallam County.net/assessor, allowing users to search by owner name, parcel number, or address to view current assessed values, property characteristics, sales history, and tax information.

Applicants must provide valid photo identification and proof of eligibility (immediate family member, legal representative, or person with a tangible interest). Marriage licenses are issued by Clallam County Auditor's Office at 223 East 4th Street, Suite 1, Port Angeles, WA 98362, phone. Washington State requires a three-day waiting period after license issuance, and licenses are valid for 60 days.

Both parties must appear in person with valid photo identification, and no blood test is required. Divorce records and dissolution decrees are court records maintained by Clallam County Superior Court Clerk's office, not the vital records office. The Washington State Department of Health, Center for Health Statistics, also maintains statewide vital records and is a backup resource for birth and death certificates from anywhere in Washington.

They can be reached at or online at doh.wa.gov/vitalrecords. Online ordering of certified copies is available through VitalChek for an additional service fee. Washington vital records law is codified in RCW 70.58, which establishes confidentiality protections and eligibility requirements for obtaining certified vital records.

Records less than 75 years old are restricted to eligible applicants with a direct and tangible interest.

These registrations are public record and searchable through the Auditor's office. Local business licenses are required in incorporated cities; businesses operating in Port Angeles must obtain a business license through the Port Angeles Finance Department at City Hall, 321 East 5th Street. Sequim requires business licenses through the Sequim Finance Department at 152 West Cedar Street.

State business licensing, including seller's permits for sales tax collection, professional licenses, and specialty endorsements, is coordinated through the Washington State Department of Revenue's Business Licensing Service at dor.wa.gov. Building permits, land use permits, and zoning compliance are handled by Clallam County Department of Community Development, located at 223 East 4th Street, Suite 17, Port Angeles, WA 98362, phone. The department maintains records of building permits, certificates of occupancy, site development permits, and code enforcement actions, which are public records available for inspection.

Contractor licensing is regulated at the state level by the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries. Clallam County Economic Development Council, located in Port Angeles, and the North Olympic Peninsula Visitors Bureau provide business support services and economic data for Clallam County, accessible at clallam.org/edc.

Voter registration in Clallam County can be completed online through the Washington Secretary of State's VoteWA portal at vote.wa.gov, in person at the Elections Office, or by mail using a voter registration form. Washington offers same-day voter registration through Election Day, though registering by the traditional deadline (8 days before Election Day for online and mail registrations, or in person through Election Day) ensures timely ballot delivery. To find ballot drop box locations in Clallam County, voters can visit the County Elections website, which lists 24-hour accessible drop boxes in Port Angeles, Sequim, Forks, and other communities.

Drop boxes are available until 8:00 PM on Election Day. Voters can also mail ballots postage-free; ballots must be postmarked by Election Day. Election records that are public in Clallam County include voter registration lists (with some personal information redacted under RCW 29A.08.720), precinct-level election results, candidate filings and financial disclosure reports, ballot measures and explanatory statements, and campaign finance reports filed with the state Public Disclosure Commission.

Voters can check their registration status and ballot status through the VoteWA portal. Clallam County has a reputation as a bellwether county, having voted for the winning presidential candidate in every election from 1980 through 2020 (with the exception of 2024), attracting national media attention. Voter turnout in Clallam County for the November 2024 general election was approximately 78%, reflecting strong civic engagement typical of Washington counties with mail-in voting.

The next major election is scheduled for November 3, 2026, featuring U.S. House of Representatives races for Washington's 6th Congressional District (which includes Clallam County), potential U.S. Senate races depending on seat cycles, and Washington state executive offices and legislative positions.

Primary elections in Washington will occur in August 2026. Transparency of elections in Clallam County is strong; citizens can observe ballot processing at the Elections Office during canvassing periods, and detailed election results by precinct are published on Clallam County website.

Coast Guard Station Port Angeles, the Port of Port Angeles, Clallam County government, and city governments providing stable employment. The timber and forest products industry, while reduced from historical peaks, continues to contribute through companies like Merrill & Ring Timber and specialty wood products manufacturers. Commercial fishing, particularly for salmon and shellfish, remains economically important in communities like Neah Bay and Sekiu.

Tourism represents a growing economic sector, driven by Olympic National Park visitation (which attracts over 3 million visitors annually to the park overall), with substantial visitor spending in Port Angeles, Sequim, and Forks for lodging, restaurants, recreation, and retail. The Port of Port Angeles supports maritime commerce, including the ferry terminal for the seasonal Victoria Express passenger ferry to British Columbia, as well as industrial tenants and the Platypus Marine boatyard. Manufacturing includes Nippon Paper Industries USA's paper mill (which closed in 2023, representing a significant economic loss), composite materials manufacturing, and marine fabrication.

Agriculture focuses on lavender farming in the Sequim area (which has become a tourist attraction), grass seed production, small farms, and livestock. Unemployment rates in Clallam County have historically tracked slightly above the state average, ranging from 4-6% in recent non-pandemic years. Economic development priorities include broadband expansion, downtown revitalization in Port Angeles, waterfront development, sustainable tourism growth, and supporting tribal economic initiatives.

The proximity to Olympic National Park and the natural amenities of Clallam County continue to attract retirees and remote workers, gradually shifting the demographic and economic profile of Clallam County.