University Place, Washington Public Records

For more serious matters, Pierce County Superior Court at 930 Tacoma Avenue S, Room 334, Tacoma, WA 98402 (phone: 253-798-7579, website: www.piercecountywa.gov/superiorcourt) handles felony criminal cases, civil cases over $100,000, family law matters including divorce and child custody, probate, and appeals from lower courts. Pierce County District Court, with locations at the County-City Building, 930 Tacoma Avenue S, Tacoma, WA 98402 (phone: 253-798-3552), handles misdemeanor criminal cases, civil cases up to $100,000, small claims up to $10,000, and protection orders. Washington Courts operates a statewide case search system at www.courts.wa.gov where the public can search Superior Court and District Court records by party name or case number. Certified copies of court documents cost $5 for the first page and $1 for each additional page in Superior Court. The Pierce County Clerk's Office at the Superior Court processes requests for certified copies and provides access to court files during business hours. Case files are public record unless sealed by court order, and members of the public may view records in person at the courthouse or request copies by mail or in person.

The Assessor's interactive GIS mapping system (https://atip.piercecountywa.gov) allows users to view parcel boundaries, zoning, and aerial imagery. Official documents of record including deeds, mortgages, liens, easements, plats, and other real property instruments are recorded with the Pierce County Auditor's Office at 2401 South 35th Street, Suite 240, Tacoma, WA 98409 (phone: 253-798-3676, website: www.piercecountywa.gov/auditor). The Auditor maintains a searchable online database called ADATS (Auditor's Document and Tax System) at https://adats.co.pierce.wa.us where the public can search and view recorded documents free of charge by document number, parcel number, grantor/grantee name, or date range. Most documents from the 1970s forward are digitized and viewable online as PDF images. Certified copies of recorded documents cost $5 for the first page and $1 for each additional page. Property ownership history, mortgage recordings, mechanic's liens, and deed restrictions are all publicly accessible through these systems, making Pierce County's property records among the most transparent in Washington State.

The Bridgeport Way commercial corridor serves as the city's main retail and commercial district, featuring numerous small businesses, restaurants, medical offices, and retail establishments. Chambers Bay Golf Course, a Pierce County-owned facility at 6320 Grandview Drive W, is a significant economic asset that generates tourism and hosted the 2015 U.S. Open Championship. The median household income in University Place is approximately $71,000, slightly above the Pierce County median. The city has experienced steady residential growth since incorporation, with particular development in single-family housing and townhome communities. University Place benefits economically from its proximity to Joint Base Lewis-McChord to the south, which employs over 40,000 military and civilian personnel and drives significant economic activity throughout Pierce County. The city's location along State Route 16 provides access to Tacoma's port facilities and the broader Puget Sound region. Key industries include healthcare, education, retail trade, and professional services. The city maintains a strong residential tax base while encouraging commercial development along designated corridors to balance the tax burden and provide local employment opportunities. Recent economic development has focused on mixed-use projects and infrastructure improvements to support sustainable growth.

The University Place Police Department, located at 3715 Bridgeport Way W, University Place, WA 98466 (phone: 253-566-5035, website: www.cityofup.com/police), serves as the primary law enforcement agency for the city's incorporated area. The department provides full police services and maintains records of incidents, arrests, and police reports. Citizens can request police reports in person at the department or by submitting a written request. Public disclosure requests must be made under Washington's Public Records Act (RCW 42.56), which requires agencies to respond within five business days. The Pierce County Sheriff's Department, headquartered at 3033 S 84th Street, Tacoma, WA 98409 (phone: 253-798-4721, website: www.piercecountywa.gov/sheriff), provides additional support and serves unincorporated areas surrounding University Place. The Sheriff's Department also operates the Pierce County Corrections Bureau at 910 Tacoma Avenue S, Tacoma, WA 98402. For arrest and jail booking information, the public can access the Pierce County Jail Inmate Roster online at www.piercecountywa.gov/corrections, which provides real-time information on current inmates including names, booking photos, charges, booking dates, bond amounts, and projected release dates. Historical arrest records and incident reports can be requested from the respective law enforcement agencies. Washington's Public Records Act (Revised Code of Washington Chapter 42.56) governs all public records requests, requiring agencies to provide access to non-exempt records within a reasonable time, typically five business days for an initial response, with fees limited to actual costs of copying and staff time.

Online ordering is available through VitalChek at www.doh.wa.gov/vitalrecords with additional convenience fees. Processing time is typically 2-3 weeks by mail or 4-5 business days for expedited service. Birth records are confidential for 75 years and available only to the person named on the certificate, immediate family members, or legal representatives with proper identification. Death records are public information. In-person requests can also be made at the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department, 3629 South D Street, Tacoma, WA 98418 (phone: 253-649-1412), which serves as a local issuing agent for state vital records. Marriage licenses are issued by the Pierce County Auditor's Office at 2401 South 35th Street, Tacoma, WA 98409 (phone: 253-798-7228). The license costs $64 and requires both parties to appear in person with valid photo identification. There is no waiting period, and the license is valid for 60 days. Marriage records dating back to the county's founding are maintained by the Auditor and are public records searchable by the parties' names. Divorce records are court records maintained by Pierce County Superior Court and can be accessed through the court clerk's office. Certified copies of divorce decrees cost $5 for the first page and $1 for each additional page. Washington law requires requesters to show valid government-issued photo identification and prove direct and tangible interest for restricted vital records.

Renewals are required annually, and the city maintains a list of active licensed businesses though it is not publicly searchable online. Fictitious business name (DBA) registrations in Washington are filed with the Pierce County Auditor's Office at 2401 South 35th Street, Suite 240, Tacoma, WA 98409 (phone: 253-798-3676). DBAs cost $5 to file and must be renewed every five years. The Auditor maintains a searchable database of active trade names. For formal business entity formation, the Washington Secretary of State, Corporations and Charities Division (PO Box 40234, Olympia, WA 98504, phone: 360-725-0377, website: www.sos.wa.gov/corps) handles registration of corporations, LLCs, limited partnerships, and nonprofit organizations. The Secretary of State provides a free online database at www.sos.wa.gov/corps/search.aspx where the public can search business entities by name, UBI (Unified Business Identifier) number, or registered agent to view formation dates, current status, principal office address, registered agent information, and annual report filing status. UCC (Uniform Commercial Code) financing statements and lien searches are also filed with the Secretary of State's UCC Division and searchable online at https://ccfs.sos.wa.gov. Commercial property owners can look up assessed values and property taxes through the Pierce County Assessor's online parcel search. Washington's Business Licensing Service (BLS) at https://dor.wa.gov also coordinates state tax registrations including retail sales tax, use tax, and business and occupation (B&O) tax.

University Place voters are served by the Pierce County Auditor's Office, Elections Division, located at 2501 South 35th Street, Suite C, Tacoma, WA 98409 (phone: 253-798-VOTE or 253-798-8683, website: www.piercecountywa.gov/elections). Washington is an all-mail voting state, and all registered voters receive ballots by mail approximately 18 days before each election. University Place residents register to vote online through the Washington Secretary of State at https://voter.votewa.gov or by submitting a paper registration form available at libraries, government offices, and the Elections Division. Voters must register or update their registration at least 8 days before Election Day, though online and mail registration deadlines are 8 days before while in-person registration is available through Election Day. Valid Washington State driver's license or ID number is required for online registration. University Place conducts municipal elections for City Council positions (seven council members including the Mayor, who is selected from among the council) in odd-numbered years. The next municipal general election is November 4, 2025, with primaries in August if needed. Council members serve four-year staggered terms. Residents can find candidate filings, local ballot measures, and voter pamphlets at the Pierce County Elections website. To find polling place locations for accessible voting (though all voters receive mail ballots), voters use the VoteWA portal at https://voter.votewa.gov where they can also track their ballot status. Washington public disclosure laws make extensive election records public: voter registration lists (excluding birth dates and phone numbers) are available for purchase, campaign finance reports are searchable at the Public Disclosure Commission website (www.pdc.wa.gov), candidate declarations are public records at the Elections office, and precinct-level election results are published online after each election. In the November 2024 presidential election, Pierce County reported approximately 67% voter turnout with over 370,000 ballots counted. For the November 3, 2026 general election, University Place and Pierce County voters will decide several major races: Washington's Class III U.S. Senate seat will be on the ballot (currently held by Senator Patty Murray, term expires 2029, so this will not be up in 2026; however, Washington will vote for U.S. House representatives in all 10 congressional districts including District 6 which covers University Place); all 98 state House seats and approximately half of the 49 state Senate seats; Pierce County Executive, Pierce County Council positions, Pierce County Assessor-Treasurer, and Pierce County Prosecuting Attorney depending on term cycles; and potentially University Place City Council positions if the city adjusts its election calendar. Washington does not have gubernatorial elections in 2026 as the Governor serves four-year terms with the next election in 2024. Mail-in ballots must be postmarked by Election Day or deposited in official ballot drop boxes by 8:00 PM on Election Day. Pierce County operates over 30 ballot drop box locations throughout the county, including boxes in University Place. Voters can request replacement ballots online or by phone up to the day before Election Day, and ballot tracking is available through the VoteWA system where voters receive email or text notifications when their ballot is mailed, received, and counted.