Washington, county records
Find the right office in Whatcom County. Court cases, deeds and parcels, sheriff and jail records, vital records and county filings, each linked to the office that keeps them.
Start here
Every card below goes to the government office responsible for that record. Use the category buttons to narrow the list.
Police & jail
Washington's court case search gives the criminal and civil cases filed in Whatcom County's superior, district and municipal courts and the dates each one is heard.
Open official site Whatcom County Criminal CasesProperty records
Property, real estate, corporation and public utility taxes.
Open official site Whatcom County TaxPolice & jail
Link to the county sheriff's office.
Open official site Whatcom County Sheriff's DepartmentVital records
Official death certificates from the county of Whatcom County.
Open official site Whatcom County Death RecordsCity records
Index of Whatcom County's services and resources.
Open official site Whatcom County Directory of DepartmentsCounty court
Search divorces, criminal and civil cases.
Open official site Civil Criminal and Juvenile Court RecordsProperty records
The Whatcom County property search gives the owner, the parcel number, the legal description and the assessed value of each parcel in the county.
Open official site Whatcom County Property SearchPolice & jail
Search for inmates held by the county.
Open official site Whatcom County Booking and Jail InformationVital records
Get information of marriage records in Whatcom County.
Open official site Whatcom County Marriage LicensesCity records
County Auditor recorded information and record access.
Open official site Whatcom County Public Records SearchCounty court
Begin your search for judgments and liens.
Open official site Whatcom Superior CourtState records
The Whatcom County Auditor's elections office holds the county's voter roll, takes new registrations and address changes, and runs the elections held in the county.
Open official site Whatcom County Voter RegistrationEverything else, organized
4 more Whatcom County sources not listed above.
Local record guide
County profile
Sheriff & Law Enforcement. Whatcom County Sheriff's Office is responsible for law enforcement services in the unincorporated areas of Whatcom County.
Police Departments. In addition to Whatcom County Sheriff's Office, several municipal police departments operate within Whatcom County, including the Bellingham Police Department, Ferndale Police Department, and Lynden Police Department. These agencies collaborate on major crimes and emergencies, often coordinating with the Sheriff's Office for resources and support.
Law Enforcement & Arrests. Whatcom County Sheriff's Office, headquartered at 311 Grand Avenue, Bellingham, WA 98225 (phone: 360-778-6600), provides law enforcement services to unincorporated areas and operates Whatcom County Jail. The Sheriff's website The jail facility maintains booking photos and arrest records accessible through public records requests. Under Washington's Public Records Act (RCW 42.56), citizens may request arrest records, police reports, and booking photographs from any law enforcement agency by submitting written requests to the agency's public records officer.
Arrest Records. Arrest records in Whatcom County are maintained by Whatcom County Sheriff's Office.
Mugshots & Booking Photos. Mugshots in Whatcom County are taken and retained by Whatcom County Sheriff's Office during the booking process. These images are part of the public record and can be accessed through the Sheriff's Office website or by submitting a public records request.
Washington State Department of Health, Center for Health Statistics in Tumwater also maintains statewide vital records for events occurring anywhere in Washington since 1907 (phone: 360-236-4300). Whatcom County Assessor's Office (phone: 360-778-5050, website: whatcomcounty.us/assessor) maintains property tax assessment records, ownership information, and property characteristics. Elections in Whatcom County are administered by Whatcom County Elections Office, located at 311 Grand Avenue, Suite 103, Bellingham, WA 98225 (phone: 360-778-5102, website: whatcomcounty.us/elections). The Treasurer's Office (phone: 360-778-5200) handles property tax collection and provides online tax payment services. Whatcom County District Court, at the same location (phone: 360-778-5750), has jurisdiction over misdemeanor criminal cases, traffic infractions, civil cases up to $100,000, small claims up to $10,000, and protection orders. Whatcom County Superior Court, located at 311 Grand Avenue, Bellingham, WA 98225 (phone: 360-778-5800), handles felony criminal cases, civil cases exceeding $100,000, family law matters including divorce and custody, probate, guardianships, and appeals from lower courts. Building permits and land use permits are processed through Whatcom County Planning and Development Services, located at 5280 Northwest Drive, Bellingham, WA 98226 (phone: 360-778-5900), which also handles zoning compliance and development applications. 5280 Northwest Drive, Bellingham, WA 98226 • Phone: (360-778-8100
Abandoned mine records
Where the workings are, and the office that holds the mine maps.
From the old mine records
The mine records hold 368 mine sites inside the county: 117 past producers, now closed, 211 prospects or occurrences that were never worked, 5 sites producing when the record was made, 2 processing plants, which are not workings, 33 sites with no status in the record; the old survey maps add 239 holes drawn inside the county, 29 of them shafts or tunnels. The minerals the records name are Gold; construction sand and gravel; Chromium.
A point in either file is a location, not a property line: the sheet shows the opening on the surface, not the rooms under it. The record that shows what runs under a parcel is the mine map. The OSMRE National Mine Map Repository holds scanned underground mine maps and answers requests for a named mine or an area. Washington has no state abandoned mine land program page; the survey's coal mine maps are the record.
Rows taken off the old survey maps open the USGS record of what sits at that spot, because no single feature on those maps has a page of its own. Rows from the mine records open their own USGS page.
Washington abandoned mine maps ranks every county and town in the state by the workings recorded inside it, names the office that holds the mine maps, and says what to do if the ground moves.
Disclaimer: The mine information here is for general information only. Old mine records can be incomplete, outdated or wrong, and finding nothing here does not mean there is nothing there. Check with the mine map office named here before you rely on it, and have a qualified engineer look at any ground you are worried about. PublicRecordCenter.com assumes no responsibility or liability for any errors, omissions, or consequences arising from the use of this information.
Know before you ask
Each figure below was read on the official source linked beside it, October to November 2026. A fee or rule the source does not state is left out rather than guessed, and offices can change their schedules, so confirm on the source before you pay or travel.
The Auditor Recording office lists online images and index information from 1920 forward and office microfilm from 1853 through 1997. Parcel-number and legal-description indexing applies to documents recorded after January 1, 1997. For an older instrument, use the parties, date and auditor file number instead of treating a failed parcel search as a complete search. Keep the microfilm route available for material whose period or image coverage does not fit the web search.
The Property Recording Alert Service FAQ explains that notifications concern newly recorded documents matching the names or parcel numbers monitored after enrollment. Common names can produce unrelated matches, and enrollment does not prevent a document from being recorded. Open the instrument and compare its property description. The online copy carries an unofficial-document watermark; decide whether the receiving office needs a separately issued copy or certification.
The Auditor copy instructions charge $1 per page for ordinary copies and $3 for the first certified page plus $1 for each additional page. Certification requires purchasing the whole document. Supply the auditor file number and recording date where possible; a partial page selection cannot stand in for the complete certified instrument. A mail order needs a return envelope and payment, while card transactions add a service charge.
The Superior Court document instructions identify State Archives access for cases from 2005, Law Library viewing for cases from 2000 and Clerk-office microfilm for cases before 1999. The published summary leaves the treatment of 1999 unclear, so ask the Clerk about that year rather than extending a range. Certified copies come from the Clerk. Audio recordings and transcripts are separate requests; identify the hearing date, department and case number before ordering the appropriate product.
The Health certificate instructions cover Washington births from July 1, 1907 and deaths from 1989. Certified copies require eligibility and identity evidence; informational copies are a separate option. The office posts $25 per copy and approximately two to three business days after receiving a completed order, separate from mail transit and newborn registration. Friday service hours differ between the ordering instructions and contact block, so confirm the counter cutoff before travel.
The Assessor and Treasurer property search tells users to select the 2026-2027 results display for the most current ownership information. Save the displayed assessment period alongside the parcel number. An older selected roll can explain why a recent ownership change is absent from the visible result.
The county disclosure directory separates county-department requests, Sheriff records and court records. Its county procedure provides an initial response within five business days, which can be records, a time estimate, a clarification request or an explanation of withholding. That response interval is not a promise that every requested file will be delivered within the same period.
Where to go
Each office below was read on its own site. A field the office does not publish is left out rather than filled in from a directory.
Recorded instruments, office microfilm and certified land copies.
Office page: whatcomcounty.us
Property assessment, parcel details and assessment maps.
Office page: whatcomcounty.us
Certified and informational Washington birth and death records.
Office page: whatcomcounty.us
Labor Department file
The U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division closed 97 investigations in Whatcom County since fiscal 2005 and recorded $2,137,963 in back wages agreed for 1,672 workers. The county is the one the Census Bureau puts each employer's ZIP code in. Snapshot of April 22, 2026; a case here is a finding by the Division, not a court judgment.
| Employer | City | Cases | Back wages | Workers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| J & J Comfort Zone, Inc. | Bellingham | 1 | $520,708 | 82 |
| Sarbanand Farms, LLC | Sumas | 2 | $270,343 | 273 |
| Exxel Pacific, Inc | Bellingham | 3 | $224,933 | 40 |
| Pacific Coast Foods, Inc. | Bellingham | 1 | $148,051 | 19 |
| Axiom Construction & Consulting LLC | Lynden | 1 | $116,361 | 33 |
| The Woods Coffee, Inc. | Lynden | 1 | $114,760 | 389 |
| Heath Tecna, Inc. | Bellingham | 1 | $108,735 | 51 |
| Cherry Valera | Bellingham | 1 | $105,274 | 1 |
| Freshore LLC | Lummi Island | 1 | $74,812 | 19 |
| Leenders Drywall Inc. | Lynden | 2 | $72,595 | 15 |
| Zheng's Restaurant, Inc. | Bellingham | 1 | $56,930 | 4 |
| Lychee Buffet | Bellingham | 1 | $40,000 | 0 |
| Mt. Baker Roofing, Inc. | Bellingham | 1 | $31,743 | 1 |
| Whatcom Association of Training Centers, Inc | Bellingham | 1 | $24,158 | 30 |
| Brown & Cole Stores, LLC | Bellingham | 2 | $24,154 | 11 |
| Northwoods Motels, L.L.C. | Blaine | 1 | $23,091 | 7 |
| Lake Whatcom Residential and Treatment Center | Bellingham | 2 | $22,343 | 36 |
| Super Buffet WA, Inc. | Bellingham | 1 | $14,118 | 4 |
| PTM Berry Farms, LLC | Custer | 1 | $12,101 | 187 |
| Ying-Ruay Corp | Bellingham | 1 | $10,352 | 13 |
| Sumas Investments LLC | Sumas | 1 | $10,284 | 1 |
| Rum-Ruay Corporation | Bellingham | 1 | $9,981 | 4 |
| Golden Specialty, Inc. | Bellingham | 1 | $9,814 | 6 |
| Ma-Ray Corporation; Kotra-Ruay Inc. | Bellingham | 1 | $9,453 | 16 |
| Whatcom County Fire Protection District #8 | Bellingham | 1 | $9,288 | 13 |
The 25 employers with the most back wages agreed, of 76 on the Whatcom County record; 30 employers have a page of their own and open from the table, the rest show their whole record here. The 51 more with smaller records are on the Washington wage theft records page, whose search answers for every employer in the state.
Straight answers
Open only the answer you need.
Booking photos are kept by the agency that made the arrest, such as the Whatcom County Sheriff's Office or a city police department in Whatcom County. Ask that agency for its record. Under RCW 70.48.100 the jail register (name, date, time and cause of confinement, and release) is open to the public, but other records of a person confined in jail are confidential and go only to criminal justice agencies and the others the law lists. Law enforcement may use booking photographs to investigate crimes, and photographs of people convicted of a sex offense may be released under the sex offender notification laws.
The Washington criminal history record comes from the Washington State Patrol, Identification and Background Check Section. Run a name and date of birth search online through WATCH (Washington Access to Criminal History), or send the Request for Conviction Criminal History form or a fingerprint card to PO Box 42633, Olympia WA 98504-2633. Fee: $11.00 for a WATCH name search online; $32.00 for the Request for Conviction Criminal History form; $58.00 for a fingerprint card.
Search the Washington Sex Offender Public Registry (Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs), or every state at once on the National Sex Offender Public Website run by the U.S. Department of Justice.
Register with the county auditor (the county elections office; King County Elections in King County) or through the Washington Secretary of State. You can also register online with the state online registration. Online and mail registrations must be received 8 days before Election Day; you can register in person at a county elections office until 8 p.m. on Election Day.
Deeds and other recorded land documents in Whatcom County are kept by the Whatcom County auditor. Property values are set by the county assessor, and tax bills come from the county treasurer. Source: official state page.
Certified birth and death certificates for Washington come from the Washington State Department of Health Vital Records. Local health departments in Washington also issue certificates; check with your local health department for the certificates it offers and whether it serves people in person. By mail with check or money order to PO Box 9709, Olympia, WA 98507, online or by phone through VitalChek, or in person by appointment at the Tumwater office. Fee: $25 for each certified or informational birth certificate.
Business entity filings are searched with the Washington Secretary of State, Corporations and Charities Division. More than 200 cities and towns, and some counties for their unincorporated areas, issue their business license endorsements through the state Business Licensing Service at the Department of Revenue; a city or county not on its lists must be contacted directly.
The Auditor says parcel and legal-description indexing applies after January 1, 1997. Search earlier instruments through the names and recording references described by Recording.
The Recording office lists images and indexes from 1920, with older office microfilm holdings described separately. Use the coverage statement to select the research route.
The Auditor requires the entire document for certification. Its copy instructions distinguish that product from ordinary pages under the recorded-copy schedule.
No. The service reports matching recordings; it does not block them or establish that a common-name match concerns your parcel. Inspect the instrument through the alert instructions.
The Clerk's summary lists pre-1999 microfilm and later viewing ranges without clearly assigning that year. Ask the Clerk which medium holds the file through the document-request route.
No. The office separates its completed-order processing estimate from postal delivery and newborn registration delays. Check the ordering instructions for the relevant stage.
The portal advises choosing its current assessment-year display for the latest ownership. Preserve the selected roll period from the property search.
The response can provide an estimate or ask for clarification as well as supply records. Read the county request procedure in the disclosure directory.
Same county
Use the city page when a record was created by a municipal police department or city office; use the county page for courts, deeds, vital records and jail custody.