Yakima, Washington Public Records

The bond and bail process follows Washington state guidelines, allowing for the release of inmates pending trial under certain conditions. Recently arrested individuals can be located through the jail's online inmate roster or by contacting the facility directly.

For more serious matters, the Yakima County Superior Court at 128 North 2nd Street, Yakima, WA 98901, phone (509) 574-1500, has jurisdiction over felonies, civil cases exceeding $100,000, divorces, adoptions, and appeals from lower courts. The Yakima County District Court, located at 128 North 2nd Street, phone (509) 574-1450, handles misdemeanors, gross misdemeanors, civil cases up to $100,000, and small claims matters up to $10,000. Both Superior and District Courts serve the entire county. Washington State operates a statewide court records system accessible at www.courts.wa.gov/appellate_trial_courts. Yakima County court records can be searched online through the Washington Courts Public Access system, though some sensitive records (juvenile, sealed, protection orders) are excluded. In-person searches are available at the Clerk's Office at 128 North 2nd Street. Certified copies of court documents cost $5 for the first page and $1 for each additional page. Regular photocopies are typically $0.50 per page. Case filing fees vary: Superior Court civil filing fees are $280, District Court civil filings are $71, and small claims filings range from $29 to $70 depending on the amount sought. Access to court records is governed by Washington General Rule 31 (GR 31) and Court Rules regarding public access.

The Assessor's website offers a comprehensive online property search tool where residents can search by address, owner name, parcel number, or account number to find assessed values, property characteristics, exemptions, tax history, and sales data. The database includes over 90,000 parcels countywide and is updated regularly with current market valuations and ownership information. The Yakima County GIS portal at gis.yakimacounty.us provides interactive mapping tools showing parcel boundaries, zoning, floodplains, and aerial imagery. The Yakima County Auditor's Office, located at 128 North 2nd Street, Yakima, WA 98901, phone (509) 574-1340, website www.yakimacounty.us/auditor, serves as the county recorder and maintains official land records including deeds, mortgages, liens, easements, plats, and other documents affecting real property. The Auditor's recording division has digitized records dating back to the county's formation in 1865, with the most recent documents available for free online search at www.yakimacounty.us/auditor under the "Recording Search" function. Users can search by grantor/grantee name, document type, legal description, or recording date. Viewing documents online is free; certified copies cost $5 for the first page and $1 for each additional page. Recording fees for new documents are $193 for the first page and $1 for each additional page. The Auditor's office records approximately 40,000 documents annually and is the official repository for all real estate transactions, UCC filings, federal tax liens, and military discharge papers in Yakima County.

Major employers include Yakima Valley Farm Workers Clinic (over 1,500 employees), one of the nation's largest migrant health providers; MultiCare Yakima Memorial Hospital and Virginia Mason Memorial Hospital (combined 2,000+ employees); the Yakima School District (approximately 1,600 employees); and Yakima Valley College (500+ employees). The City of Yakima and Yakima County government collectively employ over 1,500 people. Beyond agriculture, Yakima has diversified into food manufacturing, healthcare, education, and increasingly wine tourism, with over 120 wineries operating in the valley as part of the Yakima Valley American Viticultural Area. Manufacturing remains significant with companies like Kustom Kennels and Pacific Steel & Recycling maintaining operations. The median household income in Yakima is approximately $50,000, below the state average, reflecting the seasonal nature of agricultural employment and a younger demographic profile. Recent economic development has focused on revitalizing downtown Yakima with new restaurants, breweries, and mixed-use developments along Yakima Avenue. The Yakima Air Terminal-McAllister Field supports regional connectivity, and the area benefits from proximity to Interstate 82 and rail connections. Yakima's economy mirrors the broader agricultural character of Yakima County while serving as the county's retail, medical, and governmental hub.

The Yakima Police Department serves the city of Yakima and is located at 200 South 3rd Street, Yakima, WA 98901, phone (509) 575-6200. The department's website at yakimawa.gov/services/police provides information on requesting police reports, crime statistics, and public records. Citizens can request incident reports, accident reports, and arrest records by visiting the Records Division in person or submitting a written public records request. Non-sensitive police reports are typically available within 5-10 business days and may involve copying fees. For incidents occurring outside city limits, the Yakima County Sheriff's Office has jurisdiction. The Yakima County Sheriff's Office is located at 2403 South 18th Street, Union Gap, WA 98903, phone (509) 574-2500, website co.yakima.wa.us/sheriff. The Sheriff's Office patrols unincorporated areas of Yakima County and operates the Yakima County Department of Corrections.

Arrest and jail booking records for Yakima and Yakima County are searchable online through the Yakima County Department of Corrections inmate roster at www.co.yakima.wa.us/corrections. The roster provides current inmate information including booking date, charges, bond amount, and booking photos. The detention facility located at 2403 South 18th Street books approximately 10,000 inmates annually. All law enforcement records in Washington are subject to the Public Records Act, codified in Chapter 42.56 of the Revised Code of Washington (RCW 42.56). Under this statute, most police records are presumed public unless they fall under specific exemptions such as ongoing investigations, juvenile records, or protected victim information. Agencies must respond to public records requests within five business days, either providing the records, providing an installment plan for large requests, or explaining any basis for withholding records. Requesters have the right to appeal denials to superior court.

Applications can be submitted online through VitalChek (additional service fee applies), by mail, or in person at designated local health departments. The Yakima Health District at 1210 Ahtanum Ridge Drive, Union Gap, WA 98903, phone (509) 575-4040, serves as a local agent for vital records and can accept applications for Washington state birth and death certificates, though processing still occurs through the state office with typical turnaround of 2-4 weeks. Only individuals with a direct and tangible interest (parent, adult child, spouse, legal representative) can obtain certified copies; valid photo ID is required. Marriage licenses for Yakima County residents are issued by the Yakima County Auditor's Office, Marriage License Division, at 128 North 2nd Street, Yakima, WA 98901, phone (509) 574-1340. Marriage licenses cost $68.50 and require both parties to appear in person with valid photo identification. There is no waiting period in Washington State, and the license is valid for 60 days. Certified copies of marriage certificates (for marriages performed in Yakima County) cost $5 each and can be requested from the Auditor's Office; records date back to 1907. Divorce decrees are not issued by the Auditor; they must be obtained from the Yakima County Superior Court Clerk at 128 North 2nd Street, phone (509) 574-1500, where the dissolution was filed. Certified copies of divorce decrees cost $5 for the first page and $1 for each additional page. Washington State has maintained centralized vital records since July 1, 1907; earlier records may be available through county offices or historical archives.

Renewal is required annually, and penalties apply for late payment. Certain professions such as contractors also require state-level licensing through the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries. Fictitious business name (DBA) registration is processed through the Washington State Department of Revenue rather than at the county level. However, businesses may need to register their trade name with the Yakima County Auditor's Office depending on business structure. For formal business entity formation, the Washington Secretary of State, Corporations & Charities Division, manages registration for corporations, LLCs, limited partnerships, and nonprofit organizations. The Secretary of State's website at www.sos.wa.gov/corps provides a free searchable database called the Corporations & Charities Filing System where anyone can look up business entity status, registered agent information, principal officers, filing history, and annual report status. The database contains over 800,000 active business entities statewide. UCC (Uniform Commercial Code) lien filings in Washington are also managed by the Secretary of State's UCC Division. Searches can be conducted at ucc.sos.wa.gov to identify secured interests in personal property and business assets. For commercial property ownership and tax assessment in Yakima, the Yakima County Assessor's website at www.yakimacounty.us/assessor allows searches of commercial parcels showing assessed values, ownership, and property characteristics. Business personal property tax (equipment, inventory, furniture) is also assessed by the Assessor's office; businesses must file annual personal property listings by April 30.

Yakima voters are served by the Yakima County Elections Office, located at 128 North 2nd Street, Room 107, Yakima, WA 98901, phone (509) 574-1340, website www.yakimacounty.us/elections. This office administers all federal, state, county, and local elections for residents within Yakima city limits and throughout Yakima County. Washington is an all vote-by-mail state, meaning all registered voters automatically receive ballots by mail approximately 18 days before each election. Yakima residents register to vote online through the Washington Secretary of State at vote.wa.gov, by mail, or in person at the Elections Office. The registration deadline is 8 days before election day for online and mail registration; same-day registration is available in-person through election day. Valid Washington driver's license or state ID number is required for online registration.

Municipal elections for Yakima city government are held in odd-numbered years. The City of Yakima operates under a council-manager form of government with seven city council members elected by district and a separately elected mayor. The next Yakima municipal elections will be held November 4, 2025, when voters will decide the mayor's race and city council positions for districts 2, 4, and 6. In 2019, Yakima transitioned to district-based council elections following federal Voting Rights Act litigation. City council members serve four-year terms. Information on candidates, ballot measures, and campaign finance reports is available through the Washington Public Disclosure Commission at pdc.wa.gov and the City Clerk's office at (509) 575-6060.

Yakima residents find their ballot drop-box locations (Washington does not use traditional polling places for most voters) through the VotersGuide published by the Elections Office and available at vote.wa.gov. Yakima County maintains approximately 18 ballot drop-box locations throughout the county, with multiple locations in the city of Yakima including sites at the Elections Office, libraries, and public buildings. Voters who need in-person assistance can visit the Elections Office Voting Center during business hours and on election day. Public election records in Washington include voter registration lists (available for political purposes with restrictions), campaign contribution and expenditure reports (searchable at pdc.wa.gov), candidate filings, and precinct-level election results. All election results are posted at www.yakimacounty.us/elections after certification.

In the November 2024 presidential election, Yakima County reported approximately 48% voter turnout with about 67,000 ballots cast out of approximately 140,000 registered voters. Yakima County historically leans Republican in presidential elections but shows competitive races in state and local contests. On November 3, 2026, Yakima voters will participate in critical midterm elections deciding Washington's U.S. Senate seat (Senator Patty Murray's seat is up for election), all U.S. House seats including Washington's 4th Congressional District which represents Yakima, Governor (Jay Inslee's successor, as he is not seeking reelection), Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, and other statewide executive offices. Additionally, all 98 State House seats and half of the State Senate seats will be on the ballot including the 14th and 15th Legislative Districts representing Yakima. Yakima County offices up for election in 2026 include County Commissioner (District 2), Prosecuting Attorney, Sheriff, Clerk, Treasurer, Auditor, and Assessor. To request an absentee/mail ballot replacement or to update mailing address, Yakima voters contact the Elections Office at (509) 574-1340 or access their voter record at vote.wa.gov.