1. (1) The office does not charge fees for the inspection of public records.
2. (2) The office may charge fees for providing copies of public records consistent with the fee schedule established in RCW 42.56.120.

3. (3) Pursuant to RCW 42.56.120(2), the office declares for the following reasons that it would be unduly burdensome to calculate the actual costs of providing copies of public records:

   1. (a) Funds were not allocated for performing a study and calculations;
   2. (b) Staff resources are insufficient to perform a study and to calculate such actual costs; and
   3. (c) A study would interfere with and disrupt other essential functions.
4. (4) Before beginning to make the copies, the public records officer or designee may require a deposit of up to 10 percent of the estimated costs of copying all the records selected by the requestor. The public records officer or designee may also require the payment of the remainder of the copying costs before providing all the records, or the payment of the costs of copying an installment before providing that installment. The office will not charge sales tax when it makes copies of public records.

[Statutory Authority: Chapter 42.56 RCW. WSR 26-01-013, s 434-12A-100, filed 12/4/25, effective 1/4/26. Statutory Authority: RCW 43.107.120, chapter 42.56 RCW, and 2017 c 304. WSR 17-22-047, § 434-12A-100, filed 10/25/17, effective 11/25/17. Statutory Authority: RCW 42.56.040. WSR 09-04-026, § 434-12A-100, filed 1/28/09, effective 2/28/09; Order 74-2, § 434-12A-100, filed 2/19/74.]