Fee Schedule
The Washington Public Records Act, Chapt. 42.56 RCW, (PRA) specifically allows agencies to recover the actual cost of making and providing copies of records. This has been the case since Initiative 276, the predecessor to the PRA, was adopted by popular vote in 1972. SPD's fee structure reflects current PRA provisions, which state that an agency may charge the "actual per-page costs" of copying" or "other costs established and published by the agency." RCW 42.56.120. It may charge all costs "directly incident to copying," including "staff salaries, benefits, or other general administrative or overhead charges" that are "directly related to the actual cost of copying..." Id. An agency may charge the "actual postage or delivery charge and the cost of any container or envelope used to mail the public records to the requestor." RCW 42.56.070(7)(a) "Staff time to copy and mail the requested public records may be included in an agency's costs." RCW 42.56.070(7)(b). An agency may charge the cost of copies as each installment is provided. RCW 42.56.120.
SPD does not charge for inspecting public records.
Record Fees
| Record Type | Description | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Digital Records Downloads | Digital Records Downloads (audio, electronic, documents, photo, video) | $0.09/(GB) |
| Digital Records Download Small - Minimal Fee | Digital Records Downloads (audio, electronic, documents, photo, video) | $0.02 when total record is not over 1 GB |
| CD Handoff | CD for files/audio/photos | $1.00 Disc |
| DVD Handoff | DVD for files/audio/photos | $1.00 Disc |
| Paper Handoff | Standard printed paper | $0.15 a page |
| Postage | Cost of postate by USPS | $0.60 an envelope |
| Postage Machine | Actual cost of postage | -- depends on weight |
| Microfiche Copy | Cost of copying microfiche to electronic | $1.25 per microfiche |
| Scanning Cost | Cost of scanning paper to electronic | $0.10 a page |
| Copying Attachments to the Request | Step 1 - copy attachments to the Request. Two minutes for copying minimum. Extraordinary requests are case by case. | $0.41 per minute |
| Release Copies to Customer | Step 2 - release copies of attachments to customer. One minute for increments of 25 attachments. Where over five minutes, cost is case by case basis. | $0.41 per minute |
For large request, SPD may:
- Require a deposit of up to ten percent of the estimated cost before making copies
- Provide copies in installments
- Require advanced payment before providing further installments