Public Records FAQs

A: A public record is any record containing information relating to the conduct of government business, which is prepared, owned, used, or retained by an agency. This includes, but is not limited to: electronic media, paper, e-mail, microfilm, audiotapes, videotapes, magnetic tapes, and disks (CDs/DVDs).

A valid public records request is a request for a specific and identifiable public document. A request for general information is not a valid public records request. You do not have to identify the record you want with exact precision. Our staff may assist in clarifying your request.

A: No. Once the LCB receives a public records request, the request itself becomes a public record of the LCB and is subject to release if anyone requests it. In addition, when LCB receives a request for records containing LCB personnel information, our staff will notify the affected LCB personnel. There are also instances when licensees request to be notified if someone requests copies of their records. In both cases, our staff typically notifies the affected parties and sends them a copy of the request, which includes the requestor’s name.

A: Our public records staff will acknowledge your request within five business days and respond in one of four ways:

1. Provide the record(s)
2. Acknowledge the request, and provide a reasonable estimate of the time required to prepare the record(s) you requested
3. Acknowledge the request, and ask for clarification about the records you are asking for
4. Deny the request, and give you the specific legal exemption(s) about why the record(s) requested are being denied

Our staff will provide your records as soon as possible. More time may be needed to process your request for the following reasons:

• To clarify the record(s) you asked for
• To locate and collect the information requested
• To notify third parties (people or businesses) affected by your request
• To determine if any of the information you requested is exempt and that if all, or part, of your request should be denied

A: Public records are available to look at free of charge. You may make an appointment to visit our records office during normal business hours (Monday - Friday, 9 a.m. to noon, and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., excluding state holidays) at:

Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board
Public Records Office
1025 Union Avenue SE
Olympia, WA 98504
(360) 664-1769

A: Costs related to providing records, including costs for electronic records are found in RCW 42.56.120 (2)(b) and (c), (3) and (4).

LCB will charge for copies of records using the fees in RCW 42.56.120 (2)(b) and (c).

Copies of public records follow WAC 314-60-090 and RCW 42.56.120:

Charges may apply as follows:

• $0.15 per page (single-sided) for black-and-white photocopies.
• $0.10 per page for scanned records.
• $0.05 per each four electronic files or attachment uploaded to email, cloud-based data storage service, or other means of electronic delivery.
• $0.10 per gigabyte for records transmitted in electronic format or for use of agency equipment to send records electronically.
• $3 per videotape (VHS).
• $4 for the first audio cassette and $2 each thereafter.
• $1 per DVD.
• $10 per flash drive.
• The cost of postage for items are mailed USPS.

There may be extra charges for rush shipping, special mailings, or oversized materials.

If you would like our staff to notify you about the expected cost of providing your records, before they are processed, please include that with your original request in the description area.

A: When a subpoena, summons, search warrant, or other court order is presented, it may be submitted through the LCB’s GovQA form, or be sent or brought to the Public Records Office in Olympia (address above).  A subpoena for records is different than a general request under the public records laws.

A: Yes. If you get a list of individuals through a public records request, it may not be used for any kind of commercial (financial or business) purpose, including contacting those people for profit-seeking business activities (RCW 42.56.070(9)).

A: Both the Public Records Act (RCW 42.56) and the Liquor and Cannabis Board section of the Washington Administrative Code (WAC 314-60-100) state that certain types of records and information are exempt from public inspection and copying. Where exempt information can be deleted (redacted) from a record, our public records staff will provide the record with the exempt information redacted and our staff will identify the specific state law exemption that applies to the redactions.