Wash. Rev. Code » Title 42 · Chapter 42.56
Revised Code of Washington

Wash. Rev. Code § 42.56.040 (2026)

Duty to publish procedures

✓ current as of May 2026
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(1) Each state agency shall separately state and currently publish in the Washington Administrative Code and each local agency shall prominently display and make available for inspection and copying at the central office of such local agency, for guidance of the public:
(a) Descriptions of its central and field organization and the established places at which, the employees from whom, and the methods whereby, the public may obtain information, make submittals or requests, or obtain copies of agency decisions;
(b) Statements of the general course and method by which its operations are channeled and determined, including the nature and requirements of all formal and informal procedures available;
(c) Rules of procedure;
(d) Substantive rules of general applicability adopted as authorized by law, and statements of general policy or interpretations of general applicability formulated and adopted by the agency; and
(e) Each amendment or revision to, or repeal of any of the foregoing.
(2) Except to the extent that he or she has actual and timely notice of the terms thereof, a person may not in any manner be required to resort to, or be adversely affected by, a matter required to be published or displayed and not so published or displayed.
[ 2012 c 117 s 127; 1973 c 1 s 25 (Initiative Measure No. 276, approved November 7, 1972). Formerly RCW 42.17.250.]
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 9 cases, 2008–2019 · leading case: Resident Action Council v. Seattle Hous. Auth., 327 P.3d 600 (Wash. 2013).
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Resident Action Council v. Seattle Hous. Auth., 327 P.3d 600 (Wash. 2013). · cites it 2× “SHA’s total failure to establish reasonable and effective policies and procedures to govern disclosure of public records was in violation of the PRA, see RCW 42.56.040, .070, clearly contributed to SHA’s failure to adequately respond to RAC’s immediate request for public…”
Parmelee v. Clarke, 201 P.3d 1022 (Wash. Ct. App. 2008). · cites it 4× “RCW 42.56.040. ¶13 The Department published chapter 137-08 WAC to ensure its compliance with the Public Records Act.”
DeLong v. Parmelee, 236 P.3d 936 (Wash. Ct. App. 2010). “As a result, the PRA preserves the most central tenets of representative government, namely the sovereignty of the people and the accountability to the people of public officials and institutions.”
Kilduff v. San Juan Cnty. (Wash. 2019). · cites it 7× “040 "delegated authority to agencies like San Juan County to manage the mechanics of disclosure.”
Parmelee v. Clarke, 201 P.3d 1022 (Wash. Ct. App. 2009). · cites it 4× “It is not illegal for an agency to have a policy directive that is not published as part of the WAC so long as there is a published regulation complying with the informational requirements of RCW 42.56.040. In fact, the statute authorizes agencies to "adopt and enforce…”
Resident Action Council v. Seattle Hous. Auth. (Wash. 2013). · cites it 3× “The trial court also acted within its discretion in ordering SHA to publish procedures regarding public records requests; to publish a list of applicable exemptions; and to establish policies governing redaction, explanations of withholding, and electronic records. SHA's total…”
Jeffrey McKee v. Washington State Dept. of Corr. (Wash. Ct. App. 2016). “RCW 42.56.040(1). Failure to follow the agency's rules for obtaining records relieves the agency of the duty to provide the requested record.”
Gipson v. Snohomish Cnty. (Wash. 2019). “030 (2014). The PRA requires agencies to "provide for the fullest assistance to inquirers and the most timely .”
Ameriquest Mortg. Co. v. Off. of Att'y Gen. (Wash. 2013). “RCW 42.56.040(1). If an agency withholds requested public records it must justify its actions.”
— Wash. Rev. Code § 42.56.040(1) — 5 cases
Resident Action Council v. Seattle Hous. Auth., 327 P.3d 600 (Wash. 2013). “SHA’s total failure to establish reasonable and effective policies and procedures to govern disclosure of public records was in violation of the PRA, see RCW 42.56.040, .070, clearly contributed to SHA’s failure to adequately respond to RAC’s immediate request for public…”
Parmelee v. Clarke, 201 P.3d 1022 (Wash. Ct. App. 2009). “It is not illegal for an agency to have a policy directive that is not published as part of the WAC so long as there is a published regulation complying with the informational requirements of RCW 42.56.040. In fact, the statute authorizes agencies to "adopt and enforce…”
Jeffrey McKee v. Washington State Dept. of Corr. (Wash. Ct. App. 2016). “RCW 42.56.040(1). Failure to follow the agency's rules for obtaining records relieves the agency of the duty to provide the requested record.”
Resident Action Council v. Seattle Hous. Auth. (Wash. 2013). “The trial court also acted within its discretion in ordering SHA to publish procedures regarding public records requests; to publish a list of applicable exemptions; and to establish policies governing redaction, explanations of withholding, and electronic records. SHA's total…”
Ameriquest Mortg. Co. v. Off. of Att'y Gen. (Wash. 2013). “RCW 42.56.040(1). If an agency withholds requested public records it must justify its actions.”
— Wash. Rev. Code § 42.56.040(2) — 3 cases
Parmelee v. Clarke, 201 P.3d 1022 (Wash. Ct. App. 2008). “RCW 42.56.040. ¶13 The Department published chapter 137-08 WAC to ensure its compliance with the Public Records Act.”
Parmelee v. Clarke, 201 P.3d 1022 (Wash. Ct. App. 2009). “It is not illegal for an agency to have a policy directive that is not published as part of the WAC so long as there is a published regulation complying with the informational requirements of RCW 42.56.040. In fact, the statute authorizes agencies to "adopt and enforce…”
Resident Action Council v. Seattle Hous. Auth. (Wash. 2013). “The trial court also acted within its discretion in ordering SHA to publish procedures regarding public records requests; to publish a list of applicable exemptions; and to establish policies governing redaction, explanations of withholding, and electronic records. SHA's total…”
— Wash. Rev. Code § 42.56.040(l)(c) — 1 case
Kilduff v. San Juan Cnty. (Wash. 2019). “040 "delegated authority to agencies like San Juan County to manage the mechanics of disclosure.”
— Wash. Rev. Code § 42.56.040(l)(d) — 1 case
Kilduff v. San Juan Cnty. (Wash. 2019). “040 "delegated authority to agencies like San Juan County to manage the mechanics of disclosure.”
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