Thurston County, Washington

The content on the Thurston County website is currently provided in English. We are providing the “Translation” for approximately 10 languages. The goal of the translation is to provide visitors with limited English proficiency to access information on the website in other languages. The translations do not translate all types of documents, and it may not give you an exact translation all the time. The translations are made through an automated process, which may not result in accurate or precise translations, particularly of technical and legal terminology.
County Contacts
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Thurston County Washington

Elected Offices and Departments

Elected Offices

Assessor

The Thurston County Assessor, Steven J. Drew, is responsible for identifying, locating, and fairly valuing all real or personal property within the county for tax purposes. The "market" value of real property is based on the current real estate market. Finding the "market" value of your property means discovering the price most people would pay for your property in its current condition. Determining a fair and equitable value is the primary role of this office in the taxing process.

Auditor

Auditor’s Office conducts elections, manages voter registration, and provides recording, licensing, and passport services to the public. The Auditor's financial services team also provides internal services to other county offices and departments.

Board of County Commissioners

The Board of County Commissioners is the county's legislative authority. The five commissioners are elected to four-year terms and serve as the chief administrators for several important county operations, including oversight of the county's budget.

Board of Health

Our Mission: “Assure conditions where children and families can develop as healthy productive members of the community, thereby reducing future impact on the criminal justice and other systems."

Coroner's Office

Representatives of the Coroner's Office offer compassionate support to individuals and family members at the scene and/or upon notification of a death and provide complete and comprehensive investigative documentation to ascertain an accurate determination of cause and manner of death, within the jurisdiction of Thurston County.

County Clerk

The position of County Clerk is best characterized as the administrative and financial officer of the Superior Court. The purpose of the office of County Clerk is to ensure the separation of powers among the three branches of government thereby preserving the integrity of the judiciary.

**Thurston County Clerk’s Office has been informed that all Administrative Office of the Courts systems are unavailable. This includes Odyssey, JABS, JIS, JCS and other AOC-hosted information systems. Currently, AOC does not have an estimated time of restoration.

Electronic filing is not available during this outage. New case filings and filing documents in existing cases can be done by USPS mail or in person at the Thurston County Clerk’s Offices located at:

Superior Court Main Campus
2000 Lakeridge Dr SW
Olympia, WA 98502

Family and Juvenile Court
2801 32nd Avenue SW
Tumwater, WA 98512

Please consult our website for further updates.
Your patience and understanding are appreciated.

District Court

District Court serves the community of Thurston County as a court of limited jurisdiction. This court hears misdemeanors, infractions, civil and small claims, protection orders, and name changes. Thurston County District Court also provides support through our Mental Health and Veteran’s Court and Probation services. The vision of District Court is Serving Justice Through Serving People.

Prosecuting Attorney

The Thurston County Prosecuting Attorney's Office prosecutes misdemeanor and felony crimes throughout the county. Our office works diligently to seek justice for crime victims, enforce the rights of children entitled to child support, and serve as legal representative for Thurston County Government.

Sheriff

​The Sheriff's Office is responsible for providing police services in the unincorporated areas of Thurston County and for processing orders of the court throughout the County. The Sheriff manages the County jail and all law enforcement activities.

Superior Court

Administrative Office of the Courts systems are up and running. This includes Odyssey, JABS, JIS, JCS and other AOC-hosted information systems.

We ask that you CONTINUE to provide the Court with hard copy Judge’s copies of any pleadings filed after October 31, 2024.

Hard copies continue to be the primary way that judicial officers will be able to prepare until we can rely on the systems being up to date.

Filing questions should be directed to the Clerk’s Office at tcclerk@co.thurston.wa.us.
Do not contact Court staff regarding filing questions.

Please be patient while we work through the back log and get the systems up to date.
Thank you


Thurston County Superior Court is a state trial court of general jurisdiction. This court hears major criminal matters (felonies), civil cases, appeals from lower courts, appeals from state administrative agencies, juvenile offender matters, adoptions, dependency cases, family law, minor guardianships, protection orders, probates and guardianships.

Treasurer

The County Treasurer holds a key position of public trust in the financial affairs of local government. Acting as the bank for the county, local cities, school districts, fire districts, special purpose districts and other units of local government, the Treasurer's Office receipts, disburses, invests and accounts for the funds of each of these entities. In addition, the Treasurer is charged with the collection of various taxes that benefit a wide range of governmental functions.

Our Mission - Maintain the public's trust by managing their funds with integrity while utilizing best professional practices to provide excellent customer service with a staff that is responsive, knowledgeable, efficient, and courteous.

Departments

Board of Equalization

The Thurston County Board of Equalization is a quasi-judicial board that is separate and independent of the Thurston County Assessor's Office. The BOE impartially adjudicates appeals brought by taxpayers on assessed property valuations and other determinations of the Assessor.

Central Services

Central Services provides a wide range of internal services to county offices and departments including managing Facilities, Fleet (vehicles & equipment), Capital Projects, Records, and County Mail.

Civil Service

The Civil Service Commission administers testing and creates eligibility lists for hiring and promoting of all Sheriff’s Office employees under Chapter 41.14 RCW. The Thurston County Sheriff’s Office conducts background investigations, including criminal, employment, and psychological, etc., for hiring and promoting of all Sheriff’s Office employees.

The Board of County Commissioners appoints county citizens to serve on the Civil Service Commission. Each Civil Service Commissioner serves a six-year term without compensation. During their term, they cannot hold any salaried public office, or engage in county employment, other than the commission duties. The terms of the Commissioners do not run consecutively. Only two Commissioners can be of the same political party.

CPED - The Community Planning & Economic Development Department

CPED is the Community Planning & Economic Development Department. We work with the county's elected officials and volunteer advisory groups to prepare for the county's long-term economic stability, and population growth. The divisions in this department include Development Services (Building & Planning Permits), Community Planning, Fairgrounds & Event Center, and Washington State University's Thurston County Extension.

PLEASE NOTE: For help with planning permits or building permits, please click the Building & Planning Permits link below.
Community Planning
We support the long-range community growth of Thurston County's natural and built environments. We work with community members to prepare for the future and sustain the culture and quality of life we treasure in Thurston County.

PLEASE NOTE: For help with planning permits or building permits, please click the Building & Planning Permits link below.
Permitting Home
We issue building and land-use permits in unincorporated Thurston County. Click the link "Planning Your Project" below to learn more about the process.

ATTENTION Builders, Septic Designers: New permitting processes start January 1. Click "News & Alerts" below for info.
Volunteer Advisory Groups
Volunteer Advisory Groups of Community Planning & Economic Development Department (CPED). These groups advise the Board of County Commissioners on many issues. Click on a link below to find meeting dates, times, locations and meeting materials.

Emergency Management

Emergency Management includes, but is not limited to activities to mitigate, prepare for, respond to and recover from the effects of a disaster.

GeoData Center

Thurston GeoData Center provides mapping and spatial data services, including:
• Online Map Viewers
• Property Look Up Tools
• Ready-to-Print Maps
• Custom Maps
• Data Analysis
• GIS Data Downloads

Open Monday-Friday from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm.

Human Resources

Our Mission

The mission of the Human Resources Department is to build partnerships for our collective success. To accomplish this, the Department develops and administers programs and services that support the success of the County’s mission and contribute to the attainment of Thurston County goals. Services we provide are:

- Benefits Administration
- Classification and Compensation
- Employment Law Compliance
- Labor Relations
- Recruitment
- Risk Management & Safety
- Training & Organizational Development

The Department also supports the Board of Equalization, which hears tax assessment appeals, the LEOFF Disability Board, Civil Service Commission, and the Thurston County Citizen’s Commission on Salaries for Elected Officials.

Medic One

Thurston County Medic One provides pre-hospital emergency medical services to the residents of Thurston County. We also provide training, equipment, supplies, and medical oversight for first responders.

Narcotics Task Force

The Thurston County Narcotics Task Force is a multi-jurisdictional partnership between the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office, Washington State Department of Community Corrections, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Homeland Security Investigations, US Marshal’s Service, and the Thurston County Prosecutor’s Office.

Pretrial Services

The Pretrial Services Department provides screening, supervision, and diversion services for both District and Superior Courts, and operates a Resource Hub to connect justice-impacted individuals with needed community-based services.

Public Defense

Thurston County Public Defense carries out the United States and Washington State Constitutional guarantee that all people accused of crimes who are unable to afford a lawyer will receive effective legal representation. Thurston County Public Defense also represents low-income youth accused of a crime, parents in dependency proceedings, and adults facing civil commitment. Our office has a dedicated team of lawyers and professional staff committed to providing our community the very best public defense.

Public Health and Social Services

The Thurston County Public Health & Social Services Department is located in Olympia, Washington. The Department is governed by the Board of Health and Board of County Commissioners. Our mission: "Working together to achieve the highest level of health and well-being for everyone".
Administration
Learn about the Department, the governing body for public health, recent news articles, volunteer opportunities, and more! Search here to locate our provided services.
Community Health
Builds community health and well-being, with a special focus on children, families and vulnerable individuals. Including topics related to chronic disease prevention, mental health resources, maternal health resources, child health services, substance use prevention, and healthy home and yard techniques.
Disease Control & Prevention
Provides disease surveillance, investigation, follow-up, assessment and evaluation, and provides community education on communicable diseases.
Environmental Health
Environmental Health covers a range of services including Food Safety, Safe Drinking Water, Hazardous and Solid Waste Regulation, Pesticide Management, Septic System Permitting, Time of Transfer, Septic Care and Inspections, and Water Quality and Water Testing.
Social Services
Provided Social Services include the Developmental Disabilities Program, the Office of Housing and Homeless Prevention, Specialized Recreation, and Veterans' Assistance.
Treatment Sales Tax
The Treatment Sales Tax (TST) is a local funding stream for mental health and substance use needs in Thurston County.
Vital Services
Provides public and department with information, financial accountability, and other foundational services and core capabilities necessary for a successful organization and emergency operations.

Public Works

Public Works is responsible for planning, constructing, and maintaining county roads, bridges, parks, trails, and other vital infrastructure. We make a difference every day by working to sustain neighborhoods, protect natural resources and enhance the local economy.
Engineering
We plan and construct projects that meet the needs of our communities and work to keep up with the impact our growing population has on our infrastructure. We also work with developers and property owners to ensure new structures are built to last.
Parks and Trails
We ensure our communities have well-kept parks and trails and protect open spaces for future generations to enjoy.
Road Operations
Paved roads make up the most significant part of Thurston County’s transportation system. Our work is crucial to maintaining the investment we have made in our roads.
Solid Waste
We operate the only solid waste disposal facilities in Thurston County and provide important tools for waste reduction to our communities.
Water Resources
We manage stormwater runoff, mitigate flooding, manage noxious weeds, and provide clean drinking water and sewage treatment for a cleaner, healthier environment.