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Office: Clark Regional Emergency Services Agency (CRESA)
Notes: Coordinates disaster preparedness and emergency management across Clark County.
Roads & Utilities
ROADS & TRANSPORTATION
Roads: I-5 and I-205 are primary corridors; the county spans from Woodland to Washougal along the Columbia River
Transit: C-TRAN provides bus service throughout Clark County
Business & Permits
BUILDING & PERMITS
Office: Clark County Permit Center (Community Development) – Public Service Center, 1300 Franklin St., 3rd Floor, Vancouver, WA 98660 | (564) 397-4078 | Email: [email protected] | Hours: Monday–Friday 8 AM–2 PM, by appointment only
Services: Reviews and inspects construction projects requiring building permits in unincorporated Clark County and the Town of Yacolt, ranging from residential remodels to large commercial/multi-story buildings
Notes: All in-person Permit Center services require a scheduled appointment – email [email protected] to book. For properties within Vancouver city limits, permits go through the City of Vancouver’s separate ePlans system instead of the county – confirm your property’s jurisdiction (City of Vancouver vs. unincorporated county) before applying, as this significantly changes where you submit. The City of Vancouver adopted a new “Our Vancouver 2026-2045” Comprehensive Plan and updated zoning code effective July 31, 2026 – a genuinely current change worth confirming if your project falls within city limits. Building Safety contact: (564) 397-4912, [email protected].
Veterans Services
VETERANS SERVICES
State VSO: Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs – dva.wa.gov (statewide office locator for the nearest County Veterans Service Officer)
Notes: Confirm current local point of contact directly with dva.wa.gov.
Libraries
LIBRARIES
System: Fort Vancouver Regional Libraries (FVRL) – established 1950 as the first inter-county rural library district in Washington, headquartered in Vancouver; 15 branches plus 2 bookmobiles serving 4,200 square miles across Clark, Klickitat, and Skamania counties plus portions of Cowlitz County; roughly 705,000 items in the collection, 5.4 million annual circulation, 147,779 registered patrons
Notes: The FVRL name traces back to Hudson’s Bay Company times in 1833. The historic 1963 FVRL library building on Mill Plain Boulevard, located within the Hudson’s Bay Fort Vancouver historic boundaries, was added to the Clark County Heritage Register in 2019 for its architectural and historical significance. The Clark County Historical Museum, housed in a 1909 Carnegie library building (National Register of Historic Places), separately hosts the Brautigan Library – genuinely reported by the Seattle Times as possibly the world’s only library dedicated to unpublished manuscripts, honoring Northwest literary figure Richard Brautigan.
Parks & Recreation
PARKS & RECREATION
Key Assets: Clark County is home to Fort Vancouver, a former Hudson’s Bay Company fur-trading post that later served as a U.S. Army military post and airfield – today preserved as part of the Vancouver National Historic Reserve, a 366-acre federally designated National Park Service historic site; the Covington House, built 1848 by Richard and Charlotte “Anna” Covington (hired by the Hudson’s Bay Company to teach children at Fort Vancouver), is the oldest residential structure in Clark County, listed on the National Register of Historic Places; the historic Grist Mill (established 1876) in Woodland, a water-powered grain-grinding mill, remains open most weekends with special events; the Clark County Historical Museum, in a 1909 Carnegie library building operated by the Clark County Historical Society (est. 1917), documents regional history
Notes: This is genuinely foundational Pacific Northwest fur-trade and westward-expansion history – Fort Vancouver was the Hudson’s Bay Company’s Pacific headquarters, directly connected to the broader Lewis and Clark-era exploration and settlement of the region.
GIS & Maps
GIS & MAPS
GIS Portal: Clark County GIS – accessible via clark.wa.gov
Parcel Search: Clark County Assessor’s records
Addressing/911: Coordinated through CRESA
Animal Services
ANIMAL SERVICES
Facility: Clark County Animal Protection and Control – (564) 397-2488 | Email: [email protected] | Licensing: (564) 397-2489
Services: Covers domestic animal concerns for the City of Vancouver, the unincorporated county area, and the Town of La Center – a territory of over 600 square miles from Woodland to Washougal; pet licensing available via an online portal
Notes: IMPORTANT distinction – for URGENT domestic animal situations in Vancouver or unincorporated county areas, call (564) 397-2488; for WILD animal situations in unincorporated county areas, contact WA Dept. of Fish and Wildlife directly at (360) 696-6211 instead. Residents of smaller incorporated cities should contact their own local police department for animal issues. The independent nonprofit Humane Society for Southwest Washington operates locations in both Vancouver and Longview, providing veterinary care, adoption, and foster programs, plus a thrift store supporting shelter operations.
Environmental & Waste
ENVIRONMENTAL / WASTE MANAGEMENT
Environmental Complaints: Washington State Department of Ecology – ecology.wa.gov
Notes: Contact Clark County Public Works directly for current refuse collection and recycling program details.
NOTES
Clark County holds genuine foundational significance in Pacific Northwest history – Fort Vancouver served as the Hudson’s Bay Company’s regional headquarters and is now preserved within a 366-acre National Park Service historic reserve, with library roots in the county tracing directly back to 1833. The county’s animal services divide clearly by species (domestic vs. wildlife) and jurisdiction (city vs. unincorporated county vs. small cities) – worth confirming which applies before directing a resident to the right number. All contact information above was sourced from official county, library, and National Park Service pages as of this writing; phone numbers and hours should be reconfirmed directly with the relevant office before a visit.
About Clark County County
Clark County is Washington’s fourth most populous county and the 139th most populous in the United States, covering 656 square miles of southwestern Washington along the Columbia River. Its position directly north of Portland, Oregon, has made it one of the fastest-growing counties in the Pacific Northwest – Washington’s lack of a state income tax draws Oregon workers who prefer to live across the river while keeping their Portland employment.
Vancouver (population ~190,000, the county seat) is Washington’s fourth largest city and the most significant city in the Portland-Vancouver metro’s Washington side. Fort Vancouver National Historic Site – the former Hudson’s Bay Company headquarters that served as the Pacific Northwest’s commercial and administrative center before American settlement – anchors the city’s waterfront. The Columbia River Waterfront has undergone significant development since the early 2000s, with the Vancouver Waterfront Park and adjacent commercial development transforming the former industrial shoreline. Washington State University Vancouver and Clark College provide educational anchors.
Camas (population ~27,000) sits at the Columbia River Gorge’s western end – a historic paper mill town (the Georgia-Pacific paper mill’s smokestacks defined the skyline for over a century) that has transformed into one of the most desirable residential communities in the county, with excellent schools, the Lacamas Lake recreational area, and proximity to the Gorge.
Washougal (population ~17,000) is Camas’s eastern neighbor along the Columbia River – a smaller community with direct Gorge access and growing residential appeal.
Battle Ground (population ~22,000) anchors the county’s rapidly expanding northern rural-to-suburban frontier – one of the fastest-growing cities in Washington, attracting families seeking more land and lower costs than Vancouver.
Ridgefield (population ~11,000) is the county’s newest growth community, anchored by the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge and the Ridgefield high school that serves a rapidly expanding residential area.
The Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area frames Clark County’s eastern boundary – the dramatic basalt canyon of the Columbia River, shared with Oregon, is one of the Pacific Northwest’s most extraordinary natural features and a major recreational corridor.
All Services
Browse every category and topic available for this county.
Washington assesses property at 100% of true and fair value. The Clark County Assessor conducts annual assessments and mails Change in Value Notices when assessed values change. Property taxes are paid in two installments – April 30 and October 31.
The appeal process: File with the Clark County Board of Equalization at 1300 Franklin Street, Vancouver, WA 98666, phone 360-397-2337. The appeal deadline is July 1 of the assessment year (or within 30 days of the assessment notice if later). If dissatisfied, appeal to the Washington State Board of Tax Appeals.
WA estate tax: Washington imposes an estate tax on estates above $2.193 million (2025, indexed for inflation) at rates from 10% to 20% – the highest marginal state estate tax rate in the United States. Washington has no inheritance tax. Clark County’s strong appreciation and its role as a destination for wealthy Oregon retirees (seeking WA’s no-income-tax environment) make estate planning particularly important. The $2.193M threshold captures many homeowners in appreciating markets.
OWNWELL CTA: Clark County Board of Equalization: July 1 deadline. Vancouver and Camas appreciation driven by Oregon income tax migration. WA estate tax above $2.193M at up to 20% – highest rate in the US. Ownwell manages the appeal with no upfront cost.
Courts & Legal
Courts & Legal
Superior Court (Probate): Washington probate is handled by the Superior Court. The Clark County Superior Court at 1200 Franklin Street, Vancouver, WA 98660, phone 360-397-2267, handles probate, estate administration, guardianships, and major civil and criminal matters.
District Court: The Clark County District Court handles civil claims under $100,000 and misdemeanors.
Auditor: The Clark County Auditor at 1300 Franklin Street, Vancouver, phone 360-397-2292, maintains real property records (deeds, deeds of trust, liens) and election rolls. Washington land records are searchable online through the county’s portal.
Senior Services
The Clark County Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) at 6000 E. 18th Street, Vancouver, WA 98661, phone 360-694-8144, serves the county’s senior population with in-home services, caregiver support, nutrition programs, transportation, and benefits counseling. PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center and Legacy Salmon Creek Medical Center provide significant geriatric care.
Marriage & Vital Records
Marriage licenses, divorce records, and birth & death certificates are handled by the following office(s):
COUNTY CLERK
1200 Franklin St, Vancouver, WA 98660
(564) 397-2059
Genealogy
County-level record sources
Clark County Superior Court Clerk’s Office, Vancouver (probate/estate case files – see Probate section above).
Southwest Regional Branch of the Washington State Archives, at Washington State University Vancouver, serves counties in this region.
Local societies
Clark County Genealogical Society, a local genealogical organization serving the Vancouver, WA area.
Probate & Estate
Losing someone and having to deal with courts and paperwork at the same time is hard. This section won’t make that easier, but it should tell you what to expect, what it costs, and where to go – so at least you’re not walking in blind.
Where to go
Clark County Superior Court 1200 Franklin Street, Vancouver, WA 98660 (360) 397-2150
Clark County is in Southwest Washington across the Columbia River from Portland, Oregon, one of Washington’s fastest-growing counties, county seat Vancouver. Washington has NO separate probate court and has NOT adopted the Uniform Probate Code – probate is handled through the Superior Court in each county, under Title 11 RCW.
Step 1: figure out which path applies
Washington probate is entirely discretionary – the law does not require a probate proceeding to be filed after a death, regardless of whether there was a will. Probate is typically pursued only when the decedent owned real property titled solely in their name, or personal property exceeding the small estate threshold.
Small Estate Affidavit (RCW 11.62.010) – available when the decedent’s entire probate estate does not exceed $100,000 (personal property only, not counting the surviving spouse’s community property interest), and at least 40 days have passed since death. No court filing is required – the successor presents the sworn affidavit directly to whoever holds the asset. All debts must be paid or provided for first.
Nonintervention Powers (RCW 11.68) – Washington’s signature alternative to full court-supervised probate. If the estate is solvent, the Superior Court MUST grant the personal representative nonintervention powers upon request (unless the will specifically forbids it). Once granted, the representative can sell, mortgage, and distribute estate property, and ultimately close the estate by filing a Declaration of Completion – all without further court orders, notice to beneficiaries, or hearings.
Full/Supervised Administration – required only when nonintervention powers are denied or not sought, typically in contested or insolvent estates.
TEDRA (Trust and Estate Dispute Resolution Act, RCW 11.96A) – Washington’s framework for resolving probate, trust, and estate disputes.
Step 2: filing for administration
The person seeking to serve as personal representative files a petition with the Clark County Superior Court Clerk’s Office, along with the original will (if any) and a certified death certificate.
The court appoints the personal representative and issues Letters Testamentary (with a will) or Letters of Administration (without one).
The personal representative petitions for nonintervention powers, which the court must grant if the estate is solvent (unless the will forbids it).
Once granted, the representative pays debts, manages and distributes property, and notifies creditors, without further court supervision.
The estate is closed by filing a Declaration of Completion.
What it costs
Filing fees and probate costs vary by estate complexity; confirm current Clark County Superior Court fees directly.
Washington HAS a state estate tax, separate from any small estate affidavit or nonintervention process. For deaths on or after July 1, 2026, the applicable exclusion amount is $3,000,000 (RCW 83.100.020), with rates from 10% to 20%. There is NO portability between spouses.
The federal estate tax exemption is far higher, at $15,000,000 for a 2026 death.
Probate filings, estate administration, and guardianship matters are handled by the following office(s):
Public Safety & Arrests
Arrest records, inmate search, and law enforcement services are handled by the following office(s):
SHERIFF
707 West 13th St, Vancouver, WA 98660
(564) 397-2211
Elections & Voting
Voter registration, polling locations, and elections information are handled by the following office(s):
ELECTIONS
1408 Franklin St, Vancouver, WA 98660
(564) 397-2345
Health & Human Services
Offices & Contacts
Health services, social services, and assistance programs are handled by the following office(s):
Health Department
Clark County Public Health, 1601 East 4th Plain Blvd, Vancouver, WA 98661
(564) 397-8000
DSHS Community Services Office
5411 East Mill Plain Blvd, Vancouver, WA 98661
(360) 735-3300
Public Health Information
PUBLIC HEALTH
Office: Clark County Public Health
Services: Immunizations, WIC, environmental health, vital records
Notes: Confirm current hours and services directly.
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County Facts
County Seat: Vancouver
Population: 500,000
Inmate Services
Care Packages
Send care packages to inmates in Clark County County facilities via Amazon.
