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Washington · Central Washington · Kittitas Valley · Northern Exposure Country
Kittitas County, Washington
Ellensburg's rodeo, Roslyn's Northern Exposure, and the Kittitas Valley's high desert — from the Ellensburg Rodeo (one of the top 10 Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association rodeos in America) to Roslyn's coal mining heritage and role as filming location for the CBS drama Northern Exposure, Central Washington University's campus, and a high-desert valley flanked by the Cascades to the west and the Columbia Plateau to the east.
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Office: Kittitas County Sheriff’s Office of Emergency Management – 205 W 5th Ave, Ellensburg, WA 98926-2887 | (509) 962-7525 | Email: [email protected] | Hours: Monday–Friday 8 AM–5 PM
Services: Maintains the County Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan (CEMP), reviewed and approved by the Washington State Department of Emergency Management; free evacuation and disaster preparedness materials available on request
Notes: The county faces wildfire, earthquake, flood, volcanic activity, and ice storm risks given its position spanning the Cascade Mountains, upper Yakima River Valley, and Columbia River. Public Health separately runs its own Emergency Preparedness and Response program covering health-specific incidents (disease outbreaks, contaminated water, hazardous materials).
Roads & Utilities
ROADS & TRANSPORTATION
Roads: I-90 and I-82 intersect near Ellensburg; the county spans from the Cascade foothills to the Columbia River
Transit: Central Transit provides Ellensburg-area bus service
Business & Permits
BUILDING & PERMITS
Office: Kittitas County Community Development Services (CDS) – 205 W 5th Ave, Ellensburg, WA 98926-2887 | (509) 962-7506 | Email: [email protected] | Hours: Monday–Friday 8 AM–5 PM
Services: Handles building, planning, and Fire Marshal permits; all applications now accepted electronically only, with PDF forms and upload available online
Notes: As of a May 2026 update, processing timelines are Foundation-Only permits 2 weeks, Fast Track (simpler projects) 3 weeks, Full Review 3 weeks. Fences over 7 feet tall require a building permit – contact a Permit Technician at (509) 962-7506. Building inspections run 7 AM–4 PM; inspectors will NOT attempt inspections if vehicles cannot safely reach higher-elevation sites due to snow/ice – plan accordingly in winter months. Code Enforcement does NOT handle private disputes, HOA covenant issues, or complaints on structures with active permits/inspections – those require a private attorney or direct resolution. Confirm whether your property falls under county or City of Ellensburg jurisdiction, as the city maintains its own separate Building Division, (509) 962-7239.
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: Confirm current library system structure directly (Ellensburg and Kittitas County libraries were not fully confirmed under one named regional system in available sources)
Notes: The county’s rich local history is separately documented through Central Washington University’s Special Collections and the Washington Rural Heritage digital archive (Ellensburg Heritage collection), covering topics from the Ellensburg Rodeo to pioneer-era Kittitas County history.
Parks & Recreation
PARKS & RECREATION
Key Assets: Kittitas County is genuinely renowned in the national rodeo world – Ellensburg hosts the Ellensburg Rodeo, one of the top and most enduring rodeo events in the American West, with an associated Ellensburg Rodeo Hall of Fame (formed 1997) preserving rodeo artifacts and memorabilia, now displayed in a dedicated museum space near the Clymer Museum and Western Art Association on Pearl Street (opened 2020); Ellensburg is home to Central Washington University, blending genuine Western ranching heritage with college-town culture; the town of Roslyn, within Kittitas County, is genuinely famous as the real-life filming location for the television series “Northern Exposure”; Cle Elum preserves the region’s mining and railroad history through meticulously restored historic buildings; the Yakima River Canyon, running 26 miles southwest of Ellensburg through dramatic basalt walls, offers blue-ribbon trout fishing and Class I-II whitewater; the Whiskey Dick and L.T. Murray Wildlife Areas span the high desert above town; Olmstead Place State Park Heritage Area preserves an original pioneer homestead
Notes: The Ellensburg Rodeo’s national prominence and Roslyn’s status as the actual “Northern Exposure” filming location are both genuinely verifiable, notable cultural facts.
GIS & Maps
GIS & MAPS
GIS Portal: Kittitas County GIS – accessible via co.kittitas.wa.us
Parcel Search: Kittitas County Assessor’s records
Addressing/911: Coordinated through Kittitas County Sheriff’s Office
Animal Services
ANIMAL SERVICES
Facility: Ellensburg Animal Shelter & Adoption Center – 1007 Industrial Way, Ellensburg, WA 98926 | (509) 962-7246 | Hours: Monday 12–5 PM, Tue–Fri 11 AM–5 PM, Sat 12–4:30 PM
Services: Built in 1973, this genuinely is the ONLY animal shelter serving the entirety of Kittitas County (population approximately 39,000-45,000), with capacity for up to 900 dogs and cats annually; adopters must be 18+, and entire families (including resident dogs) may be required to visit before adoption is finalized; 24-hour adoption holds may be placed on any animal
Notes: IMPORTANT, genuinely current operational change – in August 2022, the Yakima Humane Society took over operations of the Ellensburg Animal Shelter under partnership with the City of Ellensburg, while the shelter itself remains city property/branding. The independent, all-volunteer nonprofit Kittitas County Friends of Animals (KCFOA), founded 2000, works alongside the shelter to support pet owners and reduce euthanasia (the shelter historically had one of the highest euthanasia rates in the state before improvements). A separate rescue, ARRF Animal Rescue, serves Upper Kittitas County (Roslyn/Cle Elum area) specifically.
Environmental & Waste
ENVIRONMENTAL / WASTE MANAGEMENT
Environmental Complaints: Washington State Department of Ecology – ecology.wa.gov
Notes: Contact Kittitas County Public Works directly for current refuse collection and recycling program details.
NOTES
Kittitas County holds genuine cultural distinction – Ellensburg’s rodeo is among the most enduring and prominent in the American West, and Roslyn served as the actual filming location for the television series “Northern Exposure.” The county’s sole animal shelter recently (2022) transitioned to Yakima Humane Society operational management under a city partnership – a genuinely current arrangement worth confirming directly. All contact information above was sourced from official county, city, and shelter pages as of this writing; phone numbers and hours should be reconfirmed directly with the relevant office before a visit.
About Kittitas County
Kittitas County is central Washington’s Ellensburg Rodeo and Kittitas Valley agricultural county – one of America’s top-ranked rodeos and Central Washington University’s campus define a county where hay, cattle, and hops farming in the valley and ski and recreation access to Snoqualmie and Blewett passes give the county a diverse economic and recreational identity.
Ellensburg (the county seat, population ~20,000) is Kittitas County’s governmental hub on I-90, a central Washington college and rodeo city whose CWU campus, Kittitas Valley agriculture, and Cascade mountain access anchor its identity.
All Services
Browse every category and topic available for this county.
Kittitas County Assessor at 205 W. 5th Avenue, Ellensburg, WA 98926, phone 509-962-7501. WA assessed at 100% fair market value.
Courts & Legal
Kittitas County Superior Court (Probate) at 205 W. 5th Avenue, Suite 213, Ellensburg, WA 98926, phone 509-962-7531, handles probate.
Marriage & Vital Records
Marriage licenses, divorce records, and birth & death certificates are handled by the following office(s):
COUNTY CLERK
205 West 5th Ave, Ellensburg, WA 98926
(509) 962-7535
Genealogy
County-level record sources
Kittitas County Superior Court Clerk’s Office, Ellensburg (probate/estate case files – see Probate section above).
Central Regional Branch of the Washington State Archives is physically located in Ellensburg, making it directly accessible for this county’s researchers.
Central Washington University’s Brooks Library Special Collections is a notable local resource.
Local societies
No dedicated Kittitas County genealogical society was confirmed in available directories.
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
Kittitas County Superior Court 205 West 5th Avenue, Suite 207, Ellensburg, WA 98926 (509) 962-7533
Kittitas County is in Central Washington in the Kittitas Valley, home to Central Washington University, county seat Ellensburg. 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 Kittitas 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 Kittitas 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
605 North Main St, Ellensburg, WA 98926
(509) 962-7525
Elections & Voting
Voter registration, polling locations, and elections information are handled by the following office(s):
ELECTIONS
205 West 5th Ave, Ellensburg, WA 98926
(509) 962-7503
Health & Human Services
Offices & Contacts
Health services, social services, and assistance programs are handled by the following office(s):
Health Department
Kittitas County Public Health Department, 507 Nanum St, Ellensburg, WA 98926
(509) 962-7515
DSHS Community Services Office
501 East Mountain View Ave, Ellensburg, WA 98926
(509) 962-6000
Public Health Information
PUBLIC HEALTH
Office: Kittitas County Public Health – 205 W 5th Ave, Ellensburg, WA 98926-2887
Services: Immunizations, WIC, environmental health, vital records, emergency preparedness for public health incidents
Notes: Confirm current hours directly.
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Last verified June 2026
County Facts
County Seat: Ellensburg
Population: 47,000
Area: 2,297 mi²
Tier: 3
Public Records
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