County Services available from home

Assessor's Office

All data for looking up information is online:

Excise Affidavit and Deed:

You can file an excise affidavit and deed through a title company at SimpliFile.

We are encouraging first time filers to wait later in the year for Senior/Disabled Exemptions as they are not due until December 31st.

Personal Property can be filed on-line or by mail by April 30th:

Mailing Address:

Lewis County Assessor
351 NW North St
Chehalis, WA, 98532

All other business can be handled by phone: (360) 740-1392

Auditor’s Office

Vehicle Licensing –

Land Records –

Elections –

Clerk's Office

Payments can be made online on the Clerk’s page, by phone at  1-866-923-6534 or by mail.

  • Criminal fine payments
  • Filing fees
  • Ex-parte fees
  • Misc Superior Court costs & pay for copies ordered via email.

Paperwork can be filed by mail, to:
Lewis County Clerk’s Office
345 W. Main St.
Chehalis, WA 98532

Community Development

The Public Services building (housing Environmental Health, Community Development, and Public Works) located at 2025 NE Kresky Ave., Chehalis, continues to be closed to the public and will remain closed through May 4th, or later if extended by the governor or the Board of County Commissioners.

Lewis County Community Development staff may continue to work from home to advance your projects with “mission critical” employees working in the office until end of the proclamation period.

For more information, please visit https://lewiscountywa.gov/departments/community-development/

Coroner's Office

We are here to work with and help families who have lost loved ones. If you have any questions or need assistance from us during this time, please call Central Dispatch at 360-740-1105 and ask to have the on call Deputy Coroner call you.

District Court

Fine Payments:

Fine payments can be made online: https://lewiscountywa.gov/offices/district-court/online-fine-and-infraction-payments/. 

Mitigation, Contested and Deferral requests can be heard by mail:

The forms to request these hearings can be found on our website: https://lewiscountywa.gov/offices/district-court/what-is-filed-in-district-court/infractions/. You may print the form, complete it and mail it to:

District Court,
345 W. Main Street, 3rd Floor,
Chehalis, WA  98532.

Juvenile Court

-All  Truancy, At-Risk Youth, and Child in Need of Services hearings have been postponed until after April 24th. Juvenile Court staff will be sending out new notice and summons for future court dates. Please make sure to contact the juvenile court at 360-740-1178 if your address has changed.

-All criminal hearings for youth who are not in custody have been postponed until after April 24th.  Juvenile Court staff will be sending out new notice and summons for future court dates. Please make sure to contact the juvenile court at 360-740-1178 if your address has changed.

-All juvenile hearings that occur will be held at Superior Court on the 4th floor of the L&J building.

-Visitation in the juvenile detention center is now prohibited. All youth in custody will receive an opportunity daily to contact their parents via phone at no charge.

-The public is encouraged to call ahead (360-740-1178), and most questions or concerns can be addressed over the phone. We will also come out to the parking lot to assist the public as needed.

-All work crews are cancelled.

-All youth with pending cases or who are on probation are expected to continue attending treatment as required, to continue to abide by the terms of their probation or conditions of release, and to maintain regular contact with their PO.

Lewis County Jail

JAIL ONSITE VISITATION IS CANCELLED. You may continue to visit from your offsite device (computer, phone, tablet, etc.) using https://www.homewav.com. We have worked with the vendor to give each inmate free 20 minutes ($6). This could be either video or phone call.

If you wish to put funds on an inmates commissary account, you may go to the release lobby to use the kiosk or visit https://www.jailatm.com

For other ways to communicate with inmates please see our website at https://lewiscountywa.gov/offices/sheriff/corrections-jail/

For property pick up, please report to the jail release lobby. You may also reach us via phone at 360-740-1344.

Noxious Weed Control

Technical services questions regarding identification and management of noxious weeds and plants. can be communicated via phone and email.

Arrangements for borrowing small tools such as ”Weed Wrenches”, can be made communicated via phone and email. Additional details will need to be worked out to pick up, or deliver the tools.

Additional inquiries regarding tax statements, ”Noxious Weed Principal” can be communicated via phone and email.

Staff phone numbers

360 740 1215 - Bill Wamsley

360 740 1218 - Casey Risley

Email: Weeds@lewiscountywa.gov

Prosecutor's Office

The Lewis County Superior Court, Juvenile Court, District Court, Superior Court Clerk's Office, Sheriff's Office and this office met to determine what steps were necessary to comply with recent mandates regarding COVID-19 response and other steps to protect those wishing to access the criminal justice system.

After meeting, it was determined limited staffing would be available in some areas and many hearings will be impacted. The goal is to continue to meet the obligations of each office while doing what is necessary to protect those wishing to access the justice system and those working inside the system.

Attached is the General Order issued by the Superior and District Courts. In addition, other office will have impacted availability to the public.

In a joint statement, all involved said "It is important that each person does his or her part to help contain this virus and prevent further spread of COVID-19. These steps, while inconvenient, are necessary to satisfy the mandate and protect those working inside the system while, at the same time, minimizing the impact on those seeking to access the system."

Click here for full press release and General Order.

Public Health & Social Services

WIC: Staff will call clients who have scheduled appointments. If you don’t have an appointment but are interested in WIC services, please call 360-740-1255. More WIC information at: https://lewiscountywa.gov/departments/public-health/community-health/wic/.

Birth and death certificates can be ordered online and mailed. Go to: https://lewiscountywa.gov/departments/public-health/vital-records-and-other-payment-options/.

Water testing
The Lewis County Public health & Social Services (PHSS) water lab is open for testing. However, with the continued closure of all Lewis County government buildings, we’re using alternate procedures for picking up and dropping off samples. Please call 360-740-1222 for instructions.
https://lewiscountywa.gov/departments/environmental-health/water-laboratory/

Food-handler card training is available online in multiple languages at:
https://www.foodworkercard.wa.gov/.

Code Enforcement, Food, Water, and Septic programs will continue to take questions and complaints over the phone and via email. Information on all programs is available at:
https://lewiscountywa.gov/departments/environmental-health/

Social Services There will continue to be phone access to all staff in Housing, Substance Abuse Prevention, Behavioral Health, and Developmental Disabilities programs via their normal phone numbers. Programs and numbers are listed at:
https://lewiscountywa.gov/departments/public-health/social-services/

Veterans’ Relief Fund: Assistance remains available to qualified veterans. Email Heidi Palmer at heidi.palmer@lewiscountywa.gov to arrange access to benefits. Some benefits will have to be sent via mail. In-person pick-up is not possible during this closure.
https://lewiscountywa.gov/departments/public-health/veterans-services/

Animal Shelter Please make an appointment in advance to drop-off animals by calling 360-740-1290. Animals are not available for adoption at this time.
https://lewiscountywa.gov/departments/public-health/animal-shelter/.

Public Works

Solid Waste

Lewis County Department of Public Works, Solid Waste Utility Division, is implementing the following precautions:

Starting Thursday, March 19, 2020, as a preventive hygiene measure in response to COVID-19, customers can no longer pay in cash or check. The two transfer stations in Lewis County will only accept credit or debit cards. There is no fee for using cards during this period. Click here for full press release.

  • The Hazo Hut at the transfer station in Centralia is temporarily closed.
  • The Administrative Building at the Central Transfer Station in Centralia is temporarily closed.
  • Please stay home, if you are sick.
  • Wait times may be longer at our facilities. We appreciate your patience.

The Lewis County Department of Public Works, Solid Waste Division, operates two transfer stations for garbage disposal and recycling drop-off.

The Central Transfer Station is located at 1411 S. Tower Ave., Centralia, and is open from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday. The East Lewis County Transfer Station is located at 6745 U.S. Highway 12 near

Morton, and is open from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

Anyone with questions may call 360-740-1451 or email swu@lewiscountywa.gov.

Community Development Permit Center

Staff are developing procedures to assist the public through means other than face-to-face contact. Staff will make every effort to continue permit processing (building, planning, septic and water). Please expect some minor delays as we (employees and the public) are all conducting business from a different platform. Please call the Permit Center at 360-740-1146 with inquiries related to electronic submittals, payments or to schedule, in advance, a direct drop off or pick up that may be possible if conducted under public health guidelines.

We also intend to make every attempt to continue on-site inspections for building, septic and water, provided this work can be accomplished under public health guidelines.

Vader Water

All payments must be made by mail or over the phone by credit card. Vader Water: 360-740-1371.

Environmental Health-Code Enforcement

New complaints received will be prioritized by public health risk. Existing cases with low priority may be temporarily suspended and will be re-addressed once the COVID-19 issues have passed.

Public Works

All payments and inquiries must be made by mail or over the phone. Public Works can be reached at 360-740-1123.

Click here for full press release

Sheriff's Office

The Lewis County Sheriff's Office will be closed to the public effective 03/17/20 - Click here for additional details. Law Enforcement operations remain unaffected. Contact with support personnel and associated requests can be directed via e-mail to records@lewiscountywa.gov, or by calling (360) 748-9286.

HUD Foreclosure & Eviction Moratorium

Until further notice we will be postponing or cancelling all Writs of Execution, Orders of Sale, and Foreclosure Evictions, as we are unable to determine which loans are federally backed. Additionally, we will postpone or cancel evictions involving non-payment of rent due.
Click here for full press release

Concealed Pistol License Renewals

Sheriff’s Office to Process Concealed Pistol License Renewals by Mail. Click here for full press release.

Southwest Washington Fair / Fairgrounds

Click here to access our calendar to check the status of events at the Fairgrounds.

Superior Court

Trials

All criminal jury trials scheduled up to June 30, 2020 have been continued. All criminal bench trials will be addressed on an individual basis. All civil trials scheduled up to July 3, 2020 are stricken.

Hearings

Criminal hearings with out-of-custody defendants will be continued until after June 1, 2020 except Motions, agreed orders or other proceedings may be heard under circumstances and restrictions addressed on a case by case basis that, at least, will strictly observe social distancing mandates and other public health measures. All civil hearings scheduled up to April 24, 2020, including family law, child support, and dependency matters are stricken, with some exceptions. Shelter care hearings and Involuntary Treatment Act matters will be held as scheduled. All final dissolution matters scheduled up to April 24, 2020 can be addressed ex parte by contacting the County Clerk (no in-person court appearances). For any hearings that will occur, the court will limit attendance.

See attached Order for further detail/information.

New Domestic Violence Protection Orders can still be initiated by contacting the County Clerk at 360-740-2643.

Contact the court during regular business hours at 360-740-1333.

Click here for the full notification.

Treasurer's Office

Property taxes - Property taxes can be paid by mailing payment by check, money order or cashier check to:

Lewis County Treasurer
PO Box 509
Chehalis, WA 98532

Or by electronic check, credit card or Visa debit card for an additional fee. Please see our website for the fee schedule and to make a payment online.

https://lewiscountywa.gov/offices/treasurer/pay-taxes-online

Personal and Real Property tax payments

We are encouraging the public to make personal and real property tax payments by mail, or by dropping their payments off at the Lewis County Auditors drive up lockbox site located at 242 NW Chehalis Ave. in Chehalis. If the offices are not opened to the public by April

20th, additional Lewis County Auditor drop box sites may become available for receipt of

tax payments through the April 30th tax payment deadline to avoid late payment and

interest charges. PLEASE DO NOT USE CASH TO MAKE TAX PAYMENTS VIA MAIL OR DROP BOX.

If you have business that you believe cannot be conducted via mail, or drop off, please feel free to call our office at 360 740-1115 and we will do our best create a solution to address your needs.

At this time, we do not know when we will be able to open the offices to the public again,

but we will monitor the situation on a daily basis and will re-open the office when we

believe it is safe to do so.

Deed processing - Deeds can be submitted electronically using Simplifile.

For more info: https://lewiscountywa.gov/offices/auditor/document-recording/e-recording-submitters/

WSU Extension

Office Plan for WSU Extension in Lewis County At the request of Washington State University to encourage protection of the general public and office staff from infection of Coronavirus, the WSU Extension office in Lewis County will be closed immediately to the public until May 18.  This does not mean closed for business.  Faculty and staff will continue to meet clientele needs during the office closure.

To protect clientele and office staff, the office closure will continue until confirmed by Public Health that the health emergency is determined to be over.  Additional measures employed during the health crisis include

  1. All face to face meetings will be cancelled until May 18.  Meetings using remote communication options are still allowed and encouraged
  2. Clientele will have the option of contacting the office administrative assistant to schedule a visit with staff or faculty.  Meetings using remote communication is encouraged as a first option.
  3. Faculty will be responsive during business hours to e-mail and phone calls with-in 48 hours of being contacted.
  4. All educational meeting will be postponed until after May 18.  Future meeting dates will be set after the emergency is deemed over by Public Health.
  5. Questions to the WSU Master Gardeners and WSU Master compost Recyclers will be answered during business hours.  Clientele will be encouraged to send digital pictures of their problem. 
  6. Outside the county office, meetings of 10 or fewer people may still be held, ONLY if it is possible to maintain the CDC-recommended protocol:   
    • Encourage people who are sick or at risk to stay home and participate at a distance. 
    • Discourage physical contact and provide social distancing (6 Feet).
    • Encourage hand-washing (30 seconds with soap & water) and provide hand sanitizer (60%+ Alcohol) for participants.   
    • Encourage participants not to touch their faces. 
    • Encourage coughing/sneezing into sleeves or tissues (& throw away). 
    • Sanitize frequently-touched surfaces before and after meetings and daily at a minimum

7. Any questions concerning this plan should be directed to the WSU Extension office director: 360-740-1212