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Ethics violation complaints
The King County Code of Ethics (152KB) covers all county officials and employees. It provides guidelines for public employees to prevent conflicts of interest.
Filing an ethics complaint
Before filing a complaint, review the Ethics Complaint Filing Guidelines (56KB). If you believe someone is in violation, please contact the Ombuds Office before filing your complaint. Once you file a complaint, we will give the respondent a copy per County Code (KCC 3.04.055c).
To file a complaint, download and complete the Ethics Complaint Form (180KB). Please provide specific details and any relevant records you may have.
You can send completed complaint forms to us by email, fax, or postal mail. We encourage emails and faxes as physical mail may be delayed.
- Email: ombudsmail@kingcounty.gov
- Fax: 206-296-0948
- Mail: 810 3rd Ave, Suite 705, Seattle, WA 98104
After you file your complaint
We review it to determine if it meets the criteria for an investigation. We may decline to investigate after our review. We can also dismiss unfounded complaints.
Our investigation will determine whether reasonable cause exists that an ethics violation occurred. We'll provide a written report following the investigation. You may appeal our findings to the Board of Ethics.