Island County Offices to Close for Holidays, Appointments Available

Island County announced that most county offices would be closed to the public beginning December 22, 2025 and reopening on January 5, 2026, with in person access allowed only by prior appointment. The closure applies to the majority of county departments serving the public, and officials directed residents to contact offices by phone to arrange any time sensitive transactions during the holiday period.

The advisory affects routine in person services that residents rely on late in the year, including permitting, records requests, and administrative business that typically requires office visits. For matters that cannot wait until reopening, the county advised that residents phone the office or department in question and arrange an appointment. Contact details are available in the employee directory on the county website, listed under Phone Directory.

This temporary change shifts many interactions from walk in visits to phone based appointment scheduling, which may lengthen processing times for applications and requests filed in late December. Residents who need urgent access to county services should plan ahead, call early to secure appointments, and prepare documentation in advance to minimize in office time. Those with ongoing time sensitive cases should verify office hours and availability well before December 22 to avoid delays.

The announcement did not enumerate specific exceptions or list which departments would maintain reduced on site operations, so residents with critical needs should confirm directly with the relevant office. The county provided the employee directory as the primary tool for locating departmental phone numbers and for arranging appointments during the closure period.

As the holiday closure spans two calendar years, residents and local businesses should account for the gap in in person services when scheduling payments, filings, or consultations. Verifying phone numbers, confirming appointment slots, and allowing extra time for county processing will reduce the risk of missed deadlines and disruptions to time sensitive matters.