Title 35 — Title 35 CITIES AND TOWNS
49 chapters · 1,261 sections in this title.
RCW 35.21.270 Streets—Records of funds received and used for construction, repair, maintenance.
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The city engineer or the city clerk of each city or town shall maintain records of the receipt and expenditure of all moneys used for construction, repair, or maintenance of streets and arterial highways.To assist in maintaining uniformity in such records, the state auditor, with…
RCW 35.21.275 Street improvements—Provision of supplies or materials.
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Any city or town may assist a street abutter in improving the street serving the abutter's premises by providing asphalt, concrete, or other supplies or materials. The furnishing of supplies or materials or paying to the abutter the cost thereof and the providing of municipal ins…
RCW 35.21.278 Contracts with community service organizations for public improvements—Limitations.
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(1) Without regard to competitive bidding laws for public works, a county, city, town, school district, metropolitan park district, park and recreation district, port district, or park and recreation service area may contract with a chamber of commerce, a service organization, a …
RCW 35.21.280 Tax on admissions—Exceptions.
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(1) Every city and town may levy and fix a tax of not more than one cent on twenty cents or fraction thereof to be paid by the person who pays an admission charge to any place: PROVIDED, No city or town shall impose such tax on persons paying an admission to any activity of any e…
RCW 35.21.286 Limitations on the use of gas—Prohibition.
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A city or town shall not in any way prohibit, penalize, or discourage the use of gas for any form of heating, or for uses related to any appliance or equipment, in any building.[ 2025 c 1 s 9 (Initiative Measure No. 2066, approved November 5, 2024).]Notes:Findings—2025 c 1 (Initi…
RCW 35.21.290 Utility services—Lien for—Emergency declaration.
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(1) Except as provided in RCW 35.21.217(4) and in subsection (2) of this section, cities and towns owning their own waterworks, or electric light or power plants shall have a lien against the premises to which water, electric light, or power services were furnished for four month…
RCW 35.21.300 Utility services—Enforcement of lien—Limitations on termination of service for residential heating.
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(1) The lien for charges for service by a city waterworks, or electric light or power plant may be enforced only by cutting off the service until the delinquent and unpaid charges are paid, except that until June 30, 1991, utility service for residential space heating may be term…
RCW 35.21.302 Utility services—Involuntary termination of service during heat-related alerts prohibited—Reconnection and repayment plan—Report.
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*** CHANGE IN 2026 *** (SEE 2575.SL) ***(1) A city or town, including a code city, that owns or operates an electric or water utility may not effect, due to lack of payment, an involuntary termination of utility service to any residential user, including tenants of metered apartm…
RCW 35.21.305 Utility connection charges—Waiver for low-income persons.
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A city or town, including a code city, that owns or operates an electric or gas utility may waive connection charges for properties purchased by low-income persons from organizations exempt from tax under section 501(c)(3) of the federal internal revenue code as amended prior to …
RCW 35.21.310 Removal of overhanging or obstructing vegetation—Removal, destroying debris.
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Any city or town may by general ordinance require the owner of any property therein to remove or destroy all trees, plants, shrubs or vegetation, or parts thereof, which overhang any sidewalk or street or which are growing thereon in such manner as to obstruct or impair the free …
RCW 35.21.315 Amateur radio antennas—Local regulation to conform with federal law.
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No city or town shall enact or enforce an ordinance or regulation that fails to conform to the limited preemption entitled "Amateur Radio Preemption, 101 FCC 2nd 952 (1985)" issued by the federal communications commission. An ordinance or regulation adopted by a city or town with…
RCW 35.21.320 Warrants—Interest rate—Payment.
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All city and town warrants shall draw interest from and after their presentation to the treasurer, but no compound interest shall be paid on any warrant directly or indirectly. The city or town treasurer shall pay all warrants in the order of their number and date of issue whenev…
RCW 35.21.333 Chief of police or marshal—Eligibility requirements.
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*** CHANGE IN 2026 *** (SEE 5974-S2.SL) ***(1) A person seeking appointment to the office of chief of police or marshal, of a city or town, including a code city, with a population in excess of one thousand, is ineligible unless that person:(a) Is a citizen of the United States o…
RCW 35.21.334 Chief of police or marshal—Background investigation.
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*** CHANGE IN 2026 *** (SEE 5974-S2.SL) ***Before making an appointment in the office of chief of police or marshal, the appointing agency shall complete a thorough background investigation of the candidate. The Washington association of sheriffs and police chiefs shall develop a…
RCW 35.21.335 Chief of police or marshal—Vacancy.
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In the case of a vacancy in the office of chief of police or marshal, all requirements and procedures of RCW 35.21.333 and 35.21.334 shall be followed in filling the vacancy.[ 1987 c 339 s 6.]Notes:Intent—Severability—Effective date—1987 c 339: See notes following RCW 35.21.333.
RCW 35.21.340 Cemeteries and funeral facilities.
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See chapter 68.52 RCW.
RCW 35.21.350 Civil service in police and fire departments.
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See Title 41 RCW.
RCW 35.21.360 Eminent domain by cities and towns.
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See chapter 8.12 RCW.
RCW 35.21.370 Joint county and city hospitals.
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See chapter 36.62 RCW.
RCW 35.21.380 Joint county and city buildings.
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See chapter 36.64 RCW.
RCW 35.21.385 Counties with a population of two hundred ten thousand or more may contract with cities concerning buildings and related improvements.
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See RCW 36.64.070.
RCW 35.21.390 Public employment, civil service and pensions.
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See Title 41 RCW.
RCW 35.21.392 Contractors—Authority of city to verify registration and report violations.
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A city that issues a business license to a person required to be registered under chapter 18.27 RCW may verify that the person is registered under chapter 18.27 RCW and report violations to the department of labor and industries. The department of revenue must conduct the verific…
RCW 35.21.395 Historic preservation—Authorization to acquire property, borrow money, issue bonds, etc.
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Any city or town may acquire title to or any interest in real and personal property for the purpose of historic preservation and may restore, improve, maintain, manage, and lease the property for public or private use and may enter into contracts, borrow money, and issue bonds an…
RCW 35.21.400 City may acquire property for parks, recreational, viewpoint, greenbelt, conservation, historic, scenic, or view purposes.
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See RCW 36.34.340.
RCW 35.21.403 Authority to establish lake and beach management districts.
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Any city or town may establish lake and beach management districts within its boundaries as provided in chapter 36.61 RCW. When a city or town establishes a lake or beach management district pursuant to chapter 36.61 RCW, the term "county legislative authority" shall be deemed to…
RCW 35.21.404 Fish enhancement project—City's or town's liability.
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A city or town is not liable for adverse impacts resulting from a fish enhancement project that meets the criteria of RCW 77.55.181 and has been permitted by the department of fish and wildlife.[ 2014 c 120 s 9; 2003 c 39 s 14; 1998 c 249 s 9.]Notes:Findings—Purpose—Report—Effect…
RCW 35.21.405 Moorage facilities—Regulations authorized—Port charges, delinquency—Abandoned vessels, public sale.
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See RCW 53.08.310 and 53.08.320.
RCW 35.21.407 Abandoned or derelict vessels.
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Any city or town has the authority, subject to the processes and limitation outlined in chapter 79.100 RCW, to store, strip, use, auction, sell, salvage, scrap, or dispose of an abandoned or derelict vessel found on or above publicly or privately owned aquatic lands within the ju…
RCW 35.21.408 Transfer of ownership of a city or town-owned vessel—Review of vessel's physical condition.
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(1) Prior to transferring ownership of a city or town-owned vessel, the city or town shall conduct a thorough review of the physical condition of the vessel, the vessel's operating capability, and any containers and other materials that are not fixed to the vessel.(2) If the city…
RCW 35.21.409 Transfer of ownership of a city or town-owned vessel—Further requirements.
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(1) Following the inspection required under RCW 35.21.408 and prior to transferring ownership of a city or town-owned vessel, a city or town shall obtain the following from the transferee:(a) The purposes for which the transferee intends to use the vessel; and(b) Information demo…
RCW 35.21.410 Nonpolluting power generation by individual—Exemption from regulation—Authorization to contract with utility.
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See chapter 80.58 RCW.
RCW 35.21.412 Hydroelectric resources—Separate legal authority—Creation by irrigation districts and cities, towns, or public utility districts.
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See RCW 87.03.825 through 87.03.840.
RCW 35.21.415 Electrical utilities—Civil immunity of officials and employees for good faith mistakes and errors of judgment.
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Officials and employees of cities and towns shall be immune from civil liability for mistakes and errors of judgment in the good faith performance of acts within the scope of their official duties involving the exercise of judgment and discretion which relate solely to their resp…
RCW 35.21.417 Hydroelectric reservoir extending across international boundary—Agreement with Province of British Columbia.
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To carry out a treaty between the United States of America and Canada, a city that maintains hydroelectric facilities with a reservoir which extends across the international boundary, may enter into an agreement with the Province of British Columbia for enhancing recreational opp…
RCW 35.21.418 Hydroelectric reservoir extending across international boundary—Commission—Powers.
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A commission, established by an agreement between a Washington municipality and the Province of British Columbia to carry out a treaty between the United States of America and Canada as authorized in RCW 35.21.417, shall be public and shall have all powers and capacity necessary …
RCW 35.21.420 Utilities—City may support county in which generating plant located—Cities with a population greater than five hundred thousand responsible for impact payments and arrearages—Arbitration.
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(1) Any city owning and operating a public utility and having facilities for the generation of electricity located in a county other than that in which the city is located, may provide for the public peace, health, safety and welfare of such county as concerns the facilities and …
RCW 35.21.422 Utilities—Cities in a county with a population of two hundred ten thousand or more west of Cascades may support cities, towns, counties and taxing districts in which facilities located.
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Any city, located within a county with a population of two hundred ten thousand or more west of the Cascades, owning and operating a public utility and having facilities for the distribution of electricity located outside its city limits, may provide for the support of cities, to…
RCW 35.21.425 City constructing generating facility in other county—Reimbursement of county or school district—Reimbursement by cities with a population greater than five hundred thousand.
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(1) Except as provided in subsection (2) of this section, whenever after March 17, 1955, any city shall construct hydroelectric generating facilities or acquire land for the purpose of constructing the same in a county other than the county in which such city is located, and by r…
RCW 35.21.426 City constructing generating facility in other county—Notice of loss—Negotiations—Arbitration.
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Whenever a county or school district affected by the project sustains such financial loss or is affected by an increased financial burden as above set forth or it appears that such a financial loss or burden will occur beginning not later than within the next three months, such c…
RCW 35.21.427 City constructing generating facility in other county—Additional findings—Renegotiation.
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The findings provided for in RCW 35.21.426 may also provide for varying payments based on formulas to be stated in the findings, and for varying payments for different stated periods. The findings shall also state a future time at which the agreement shall be renegotiated or, in …
RCW 35.21.430 Utilities—City may pay taxing districts involved after acquisition of private power facilities.
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On and after January 1, 1951, whenever a city or town shall acquire electric generation, transmission and/or distribution properties which at the time of acquisition were in private ownership, the legislative body thereof may each year order payments made to all taxing districts …
RCW 35.21.440 Utilities—Additional payments to school districts having bonded indebtedness.
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In the event any portion of such property shall be situated in any school district which, at the time of acquisition, has an outstanding bonded indebtedness, the city or town may in addition to the payments authorized in RCW 35.21.430, make annual payments to such school district…
RCW 35.21.450 Utilities—Payment of taxes.
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Annual payments shall be ordered by an ordinance or ordinances of the legislative body. The ordinance shall further order a designated officer to notify in writing the county assessor of each county in which any portion of such property is located, of the city's intention to make…
RCW 35.21.455 Locally regulated utilities—Attachments to poles.
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(1) As used in this section:(a) "Attachment" means the affixation or installation of any wire, cable or other physical material capable of carrying electronic impulses or light waves for the carrying of intelligence for telecommunications or television, including, but not limited…
RCW 35.21.465 Crop purchase contracts for dedicated energy crops.
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In addition to any other authority provided by law, public development authorities are authorized to enter into crop purchase contracts for a dedicated energy crop for the purposes of producing, selling, and distributing biodiesel produced from Washington state feedstocks, cellul…
RCW 35.21.470 Building construction projects—City or town prohibited from requiring state agencies or local governments to provide bond or other security as a condition for issuance of permit.
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A city or town may not require any state agency or unit of local government to secure the performance of a permit requirement with a surety bond or other financial security device, including cash or assigned account, as a condition of issuing a permit to that unit of local govern…
RCW 35.21.475 Statement of restrictions applicable to real property.
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(1) A property owner may make a written request for a statement of restrictions applicable to a single parcel, tract, lot, or block of real property to the city or town in which the real property is located.(2) Within thirty days of the receipt of the request, the city or town sh…
RCW 35.21.500 Compilation, codification, revision of city or town ordinances—Scope of codification.
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"Codification" means the editing, rearrangement and/or grouping of ordinances under appropriate titles, parts, chapters and sections and includes but is not limited to the following:(1) Editing ordinances to the extent deemed necessary or desirable, for the purpose of modernizing…
RCW 35.21.510 Compilation, codification, revision of city or town ordinances—Authorized.
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Any city or town may prepare or cause to be prepared a codification of its ordinances.[ 1965 c 7 s 35.21.510. Prior: 1957 c 97 s 2.]