Title 36, COUNTIES

If the board of appraisers and adjusters do not agree on any subject, value, or settlement, they shall choose a third person from an adjoining county to settle their differences, and the decision thus arrived at shall be final. [ 2009 c 549 s 4002; 1963 c 4 s 36.08.070. Prior: 18…

The expense of the proceedings and election provided for in this chapter shall be paid by the county to which the territory is attached. [ 1963 c 4 s 36.08.080. Prior: 1891 c 144 s 8; RRS s 3979.]

The county auditor of the county to which any territory may be transferred may take transcripts of all records, books, papers, etc., on file in the office of the county auditor of the county from which the territory has been transferred, which may be necessary to perfect the reco…

Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to authorize the annexing of territory of one county to a neighboring county, where the territory proposed to be annexed, or any part thereof, is at a greater distance than ten miles from the courthouse in the county seat of the county t…

Whenever a new county shall be or shall have been organized out of the territory which was included within the limits of any other county or counties, the new county shall be liable for a reasonable proportion of the debts of the county from which it was taken, and entitled to it…

The auditor of the old county shall give the auditor of the new county reasonable notice to meet him or her on a certain day at the county seat of the old county, or at some other convenient place, to settle upon and fix the amount which the new county shall pay. In doing so, the…

In case the two auditors cannot agree, they shall call a third person, not a citizen of either county, or in any other manner interested, whose decision shall be binding. In case they cannot agree upon such third person, they shall each name one and decide by lot which it shall b…

The auditor of the county indebted upon such decision shall give to the auditor of the other county his or her order upon the treasurer for the amount to be paid out of the proper fund, as in other cases, and also make out a transfer of such property as shall be assigned to eithe…

When a county is divided or the boundary is altered, all taxes levied before the division was made or boundaries changed, must be collected by the officers of the county in which the territory was situated before the division or change. And the auditor or auditors of the county o…

Whenever the inhabitants of any county desire to remove the county seat of the county from the place where it is fixed by law or otherwise, they shall present a petition to the board of county commissioners of their county praying such removal, and that an election be held to det…

If the petition is signed by qualified voters of the county equal in number to at least one-third of all the votes cast in the county at the last preceding general election the board must, at the next general election of county officers, submit the question of removal to the elec…

Notice of the election, clearly stating the object, shall be given, and the election must be held and conducted, and the returns made, in all respects in the manner prescribed by law in regard to elections for county officers. [ 1963 c 4 s 36.12.030. Prior: 1890 p 318 s 3; RRS s …

In voting on the question, each voter must vote for or against the place named in the petition. [ 1963 c 4 s 36.12.040. Prior: 1890 p 318 s 4; RRS s 4001.]

When the returns have been received and compared, and the results ascertained by the board, if three-fifths of the legal votes cast by those voting on the proposition are in favor of any particular place the proposition has been adopted. The board of county commissioners must giv…

In the notice provided for in RCW 36.12.050, the place selected to be the county seat of the county must be so declared upon a day not more than ninety days after the election. After the day named the place chosen is the seat of the county; and the several county officers, whose …

Whenever any election has been held for change of county seat, the notice given by the board of county commissioners showing the result thereof must be deposited in the office of the county clerk, and a certified copy thereof transmitted to the secretary of state. [ 1963 c 4 s 36…

When an election has been held and no one place receives three-fifths of all the votes cast, the former county seat shall remain the county seat, and no second election may be held within eight years thereafter. [ 1985 c 145 s 2; 1963 c 4 s 36.12.080. Prior: 1890 p 319 s 8; RRS s…

When the county seat of a county has been removed by a popular vote of the people of the county, it may be again removed, from time to time, in the manner provided by this chapter, but no two elections to effect such removal may be held within eight years. [ 1985 c 145 s 3; 1963 …

The legislative authority of any county may order a county census to be taken of all the inhabitants of the county. The expense of such census enumeration shall be paid from the county current expense fund. [ 1991 c 363 s 44; 1977 ex.s. c 110 s 6; 1963 c 4 s 36.13.020. Prior: (i)…

For the purpose of making a county census, the legislative authority of any county may employ one or more suitable persons. The census shall be conducted in accordance with standard census definitions and procedures as specified by the office of financial management. [ 1979 c 151…

All persons resident in the county, having knowledge of the facts, shall give the information required herein to any duly authorized census enumerator when requested by him or her. [ 2009 c 549 s 4006; 1963 c 4 s 36.13.040. Prior: 1923 c 177 s 4; RRS s 4200-9.]

The board of county commissioners shall determine the population of the county based upon such special county census. Based upon such census, it shall enter an order declaring and fixing the population of the county in accordance with such determination, and from and after the en…

Any person violating any of the provisions of RCW 36.13.020, 36.13.030, 36.13.040, and 36.13.050, or any officer or enumerator making, assisting, or permitting any duplication of names or making, permitting, or assisting in the enumeration of any fictitious names or persons in ta…

Whenever any provision of law refers to the population of a county for purposes of distributing funds or for any other purpose, the population of the respective counties shall be determined by the most recent census, population estimate by the office of financial management, or s…

The election of county and precinct officers shall be held on the Tuesday next following the first Monday in November, 1922; and every four years thereafter on the Tuesday next following the first Monday in November, and all such elective county and precinct officers shall after …

The term of office of all county and precinct officers shall be four years and until their successors are elected and qualified and assume office in accordance with RCW 29A.60.280: PROVIDED, That this section and RCW 36.16.010 shall not apply to county commissioners. [ 2015 c 53 …

Except as provided elsewhere in this section, in every county there shall be elected from among the qualified voters of the county a county assessor, a county auditor, a county clerk, a county coroner, three county commissioners, a county prosecuting attorney, a county sheriff, a…

The office of county auditor may be combined with the office of county clerk in each county with a population of less than five thousand by unanimous resolution of the county legislative authority passed thirty days or more prior to the first day of filing for the primary electio…

Every person elected to county office shall before he or she enters upon the duties of his or her office take and subscribe an oath or affirmation that he or she will faithfully and impartially discharge the duties of his or her office to the best of his or her ability. This oath…

Every county official before he or she enters upon the duties of his or her office shall furnish a bond conditioned that he or she will faithfully perform the duties of his or her office and account for and pay over all money which may come into his or her hands by virtue of his …

Every county officer, before entering upon the duties of his or her office, shall file his or her oath of office in the office of the county auditor and his or her official bond in the office of the county clerk: PROVIDED, That the official bond of the county clerk, after first b…

In all cases where the duties of any county office are greater than can be performed by the person elected to fill it, the officer may employ deputies and other necessary employees with the consent of the board of county commissioners. The board shall fix their compensation and s…

In all cases in which the county treasurer of any county in the state of Washington shall have executed a tax deed or deeds prior to February 21, 1903, either to his or her county or to any private person or persons or corporation whomsoever, said deed or deeds shall not be deeme…

The boards of county commissioners of the several counties of the state shall provide a suitable furnished office for each of the county officers in their respective courthouses and may provide additional offices elsewhere for the officers at the board's discretion. [ 2009 c 105 …

All county and precinct offices shall be kept open for the transaction of business during such days and hours as the board of county commissioners shall by resolution prescribe. [ 1963 c 4 s 36.16.100. Prior: 1955 ex.s. c 9 s 2; prior: 1951 c 100 s 1; 1941 c 113 s 1, part; Rem. S…

(1) The county legislative authority in each county shall, at its next regular or special meeting after being appraised of any vacancy in any county, township, precinct, or road district office of the county, fill the vacancy by the appointment of some person qualified to hold su…

Where a vacancy occurs in any partisan county elective office, other than a member of the county legislative authority, the county legislative authority may appoint an employee that was serving as a deputy or assistant in such office at the time the vacancy occurred as an acting …

All county officers shall complete the business of their offices, to the time of the expiration of their respective terms, and in case any officer, at the close of his or her term, leaves to his or her successor official labor to be performed, which it was his or her duty to perf…

The county legislative authority of a county may cause an action to be filed in the superior court of that county for a declaratory judgment finding that a county elected official has abandoned his or her responsibilities by being absent from the county and failing to perform his…

Any county may contract with an insurance company authorized to do business in this state to provide group false arrest insurance for its law enforcement personnel and pursuant thereto may use such portion of its revenues to pay the premiums therefor as the county may determine. …

The board of county commissioners of each county may purchase liability insurance with such limits as they may deem reasonable for the purpose of protecting their officials and employees against liability for personal or bodily injuries and property damage arising from their acts…

Any board of commissioners, council, or board of directors or other governing board of any county, city, town, school district, port district, public utility district, water-sewer district, irrigation district, or other municipal corporation or political subdivision is authorized…

The legislative authority of a county may purchase liability insurance in an amount it deems reasonable to protect the county, its officers, and employees against liability for the wrongful acts of offenders or injury or damage incurred by offenders in the course of community res…

Public auction sales of property conducted by or for the county must be held at such places as the county legislative authority may direct. A county may conduct a public auction sale by electronic media pursuant to RCW 36.16.145. [ 2015 c 95 s 2. Prior: 1991 c 363 s 50; 1991 c 24…

(1) A county treasurer may conduct a public auction sale by electronic media. (2) In a public auction sale by electronic media, the county treasurer may: (a) Require persons to provide a deposit to participate; (b) Accept bids for as long as the treasurer deems necessary; and (c)…

The county officers of the counties of this state shall receive a salary for the services required of them by law, or by virtue of their office, which salary shall be full compensation for all services of every kind and description rendered by them. However, if the superior court…