Title 35 — Title 35 CITIES AND TOWNS

See chapter 57.90 RCW.

See RCW 53.08.310 and 53.08.320.

(1) As provided in this section, a metropolitan park district may withdraw areas from its boundaries, or reannex areas into the metropolitan park district that previously had been withdrawn from the metropolitan park district under this section.(2) The withdrawal of an area shall…

(1) As provided in this section, a city, town, or county may withdraw that portion of the city, town, or county from a metropolitan park district that was formed under this chapter when:(a) The governing body of a district, which is part of the district, adopts a resolution and f…

A metropolitan park district which contains a city with a population greater than one hundred thousand may commission its own police officers with full police powers to enforce the laws and regulations of the city or county on metropolitan park district property. Police officers …

The antidiscrimination provisions of RCW 49.60.500 apply to community athletics programs and facilities operated, conducted, or administered by a metropolitan park district.[ 2009 c 467 s 5.]Notes:Findings—Declarations—2009 c 467: See note following RCW 49.60.500.

Any city or town may change its name in accordance with the procedure provided in this chapter.[ 1965 c 7 s 35.62.010. Prior: 1925 ex.s. c 146 s 1; RRS s 8891-1.]

The question of whether the name of a city or town shall be changed shall be presented to the voters of the city or town upon either: (1) The adoption of a resolution by the city or town council proposing a specific name change; or (2) the submission of a petition proposing a spe…

Where only one new name has been proposed by petition or resolution such question shall be in substantially the following form:"Shall the name of the city (or town) of (insert name) be changed to the city (or town) of (insert the proposed new name) ?Yes . . .No . . ."If a majorit…

Where more than one name is proposed by either petition or resolution, the question shall be separated into two separate parts and shall be in substantially the following form:"Shall the name of the city (or town) of (insert name) be changed?Yes . . .No . . .""If a name change is…

Whenever any city or town has changed its name, the clerk shall certify the new name to the secretary of state prior to the date when the change takes effect.[ 1965 c 7 s 35.62.060. Prior: 1925 ex.s. c 146 s 6; RRS s 8891-6.]

As used in this chapter the following terms shall have the meaning herein given them:"Appointive members" means all members of a commission other than ex officio members;"Board" means the board of county commissioners;"City" includes every incorporated city and town;"Commission" …

As used in this chapter, "solar energy system" means any device or combination of devices or elements which rely upon direct sunlight as an energy source, including but not limited to any substance or device which collects sunlight for use in:(1) The heating or cooling of a struc…

If any council or board desires to avail itself of the powers conferred by this chapter it shall create a city or county planning commission consisting of from three to twelve members to be appointed by the mayor or chair of the municipality and confirmed by the council or board:…

The ordinance, resolution, or act creating the commission shall set forth the number of members to be appointed, not more than one-third of which number may be ex officio members by virtue of office held in any municipality. The term of office for ex officio members shall corresp…

The commission shall elect its own chair and create and fill such other offices as it may determine it requires. The commission shall hold at least one regular meeting in each month for not less than nine months in each year. It shall adopt rules for transaction of business and s…

The expenditures of any commission or regional commission authorized and established under this chapter, exclusive of gifts, shall be within the amounts appropriated for the purpose by the council or board. Within such limits, any commission may employ such employees and expert c…

The commission may act as the research and fact-finding agency of the municipality. To that end it may make such surveys, analyses, researches and reports as are generally authorized or requested by its council or board, or by the state with the approval of its council or board. …

Any notice made under chapter 35.63 RCW that identifies affected property may identify this affected property without using a legal description of the property including, but not limited to, identification by an address, written description, vicinity sketch, or other reasonable m…

The commissions of two or more adjoining counties, of two or more adjacent cities and towns, of one or more cities and towns and/or one or more counties, together with the boards of such counties and the councils of such cities and towns may cooperate to form, organize and admini…

(1) The council or board may provide for the preparation by its commission and the adoption and enforcement of coordinated plans for the physical development of the municipality. For this purpose the council or board, in such measure as is deemed reasonably necessary or requisite…

All regulations shall be worked out as parts of a comprehensive plan which each commission shall prepare for the physical and other generally advantageous development of the municipality and shall be designed, among other things, to encourage the most appropriate use of land thro…

The commission may recommend to its council or board the plan prepared by it as a whole, or may recommend parts of the plan by successive recommendations; the parts corresponding with geographic or political sections, division or subdivisions of the municipality, or with function…

All amendments to a comprehensive plan shall be adopted, certified, and recorded or filed in the same manner as authorized in RCW 35.63.100 for an initial comprehensive plan.[ 1967 ex.s. c 144 s 9.]Notes:Severability—1967 ex.s. c 144: See note following RCW 36.900.030.Validation—…

For any or all of such purposes the council or board, on recommendation of its commission, may divide the municipality or any portion thereof into districts of such size, shape and area, or may establish such official maps, or development plans for the whole or any portion of the…

Any ordinance or resolution adopting any such plan or regulations, or any part thereof, may be amended, supplemented or modified by subsequent ordinance or resolution.Proposed amendments, supplementations, or modifications shall first be heard by the commission and the decision s…

Beginning July 1, 1992, the development regulations of each city and county that does not plan under RCW 36.70A.040 shall not be inconsistent with the city's or county's comprehensive plan. For the purposes of this section, "development regulations" has the same meaning as set fo…

(1) By July 1, 2010, the development regulations of any jurisdiction:(a) Adjacent to Interstate 5, Interstate 90, Interstate 405, or state route number 520, with a population over twenty thousand, and located in a county with a population over one million five hundred thousand; o…

(1) By July 1, 2010, the development regulations of any jurisdiction with a population over six hundred thousand or with a state capitol within its borders planning under this chapter must allow electric vehicle infrastructure as a use in all areas within one mile of Interstate 5…

(1) As an alternative to those provisions of this chapter relating to powers or duties of the planning commission to hear and report on any proposal to amend a zoning ordinance, the legislative body of a city or county may adopt a hearing examiner system under which a hearing exa…

Each municipality that does not provide for the siting of residential care facilities in zones or areas that are designated for single-family or other residential uses, shall conduct a review of the need and demand for the facilities, including the cost of any conditional or spec…

With respect to the National Scenic Area, as defined in the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area Act, P.L. 99-663, the exercise of any power or authority by a county or city pursuant to this chapter shall be subject to and in conformity with the requirements of chapter 43.97…

(1) A "designated manufactured home" is a manufactured home constructed after June 15, 1976, in accordance with state and federal requirements for manufactured homes, which:(a) Is comprised of at least two fully enclosed parallel sections each of not less than twelve feet wide by…

(1) After June 10, 2004, a city may designate a new manufactured housing community as a nonconforming use, but may not order the removal or phased elimination of an existing manufactured housing community because of its status as a nonconforming use.(2) A city may not prohibit th…

Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the definitions in this section apply throughout RCW 35.22.660, 35.63.180, 35A.63.210, 36.32.520, and 36.70.675:(1) "Family day care home" means a person regularly providing care during part of the twenty-four-hour day to six or fewe…

Each municipality that does not provide for the siting of family day care homes in zones or areas that are designated for single-family or other residential uses, and for the siting of mini-day care centers and day care centers in zones or areas that are designated for any reside…

(1) Except as provided in subsections (2) and (3) of this section, no city may enact, enforce, or maintain an ordinance, development regulation, zoning regulation, or official control, policy, or administrative practice that prohibits the use of a residential dwelling, located in…

A council or board that adopts a moratorium or interim zoning control, without holding a public hearing on the proposed moratorium or interim zoning control, shall hold a public hearing on the adopted moratorium or interim zoning control within at least sixty days of its adoption…

No city may enact or maintain an ordinance, development regulation, zoning regulation or official control, policy, or administrative practice which treats a residential structure occupied by persons with handicaps differently than a similar residential structure occupied by a fam…

A permit required under this chapter for a watershed restoration project as defined in RCW 89.08.460 shall be processed in compliance with RCW 89.08.450 through 89.08.510. A fish habitat enhancement project meeting the criteria of RCW 77.55.181 shall be reviewed and approved acco…

By July 31, 1997, a city planning under RCW 36.70A.040 shall provide to the county assessor a copy of the city's comprehensive plan and development regulations in effect on July 1st of that year and shall thereafter provide any amendments to the plan and regulations that were ado…

Adoption and amendment of comprehensive plan provisions and development regulations under this chapter affecting a general aviation airport are subject to RCW 36.70.547.[ 1996 c 239 s 3.]

(1) Prior to filing an appeal of a final decision by a hearing examiner involving a conditional or special use permit application requested by a party that is licensed or certified by the department of social and health services or the department of corrections, the aggrieved par…

(1) Upon receipt of an application for a permit to site an energy plant or alternative energy resource that is connected to electrical transmission facilities of a nominal voltage of at least one hundred fifteen thousand volts, the city or town shall notify in writing the United …

*** CHANGE IN 2026 *** (SEE 1859-S2.SL) ***(1) A city planning under this chapter must allow an increased density bonus consistent with local needs for any affordable housing development of any single-family or multifamily residence located on real property owned or controlled by…

For cities not planning under RCW 36.70A.040, development regulations to implement comprehensive plans under RCW 35.63.100 that are newly developed, updated, or amended after January 1, 2025, must allow for the siting of organic materials management facilities in the areas identi…

(1) A city may encourage an applicant of a project permit or commercial building permit to include pollinator friendly plants in any landscaped area to the extent practicable by:(a) Providing the list of native forage plants as developed by the department of agriculture in compli…

(1) If the legislative authority of a city with a population over one hundred fifty thousand that is not in a metropolitan park district contracts with one or more nonprofit corporations or other public organizations for the overall management and operation of a zoo, an aquarium,…

Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to affect any terms, conditions, or practices contained in a collective bargaining agreement in effect on June 8, 2000.[ 2000 c 206 s 2.]

*** CHANGE IN 2026 *** (SEE 5974-S2.SL) ***There shall be annexed to the police force of each city in this state having a population of not less than ten thousand inhabitants one or more police matrons who, subject to the control of the chief of police or other proper officer, sh…