Title 36 — Title 36 COUNTIES

(1) Salaries for county commissioners and councilmembers may be set by county commissioner and councilmember salary commissions established by ordinance or resolution of the county legislative authority and in conformity with this section.(2) Commissions established under subsect…

See RCW 42.24.090.

The salaries of county officers and employees of counties other than counties with a population of less than five thousand may be paid twice monthly out of the county treasury, and the county auditor, for services rendered from the first to the fifteenth day, inclusive, may, not …

In addition to the pay periods permitted under RCW 36.17.040, counties may pay county officers and employees using the following methods:(1) The legislative authority of any county may establish a weekly or biweekly pay period where county officers and employees receive their com…

Employees of the counties shall have the right to voluntarily authorize the monthly deduction of their pledges to the United Good Neighbor or its successor, monthly payment to a credit union as defined in RCW 31.12.005, and monthly dues to a labor union, from their salaries or wa…

If the superior court issues a declaratory judgment under RCW 36.16.125 finding that a county officer has abandoned his or her duties, the county officer may not be paid a salary.[ 2009 c 337 s 2; 1999 c 71 s 3; 1963 c 4 s 36.17.050. Prior: 1890 p 314 s 38; RRS s 4221.]

See RCW 36.40.205.

For the purposes of this chapter, the terms spouse, marriage, marital, husband, wife, widow, widower, next of kin, and family shall be interpreted as applying equally to state registered domestic partnerships or individuals in state registered domestic partnerships as well as to …

The definitions set forth in this section apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise.(1) "Recording officer" means the county auditor, or in charter counties the county official charged with the responsibility for recording instruments in the coun…

Except as otherwise ordered by the court pursuant to RCW 4.24.130, county auditors or recording officers shall collect the following fees for their official services:(1) For recording instruments, for the first page eight and one-half by 14 inches or less, $5; for each additional…

(1) Revenue collected under this section is subject to division with the state.(2) The party filing a transcript or abstract of judgment or verdict from a United States court held in this state, or from the superior court of another county or from a district court in the county o…

(1) Revenue collected under this section is subject to division with the county law library under RCW 27.24.070.(2) For filing a petition for emancipation for minors as required under RCW 13.64.020 a fee up to fifty dollars must be collected.[ 1995 c 292 s 13.]

*** CHANGE IN 2026 *** (SEE 2543.SL) ***(1) Revenue collected under this section is not subject to division under RCW 36.18.025 or 27.24.070.(2)(a) For the filing of a petition for modification of a decree of dissolution or paternity, within the same case as the original action, …

(1) State revenue collected by county clerks under subsection (2) of this section must be transmitted to the appropriate state court. The administrative office of the courts shall retain fees collected under subsection (3) of this section.(2) For appellate review under RAP 5.1(b)…

(1) Revenue collected under this section is subject to division with the state under RCW 36.18.025 and with the county or regional law library fund under RCW 27.24.070, except as provided in subsections (5) and (6) of this section.(2) Clerks of superior courts shall collect the f…

The court may waive the filing fees provided for under RCW 36.18.016(2)(b) and 36.18.020(2) (a) and (b) upon affidavit by a party that the party is unable to pay the fee due to financial hardship.[ 2005 c 374 s 6; 1995 c 292 s 16; 1992 c 54 s 5.]Notes:Effective date—1992 c 54: Se…

Forty-six percent of the money received from filing fees paid pursuant to RCW 36.18.020, except those collected for the filing of warrants for unpaid taxes or overpayments by state agencies as outlined in RCW 36.18.012(10), shall be transmitted by the county treasurer each month …

Coroners shall collect for their official services, the following fees:For each inquest held, besides mileage, twenty dollars.For issuing a venire, two dollars.For drawing all necessary writings, two dollars for first page and one dollar for each page thereafter.For mileage each …

(1) Sheriffs shall collect the following fees for their official services:(a) For service of each summons and complaint, notice and complaint, summons and petition, and notice of small claim on one defendant at any location, ten dollars, and on two or more defendants at the same …

County treasurers shall collect the following fees for their official services:For preparing and certifying copies, with or without seal for the first legal size page, two dollars, for each additional legal size page, one dollar.[ 1963 c 4 s 36.18.045. Prior: 1959 c 263 s 10.]

Every officer who shall be called on or required to perform service for which no fees or compensation are provided for in this chapter shall be allowed fees similar and equal to those allowed him or her for services of the same kind for which allowance is made herein.[ 2009 c 549…

The officers mentioned in this chapter except the county sheriff shall not, in any case, except for the state or county, perform any official services unless the fees prescribed therefor are paid in advance, and on such payment the officer must perform the services required. The …

When any sheriff, constable or coroner serves more than one process in the same cause or on the same person not requiring more than one journey from his or her office, he or she shall receive mileage only for the most distant service.[ 2009 c 549 s 4017; 1963 c 4 s 36.18.070. Pri…

Every county officer entitled to collect fees from the public shall keep posted in his or her office a plain and legible statement of the fees allowed by law and failure so to do shall subject the officer to a fine of one hundred dollars and costs, to be recovered in any court of…

Every officer, when requested so to do, shall make out a bill of his or her fees in every case, and for any services, specifying each particular item thereof, and receipt the same when it is paid, which bill of fees shall always be subject to examination and correction by the cou…

If any officer takes more or greater fees than are allowed by law he or she shall be subject to prosecution, and on conviction, shall be removed from office and fined in a sum not exceeding one thousand dollars.[ 2009 c 549 s 4021; 1963 c 4 s 36.18.160. Prior: Code 1881 s 2090; 1…

Any salaried county or precinct officer, who fails to pay to the county treasury all sums that have come into the officer's hands for fees and charges for the county, or by virtue of the officer's office, whether under the laws of this state or of the United States, is guilty of …

The board of county commissioners of any county in this state, upon receiving a certified copy of the record of conviction of any officer for receiving illegal fees, or where the officer collects fees and fails to account for the same, upon proof thereof must declare his or her o…

Superior court clerks may contract with collection agencies under chapter 19.16 RCW or may use county collection services for the collection of unpaid court-ordered legal financial obligations as enumerated in RCW 9.94A.030 that are ordered pursuant to a felony or misdemeanor con…

Any assessor who deems it necessary in order to complete the listing and the valuation of the property of the county within the time prescribed by law, (1) may appoint one or more well qualified persons to act as assistants or deputies who shall not engage in the private practice…

(1) Any person having the responsibility of valuing real property for purposes of taxation including persons acting as assistants or deputies to a county assessor under RCW 36.21.011 shall have first:(a) Had at least one year of experience in transactions involving real property,…

Upon receipt of a copy of a building permit, the county assessor shall, within twelve months of the date of issue of such permit, proceed to make a physical appraisal of the building or buildings covered by the permit.[ 1989 c 246 s 3; 1987 c 134 s 1; 1963 c 4 s 36.21.070. Prior:…

The county assessor is authorized to place any property that is increased in value due to construction or alteration for which a building permit was issued, or should have been issued, under chapter 19.27, 19.27A, or 19.28 RCW or other laws providing for building permits on the a…

When any mobile home first becomes subject to assessment for property taxes in this state, the county assessor is authorized to place the mobile home on the assessment rolls for purposes of tax levy up to August 31st of each year. The assessed valuation of the mobile home shall b…

Every county assessor shall report to the department of revenue on the property tax levies and related matters within the county annually at a date and in a form prescribed by the department of revenue. The report shall include, but need not be limited to, the results of sales-as…

(1) The county assessor must post a notice describing the:(a) Property tax exemption program pursuant to RCW 84.36.379 through 84.36.389; and(b) Property tax deferral program pursuant to chapter 84.38 RCW.(2) The notice required under subsection (1) of this section must be posted…

The county auditor:(1) Shall be recorder of deeds and other instruments in writing which by law are to be filed and recorded in and for the county for which he or she is elected;(2) Shall keep an account current with the county treasurer, charge all money received as shown by rec…

It shall be the duty of the county auditor of each county, within fifteen days after the adjournment of each regular session, to publish a summary of the proceedings of the legislative authority at such term, in any newspaper published in the county or having a general circulatio…

Auditors and their deputies may administer oaths necessary in the performance of their duties and in all other cases where oaths are required by law to be administered and take acknowledgments of deeds and other instruments in writing: PROVIDED, That any deputy county auditor, in…

The county auditor shall audit all claims, demands, and accounts against the county which by law are chargeable to the county, except such cost or fee bills as are by law to be examined or approved by some other judicial tribunal or officer. Such claims as it is his or her duty t…

For claims allowed by the county commissioners, and also for cost bills and other lawful claims duly approved by the competent tribunal designated by law for their allowance, he or she shall draw a warrant on the county treasurer, made payable to the claimant or his or her order,…

The auditor shall maintain a record of when a warrant is issued. The record shall include the warrant number, date, name of payee, amount, nature of claims, or services provided.[ 1995 c 194 s 3; 1963 c 4 s 36.22.060. Prior: 1893 c 119 s 1, part; Code 1881 s 2710, part; 1869 p 31…

(1) The auditor shall also retain all original bills and indorse thereon claimant's name, nature of claim, the action had, and if a warrant was issued, date and number the voucher or claim the same as the warrant.(2) The auditor may retain all claims, bills, and associated record…

All claims of the county auditor against the county for services shall be audited and allowed by the board of county commissioners as other claims are audited and allowed. Such warrants shall in all respects be audited, approved, issued, numbered, registered, and paid the same as…

All warrants for the payment of claims against diking, ditch, drainage and irrigation districts and school districts of the second class, who do not issue their own warrants, as well as political subdivisions within the county for which no other provision is made by law, shall be…

Registered or interest bearing county warrants not presented within one year of the date of their call, and all other county warrants not presented within one year of the date of their issue shall be canceled by the legislative authority of the county and the auditor and treasure…

The person holding the office of county auditor, or deputy, or performing its duties, shall not practice as an attorney or represent any person who is making any claim against the county, or who is seeking to procure any legislative or other action by the board of county commissi…

In case the auditor is unable to attend to the duties of his or her office during any session of the board of county commissioners, and has no deputy by him or her appointed in attendance, the board may temporarily appoint a suitable person not by law disqualified from acting as …

Each county auditor or financial officer designated in a charter county shall be ex officio deputy of the state auditor for the purpose of accounting and reporting on municipal corporations and in such capacity shall be under the direction of the state auditor, but he or she shal…

Each auditor, on retiring from office, shall deliver to his or her successor the seal of office and all the books, records, and instruments of writing belonging to the office, and take his or her receipt therefor. In case of the death of the auditor, his or her legal representati…