Title 35 — Title 35 CITIES AND TOWNS

(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…

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…

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…

(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…

"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…

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.]

Any city or town having heretofore prepared or caused to be prepared, or now preparing or causing to be prepared, or that hereafter prepares or causes to be prepared, a codification of its ordinances may adopt such codification by enacting an ordinance adopting such codification …

When a city or town codifies its ordinances, it shall file a typewritten or printed copy of the codification in the office of the city or town clerk. After the first reading of the title of the adopting ordinance and of the title of the code to be adopted thereby, the legislative…

After the hearing, the legislative body may amend, adopt, or reject the adopting ordinance in the same manner in which it is empowered to act in the case of other ordinances. Upon the enactment of such adopting ordinance, the codification shall be the official code of ordinances …

Copies of such codes in published form shall be received without further proof as the ordinances of permanent and general effect of the city or town in all courts and administrative tribunals of this state.[ 1965 c 7 s 35.21.550. Prior: 1957 c 97 s 6.]Notes:Ordinances, admissibil…

New material shall be adopted by the city or town legislative body as separate ordinances prior to the inclusion thereof in such codification: PROVIDED, That any ordinance amending the codification shall set forth in full the section or sections, or subsection or subsections of t…

When a city or town shall make a codification of its ordinances in accordance with RCW 35.21.500 through 35.21.570 that shall constitute a sufficient compliance with any statutory or charter requirements that no ordinance shall contain more than one subject which shall be clearly…

See RCW 39.30.010.

Any city, town, or county may establish a youth agency to investigate, advise and act on, within the powers of that municipality, problems relating to the youth of that community, including employment, educational, economic and recreational opportunities, juvenile delinquency and…

(1) Any city or town has the authority to enact an ordinance, for the purpose of preserving the public safety or reducing acts of violence by or against juveniles that are occurring at such rates as to be beyond the capacity of the police to assure public safety, establishing tim…

See RCW 36.64.080.

All moneys, assessments and taxes belonging to or collected for the use of any city or town, including any amounts representing estimates for future assessments and taxes, may be deposited by any taxpayer prior to the due date thereof with the treasurer or other legal depository …

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, all cities shall have the power and authority to enter into agreements with the United States or any department or agency thereof, to carry out the purposes of the Demonstration Cities and Metropolitan Development Act of 1966 (PL 89-754…

Any public corporation, commission or authority created as provided in RCW 35.21.660, may be empowered to own and sell real and personal property; to contract with individuals, associations and corporations, and the state and the United States; to sue and be sued; to loan and bor…

The legislative body of any city or town, is hereby authorized and empowered in its discretion by resolution or ordinance passed by a majority of the legislative body, to take whatever action it deems necessary to enable the city or town to participate in the programs set forth i…

Except for occupant limits on group living arrangements regulated under state law or on short-term rentals as defined in RCW 64.37.010 and any lawful limits on occupant load per square foot or generally applicable health and safety provisions as established by applicable building…

*** CHANGE IN 2026 *** (SEE 2266-S.SL) ***A city shall not prohibit transitional housing or permanent supportive housing in any zones in which residential dwelling units or hotels are allowed. Effective September 30, 2021, a city shall not prohibit indoor emergency shelters and i…

(1) A city or town may not adopt an ordinance that has the effect, directly or indirectly, of discriminating against consumers' choices in the placement or use of a home in such a manner that is not equally applicable to all homes. Homes built to 42 U.S.C. Sec. 5401-5403 standard…

A city or town may assist in the development or preservation of publicly or privately owned housing for persons of low income by providing loans or grants of general municipal funds to the owners or developers of the housing. The loans or grants shall be authorized by the legisla…

(1) A city or town may adopt an ordinance to regulate the creation of tiny house communities.(2) The owner of the land upon which the community is built shall make reasonable accommodation for utility hookups for the provision of water, power, and sewerage services and comply wit…

(1) Except as provided in subsections (2) and (3) of this section, no city or town 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, lo…

A city may not prohibit permanent supportive housing in areas where multifamily housing is permitted.[ 2019 c 348 s 9.]

A city or town shall not license auctioneers that are licensed by the state under chapter 18.11 RCW other than by requiring an auctioneer to obtain a general city or town business license and by subjecting an auctioneer to a city or town business and occupation tax. A city or tow…

(1) A state licensed massage therapist seeking a city or town license to operate a massage business must provide verification of his or her state massage license as provided for in RCW 18.108.030.(2) The city or town may charge a licensing or operating fee, but the fee charged a …

(1) Any city, code city, or county, individually or collectively, may own and operate an existing professional sports franchise when the owners of such franchises announce their intention to sell or move a franchise.(2) If a city, code city, or county purchases a professional spo…

A city or town, including a code city, may not license newspaper carriers under eighteen years of age for either regulatory or revenue-generating purposes.[ 1994 c 112 s 3.]

A city, town, or governmental entity subject to this title may not regulate the terms, conditions, or disclosures of any lawful financial transaction between a consumer and (1) a business or professional under the jurisdiction of the department of financial institutions, or (2) a…

Any city or town in this state acting through its council or other legislative body shall have power to expend moneys and conduct promotion of resources and facilities in the city or town, or general area, by advertising, publicizing, or otherwise distributing information for the…

It shall be in the public purpose for all cities to engage in economic development programs. In addition, cities may contract with nonprofit corporations in furtherance of this and other acts relating to economic development.[ 1985 c 92 s 1.]

Every city and town first imposing a business and occupation tax or increasing the rate of the tax after April 22, 1983, shall provide for a referendum procedure to apply to an ordinance imposing the tax or increasing the rate of the tax. This referendum procedure shall specify t…

Any city which imposes a license fee or tax upon business activities consisting of the making of retail sales of tangible personal property which are measured by gross receipts or gross income from such sales, shall impose such tax at a single uniform rate upon all such business …

The qualified voters of any city or town may by majority vote approve rates in excess of the provisions of RCW 35.21.710.[ 1982 1st ex.s. c 49 s 8.]Notes:Intent—Construction—Effective date—Fire district funding—1982 1st ex.s. c 49: See notes following RCW 35.21.710.

Any city which imposes a license fee or tax upon the business activity of engaging in the telephone business, as defined in RCW 82.16.010, which is measured by gross receipts or gross income from the business shall impose the tax at a uniform rate on all persons engaged in the te…

(1) Any city which imposes a license fee or tax upon the business activity of engaging in the telephone business which is measured by gross receipts or gross income may impose the fee or tax, if it desires, on one hundred percent of the total gross revenue derived from intrastate…

Notwithstanding RCW 35.21.714 or 35A.82.060, any city or town which imposes a tax upon business activities measured by gross receipts or gross income from sales, may impose such tax on that portion of network telephone service, as defined in RCW 82.16.010, which represents charge…

A city or town may tax internet access providers under generally applicable business taxes or fees, at a rate not to exceed the rate applied to a general service classification. For the purposes of this section, "internet access" has the same meaning as in RCW 82.04.297.[ 2009 c …

A city or town may not impose a tax on amounts received from operating state route number 16 corridor transportation systems and facilities constructed and operated under chapter 47.46 RCW.[ 1998 c 179 s 2.]Notes:Finding—1998 c 179: "The legislature finds and declares that the pe…

See RCW 41.14.250 through 41.14.280.

In order to improve the administration of authorized federal grants or programs, to improve governmental efficiency and services, or to improve the general living conditions in the urban areas of the state, any city, town, or county may by lawfully adopted ordinance or resolution…

(1) The legislature hereby declares that carrying out the purposes of federal grants or programs is both a public purpose and an appropriate function for a city, town, county, or public corporation. The provisions of RCW 35.21.730 through 35.21.755 and 35.21.660 and 35.21.670 and…

Powers, authorities, or rights expressly or impliedly granted to any city, town, or county or their agents under any provision of RCW 35.21.730 through 35.21.755 shall not be operable or applicable, or have any effect beyond the limits of the incorporated area of any city or town…

(1) Any city, town, or county which shall create a public corporation, commission, or authority pursuant to RCW 35.21.730 or 35.21.660, shall provide for its organization and operations and shall control and oversee its operation and funds in order to correct any deficiency and t…

(1) In transferring real property to a public corporation, commission, or authority under RCW 35.21.730, the city, town, or county creating such public corporation, commission, or authority shall impose appropriate deed restrictions necessary to ensure the continued use of such p…

In the event of the insolvency or dissolution of a public corporation, commission, or authority, the superior court of the county in which the public corporation, commission, or authority is or was operating shall have jurisdiction and authority to appoint trustees or receivers o…

*** CHANGE IN 2026 *** (SEE 1974-S2.SL) ***(1) A public corporation, commission, or authority created pursuant to RCW 35.21.730, 35.21.660, or 81.112.320 shall receive the same immunity or exemption from taxation as that of the city, town, or county creating the same: PROVIDED, T…