Title 35 — Title 35 CITIES AND TOWNS
49 chapters · 1,261 sections in this title.
RCW 35.21.756 Tax exemption—Sales/leasebacks by regional transit authorities.
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A city or town may not impose taxes on amounts received as lease payments paid by a seller/lessee to a lessor under a sale/leaseback agreement under RCW 81.112.300 in respect to tangible personal property used by the seller/lessee, or to the purchase amount paid by the lessee und…
RCW 35.21.757 Public corporations—Statutes to be construed consistent with state Constitution.
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Nothing in RCW 35.21.730 through 35.21.755 shall be construed in any manner contrary to the provisions of Article VIII, section 7, of the Washington state Constitution.[ 1985 c 332 s 6.]
RCW 35.21.759 Public corporations, commissions, and authorities—Applicability of general laws.
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A public corporation, commission, or authority created under this chapter, and officers and multimember governing body thereof, are subject to general laws regulating local governments, multimember governing bodies, and local governmental officials, including, but not limited to,…
RCW 35.21.760 Legal interns—Employment authorized.
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Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the city attorney, corporation counsel, or other chief legal officer of any city or town may employ legal interns as otherwise authorized by statute or court rule.[ 1974 ex.s. c 7 s 1.]
RCW 35.21.762 Urban emergency medical service districts—Creation authorized in city or town with territory in two counties.
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The council of a city or town that has territory included in two counties may adopt an ordinance creating an urban emergency medical service district in all of the portion of the city or town that is located in one of the two counties if: (1) The county in which the urban emergen…
RCW 35.21.765 Fire protection, ambulance or other emergency services provided by municipal corporation within county—Financial and other assistance by county authorized.
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See RCW 36.32.470.
RCW 35.21.766 Ambulance services—Establishment authorized.
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(1) Whenever a regional fire protection service authority determines that the fire protection jurisdictions that are members of the authority are not adequately served by existing private ambulance service, the governing board of the authority may by resolution provide for the es…
RCW 35.21.7661 Study and review of ambulance utilities.
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The joint legislative audit and review committee shall study and review ambulance utilities established and operated by cities under chapter 482, Laws of 2005. The committee shall examine, but not be limited to, the following factors: The number and operational status of utilitie…
RCW 35.21.768 Ambulance services—Excise taxes authorized—Use of proceeds.
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The legislative authority of any city or town is authorized to adopt ordinances for the levy and collection of excise taxes and/or for the imposition of an additional tax for the act or privilege of engaging in the ambulance business. Such business and occupation tax shall be imp…
RCW 35.21.769 Levy for emergency medical care and services.
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See RCW 84.52.069.
RCW 35.21.770 Members of legislative bodies authorized to serve as volunteer firefighters, volunteer ambulance personnel, or reserve law enforcement officers.
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Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the legislative body of any city or town, by resolution adopted by a two-thirds vote of the full legislative body, may authorize any of its members to serve as volunteer firefighters, volunteer ambulance personnel, or reserve law enforc…
RCW 35.21.772 Fire department volunteers—Holding public office—Definitions.
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(1) Except as otherwise prohibited by law, a volunteer member of any fire department who does not serve as fire chief for the department may be:(a) A candidate for elective public office and serve in that public office if elected; or (b) Appointed to any public office and serve i…
RCW 35.21.775 Provision of fire protection services to state-owned facilities.
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Subject to the provisions of RCW 35.21.779, whenever a city or town has located within its territorial limits facilities, except those leased to a nontax-exempt person or organization, owned by the state or an agency or institution of the state, the state or agency or institution…
RCW 35.21.778 Existing contracts for fire protection services and equipment not abrogated.
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Nothing in chapter 117, Laws of 1992, shall be interpreted to abrogate existing contracts for fire protection services and equipment, nor be deemed to authorize cities and towns to negotiate additional contractual provisions to apply prior to the expiration of such existing contr…
RCW 35.21.779 Fire protection services for state-owned facilities—Contracts with the department of commerce—Consolidation of negotiations with multiple state agencies—Arbitration.
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(1) In cities or towns where the estimated value of state-owned facilities constitutes ten percent or more of the total assessed valuation, the state agency or institution owning the facilities shall contract with the city or town to pay an equitable share for fire protection ser…
RCW 35.21.780 Laws, rules and regulations applicable to cities five hundred thousand or over deemed applicable to cities four hundred thousand or over.
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On and after June 12, 1975, every law and rule or regulation of the state or any agency thereof which immediately prior to June 12, 1975 related to cities of five hundred thousand population or over shall be deemed to be applicable to cities of four hundred thousand population or…
RCW 35.21.790 Revision of corporate boundary within street, road, or highway right-of-way by substituting right-of-way line—Not subject to review.
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(1) The governing bodies of a county and any city or town located therein may by agreement revise any part of the corporate boundary of the city or town which coincides with the centerline, edge, or any portion of a public street, road or highway right-of-way by substituting ther…
RCW 35.21.800 Foreign trade zones—Legislative finding, intent.
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It is the finding of the legislature that foreign trade zones serve an important public purpose by the creation of employment opportunities within the state and that the establishment of zones designed to accomplish this purpose is to be encouraged. It is the further intent of th…
RCW 35.21.805 Foreign trade zones—Authority to apply for permission to establish, operate and maintain.
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A city or town, as zone sponsor, may apply to the United States for permission to establish, operate, and maintain foreign trade zones: PROVIDED, That nothing herein shall be construed to prevent these zones from being operated and financed by a private corporation(s) on behalf o…
RCW 35.21.810 Hydroplane races—Providing for restrooms and other services in public parks for spectators—Admission fees—Authorized.
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Any city or town may provide restrooms and other services in its public parks to be used by spectators of any hydroplane race held on a lake or river which is located adjacent to or within the city or town, and in addition any city or town may charge admission fees for persons to…
RCW 35.21.815 Hydroplane races—Levying of admission charges declared public park purpose—Reversion prohibited.
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It is hereby declared to be a legitimate public park purpose for any city or town to levy an admission charge for spectators to view hydroplane races from park property. Property which has been conveyed to a city or town by the state for exclusive use in the city's or town's publ…
RCW 35.21.820 Acquisition and disposal of vehicles for commuter ride sharing by city employees.
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The power of any city, town, county, other municipal corporation, or quasi municipal corporation to acquire, hold, use, possess, and dispose of motor vehicles for official business shall include, but not be limited to, the power to acquire, hold, use, possess, and dispose of moto…
RCW 35.21.830 Controls on rent for residential structures—Prohibited—Exceptions.
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The imposition of controls on rent is of statewide significance and is preempted by the state. No city or town of any class may enact, maintain, or enforce ordinances or other provisions which regulate the amount of rent to be charged for single-family or multiple-unit residentia…
RCW 35.21.840 Taxation of motor carriers of freight for hire—Allocation of gross receipts.
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The following principles shall allocate gross receipts of a motor carrier of freight for hire (called the "motor carrier" in this section) to prevent multiple taxation by two or more municipalities. They shall apply when two or more municipalities in this state impose a license f…
RCW 35.21.845 Taxation of motor carriers of freight for hire—Tax allocation formula.
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A motor carrier of freight for hire whose gross receipts are subject to multiple taxation by two or more municipalities in this state may request and thereupon shall be given a joint audit of the taxpayer's books and records by all of the taxing authorities seeking to tax all or …
RCW 35.21.850 Taxation of motor carriers of freight for hire—Limitation—Exceptions.
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No demand for a fee or tax or penalty shall be made by a city or town against a motor carrier of freight for hire on gross income derived from providing transportation services more than four years after the close of the year in which the same accrued except (1) against a taxpaye…
RCW 35.21.851 Taxation of chamber of commerce, similar business for operation of parking/business improvement area.
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(1) A city shall not impose a gross receipts tax on amounts received by a chamber of commerce or other similar business association for administering the operation of a parking and business improvement area within the meaning of RCW 35.87A.110.(2) For the purposes of this section…
RCW 35.21.855 Taxation of intellectual property creating activities—Gross receipts tax prohibited—Exceptions.
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(1) A city may not impose a gross receipts tax on intellectual property creating activities.(2) A city may impose a gross receipts tax measured by gross receipts from royalties only on taxpayers domiciled in the city. For the purposes of this section, "royalties" does not include…
RCW 35.21.860 Electricity, telephone, or natural gas business, service provider—Franchise fees prohibited—Exceptions.
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(1) No city or town may impose a franchise fee or any other fee or charge of whatever nature or description upon the light and power, or gas distribution businesses, as defined in RCW 82.16.010, or telephone business, as defined in RCW 82.16.010, or service provider for use of th…
RCW 35.21.865 Electricity, telephone, or natural gas business—Limitations on tax rate changes.
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No city or town may change the rate of tax it imposes on the privilege of conducting an electrical energy, natural gas, or telephone business which change applies to business activities occurring before the effective date of the change, and no rate change may take effect before t…
RCW 35.21.870 Electricity, telephone, natural gas, or steam energy business—Tax limited to six percent—Exception.
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(1) No city or town may impose a tax on the privilege of conducting an electrical energy, natural gas, steam energy, or telephone business at a rate which exceeds six percent unless the rate is first approved by a majority of the voters of the city or town voting on such a propos…
RCW 35.21.871 Tax on telephone business—Deferral of rate reduction.
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A city or town required by RCW 35.21.870(2) to reduce its rate of taxation on telephone business may defer for one year the required reduction in rates for the year 1987. If the delay in rate reductions authorized by the preceding sentence is inadequate for a city or town to offs…
RCW 35.21.873 Procedure to correct erroneous mobile telecommunications service tax.
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If a customer believes that an amount of city tax or an assignment of place of primary use or taxing jurisdiction included on a billing for mobile telecommunications services is erroneous, the customer shall notify the home service provider in writing. The customer shall include …
RCW 35.21.875 Designation of official newspaper.
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Each city and town shall designate an official newspaper by resolution. The newspaper shall be of general circulation in the city or town and have the qualifications prescribed by chapter 65.16 RCW.[ 1985 c 469 s 99.]
RCW 35.21.880 Right-of-way donations—Credit against required improvements.
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Where the zoning and planning provisions of a city or town require landscaping, parking, or other improvements as a condition to granting permits for commercial or industrial developments, the city or town may credit donations of right-of-way in excess of that required for traffi…
RCW 35.21.890 Boundary changes—Providing factual information—Notice to boundary review board.
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A city or town may provide factual information on the effects of a proposed boundary change on the city or town and the area potentially affected by the boundary change. A statement that the city or town has such information available, and copies of any printed materials or infor…
RCW 35.21.895 Regulation of automatic number or location identification—Prohibited.
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No city or town may enact or enforce an ordinance or regulation mandating automatic number identification or automatic location identification for a private telecommunications system or for a provider of private shared telecommunications services.[ 1995 c 243 s 6.]Notes:Findings—…
RCW 35.21.897 Mobile home, manufactured home, or park model moving or installing—Copies of permits—Definitions.
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(1) A city or town shall transmit a copy of any permit issued to a tenant or the tenant's agent for a mobile home, manufactured home, or park model installation in a mobile home park to the landlord.(2) A city or town shall transmit a copy of any permit issued to a person engaged…
RCW 35.21.900 Authority to transfer real property.
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Cities are authorized to transfer real property pursuant to RCW 43.83.400 and 43.83.410.[ 2015 1st sp.s. c 4 s 27; 2006 c 35 s 10.]Notes:Findings—2006 c 35: See note following RCW 43.83.400.
RCW 35.21.905 Consultation with public utilities for water-sewer facility relocation projects.
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Cities shall, in the predesign phase of construction projects involving relocation of sewer and/or water facilities, consult with public utilities operating water/sewer systems in order to coordinate design.[ 2007 c 31 s 5.]
RCW 35.21.910 Community athletics programs—Sex discrimination prohibited.
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The antidiscrimination provisions of RCW 49.60.500 apply to community athletics programs and facilities operated, conducted, or administered by a city or town.[ 2009 c 467 s 4.]Notes:Findings—Declarations—2009 c 467: See note following RCW 49.60.500.
RCW 35.21.913 Comprehensive cancer care collaborative arrangements—Prohibition on regulation as state agency.
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No city or town may enact, enforce, or maintain an ordinance, regulation, or rule that regulates or otherwise treats a comprehensive cancer center participating in a collaborative arrangement as defined in RCW 28B.10.930 that is operated in conformance with RCW 28B.10.930 as a st…
RCW 35.21.915 Hosting the homeless by religious organizations—When authorized—Requirements—Prohibitions on local actions.
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(1) A religious organization may host the homeless on property owned or controlled by the religious organization whether within buildings located on the property or elsewhere on the property outside of buildings.(2) Except as provided in subsection (7) of this section, a city or …
RCW 35.21.920 State and federal background checks of license applicants and licensees of occupations under local licensing authority.
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(1) For the purpose of receiving criminal history record information by city or town officials, cities or towns may:(a) By ordinance, require a state and federal background investigation of license applicants or licensees in occupations specified by ordinance;(b) By ordinance, re…
RCW 35.21.925 Supplemental transportation improvements.
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In addition to any other power and authority conferred to a city that is located in a county having a population of more than one million five hundred thousand, a city legislative authority may provide or contract for supplemental transportation improvements to meet mobility need…
RCW 35.21.930 Community assistance referral and education services program.
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(1) Any fire department may develop a community assistance referral and education services program to provide community outreach and assistance to residents of its jurisdiction in order to improve population health and advance injury and illness prevention within its community. T…
RCW 35.21.935 Warrant officers—Training requirements—Authority.
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*** CHANGE IN 2026 *** (SEE 2034-S2.SL) ***(1) Any city or town may establish the position of warrant officer.(2) If any city or town establishes the position of warrant officer, the position shall be maintained by the city or town within the city or town police department. The n…
RCW 35.21.940 Failing septic systems—Connection to public sewer systems—Appeals process.
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(1) A city with an ordinance or resolution requiring, upon the failure of an on-site septic system, connection to a public sewer system must, in accordance with this section, provide an administrative appeals process to consider denials of permit applications to repair or replace…
RCW 35.21.945 Water storage asset management services—Procurement.
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(1) Any municipality may elect to contract for asset management service of its water storage assets in accordance with this section. If a municipality elects to contract under this subsection for all, some, or one component of water storage asset management services for its water…
RCW 35.21.950 Final determination on state highway project permits.
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A city or town must comply with the requirements of RCW 47.01.485 in making a final determination on a permit as part of a project on a state highway as defined in RCW 46.04.560.[ 2015 3rd sp.s. c 15 s 3.]Notes:Effective date—Findings—Intent—2015 3rd sp.s. c 15: See notes followi…