Title 35, CITIES AND TOWNS

(1) A city with a population of more than five hundred fifty thousand that permits a public facility to be constructed or operated by another local government agency, transit authority, or public facility district in a neighborhood with a high poverty level and a high rate of eth…

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 …

(1)(a) Cities must adopt or amend by ordinance, and incorporate into their development regulations, zoning regulations, and other official controls the requirements of subsection (2) of this section for buildings in commercial, mixed-use, or residential zones no later than June 3…

(1) Except as provided in subsection (3) of this section, a city is prohibited from requiring or excluding exterior cladding materials that are in compliance with the state building code. (2) "Exterior cladding" means a nonload-bearing material attached to the exterior of a build…

(1) Cities and towns that have not adopted an ordinance, land use regulation, or local code related to the regulation of electric security alarm systems shall allow electric security alarm systems consistent with the following: (a) Electric security alarm systems may not be consi…

(1) A city may not require more than 0.5 parking space per multifamily dwelling unit or more than one parking space per single-family home. (2) A city may not require more than two parking spaces per 1,000 square feet of commercial space. (3) A city may not require any minimum pa…

(1)(a) Except as provided for in subsection (3) of this section, cities must adopt or amend by ordinance, and incorporate into their development regulations, zoning regulations, preservation ordinances, and other official controls the requirements of subsection (2) of this sectio…

(1) Cities and towns must allow child care centers, and the conversion of existing buildings for use as child care centers, as an outright permitted use in all zones except industrial zones, light industrial zones, and open space zones. (2) Cities may impose reasonable restrictio…

Cities of the first class shall be organized and governed according to the law providing for the government of cities having a population of ten thousand or more inhabitants that have adopted a charter in accordance with Article XI, section 10 of the state Constitution. [ 1997 c …

The form of the organization and the manner and mode in which cities of the first class shall exercise the powers, functions and duties conferred upon them by law, with respect to their own government, shall be as provided in the charters thereof. [ 1965 c 7 s 35.22.020. Prior: 1…

Any city with a population of ten thousand or more inhabitants may frame a charter for its own government. [ 1965 ex.s. c 47 s 5; 1965 c 7 s 35.22.030. Prior: 1890 p 215 s 1; RRS s 8951.] Notes: Cities of ten thousand or more may frame charters without change in classification: R…

Whenever the population of a city is ten thousand or more, the legislative authority thereof shall provide by ordinance for an election to be held therein for the purpose of electing fifteen freeholders for the purpose of framing a charter for the city. The members of the board o…

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, whenever the population of a city is three hundred thousand persons or more, not less than ten days before the time for filing declarations of candidacy for election of freeholders under Article XI, section 10 (Amendment 40), of the sta…

The board of freeholders shall convene within ten days after their election and frame a charter for the city and within thirty days thereafter, they, or a majority of them, shall submit the charter to the legislative authority of the city, which, within five days thereafter, shal…

Within five days after the filing with the city clerk of affidavits of publication, which affidavits shall be filed immediately after the last publication, the legislative authority of the city shall initiate the proceedings for the submission of the proposed charter to the quali…

The election of the members of the board of freeholders and that upon the proposition of adopting or rejecting the proposed charter and the officers to be elected thereunder, the returns of both elections, the canvassing thereof and the declaration of the result shall be governed…

The form of ballot in the election for the adoption or rejection of the proposed charter shall be: "For the proposed charter," "Against the proposed charter." In submitting the proposed charter or amendments thereto, any alternate article or proposition may be presented for the c…

If a majority of the votes cast at the election upon the adoption of the proposed charter favor it, certificates of election shall be issued to each officer elected at that election. Within ten days after the issuance of the certificates of election, the newly elected officers sh…

The authentication of the charter shall be by certificate of the mayor in substance as follows: "I . . . . . ., mayor of the city of . . . . . . do hereby certify that in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution and statutes of the State of Washington, the city of . . .…

On petition of a number (equal to fifteen percent of the total number of votes cast at the last preceding general state election) of qualified voters of any municipality having adopted a charter under the laws of this state, asking the adoption of a specified charter amendment, p…

A petition containing the demand for the submission of the proposed charter amendment or for an election to be held for the purpose of electing a board of freeholders for the purpose of preparing a new charter for the city as provided in RCW 35.22.140 shall be filed with the city…

On the petition of a number of registered voters of a city equal to twenty-five percent of the total votes cast at the last preceding city election, the city council of a charter city shall, or without such petition may, cause an election to be held for the purpose of electing a …

Within ten days after the results of the election have been determined, if a majority of the votes cast favor the proceeding, the members of the board of freeholders elected thereat shall convene and prepare a new charter by altering, revising, adding to, or repealing the existin…

Upon the filing of the proposed new, altered, changed or revised charter with the city clerk, it shall be submitted to the qualified voters of the city at an election to be called therefor pursuant to the provisions of law applicable to the holding of elections in such city. [ 19…

The proposed new, altered or revised charter shall be published in the newspaper having the largest general circulation within the city at least once each week for four weeks next preceding the day of submitting the same to the electors for their approval. [ 1985 c 469 s 23; 1965…

The election of the board of freeholders and that upon the proposition of adopting the proposed new, altered or revised charter, may be general or special elections and except as herein provided, said elections, the returns, the canvassing thereof and the declaration of the resul…

If a majority of the voters voting upon the adoption of the proposed new, altered or revised charter favor it, it shall become the charter of the city and the organic law thereof, superseding any existing charter. All bodies or offices abolished or dispensed with by the new, alte…

Any city adopting a charter under Article XI, section 10 of the Constitution of the state of Washington, as amended by amendment 40, shall have all of the powers which are conferred upon incorporated cities and towns by Title 35 RCW, or other laws of the state, and all such power…

The legislative powers of a charter city shall be vested in a mayor and a city council, to consist of such number of members and to have such powers as may be provided for in its charter. The charter may provide for direct legislation by the people through the initiative and refe…

The compensation and the time to be devoted to the performance of the duties of the mayor and elected officials of all cities of the first class shall be as fixed by ordinance of said city irrespective of any city charter provisions. [ 1965 c 7 s 35.22.205. Prior: 1957 c 113 s 1;…

Any city of the first class having a population less than one hundred thousand by the last federal census and having a charter providing that each of its councilmembers shall be the commissioner of an administrative department of such city, may by ordinance provide for the separa…

Whenever any such city shall have passed such an ordinance providing for such separate designations and for filing for and election to office in accordance therewith, such city shall have no power to repeal the same except by ordinance passed by the council of such city and submi…

All regular elections in first-class cities having a mayor-council form of government whose charters provide for twelve councilmembers elected for a term of two years, two being elected from each of six wards, and for the election of a mayor, treasurer, and comptroller for terms …

All regular elections in first-class cities having a mayor-council form of government whose charters provide for seven councilmembers, one to be elected from each of six wards and one at large, for a term of two years, and for the election of a mayor, comptroller, treasurer and a…

Any city of the first class shall have power: (1) To provide for general and special elections, for questions to be voted upon, and for the election of officers; (2) To provide for levying and collecting taxes on real and personal property for its corporate uses and purposes, and…

See chapter 82.14A RCW.

See RCW 35.21.710.

See chapter 36.28A RCW.

See chapter 80.58 RCW.

See RCW 87.03.825 through 87.03.840.

Promptly after adoption, the text of each ordinance or a summary of the content of each ordinance shall be published at least once in the official newspaper of the city. For purposes of this section, a summary shall mean a brief description which succinctly describes the main poi…

Every city of the first class may lease, purchase, or construct, and maintain public auditoriums and art museums and may use and let them for such public and private purposes for such compensation and rental and upon such conditions as shall be prescribed by ordinance; it may iss…

If a city of the first class has acquired title to land for public auditoriums or art museums, it may let it or any part thereof, together with the structures and improvements constructed or to be constructed thereon for such term as may be deemed proper and may raise the needed …

The legislative authority of every city of the first and second class owning real property, not limited by dedication or trust to a particular public use, may convey or lease for public or private use any estate, right or interest in the areas above the surface of the ground of s…

The legislative authority of any city of the first class of more than four hundred thousand population shall have, notwithstanding any charter or statutory provision to the contrary, authority by ordinance to create a separate department of municipal government for the administra…

Every city of the first class is empowered to provide for the filling and closing of cesspools and for the removing of garbage, debris, grass, weeds, and brush on property in the city. [ 1965 c 7 s 35.22.310. Prior: 1907 c 89 s 1; RRS s 8972.]