Title 36 — Title 36 COUNTIES

(1) Real property acquired by any county of this state by foreclosure of delinquent taxes may be sold by order of the county legislative authority when in the judgment of the county legislative authority it is deemed in the county's best interests to sell the real property.(2) Wh…

The county treasurer shall upon payment to the county treasurer of the purchase price for the property and any interest due, make and execute under the county treasurer's hand and seal, and issue to the purchaser, a deed in the following form for any lots or parcels of real prope…

The board of county commissioners of any county may, pending sale of any county property acquired by foreclosure of delinquent taxes or amounts deferred under chapter 84.37 or 84.38 RCW, rent any portion thereof on a tenancy from month to month. From the proceeds of the rentals t…

*** CHANGE IN 2026 *** (SEE 1974-S2.SL) ***(1) The county legislative authority may dispose of tax foreclosed property by private negotiation, without a call for bids, for not less than the principal amount of the unpaid taxes in any of the following cases: (a) When the sale is t…

In any and all instances in this state in which a treasurer's deed to real property has been or shall be issued to the county in proceedings to foreclose the lien of general taxes, and for any reason a defect in title exists or adverse claims against the same have not been legall…

The county or its successors in interest or assigns shall have authority to include in one action any and all tracts of land in which plaintiff or plaintiffs in such action, jointly or severally, has or claims to have an interest. Such action shall be one in rem as against every …

Upon filing a copy of the summons and notice in the office of the county clerk, service thereof as against every interest in and claim against any and every part of the property described in such summons and notice, and every person, firm, or corporation, except one who is in the…

(1) Any person, firm or corporation who or which may have been entitled to redeem the property involved prior to the issuance of the treasurer's deed to the county, and his or her or its successor in interest, has the right, at any time after the commencement of, and prior to the…

At any time after the return day named in the summons and notice the plaintiff in the cause shall be entitled to apply for judgment. In case any person has appeared in such action and claimed any interest in the real property involved adverse to that of the county or its successo…

The right of action of the county, its successors or assigns, under RCW 36.35.160 through 36.35.270 shall rest on the validity of the taxes involved, and the plaintiff shall be required to prove only the amount of the former judgment foreclosing the lien thereof, together with th…

Any person filing a statement in such action must pay the clerk of the court an appearance fee in the amount required by the county for appearances in civil actions, and is required to tender the amount of all taxes, including any amounts deferred under chapter 84.37 or 84.38 RCW…

Any person aggrieved by the judgment rendered in such action may seek appellate review of the part of said judgment objectionable to him or her in the manner and within the time prescribed for appeals in RCW 84.64.120.[ 2009 c 549 s 4078; 1988 c 202 s 71; 1971 c 81 s 155; 1961 c …

The judgment rendered in such action, unless appealed from within the time prescribed herein and upon final judgment on appeal, shall be conclusive, without the right of redemption upon and against every person who may or could claim any lien or any right, title or interest in or…

Nothing in RCW 36.35.160 through 36.35.270 contained may be construed to deprive any city, town, or other unit of local government that imposed special assessments on the property by including the property in a local improvement or special assessment district of its right to reim…

That in all cases where any county of the state of Washington has perfected title to real estate owned by the county, under the provisions of RCW 36.35.160 through 36.35.270 and resells the same or part thereof, it shall give to the purchaser a warranty deed in substantially the …

No recovery for breach of warranty shall be had, against the county executing a deed under the provisions of RCW 36.35.260, in excess of the purchase price of the land described in such deed, with interest at the legal rate.[ 1998 c 106 s 21; 1961 c 15 s 84.64.440. Prior: 1929 c …

All sales of tax-title lands heretofore consummated by any county, to a city or town, for municipal purposes, or public use, shall be absolute and final, and transfer title in fee, notwithstanding any reversionary provision in the tax deed to the contrary; and all tax-title deeds…

(1) The general property tax assessed on any tract, lot, or parcel of real property includes all easements appurtenant thereto, provided said easements are a matter of public record in the auditor's office of the county in which said real property is situated.(2)(a) Except as pro…

The protection of subterranean water from pollution or degradation is of great concern. The depletion of subterranean water is of great concern. The purpose of this chapter is to allow the creation of aquifer protection areas to finance the protection, preservation, and rehabilit…

The county legislative authority of a county may create one or more aquifer protection areas for the purpose of funding the protection, preservation, and rehabilitation of subterranean water.When a county legislative authority proposes to create an aquifer protection area it shal…

Aquifer protection areas are authorized to impose fees on the withdrawal of subterranean water and on on-site sewage disposal. The fees shall be expressed as a dollar amount per household unit. Fees imposed for the withdrawal of water, or on-site sewage disposal, other than by ho…

A county may adopt an ordinance reducing the level of fees, for the withdrawal of subterranean water or for on-site sewage disposal, that are imposed upon the residential property of a class or classes of low-income persons.[ 1987 c 381 s 1.]

Aquifer protection areas may impose fees to fund:(1) The preparation of a comprehensive plan to protect, preserve, and rehabilitate subterranean water, including groundwater management programs adopted under chapter 90.44 RCW. This plan may be prepared as a portion of a county se…

The county shall have a lien for any delinquent fees imposed for the withdrawal of subterranean water or on-site sewage disposal, which shall attach to the property to which the fees were imposed, if the following conditions are met:(1) At least eighteen months have passed since …

A county legislative authority may dissolve an aquifer protection area upon a finding that such dissolution is in the public interest.A ballot proposition to dissolve an aquifer protection district shall be placed on the ballot for the approval or rejection of the voters residing…

The holding of county fairs and agricultural exhibitions of stock, cereals, and agricultural produce of all kinds, including dairy produce, as well as arts and manufactures, by any county in the state, and the participation by any county in a district fair or agricultural exhibit…

The board of county commissioners of any county in the state may acquire by gift, devise, purchase, condemnation and purchase, or otherwise, lands, property rights, leases, easements, and all kinds of personal property and own and hold the same and construct and maintain temporar…

The board of county commissioners of any county may appropriate and expend each year such sums of money as they deem advisable and necessary for (1) acquisition of necessary grounds for fairs and world fairs, (2) construction, improvement and maintenance of buildings thereon, (3)…

Each county is authorized to hold one county fair in each year, or, as an alternative, to participate with any other county or counties in the holding of a district fair. Where counties participate in the holding of a district fair, the boards of county commissioners of each of p…

Upon petition of twenty-five resident taxpayers of any county who are interested in the poultry industry, the board of county commissioners may set aside and include in its annual budget a sum equivalent to five percent of the assessed valuation of poultry in the county each year…

All poultry shows shall be open to the public. Such admission charge may be made as is authorized by the board of county commissioners.[ 1963 c 4 s 36.37.100. Prior: 1929 c 109 s 2; RRS s 2755-2.]

All such poultry shows shall be held under the rules of the American Poultry Association and only licensed poultry judges shall be employed thereat.[ 1963 c 4 s 36.37.110. Prior: 1929 c 109 s 3; RRS s 2755-3.]

If requested by a county legislative authority, an agency of the state managing state-owned lands, other than state trust lands, shall consider leasing a requested portion of these lands that are not used for any significant purpose and if not otherwise prohibited, to the county …

If requested by a county legislative authority, the department of natural resources shall negotiate a lease for any requested portion of the state lands directly adjacent to buildings on the Northern State Hospital site that were transferred to the department under chapter 178, L…

(1) Any county may by ordinance enacted by its county legislative authority, levy and fix a tax of not more than one cent on twenty cents or fraction thereof to be paid for county purposes by persons who pay an admission charge to any place, including a tax on persons who are adm…

In addition to the provisions levying and fixing the amount of tax, the ordinance may contain any or all of the following provisions:(1) A provision defining the words and terms used therein;(2) A provision requiring the price (exclusive of the tax to be paid by the person paying…

The ordinance levying and fixing the tax shall be headed by a title expressing the subject thereof, and the style of the ordinance shall be: "Be it ordained by the Board of County Commissioners of . . . . . . County, State of Washington." The ordinance shall be enacted by a major…

The legislative authority of a county that has created a public stadium authority to develop a stadium and exhibition center under RCW 36.102.050 may levy and fix a tax on any vehicle parking charges imposed at any parking facility that is part of a stadium and exhibition center,…

Public assistance generally, see Title 74 RCW.

The board of county commissioners of any county shall provide for the disposition of the remains of any indigent person including a recipient of public assistance who dies within the county and whose body is unclaimed by relatives or church organization. The board of county commi…

The county commissioners of any county may expend from the county general fund for the purpose of receiving, warehousing and distributing federal surplus commodities for the use of or assistance to recipients of public assistance or other needy families and individuals when such …

See RCW 74.04.340 through 74.04.360.

(1) Counties, cities, and towns are granted the authority, and it is hereby declared to be a public purpose for counties, cities, and towns, to establish and administer senior citizens programs either directly or by creating public corporations or authorities to carry out the pro…

On or before the second Monday in July of each year, the county auditor or chief financial officer designated in a charter county shall notify in writing each county official, elective or appointive, in charge of an office, department, service, or institution of the county, to fi…

The county commissioners shall submit to the auditor a detailed statement showing all new road and bridge construction to be financed from the county road fund, and from bond issues theretofore issued, if any, for the ensuing fiscal year, together with the cost thereof as compute…

The estimates required in RCW 36.40.010 and 36.40.020 shall be submitted on forms provided by the county auditor or chief financial officer designated in a charter county and classified according to the classification established by the state auditor. The county auditor or chief …

Upon receipt of the estimates the county auditor or chief financial officer designated in a charter county shall prepare the county budget which shall set forth the complete financial program of the county for the ensuing fiscal year, showing the expenditure program and the sourc…

The budget shall be submitted by the auditor or chief financial officer designated in a charter county to the board of county commissioners on or before the first Tuesday in September of each year. The board shall thereupon consider the same in detail, making any revisions or add…

The county legislative authority shall then publish a notice stating that it has completed and placed on file its preliminary budget for the county for the ensuing fiscal year, a copy of which will be furnished any citizen who will call at its office for it, and that it will meet…

On the first Monday in October in each year the board of county commissioners shall meet at the time and place designated in the notice, whereat any taxpayer may appear and be heard for or against any part of the budget. The hearing may be continued from day to day until conclude…