STATUTORY REFERENCES FOR WASHINGTON CITIES AND TOWNS

The statutory references listed below refer the code user to state statutes applicable to Washington cities and towns. They are up to date through June 2023.

General Provisions

Adoption of codes by reference.

RCW 35.21.180

Annexations.

Chapter 35.13 RCW

Campaign finances and disclosure.

Chapter 42.17A RCW

Civil infractions.

Chapter 7.80 RCW

Classification of municipalities.

Chapters 35.01 and 35.06 RCW

Codification of ordinances.

RCW 35.21.500 through 35.21.570

Elections.

RCW Title 29A

First-class cities.

Chapter 35.22 RCW

Incorporation.

Wash. Const. Art. XI § 10 and Chapter 35.02 RCW

Miscellaneous provisions applicable to all cities and towns.

Chapter 35.21 RCW

Natural resource infractions.

Chapter 7.84 RCW

Official newspaper.

RCW 35.21.875

Penalties for ordinance violations in first-class cities.

RCW 35.22.280(35), 35.21.163 and 35.21.165

Penalties for ordinance violations in second-class cities.

RCW 35.23.440(29), 35.21.163 and 35.21.165

Penalties for ordinance violations in towns.

RCW 35.27.370(14), 35.21.163 and 35.21.165

Public records.

Chapter 42.56 RCW

Second-class cities.

Chapter 35.23 RCW

Towns.

Chapter 35.27 RCW

Unclassified cities.

Chapter 35.30 RCW

Administration and Personnel

City council in second-class cities.

RCW 35.23.181 et seq.

Code of ethics for officers.

Chapter 42.23 RCW

Commission form of government.

Chapter 35.17 RCW

Council-manager plan.

Chapter 35.18 RCW

Emergency management.

Chapter 38.52 RCW

Hearing examiner system for zoning amendments.

RCW 35A.63.170

Local government whistleblower protection.

Chapter 42.41 RCW

Municipal courts.

Chapters 3.46, 3.50 and 35.20 RCW

Officers in second-class cities.

RCW 35.23.021 et seq.

Officers in towns.

RCW 35.27.070 et seq.

Open Public Meetings Act of 1971.

Chapter 42.30 RCW

Planning commissions.

Chapter 35.63 RCW

Town council.

RCW 35.27.270 et seq.

Revenue and Finance

Accident claims and funds.

Chapter 35.31 RCW

Bonds.

Chapters 35.36, 35.37 and 35.41 RCW

Budgets.

Chapters 35.32A, 35.33 and 35.34 RCW

Depositories.

Chapter 35.38 RCW

Gambling taxes.

RCW 9.46.110 et seq.

Investment of funds.

Chapter 35.39 RCW

Leasehold excise tax.

Chapter 82.29A RCW

Local improvements.

Chapters 35.43 through 35.56 RCW

Lodging tax.

RCW 67.28.180 et seq.

Property tax in first-class cities.

RCW 35.22.280(2)

Property tax in second-class cities.

RCW 35.23.440(46)

Property tax in towns.

RCW 35.27.370(8)

Real estate excise tax.

Chapter 82.46 RCW

Retail sales and use taxes.

Chapter 82.14 RCW

State preemption of certain tax fields.

RCW 82.02.020

Tax on admissions.

RCW 35.21.280

Validation and funding of debts.

Chapter 35.40 RCW

Business Licenses, Taxes and Regulations

Ambulance business taxes.

RCW 35.21.768

Auctioneers.

RCW 35.21.690

Cabarets.

RCW 66.28.080

Cable television.

Chapter 35.99 RCW

First-class city licenses.

RCW 35.22.280(32) and (33)

Freight carrier taxes.

RCW 35.21.840 through 35.21.850

Gambling.

Chapters 9.46 and 9.47 RCW

License fees or taxes on telephone businesses.

RCW 35.21.712 through 35.21.715

Liquor.

RCW 66.08.120 and 66.44.010

Massage therapists.

RCW 35.21.692

Municipal business and occupation tax.

Chapter 35.102 RCW

Newspaper carriers.

RCW 35.21.696

Second-class city licenses.

RCW 35.23.440(2) through (8)

Town licenses.

RCW 35.27.370(9)

Uniform license fee or tax rate.

RCW 35.21.710 and 35.21.711

Animals

Animals and livestock.

RCW Title 16

Cruelty to animals.

Chapter 16.52 RCW

Dangerous dogs.

RCW 16.08.070 et seq.

Power of second-class cities to regulate.

RCW 35.23.440(11)

Power of towns to regulate.

RCW 35.27.370(7)

Health and Safety

Controlled substances; cannabis.

Chapter 69.50 RCW

Fireworks.

Chapter 70.77 RCW

Garbage collection and disposal.

RCW 35.21.120 et seq. and Chapter 35.67 RCW

Generally.

RCW Title 70

Local health boards and officers.

Chapter 70.05 RCW

Medical cannabis.

Chapter 69.51A RCW

Waste reduction, recycling and litter control.

Chapter 70A.200 RCW

Public Peace, Morals and Welfare

Crimes and punishments.

RCW Title 9

Discrimination.

Chapter 49.60 RCW

Drunkenness and substance use.

RCW 71.24.575

Juvenile curfew.

RCW 35.21.635

Washington Criminal Code.

RCW Title 9A

Vehicles and Traffic

Accident reports.

Chapter 46.52 RCW

Model traffic ordinance.

Chapter 46.90 RCW

Motor vehicles.

RCW Title 46

Penalties for driving while intoxicated.

RCW 35.21.165

Streets, Sidewalks and Public Property

Local improvements.

Chapters 35.43 through 35.56 RCW

Metropolitan park districts.

Chapter 35.61 RCW

Sidewalk construction.

Chapters 35.68 through 35.70 RCW

Street construction and maintenance.

Chapters 35.72 through 35.79 RCW

Public Services

Municipal utilities.

Chapter 35.92 RCW

Municipal Water and Sewer Facilities Act.

Chapter 35.91 RCW

Sewer systems.

Chapter 35.67 RCW

Water or sewer districts, assumption of jurisdiction.

Chapter 35.13A RCW

Buildings and Construction

Development impact fees.

RCW 82.02.050 et seq.

Electrical construction.

Chapter 19.29 RCW

Electricians and electrical installations.

Chapter 19.28 RCW

Energy-related building standards.

Chapter 19.27A RCW

State building code.

Chapter 19.27 RCW

Unfit dwellings, buildings and structures.

Chapter 35.80 RCW

Subdivisions

Hearing examiner system for plat approval.

RCW 58.17.330

Short plats and short subdivisions.

RCW 58.17.060 et seq.

Subdivisions generally.

Chapter 58.17 RCW

Zoning

Generally.

RCW 35.63.080 et seq.

Growth management.

Chapter 36.70A RCW

Hearing examiner system for zoning applications.

RCW 35.63.130

Judicial review of land use decisions.

Chapter 36.70C RCW