Washington · statute · Wash. Rev. Code ch. 36.32 · 83 active provisions
The term "county commissioners" when used in this title or any other provision of law shall include the governmental authority empowered to so act under the provisions of a charter adopted by any county of the state.
There is established in each county in this state a board of county commissioners. Except as provided in RCW 36.32.055 and 36.32.0552, each board of county commissioners shall consist of three qualified electors, two of whom shall constitute a quorum to do business.
The board of county commissioners of each county shall divide their county into three commissioner districts so that each district shall comprise as nearly as possible one-third of the population of the county: PROVIDED, That the territory comprised in any voting precincts of such districts shall remain compact, and sh…
(1) Except as provided otherwise in subsection (2) of this section, the terms of office of county commissioners shall be four years and shall extend until their successors are elected and qualified and assume office in accordance with RCW 29A.60.280. The terms of office of county commissioners shall be staggered so tha…
(1) Except as provided in subsection (2) of this section, the qualified electors of each county commissioner district, and they only, shall nominate from among their own number, candidates for the office of county commissioner of such commissioner district to be voted for at the following general election. Such candida…
(1) Except as provided otherwise in subsection (2) of this section or this chapter, county commissioners shall be elected by the qualified voters of the county and the person receiving the highest number of votes for the office of commissioner for the district in which he or she resides shall be declared duly elected f…
The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise.(1) "District" means a geographic area within county boundaries and designated in a county redistricting plan, as provided in RCW 36.32.054.(2) "District election" means a candidate from each district is elected…
(1) Beginning in 2022, any noncharter county with a population of four hundred thousand or more must have a board of commissioners with five members, and must use district nominations and district elections for its commissioner positions, in accordance with RCW 36.32.050.(a) By April 30, 2021, the county must establish…
(1) A county redistricting committee established under this chapter must have five members appointed in each year ending in one, as follows:(a) One member shall be appointed by the members of each of the two largest caucuses, respectively, of the house of representatives whose legislative districts are wholly or partia…
(1) Within one hundred twenty days after a redistricting committee is established under this chapter, the committee must prepare and publish a draft districting plan dividing the county into five commissioner districts. The committee must hold public meetings in preparing the draft, in compliance with chapter 42.30 RCW…
(1) The board of commissioners of any noncharter county with a population of three hundred thousand or more, and less than four hundred thousand, may cause a ballot proposition to be submitted at a general election to the voters of the county authorizing the board of commissioners to be increased to five members.(2) As…
If the ballot proposition receives majority voter approval, the size of the board of county commissioners shall be increased to five members as provided in this section.The two newly created positions shall be filled at elections to be held in the next year. The county shall, as provided in this section, be divided int…
The terms of the persons who are initially elected to positions four and five under RCW 36.32.0552 shall be as follows:(1) If the year in which the primary and general elections are held is an even-numbered year, the person elected to position four shall be elected for a two-year term, and the person elected to positio…
The commissioners in a five-member board of county commissioners shall be elected to four-year staggered terms. Each commissioner shall reside in a separate commissioner district. Each commissioner shall be nominated from a separate commissioner district by the voters of that district. Each shall be elected by the vote…
The bond of each county commissioner shall be payable to the county, and it shall be conditioned that the commissioner shall well and faithfully discharge the duties of his or her office, and not approve, audit, or order paid any illegal, unwarranted, or unjust claim against the county for personal services.
(1) The county legislative authority of each county shall hold regular meetings at the county seat or at a location designated in accordance with subsection (2) or (3) of this section to transact any business required or permitted by law.(2)(a) Any two or more county legislative authorities may hold a joint regular mee…
(1) The county legislative authority of each county may hold special meetings at the county seat or at a location designated in accordance with subsection (2) or (3) of this section to transact the business of the county. Notice of a special meeting shall be made as provided in RCW 42.30.080.(2) A special meeting may b…
The board of county commissioners at their first session after the general election shall elect one of its number to preside at its meetings. He or she shall sign all documents requiring the signature of the board, and his or her signature as chair of the board shall be as legal and binding as if all members had affixe…
The county auditor shall be the clerk of the board of county commissioners unless the board of county commissioners designates one of its employees to serve as clerk who shall attend its meetings and keep a record of its proceedings.
The legislative authorities of the several counties shall:(1) Provide for the erection and repairing of courthouses, jails, and other necessary public buildings for the use of the county;(2) Lay out, discontinue, or alter county roads and highways within their respective counties, and do all other necessary acts relati…
In addition to other authority that a county possesses, a county may provide any public improvement as defined under RCW 39.89.020, but this additional authority is limited to participating in the financing of the public improvements as provided under RCW 39.89.050.This section does not limit the authority of a county…
(1) A state licensed massage therapist seeking a county 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 county may charge a licensing or operating fee, but the fee charged a state licensed massage therapist shall not exceed th…
Nothing in this chapter shall permit the counties to adopt, by reference or by ordinance, regulations relating to the subject matter contained in chapters 19.28, 43.22, 70.79, or 70.87 RCW.
No county may establish a penalty for an act that constitutes the crime of driving while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or any drug, as provided for in RCW 46.61.502, or the crime of being in actual physical control of a motor vehicle while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or any drug, as provided…
When only two members are present at a meeting of the board, and a division takes place on any question, the matter under consideration shall be postponed to the next subsequent meeting.