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› Summary of Special Purpose District Formation and Governance
Updated 12/2008
Summary of Special Purpose District Formation and Governance
| Districts with Statutorily Designated Governing Body | ||||
| District | Enabling Statute (RCW) | Formation | Governance | |
| Air Pollution Control Authorities | Ch. 70.94 RCW | Petition - 100 property owners or motion by county; hearing | Board of directors, appointed; composition designated by statute | |
| Airport Districts, County | RCW 14.08.290-.330 | Application - 100 voters; election; resolution | Board of county commissioners or 3 elected airport commissioners | |
| Cemetery Districts | Ch. 68.52 RCW | Petition - 15% voters; hearing; election | Cemetery board, 3 elected cemetery commissioners | |
| Conservation Districts | Ch. 89.08 RCW | Petition - 10% voters; hearing by Conservation Commission; election | Board of 5 supervisors, 3 elected, 2 appointed by commission | |
| County Rail Districts | Ch. 36.60 RCW | Hearing; resolution | County legislative authority | |
| Cultural Arts, Stadium, and Convention Districts | Ch. 67.38 RCW | Resolution or petition -10%; hearing; election | Outlined in resolution; statutes specify who should be represented | |
| Diking and Drainage Districts | Title 85 RCW | Resolution or petition -10%; investigation by county engineer; hearing; election | Governing body composed of 3 elected members | |
| Diking & Drainage Districts in Two or More Counties (Intercounty Diking and Drainage Districts) | Ch. 85.24 RCW | |||
| Diking District | Ch. 85.05 RCW | Resolution or petition of 10 property owners; feasibility determination by county engineer; hearing; election pursuant to Ch. 85.38 RCW | Board of 3 elected dike commissioners | |
| Diking & Drainage Districts in Two or More Counties (Intercounty Diking and Drainage Districts) | Ch. 85.24 RCW | Resolution or petition of 10 property owners; feasibility determination by county engineers; hearing; election pursuant to Ch. 85.38 RCW | Board of 3 district commissioners, initially appointed; elected per 85.38 RCW | |
| Diking, Drainage and Irrigation Improvement District; Drainage and Irrigation Improvement district - Improvement Districts - 1933 Act | Ch. 85.22 RCW | Petition signed by district commissioners; election | 3 elected supervisors; commissioners of old district become supervisors of new district | |
| Drainage District | Ch. 85.06 RCW | Resolution or petition of 10 property owners; feasibility determination by county engineer; hearing; election pursuant to Ch. 85.38 RCW | Board of 3 elected commissioners; consolidated districts could retain 5 member board | |
| Reorganization of Diking or Drainage Districts into Improvement Districts - 1917 Act | Ch. 85.20 RCW | Petition signed by district commissioners; election | Board of commissioners becomes board of supervisors | |
| Diking, Drainage, Sewerage Improvement Districts Funding methods revised by Diking, Drainage, and Sewerage Improvement Districts - 1967 Act | Ch. 85.08 RCW, Ch. 85.15 RCW | Petition, resolution or petition of 10 property owners; feasibility determination by county engineer; hearing; election pursuant to Ch. 85.38 RCW. If less than 500 acres petition of 50% of acreage | Board of 3 elected supervisors, initially appointed then elected by ch. 85.38.RCW; if less than 500 acres county engineer will be sole supervisor of the district | |
| Emergency Medical Service Districts | RCW 36.32.480 | Hearing; ordinance | County legislative authority or interlocal agreement | |
| Urban Emergency Medical Services District | RCW 35.21.762 | Hearing; ordinance | City or town council, acting in an ex officio capacity and independently | |
| Emergency Service Communication Districts | Legislative authority establishes (ordinance or resolution) | County legislative authority | ||
| Fire Protection Districts | Title 52 RCW | Petition -10%; hearing; election | Board of fire commissioners; 3 or 5 elected commissioners; can be elected by commissioner districts see RCW 52.14.013 | |
| Regional Fire Protection Service Authority | Ch. 52.26 RCW | Any two or more adjacent fire protection jurisdictions convene a planning committee and create a plan; resulting plan submitted to voters | Designated by the fire protection services authority plan | |
| Flood Control Districts - See Ch. 85.38 RCW for Formation and Organization of District | Resolution or petition -10%; investigation by county engineer; hearing; election | Governing body composed of 3 elected members | ||
| Flood Control Districts - 1937 Act | Ch. 86.09 RCW | Petition, resolution or petition of 10 property owners; feasibility determination by county engineer; hearing; election pursuant to Ch. 85.38 RCW. If less than 500 acres petition of 50% of acreage | Board of 3 district commissioners, initially appointed; elected per Ch. 85.38 RCW | |
| Flood Control by Counties Jointly - 1913 Act (Intercounty) | Ch. 86.13 RCW | Resolution; interlocal contract | Boards of county commissioners; interlocal contract | |
| Flood Control Zone Districts | Ch. 86.15 RCW | Action of board or petition - 25% vote cast in proposed zone at last county general election | Board of county commissioners; option to elect 3 zone supervisors if district over 2000 residents | |
| Health Districts | Ch. 70.46 RCW | Resolution or ordinance of county legislative authority | Board of health - composition set by statute | |
| Housing | ||||
| Public Housing Authorities | Ch. 35.82 RCW | Resolution or petition - 25% | 5 commissioners appointed; 7 members if city more than 400,000 pop | |
| Joint City-County Housing Authorities | RCW 35.82.300 | Ordinance | Determined by ordinance | |
| Irrigation & Reclamation | Title 87 | |||
| Irrigation Districts | Ch. 87.03 RCW | Petition - 50 or majority of land owners; investigation by Department of Ecology; hearing; election | Board of directors, 3 or 5 elected directors | |
| Irrigation and Rehabilitation Districts (Conversion of irrigation district) | Ch. 87.84 RCW | Petition - 50 land owners; hearing; election | Same as irrigation district | |
| Reclamation Districts of one million acres | Ch. 89.30 RCW | Petition - 50 land owners; commission created to hear petition; election | Board of directors, number equal to number of counties participating | |
| Legal Authorities (Hydroelectric) - Irrigation Districts - Interlocal | RCW 87.03.825 - .840 | Interlocal agreement - irrigation districts and cities, towns, or public utility districts | Interlocal agreement | |
| Library Districts | Ch. 27.12 RCW | |||
| Inter-County Rural Library Districts | RCW 27.12.090 | Resolutions or joint session of counties or petition - 10%; election | Board of trustees; 5 or 7 appointed by county commissioners | |
| Island Library District | RCW 27.12.400 - .450 | Petition - 10%; hearing; election | Board of 5 trustees appointed by county commissioners | |
| Library Capital Facility Area | Ch 27.15 RCW | Request from library trustees to county commissioners; election | Three members from each county legislative body or less by agreement | |
| Regional Library | RCW 27.12.080 | Interlocal contract - two or more counties | Board of 5 or 7 trustees appointed by joint action of legislative authorities | |
| Rural County Library Districts | RCW 27.12.040 - .070 | Petition -10%; hearing; election | Board of 5 trustees appointed by county commissioners | |
| Rural Partial Library District | RCW 27.12.470 | Petition -10%; hearing; election | Board of 5 Trustees appointed by county commissioners | |
| Metropolitan Municipal Corporations | Ch. 35.58 RCW & Ch. 36.56 RCW | Resolution or petition - 4%; election | Metropolitan council composition outlined by statute | |
| Mosquito Control Districts | Ch. 17.28 RCW | Petition-10% or resolution; hearing; election | Appointed board of 5 trustees - composition set by statute | |
| Operating Agencies (Electricity Generation and Distribution, Cities & PUD) - Interlocal | Ch. 43.52 RCW | Interlocal agreement | Interlocal agreement | |
| Park & Recreation | ||||
| Metropolitan Park District | Ch. 35.61 RCW | Resolution or petition -15% | One of three forms | |
| Park & Recreation Districts | Ch. 36.69 RCW | Resolution or petition-15%; hearing; election | Board of 5 elected commissioners | |
| Joint Park & Recreation Districts | RCW 36.69.420 -.460 | Petition-15%; hearing in each county; election in each county | Board of 5 elected commissioners | |
| Park & Recreation Service Areas | RCW 36.68.400 - .620 | Resolution or petition -10%; feasibility study; election | County legislative authority, acting ex officio and independently | |
| Port Districts | Title 53 RCW | Initiated by county legislative authority or petition - 10%; hearing; election | Port commission of 3 or 5 elected members from commissioner districts; commissioner district may be eliminated for less than county-wide district, see RCW 53.12.021 | |
| Public Facilities Districts | Ch. 36.100 RCW for counties, Ch. 35.57 RCW cities/towns | Resolution or interlocal agreement | Appointed board of directors; 5 or 7 members; membership composition set by statute | |
| Public Hospital Districts | Ch. 70.44 RCW | Resolution or petition -10%; election | Board of elected commissioners; 3, 5, or 7 commissioner districts; See also RCW 70.44.054 | |
| Rural Public Hospital District (defined) | RCW 70.44.450-.460 | |||
| Public Stadium Authority | Ch. 36.102 RCW | Resolution | Board of appointed directors; composition set by statute | |
| Public Utility Districts | Title 54 RCW | Resolution or petition -10%; election | Election commission of 3 or 5 commissioner districts | |
| Roads & Bridges Service Districts | Ch. 36.83 RCW | Hearing; resolution or ordinance | 3 member appointed commission | |
| School Districts | Ch. 28A.315 RCW | Petition or proposal from ESD or school board motion; hearing by regional committee; may require election See Ch. 28A.315.265. | Board of 5 elected directors; 7 for Seattle No. 1. Directors elected by director districts with some at large (varies by district) | |
| Joint School Districts | Ch. 28A.323 RCW | |||
| Solid Waste Disposal Districts | RCW 36.58.100 | Hearing, ordinance | County governing body | |
| Television Assessment Districts | Ch. 36.95 RCW | Petition - 50% | If district less that full county, Board of 3,5-9 appointed members; if same as county then county commissioners | |
| Transportation (Mass Transit) | ||||
| City Transportation Authority (Monorail) | Ch. 35.95A RCW, Ch. 248 Laws 2002 | Ordinance or petition -1%; election | Appointed or elected depending on ballot proposition | |
| County Public Transportation Authority | Ch. 36.57 RCW | Resolution | Appointed; membership set by statute | |
| Ferry District, Passenger-only (County over 1 million population) | Ch. 83 Laws 2003 | Hearing; ordinance | County legislative authority acting ex officio | |
| Public Transportation Benefit Area | Ch. 36.57A RCW | Resolution or petition -10% to call a conference; hearing; resolution of conference | Selected by participants; membership set out in statutes | |
| Regional Transit Authorities | RCW 81.112 | Interlocal agreement; resolution | Board of appointed representatives; membership set by statute | |
| Regional Transportation Investment District | Ch. 36.120 RCW | Committee created; election | Members of each legislative authority acting ex officio and independently | |
| Unincorporated Transportation Benefit Areas (UTBA) | RCW 36.57.100 | |||
| Transportation Benefit Districts | Ch. 36.73 RCW; RCW 35.21.225 for city | Hearing; ordinance | County or city legislative authority acting ex officio or interlocal agreement if more than one jurisdiction | |
| Water-Sewer Districts (water-sewer district, water district, sewer district) | Title 57 RCW (districts reclassified, formerly Sewer Title 56, Water Title 57), reclassification 1997 | Petition -10% or resolution if public health necessity hearing; election | 3, 5, or 7 elected members; can be elected by commissioner districts, see RCW 57.12.039 | |
| Weed Districts | Ch. 17.04 RCW | Petition owners - 50% of acreage; hearing; resolution | Board of directors, 3 elected directors | |
| Inter-County Regular Weed Districts | Ch. 17.06 RCW | Petition owners - 50% of acreage; hearing; order | Board of directors, 3 elected directors | |
| Districts Created for Funding Purposes, But Do Not Have Independent Governing Boards | ||||
| District | Enabling Statute (RCW) | Formation | Governance | |
| Agricultural Pest Districts | Ch. 17.12 RCW | Petition - ten or more resident freeholders; hearing | Supervision by agricultural expert or commissioner of district acting ex officio | |
| Apportionment Districts (Community Redevelopment financing Act) | Ch 39.88 RCW, Ruled unconstitutional by Leonard v. Spokane, 127 Wn. 2nd 195 (1995) | |||
| Aquifer Protection Areas | Ch. 36.36 RCW | Hearing; election | Not specified | |
| Community Renewal Areas | Ch. 35.81 RCW, Ch. 218 Laws of 2002 | Ordinance or resolution | Appointed board or local governing body or other board | |
| County Road District s | RCW 36.75.060 | County commissioners can create up to 9 districts, one road district in each county commissioner's district | Not specified | |
| County Road Improvement District | Ch. 36.88 RCW | Resolution; hearing; election | Not specified | |
| Flood Control by Counties (River Improvement Fund) | Ch. 86.12 RCW | Not specified | ||
| Horticultural Pest and Disease Board (Horticultural Assessment) | Ch. 15.09 RCW | Petition or motion of county commissioners; hearing | Horticultural pest and disease board, 4 appt by county 1 by Director of Agriculture | |
| Industrial Development Districts (Ports) - to develop marginal area properties | Ch. 53.25 RCW | Hearing | Not specified | |
| Lake and Beach Management Districts | Ch. 36.61 RCW; RCW 35.21.403 | Resolution or petition -10 land owners or 15% acreage whichever is greater; hearing; election | Not specified | |
| Public Waterway Districts | Ch. 91.08 RCW | Petition - 35%; hearing | County board of commissioners | |
| Flood Control by Counties River & Harbor Improvement Fund |
Ch. 88.32 RCW | Petition - 100 freeholders owning land | Appointed by U.S. govt | |
| Shellfish Protection Districts - "Clean Water Districts" | Ch. 90.72 RCW | Motion of county; election | County legislative authority | |
| Solid Waste Collection Districts | Ch. 36.58A RCW | Hearing; UTC investigation | None specified | |
Special Purpose Districts listed are defined as political subdivisions of the state and come into existence, acquire legal rights and duties, and are dissolved in accordance with statutory procedures. Enabling legislation sets forth the purpose of the district, procedures for formation, powers, functions and duties, composition of the governing body, methods of finance, and other provisions. The districts are usually quasi-municipal corporations though some are statutorily defined as municipal corporations. The are often designated in the statutes as a public body corporate and a taxing authority.
Related MRSC Resources
MRSC Index - Special Purpose Districts - General