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› Summary of Special Purpose District Formation and Governance
Summary of Special Purpose District Formation and Governance
| District | Enabling Statute (RCW) | Formation | Governance | |
| Districts with Statutorily Designated Governing Body | ||||
| Agricultural - Weeds and Pests | ||||
| 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 | |
| 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 | |
| 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 | |
| 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 District, 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 | |
| Flood Control Districts - See Ch. 85.38 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 | ||||
| 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 | |
| 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 | |
| Mosquito Control Districts | Ch. 17.28 RCW | Petition-10% or resolution; hearing; election | Appointed board of 5 trustees - composition set by statute | |
| 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 | |
| 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 | |
| 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 or 7 elected directors | |
| Joint School Districts | Ch. 28A.323 RCW | |||
| Shellfish Protection Districts - "Clean Water Districts" | Ch. 90.72 RCW | Motion of county; election | County legislative authority | |
| 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 District | 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 | |
| Districts Created for Funding Purposes - No Separate Governing Board Designated | ||||
| Apportionment District (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 Area | Ch. 35.81 RCW, Ch. 218 Laws of 2002 | Ordinance or resolution | Appointed board or local governing body or other board | |
| County Road District | 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 | ||
| Industrial Development Districts (Ports) - to develop marginal area properties | Ch. 53.25 RCW | Hearing | Not specified | |
| Lake 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 | |
| River & Harbor Improvement Districts | Ch. 88.32 RCW | Petition - 100 freeholders owning land | Appointed by U.S. govt | |
| Solid Waste Collection Districts | Ch. 36.58A RCW | Hearing; UTC investigation | None specified | |
| Solid Waste Disposal Districts | RCW 36.58.100 | Hearing, ordinance | County governing body | |
| Other Types of Special Governments | ||||
| Legal Authorities (Hydroelectric) - Irrigation Districts - Interlocal | RCW 87.03.825 - .840 | Interlocal agreement | Interlocal agreement | |
| Metropolitan Municipal Corporations | Ch. 35.58 RCW & Ch. 36.56 RCW | Resolution or petition - 4%; election | Metropolitan council composition outlined by statute | |
| Operating Agencies (Electricity Generation and Distribution, Cities & PUD) - Interlocal | Ch. 43.52 RCW | Interlocal agreement | Interlocal agreement | |