Washington § 85.38.020 - Establishment of special districts — Petition or resolution — Contents.

Full text of Washington Revised Code of Washington § 85.38.020 — Establishment of special districts — Petition or resolution — Contents., with citation guidance and answers to common questions.

§ 85.38.020. Establishment of special districts — Petition or resolution — Contents.

The establishment of a special district may be initiated by either petition of the owners of property located within the proposed special district, or by resolution of the county legislative authority or authorities within which the proposed special district is located.
A petition calling for the creation of a special district, which is signed by at least ten owners of land located within the proposed district, shall be filed with the county legislative authority within which a proposed special district, or the largest portion of a special district, is located. If the proposed special district is proposed to be located within more than one county, the county legislative authority receiving the petitions shall notify the other county legislative authorities of the proposal. The petition shall set forth in general terms: (1) The objects sought by the creation of the special district; (2) the projects proposed to be completed by the special district that will accomplish these objects; (3) the boundaries of the proposed special district, which may be stated in terms of sections, townships, and ranges; and (4) any other matters deemed material by the petitioners. The jurisdiction of the county legislative authority to proceed with consideration of the creation of the proposed special district shall not be affected by the form of the petition or allegations on the petition. The petition shall be accompanied by proof of land ownership that is sufficient in the opinion of the county legislative authority to evidence the ownership of land by the petitioners within the proposed special district. A petition calling for the creation of a special district shall be accompanied by a bond of five thousand dollars to defray the costs incurred by the county, or counties, in considering the creation of the special district.
A resolution proposing the creation of a special district shall contain the same items as are required and permitted to be contained in a petition to create a special district.
[ 1985 c 396 s 3.]

Source: official Washington text · Last verified 2026-08-27

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What does Revised Code of Washington § 85.38.020 cover?

Section 85.38.020 ("Establishment of special districts — Petition or resolution — Contents.") is part of the Revised Code of Washington, the codified statutory law of Washington. It sets out the legal rule or procedure described in the text above. Statutes are amended regularly, so always verify against the official source.

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