All Topic Pages A-Z
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2025 Budget Suggestions (PDF publication)
2025 State Shared Revenue Estimator
A
Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs)
Adult Entertainment Regulation
Advisory Boards and Commissions
Affordable Housing - Table of Contents
Affordable Housing Funding Sources
Affordable Housing Techniques and Incentives
Agricultural Lands - Laws, Regulations, and Court Decisions
Alternative Public Works Contracting Methods
American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA)
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
Animal Control - Table of Contents
Annexation - Table of Contents
Annexation by Cities and Towns (PDF publication)
Annexation Methods by Cities and Towns
Appearance of Fairness Doctrine
Automated Traffic Safety Cameras
B
Background About Affordable Housing
Before You Advertise a Public Works Contract
Bidding and Awarding a Public Works Contract
Building and Property Nuisances
Building Code/Permit Administration
C
Candidate Information Resources for Local Government Elective Offices
Cannabis in the Workplace FAQs
Cemeteries and Cemetery Administration
City and County Court Services
City and Town Budget Calendars
City and Town Budget Procedures
City and Town Forms of Government
City and Town Profiles (Interactive Tool)
City Bidding Book (PDF publication)
City Business and Occupation (B&O) Taxes
City Business Licenses and Fees
City Street and Road Standards
Civil Service Court Decisions and AG Opinions
Climate Action Funding and Technical Resources
Climate Change - Table of Contents
Climate Impact Preparedness, Adaptation, and Resilience
Closest Governments to the People (PDF publication)
Code City Handbook (PDF publication)
Collection Practices for Delinquent Utility Accounts
Common Prohibitions and Exemptions for Law Enforcement Records
Community Engagement Resources
Comparison of Recreation Districts
Competitive Bidding Exemptions
Competitive Bidding for Small Works Contracts
Comprehensive Animal Control Regulations
Conflicts of Interest: Court Decisions and AG Opinions
Consumer Price Index (CPI-U and CPI-W)
Contracting and Competitive Bidding
Contracting for Services (PDF publication)
Copying Charges for Public Records
Corporate Sponsorship and Naming Policies
Council/Board of Commissioners Rules of Procedure
County Bidding Book (PDF publication)
County Commissioner Guide (PDF publication)
County Commissioner Roles and Responsibilities
County Elected and Appointed Officials
County Profiles (Interactive Tool)
Cybersecurity Resources for Local Governments
D
Development Regulations and Zoning
Direct Contracting for Small Works Contracts
Disclosure of Criminal History and Arrest Records
Disclosure of Juvenile Law Enforcement Records
Disclosure of Law Enforcement Investigative Records
Disclosure of Law Enforcement Traffic Accident and Vehicle Records
Disclosure of Law Enforcement Video Footage
Disclosure of Medical and Postmortem Law Enforcement Records
Disclosure of Personal Identifying Information in Law Enforcement Records
District-Based Elections and Redistricting
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Resources for Local Governments
Domestic Violence Leave and Volunteer Emergency Services Leave
E
Economic Development in Washington State: An Introduction
Electronic Records Policy Tool Kit
Emergency Communication Services and Facilities
Emergency Declarations and Authority
Emergency Management - Table of Contents
Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Levies
Emergency Medical Services Provision
Employee Recognition and Suggestion Award Programs
Equity and Engagement in Climate Response
Ethics and Conflicts of Interest
Exemptions and Prohibitions for Local Government Records
F
Finance Tools, Checklists, and Templates
Find Your Contracting Requirements (Interactive Tool)
Flexibility in Environmental Regulation
Forest Lands in Washington Counties
Formation and Dissolution of Special Purpose Districts
Fund Balance and Reserve Policies
G
General Obligation Debt Limits
Getting Into Office: Being Elected or Appointed (PDF publication)
Getting Started: MRSC Resources for Public Utility Districts (PUDs)
Getting Started: MRSC Resources for Water-Sewer Districts
Greenhouse Gas Reduction Strategies for Local Governments
Growth Management Act - Table of Contents
Growth Management and Planning Interlocal Agreements
Guarantees, Bonds, and Retainage
Guidance for Accessory Dwelling Units (PDF publication)
H
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act
Homeless Shelter and Housing Options
Homelessness & Housing Toolkit for Cities (PDF publication)
Homelessness Prevention & Assistance Programs
How Many Special Purpose Districts in Washington?
I
Initiative and Referendum Guide (PDF publication)
Initiative and Referendum Powers
Intergovernmental Procurement and 'Piggybacking'
Interlocal Cooperation - Table of Contents
Interlocal Cooperation in Fire Services
Interlocal Cooperation in Law Enforcement
Interlocal Cooperation in Parks and Recreation
Interlocal Cooperation in Public Works
Internal Controls for Utility Finances
Internships and Job Training Programs
J
Jail Services and Alternatives to Incarceration
K
Knowing the Territory: Basic Legal Guidelines for Local Government Officials (PDF publication)
L
Lake and Beach Management Districts
Landlord/Seller Disclosure Requirements
Law Enforcement Records Tool Kit
Leasing of Government Property for Siting of Telecommunications Facilities
Leave Laws and Policies - Table of Contents
Library Service Providers Listed by County
Light Nuisances - Ambient Light, Light Pollution, Glare
List of Emergency Medical Service Providers
List of Public Development Authorities (PDAs)
Livestock and Other Farm Animals
Local and Road Improvement Districts Manual Appendices
Local Ballot Measure Database (Interactive Tool)
Local Elections - Table of Contents
Local Elections Administration
Local Government Ballot Measures
Local Government Climate Change Documents
Local Government Emergency Planning
Local Government Fire Protection Service Providers
Local Government Fire Services - Authority and Requirements
Local Improvement Districts (LIDs)
Local Ordinances for Cities and Counties (PDF publication)
Local Transit Authorities and Funding Sources
M
Manufactured Housing Regulation and Preservation
Mayor & Councilmember Handbook (PDF publication)
Military Leave and Reemployment Rights
Miscellaneous Law Enforcement Records Exemptions and Prohibitions
Municipal Right-of-Way and Telecommunications
N
Naming Policies for Public Facilities and Streets
Natural Gas Franchise Agreements
Nonconforming Uses, Structures, and Lots
Nuisance Regulation and Abatement Authority
Nuisances on Public Property and Public Ways
O
Open Public Meetings Act - Table of Contents
Open Public Meetings Act (PDF publication)
Open Public Meetings Act Basics
OPMA Court Decisions and AG Opinions
OPMA Practice Tips and Checklists
P
Park and Recreation Special Districts Listed by County
Park Planning, Design, and Open Space
Parking and Business Improvement Areas
Parking and Storage of Oversized Vehicles
Parliamentary Procedure: A Brief Guide to Robert's Rules of Order
Personal Services & Consultant Contracts
Personal Services Contracting Manual for Ports - Appendices
Personal Services Contracting Manual for Ports (PDF publication)
Petty Cash and Other Revolving Funds
Planning a Small Works Roster Project
Planning for Economic Development
Police and Law Enforcement Personnel Management
Police and Law Enforcement Services in Cities and Towns
PRA & Records Management Technology Guide (PDF publication)
PRA Practice Tips and Checklists
Preparing to Use a Small Works Roster
Processing Public Records Requests for Electronic Records
Professional Architecture & Engineering Service Contracts
Property Rights and Regulatory Takings
Public Development Authorities (PDAs)
Public Facilities Districts (PFDs)
Public Facility Rental and Use
Public Records Act - Table of Contents
Public Records Act (PDF publication)
Public Records Act Court Decisions
Public Works Contracting Best Practices Manual (PDF publication)
Purchasing and Contracting - Table of Contents
Purchasing Materials, Equipment, and Supplies
Q
Quick Guide for Newly Elected City Officials
Quick Guide for Newly Elected County Officials
R
Real Estate Excise Taxes (REET)
Recent Attorney General Opinions of Interest to Local Governments
Recent Court Decisions of Interest to Local Governments
Regulation of Peddlers, Solicitors, Temporary Merchants, and Mobile Vendors
Regulation of Unauthorized Camping, Loitering, and Solicitation of Aid
Regulatory Takings Court Decisions
Responding to Public Records Requests
Retention of Email and Other Electronic Records
Retention Requirements for Law Enforcement Records
Revenue Guide for Washington Cities and Towns (PDF publication)
Revenue Guide for Washington Counties (PDF publication)
Roles and Responsibilities of Local Government Leaders
Rural Land Use Regulation/Development
S
Salaries, Compensation, and Benefits for Local Elected Officials
Sales Taxes in Public Works Contracts
Searching and Producing Public Records
Selected Funding Sources for Public Facilities
Sick Leave and Family/Medical Leave
Sidewalk Construction, Maintenance, and Repair
Sign Regulation Court Decisions
Site Plans and Binding Site Plans
Small Works Roster Manual 2024
Solid Waste Collection, Recycling, and Disposal
Special Purpose District Revenue Sources
Special Purpose Districts - Table of Contents
Speed Limits and Traffic Calming
State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA)
Storm and Surface Water Drainage Utilities
Streamlining Local Permit Review Procedures
Street and Road Vacation Procedures
Subdivisions Court Decisions and AG Opinions
Surplus Property for Special Purpose Districts
T
Telecommunications - Table of Contents
Tips for Managing Law Enforcement Records
Tracking Records Requests and Reporting PRA Metrics (JLARC Reporting)
Transit-Oriented Development (TOD)
Transmission Pipeline Regulation and Franchising
Transportation Benefit Districts (TBDs)
Transportation Plans and Plan Elements
Travel and Expense Reimbursement Policies
Types of Special Purpose Districts
U
Unit Priced (On Call) Public Works Contracts
Use of Public Facilities in Election Campaigns
Utility Billing - Table of Contents
Utility Charges and Property Transfers
Utility Discounts and Financial Assistance Programs
Utility Liens and Shutoffs (Interactive Tool)
Utility Service During Bankruptcy
V
Vacancies in Local Elected Offices
Vacation and Other Personal Time Off
Volunteer Programs and Policies
W
Water and Sewer Districts Listed by County
Water Resources and Water Quality
Weeds and Other Nuisance Vegetation
What Is a Special Purpose District?
Wireless Communication Facilities