Washington law

Municipal Laws in Washington.

Washington is primarily a "home rule" state for first-class cities under the Washington Constitution (art. XI, § 10), with broader local authority than Dillon Rule states. Washington local governments operate under Title 35 (Cities and Towns) and Title 36 (Counties). Washington's Growth Management Act (RCW 36.70A) and Shoreline Management Act (RCW 90.58) impose substantial state-level constraints on local land-use decisions — producing an active land-use-and-municipal-law practice. The Public Records Act (RCW 42.56) is one of the most aggressive in the country.