skip navigation
Share this:


Special Purpose Districts in Washington

In Washington State, special purpose districts are limited purpose local governments separate from a city, town, or county government. Generally, they perform a single function, though some perform a limited number of functions. They provide an array of services and facilities including electricity, fire protection, flood control, health, housing, irrigation, parks and recreation, library, water-sewer service and more recently stadiums, convention centers, and entertainment facilities that are not otherwise available from city or county governments.

Over the years, the Washington legislature has enabled more than 80 different special purpose districts. The number of special district statutes counted may vary depending on the definition of a special district.

Once thought of as existing only in unincorporated portions of counties, many district statutes allow the inclusion of cities and towns. Some districts have provisions for a county-wide district, some are multi-county, while others provide for interlocal cooperation agreements.

The pages below provide an overview of special purpose districts, including information on their formation and dissolution, elections, and lists of existing special purpose districts and types.


Contents

Overview

  • What is a Special Purpose District? - Overview of the various ways in which the term "special purpose district" has been defined in Washington State and sets out criteria to distinguish special districts with autonomous governing bodies from other types of districts.
  • Special Purpose Districts Overview - Chart providing name of district, classification, date of legislation and citation, the purpose of the district, method of formation, governance, funding, and estimated number of existing districts.
  • Types of Special Purpose Districts - Includes the types of districts authorized by the state legislature, categorized by general purpose and function.

Existing Special Purpose Districts

Organization

Recommended Resources


Last Modified: January 20, 2023