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Types of Special Purpose Districts in Washington State
This page lists the types of special purpose districts authorized by statute in Washington State by general function. Some districts serve multiple functions and may appear under multiple categories.
It is part of MRSC's series on Special Purpose Districts in Washington.
Agricultural Districts (Irrigation and Reclamation)
District Type |
Enabling Statute |
Year Created |
Purpose |
Board of Joint Control (Irrigation districts and other entities) |
Ch. 87.80 RCW |
1949 |
Administer water supply system of two or more irrigation entities and promotes more effective/efficient water management. |
Diking, Drainage, and Irrigation Improvement District (or Drainage and Irrigation Improvement District) |
Ch. 85.22 RCW |
1933 |
Provide irrigation, in addition to normal powers of diking or drainage district. |
Irrigation District |
Ch. 87.03 RCW |
1890 |
Provide irrigation, develop electrical generating facilities, purchase and sell electricity, provide street lighting, provide sewer and domestic water systems. |
Irrigation and Rehabilitation District |
Ch. 87.84 RCW |
1961 |
Convert certain irrigation districts to further recreational potential of larger lakes, improve inland lakes and shorelines. |
Reclamation and Irrigation District in Reclamation Areas |
Ch. 89.12 RCW |
1943 |
Provide for participation in federal reclamation projects. |
Reclamation District of One Million Acres |
Ch. 89.30 RCW |
1927 |
Reclamation and improvement of arid and semiarid lands and for the generation and/or sale of hydroelectric energy. |
Agricultural Districts (Pest and Weed Control)
District Type |
Enabling Statute |
Year Created |
Purpose |
Agricultural Pest District |
Ch. 17.12 RCW |
1919 |
Destroy/exterminate animals that destroy/interfere with agricultural plants or products. |
Horticultural Pest and Disease Board (Horticultural Assessment) |
Ch. 15.09 RCW |
1969 |
Provide funds for inspecting and disinfecting horticultural or agricultural produces and horticultural premises. |
Mosquito Control District |
Ch. 17.28 RCW |
1957 |
Abate or exterminate mosquitoes. |
Weed District |
Ch. 17.04 RCW |
1921 |
Control, prevent, and exterminate weeds found detrimental to crops, fruit trees, shrubs, foliage, or other agricultural plants or foliage. |
Intercounty Weed District |
Ch. 17.06 RCW |
1959 |
Provide for joint weed control program in all or any part of two or more counties. |
Diking, Drainage, and Flood Control Districts
District Type |
Enabling Statute |
Year Created |
Purpose |
Diking District |
Ch. 85.05 RCW |
1895 |
Straighten, widen, deepen and improve all rivers, watercourses or streams, construct diking system to protect land from overflow. |
Diking, Drainage, and Irrigation Improvement District (or Drainage and Irrigation Improvement District) |
Ch. 85.22 RCW |
1933 |
Provide irrigation, in addition to normal powers of diking or drainage district. |
Diking, Drainage, and Sewerage Improvement District |
Ch. 85.08 RCW; Ch. 85.15 RCW |
1913 |
Improve dikes, ditches, sewers, and related facilities. |
Diking or Drainage Improvement District |
Ch. 85.20 RCW |
1917 |
Establish diking or drainage system. |
Drainage District |
Ch. 85.06 RCW |
1895 |
Establish drainage system. |
Flood Control by Counties Jointly - 1913 Act (Intercounty) |
Ch. 86.13 RCW |
1913 |
Help control flooding on a river or its tributaries that border two counties. |
Flood Control District |
Ch. 86.09 RCW |
1937 |
Protect life and property, preserve public health, and conserve and develop natural resources. |
Flood Control Zone District |
Ch. 86.15 RCW |
1961 |
Undertake, operate, or maintain flood control projects/storm water control projects for areas of the county. |
Intercounty Diking and Drainage District |
Ch. 85.24 RCW |
1909 |
Establish diking and drainage systems or erect flood dams to prevent inundations on land located in two or more counties. |
Economic Development Districts
District Type |
Enabling Statute |
Year Created |
Purpose |
Apportionment District (Community Redevelopment Act) |
Ch 39.88 RCW, ruled unconstitutional by Leonard v. Spokane, 127 Wn. 2nd 195 (1995) |
1982 |
Allocate a portion of regular property taxes for limited periods of time to assist in the financing of public improvements. |
Community Facilities District |
Ch. 36.145 RCW |
2010 |
Provide financing for community facilities and infrastructure. |
Community Renewal Area |
Ch. 35.81 RCW |
2002 |
Provide financing to rehabilitate blighted areas. |
Cultural Arts, Stadium, and Convention District |
Ch. 67.38 RCW |
1982 |
Construct, modify, renovate, and operate facilities for cultural arts, stadium, and convention uses. |
Metropolitan Municipal Corporation |
Ch. 35.58 RCW; Ch. 36.56 RCW (assumption of powers) |
1957 |
Provide essential services in metropolitan areas not adequately provided by existing agencies, including performing comprehensive planning. Other authorized responsibilities include water pollution abatement and providing water supply, garbage disposal, parks and recreation, and/or public transportation. |
Port District |
Title 53 RCW |
1911 |
Acquire, construct, maintain, operate, develop, and regulate system of harbor improvements and related facilities. Acquire and construct toll bridges, tunnels, and beltline railways. Establish industrial development districts. |
Port District - Industrial Development District |
Ch. 53.25 RCW |
1939 |
Provide funding for developing or redeveloping marginal area properties. |
Public Facilities District |
Ch. 36.100 RCW (counties), Ch. 35.57 RCW (cities/towns) |
1988 (counties), 1999 (cities/towns) |
Acquire, construct, and operate sports facilities, entertainment facilities, convention facilities or regional centers and related parking facilities. |
Public Stadium Authority |
Ch. 36.102 RCW |
1997 |
Develop a stadium and exhibition center. |
Public Waterway District |
Ch. 91.08 RCW |
1911 |
Provide funding for owners of lands bordering upon/accessible to any navigable water to improve waterways. |
River and Harbor Improvement District |
Ch. 88.32 RCW |
1903 |
Fund any river, lake, canal, or harbor improvement proposed by the federal government. |
Environmental Protection Districts
District Type |
Enabling Statute |
Year Created |
Purpose |
Air Pollution Control Authority |
Ch. 70A.15 RCW |
1957, 1967 |
Statewide program of air pollution prevention and control. |
Aquifer Protection Area |
Ch. 36.36 RCW |
1985 |
Fund the protection, preservation and rehabilitation of subterranean water. |
Conservation District |
Ch. 89.08 RCW |
1939 |
Conserve soil resources, prevent floodwater and sediment damage. |
Lake and Beach Management District |
Ch. 36.61 RCW; RCW 35.21.403 |
1986 (lakes), 2008 (beaches) |
Improve and maintain lakes and beaches. |
Metropolitan Municipal Corporation |
Ch. 35.58 RCW; Ch. 36.56 RCW (assumption of powers) |
1957 |
Provide essential services in metropolitan areas not adequately provided by existing agencies, including water pollution abatement. Other authorized responsibilities include providing water supply, public transportation, garbage disposal, parks and recreation, and/or comprehensive planning services. |
Shellfish Protection District - "Clean Water District" |
Ch. 90.72 RCW |
1985 |
Protect shellfish industry from pollution. |
Fire Districts
District Type |
Enabling Statute |
Year Created |
Purpose |
Fire Protection District |
Title 52 RCW |
1933 |
Eliminate fire hazards and protect life and property outside cities/towns, except where cities/towns have annexed. |
Regional Fire Protection Service Authority |
Ch. 52.26 RCW |
2004 |
Provide regional fire protection service delivery, enhanced funding options, and new authority to address critical fire protection projects and emergency services. |
Library Districts
District Type |
Enabling Statute |
Year Created |
Purpose |
Intercounty Rural Library District |
RCW 27.12.090 |
1947 |
Provide library service throughout multiple counties. |
Island Library District |
RCW 27.12.400 - .450 |
1982 |
Provide library service for all areas outside of incorporated cities and towns on a single island only. |
Library Capital Facility Area |
Ch. 27.15 RCW |
1995 |
Provide funding for construction of capital library facilities. |
Regional Library |
RCW 27.12.080 |
1941 |
Provide library services to two or more counties or other governmental units through interlocal contract. |
Rural County Library District |
RCW 27.12.040 - .070 |
1941 |
Establish library district by joint action of two or more counties. |
Rural Partial Library District |
RCW 27.12.470 |
1993 |
Provide library services in a portion of the unincorporated area of a county. |
Park and Recreation Districts
District Type |
Enabling Statute |
Year Created |
Purpose |
Metropolitan Park District |
Ch. 35.61 RCW |
1907 |
Manage, control, improve, maintain, and acquire parks, parkways, boulevards, and recreational facilities. |
Metropolitan Municipal Corporation |
Ch. 35.58 RCW; Ch. 36.56 RCW (assumption of powers) |
1957 |
Provide essential services in metropolitan areas not adequately provided by existing agencies, including providing parks and parkways. Other authorized responsibilities include water pollution abatement and providing water supply, public transportation, garbage disposal, and/or comprehensive planning services. |
Park and Recreation District |
Ch. 36.69 RCW |
1957 |
Provide leisure time activities, facilities, and recreational facilities. |
Park and Recreation Service Area |
RCW 36.68.400 - .620 |
1963 |
Finance, acquire, construct, improve, maintain, or operate any park, senior citizen activities center, zoo, aquarium, or recreational facility. |
Joint Park and Recreation District |
RCW 36.69.420 - .460 |
1979 |
Enable park and recreation district in two or more counties. |
Irrigation and Rehabilitation District |
Ch. 87.84 RCW |
1961 |
Convert certain irrigation districts to further recreational potential of larger lakes; improve inland lakes and shorelines. |
Public Health and Hospital Districts
District Type |
Enabling Statute |
Year Created |
Purpose |
Cemetery District |
RCW 68.52.090 - .330 |
1947 |
Acquire, establish, maintain, manage, improve, and operate cemeteries. |
Emergency Medical Service District |
RCW 36.32.480 |
1979 |
Provide and fund emergency medical services. |
Health District |
Ch. 70.46 RCW |
1945 |
Provide health services. |
Mosquito Control District |
Ch. 17.28 RCW |
1957 |
Abate or exterminate mosquitoes. |
Public Hospital Capital Facility Area |
Ch. 70.265 RCW |
2009 |
Provide funding for public hospital capital facilities or capital health care facilities for counties composed entirely of islands that receive medical services from a public hospital district but are not annexed to a hospital district. |
Public Hospital District |
Ch. 70.44 RCW |
1945 |
Own and operate hospitals and other health care facilities; provide hospital and other health care services. |
Rural Public Hospital District |
RCW 70.44.450 - .460 |
1992 |
Hospital district whose geographic boundaries do not include a city with a population greater than 50,000. |
Urban Emergency Medical Service District |
RCW 35.21.762 |
1994 |
Provide emergency medical services and funding for city or town located in two counties. |
Public Housing Districts
District Type |
Enabling Statute |
Year Created |
Purpose |
Public Housing Authority |
Ch. 35.82 RCW |
1939 |
Provide housing for low-income persons. |
Joint City-County Housing Authority |
RCW 35.82.300 |
1980 |
Housing authority created by one or more counties and any city or cities within any of those counties or in another county or counties. |
School Districts
District Type |
Enabling Statute |
Year Created |
Purpose |
School District |
Ch. 28A.315 RCW |
1889 |
Establish, operate, and manage schools. |
Joint School District |
Ch. 28A.323 RCW |
1897 |
Establish, operate, and manage schools in an area that lies in more than one county |
Transportation Districts
District Type |
Enabling Statute |
Year Created |
Purpose |
City Transportation Authority (Monorail) |
Ch. 35.95A RCW |
2002 |
Construct and operate public monorail transportation system. |
County Airport District |
RCW 14.08.290 - .330 |
1945 |
Establish and operate airports or other air navigational facilities. |
County Ferry District |
RCW 36.54.110 - .200 |
2003 |
Provide passenger-only ferry service in all or part of a county. |
County Public Transportation Authority |
Ch. 36.57 RCW |
1974 |
Provide public transportation within a single county and all its cities and towns. |
County Rail District |
Ch. 36.60 RCW |
1983 |
Provide and fund improved freight rail and passenger rail service. |
County Road District |
RCW 36.75.060 |
1889 |
Provide revenue to establish, lay out, construct, alter, repair, improve, and maintain county roads. |
Metropolitan Municipal Corporation |
Ch. 35.58 RCW; Ch. 36.56 RCW (assumption of powers) |
1957 |
Provide essential services in metropolitan areas not adequately provided by existing agencies, including providing public transportation. Other authorized responsibilities include water pollution abatement and providing water supply, garbage disposal, parks and recreation, and/or comprehensive planning services. |
Public Transportation Benefit Area |
Ch. 36.57A RCW |
1975 |
Provide public transportation services with defined area. |
Regional Transit Authority |
Ch. 81.112 RCW |
1992 |
Develop and operate a high capacity transit system for two or more contiguous counties each over 400,000 population (Puget Sound). |
Road and Bridge Service District |
Ch. 36.83 RCW |
1983 |
Improve or provide capital funding for state highway improvements that a county or road district has the authority to provide. |
Transportation Benefit District |
Ch. 36.73 RCW (general); Ch. 36.74 RCW (assumption of powers); RCW 35.21.225 (cities) |
1989 |
Fund specific transportation projects identified in a local, state, or regional transportation plan. |
Regional Transportation Investment District |
Ch. 36.120 RCW |
2002 |
Provide regions with the ability to plan, select, fund, and implement (or contract for the implementation of) projects identified to meet the region's transportation and land use goals. |
Unincorporated Transportation Benefit Area |
RCW 36.57.100 - .110 |
1975 |
Provide transportation services to unincorporated areas of a county. |
Utility Districts (Water, Sewer, Electricity, Etc.)
District Type |
Enabling Statute |
Year Created |
Purpose |
Irrigation District |
Ch. 87.03 RCW |
1890 |
Provide irrigation, develop electrical generating facilities, purchase and sell electricity, provide street lighting, provide sewer and domestic water systems. |
Legal Authority (Hydroelectric) - Irrigation Districts |
RCW 87.03.825 - .840 |
1983 |
Enable cooperative development of hydroelectric generating resources by cities, towns, irrigation districts, and public utility districts. |
Metropolitan Municipal Corporation |
Ch. 35.58 RCW; Ch. 36.56 RCW (assumption of powers) |
1957 |
Provide essential services in metropolitan areas not adequately provided by existing agencies, including providing water supply and garbage disposal. Other authorized responsibilities include water pollution abatement and providing parks and recreation, public transportation, and/or comprehensive planning services. |
Operating Agency (Electricity Generation and Distribution) |
Ch. 43.52 RCW |
1981 |
Generate, produce, transmit, deliver, exchange, purchase, or sell electric energy. |
Public Utility District |
Title 54 RCW |
1931 |
Conserve water and power resources; supply public utility service including water, electricity, sewer, and telecommunications. |
Sewerage Improvement District
(Diking, Drainage, and Sewerage Improvement District) |
Ch. 85.08 RCW; Ch. 85.15 RCW; RCW 57.04.120 (districts in a county of 40,000 to 70,000 population); RCW 57.04.130 (districts converted to water-sewer districts) |
1923 |
Plan, construct, and operate facilities to collect, treat, and dispose of sanitary, industrial, and other sewage. |
Solid Waste Collection District |
Ch. 36.58A RCW |
1971 |
Mandatory collection of solid waste in unincorporated county. |
Solid Waste Disposal District |
RCW 36.58.100 - .150 |
1982 |
Provides for and funds solid waste disposal in counties under 1 million. |
Television Reception Improvement District |
Ch. 36.95 RCW |
1971 |
Construct, maintain, and operate television and FM radio translator stations. |
Water-Sewer District (water-sewer district, water district, sewer district) |
Title 57 RCW |
1913 (water), 1941 (sewer), 1971 (consolidated) |
Furnish water supply and/or wastewater collection; purchase and maintain firefighting equipment; provide street lighting. |
Last Modified: January 06, 2023