Wash. Rev. Code » Title 35 · Chapter 35.17
Revised Code of Washington

Wash. Rev. Code § 35.17.260 (2026)

✓ current as of May 2026
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Ordinances may be initiated by petition of registered voters of the city filed with the commission. If the petition accompanying the proposed ordinance is signed by the registered voters in the city equal in number to twenty-five percent of the votes cast for all candidates for mayor at the last preceding city election, and if it contains a request that, unless passed by the commission, the ordinance be submitted to a vote of the registered voters of the city, the commission shall either:
(1) Pass the proposed ordinance without alteration within twenty days after the county auditor's certificate of sufficiency has been received by the commission; or
(2) Immediately after the county auditor's certificate of sufficiency for the petition is received, cause to be called a special election to be held on the next election date, as provided in RCW 29A.04.330, provided that the resolution deadline for that election has not passed, for submission of the proposed ordinance without alteration, to a vote of the people unless a general election will occur within ninety days, in which event submission must be made on the general election ballot.
[ 2015 c 146 s 5; 2015 c 53 s 29; 1996 c 286 s 4; 1965 c 7 s 35.17.260. Prior: 1911 c 116 s 21, part; RRS s 9110, part.]

Notes:

Reviser's note: This section was amended by 2015 c 53 s 29 and by 2015 c 146 s 5, each without reference to the other. Both amendments are incorporated in the publication of this section under RCW 1.12.025(2). For rule of construction, see RCW 1.12.025(1).
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 10 cases (1 in the last 5 years), 1955–2021 · leading case: Mukilteo Citizens v. City of Mukilteo, 272 P.3d 227 (Wash. 2012).
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Mukilteo Citizens v. City of Mukilteo, 272 P.3d 227 (Wash. 2012). · cites it 12× “See RCW 35.17.260; RCW 29A.72.290. RCW 35.17.”
State v. Evergreen Freedom Found., 432 P.3d 805 (Wash. 2019). · cites it 4× “See RCW 35.17.260. If the petition contains the required number of valid signatures, the city's or the town's council or commission must either pass the proposed ordinance or submit the proposition to a vote ofthe people.”
City of Sequim v. Malkasian, 138 P.3d 943 (Wash. 2006). · cites it 3× “RCW 35.17.260. The sponsor must file an initiative petition in the proper form, RCW 35.”
City of Sequim v. Malkasian, 157 Wash. 2d 251 (Wash. 2006). · cites it 2× “RCW 35.17.260. The sponsor must file an initiative petition in the proper form, RCW 35.”
City of Yakima v. Huza, 407 P.2d 815 (Wash. 1965). · cites it 6× “The statutes invoked by respondent are: RCW 35.17.260: Ordinances may be initiated by petition of electors of the city filed with the commission.”
Edmonds Shopping Ctr. Assocs. v. City of Edmonds, 71 P.3d 233 (Wash. Ct. App. 2003). “Dykes next argues that because the ordinance affects land uses, the city was required to comply with the public participation requirements of the Growth Management Act in RCW 36.”
Shamley v. City of Olympia, 286 P.2d 702 (Wash. 1955). “RCW 35.17.260], when the petition accompanying the proposed ordinance is signed by registered voters equal in number to twenty-five per cent of the vote cast for all candidates for mayor at the last preceding city election (in this instance fourteen hundred eighty'were…”
In re Recall of Sawant, 483 P.3d 752 (Wash. 2021). “at 793; see also RCW 35.17.260. “If the petition contains the required number of valid signatures, the city’s or the town’s council or commission must either pass the proposed ordinance or submit the proposition to a vote of the people.”
State Of Washington v. Evergreen Freedom Found. (Wash. Ct. App. 2017). · cites it 4× “At the local level, RCW 35.17.260 allows ordinances to be initiated by petition of a city’s registered voters filed with the city commission.”
Edmonds Shopping Ctr. Ass'n v. City of Edmonds, 71 P.3d 233 (Wash. Ct. App. 2003). “Dykes next argues that because the ordinance affects land uses, the City was required to comply with the public participation requirements of the Growth Management Act in RCW 36.”
— Wash. Rev. Code § 35.17.260(1) — 1 case
State Of Washington v. Evergreen Freedom Found. (Wash. Ct. App. 2017). “At the local level, RCW 35.17.260 allows ordinances to be initiated by petition of a city’s registered voters filed with the city commission.”
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