Wash. Rev. Code » Title 36 · Chapter 36.16
Revised Code of Washington

Wash. Rev. Code § 36.16.030 (2026)

Elective county officers enumerated

✓ current as of May 2026
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Except as provided elsewhere in this section, in every county there shall be elected from among the qualified voters of the county a county assessor, a county auditor, a county clerk, a county coroner, three county commissioners, a county prosecuting attorney, a county sheriff, and a county treasurer, except that in each county with a population of less than forty thousand the county legislative authority may determine that no coroner shall be elected and instead appoint a coroner. In a county with a population of two hundred fifty thousand or more, the county legislative authority may replace the office of coroner with a medical examiner system and appoint a medical examiner as specified in RCW 36.24.190. Any county may enter into an interlocal agreement under chapter 39.34 RCW with an adjoining county for the provision of coroner or medical examiner services. A noncharter county may have five county commissioners as provided in RCW 36.32.010 and 36.32.055 through * 36.32.0558.
[ 2021 c 127 s 4; (2021 c 127 s 5 expired January 1, 2025); 2015 c 53 s 61; 1996 c 108 s 1; 1991 c 363 ss 46, 47; 1990 c 252 s 8; 1963 c 4 s 36.16.030. Prior: 1955 c 157 s 5; prior: (i) Code 1881 s 2707; 1869 p 310 ss 1-3; 1863 p 549 ss 1-3; 1854 p 424 ss 1-3; RRS s 4083. (ii) Code 1881 s 2738; 1863 p 552 s 1; 1854 p 426 s 1; RRS s 4106. (iii) 1891 c 5 s 1; RRS s 4127. (iv) 1890 p 478 s 1; 1886 p 164 s 1; 1883 p 39 s 1; Code 1881 s 2752; 1869 p 402 s 1; 1854 p 428 s 1; RRS s 4140. (v) 1943 c 139 s 1; Code 1881 s 2766; 1863 p 557 s 1; 1854 p 434 s 1; Rem. Supp. 1949 s 4155. (vi) Code 1881 s 2775, part; 1863 p 559 s 1, part; 1854 p 436 s 1, part; RRS s 4176, part. (vii) 1933 c 136 s 2; 1925 ex.s. c 148 s 2; RRS s 4200-2a. (viii) 1937 c 197 s 1; 1933 c 136 s 3; 1925 ex.s. c 148 s 3; RRS s 4200-3a. (ix) 1937 c 197 s 2; 1933 c 136 s 4; 1925 ex.s. c 148 s 4; RRS s 4200-4a. (x) 1927 c 37 s 1; 1890 p 304 s 2; RRS s 4205-1.]

Notes:

*Reviser's note: RCW 36.32.0558 was repealed by 2025 c 133 s 1.
Effective date—2021 c 127 ss 4 and 6: "Sections 4 and 6 of this act take effect January 1, 2025." [ 2021 c 127 s 9.]
Expiration date—2021 c 127 s 5: "Section 5 of this act expires January 1, 2025." [ 2021 c 127 s 10.]
Effective dates—1991 c 363 ss 28, 29, 33, 47, 131: See note following RCW 28A.343.660.
Purpose—Captions not law—1991 c 363: See notes following RCW 2.32.180.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 15 cases (3 in the last 5 years), 1976–2025 · leading case: Carrick v. Locke, 882 P.2d 173 (Wash. 1994).
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Carrick v. Locke, 882 P.2d 173 (Wash. 1994). · cites it 2× “RCW 36.16.030. An inquest conducted by an officer under the direct control of the County Executive could not provide the necessary assurances of impartiality the public expects from an inquest.”
Deputy Sheriff's Ass'n v. Bd. of Commissioners for Yakima Cnty., 601 P.2d 936 (Wash. 1979). · cites it 2× “130 with RCW 36.16.030. However, in King County, the chief law enforcement officer is appointed.”
Broyles v. Thurston Cnty., 195 P.3d 985 (Wash. Ct. App. 2008). “RCW 36.16.030; State v. Whitney, 9 Wash. 377, 379 , 37 P.”
Broyles v. Thurston Cnty., 147 Wash. App. 409 (Wash. Ct. App. 2008). “RCW 36.16.030; State v. Whitney, 9 Wash. 377, 379 , 37 R 473 (1894) (prosecuting attorney is county officer).”
Whatcom Cnty. v. State, 993 P.2d 273 (Wash. Ct. App. 2000). · cites it 2× “36 RCW 36.16.030. 37 RCW 36.27.010. 38 RCW 36.”
Riddle v. Elofson, 439 P.3d 647 (Wash. 2019). “IV, § 26 ; RCW 36.16.030 (county clerk is elected by the qualified voters of the county); RCW 2.”
Osborn v. Grant Cnty., 926 P.2d 911 (Wash. 1996). “When looking at the statutorily created office of prosecuting attorney, we think it is clear the Legislature did not authorize nor contemplate the prosecutor representing a party in a lawsuit against the county.”
Lee v. Jasman, 332 P.3d 1106 (Wash. Ct. App. 2014). “Deputy State Registrar Phillip Freeman responded: The county coroner is an elected official selected by the citizens of that county (RCW 36.16.030). A county official can hire a deputy and employees as referenced in RCW 36.”
State v. Watson, 86 P.3d 158 (Wash. Ct. App. 2004). “010; RCW 36.16.030. [8] But see In re Personal Restraint of Echevarria, 141 Wash.”
State v. Jacobson, 558 P.2d 292 (Wash. Ct. App. 1976). · cites it 5× “Glenn (who had been declared elected) was ineligible to hold the office because at all relevant times he was neither a qualified voter nor elector of Pacific County as mandated by RCW 36.16.030 and 36.27.010. 2 Accordingly, Mr.”
Osborn v. Grant Cnty., 926 P.2d 911 (Wash. 1996). “When looking at the statutorily created office of prosecuting attorney, we think it is clear the Legislature did not authorize nor contemplate the prosecutor representing a party in a lawsuit against the county.”
Alex May v. Spokane Cnty. (Wash. Ct. App. 2021). “Kramer narrowly to only disallow judicial enforcement of a racial covenant but to still permit the private signing of the covenants, a necessary extension of the ruling would preclude any government official from undertaking any action to assist in enforcement.”
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