Authority of local governmental units to adopt rules, guidelines and model ordinances by reference.
RCW 43.21C.135
in effect(1) All public and municipal corporations, political subdivisions, and counties of the state are authorized to adopt rules, ordinances, and resolutions which incorporate any of the following by reference to the appropriate sections of the Washington Administrative Code: (a) Rules and guidelines adopted under RCW 43.21C.110 (1) in accordance with the administrative procedure act, chapter 34.05 RCW; (b) Model ordinances adopted by the department of ecology under RCW 43.21C.130 in accordance with the administrative procedure act, chapter 34.05 RCW. (2) If any rule, ordinance, or resolution is adopted by reference pursuant to subsection (1) of this section, any publication of such rule, ordinance, or resolution shall be accompanied by a summary of the contents of the sections of the Washington Administrative Code referred to. Such summaries shall be provided to the adopting units of local government by the department of ecology: PROVIDED, That any proposal for a rule, ordinance or resolution which would adopt by reference rules and guidelines or model ordinances pursuant to this section shall be accompanied by the full text of the material to be adopted which need not be published but shall be maintained on file for public use and examination. (3) Whenever any rule, ordinance, or resolution is adopted by reference pursuant to subsection (1) of this section, the corporation, political subdivision, or county of the state adopting the rule, ordinance, or resolution shall maintain on file for public use and examination not less than three copies of the sections of the Washington Administrative Code referred to.
(1) All public and municipal corporations, political subdivisions, and counties of the state are authorized to adopt rules, ordinances, and resolutions which incorporate any of the following by reference to the appropriate sections of the Washington Administrative Code:
(a) Rules and guidelines adopted under RCW 43.21C.110 (1) in accordance with the administrative procedure act, chapter 34.05 RCW;
(b) Model ordinances adopted by the department of ecology under RCW 43.21C.130 in accordance with the administrative procedure act, chapter 34.05 RCW.
(2) If any rule, ordinance, or resolution is adopted by reference pursuant to subsection (1) of this section, any publication of such rule, ordinance, or resolution shall be accompanied by a summary of the contents of the sections of the Washington Administrative Code referred to. Such summaries shall be provided to the adopting units of local government by the department of ecology: PROVIDED, That any proposal for a rule, ordinance or resolution which would adopt by reference rules and guidelines or model ordinances pursuant to this section shall be accompanied by the full text of the material to be adopted which need not be published but shall be maintained on file for public use and examination.
(3) Whenever any rule, ordinance, or resolution is adopted by reference pursuant to subsection (1) of this section, the corporation, political subdivision, or county of the state adopting the rule, ordinance, or resolution shall maintain on file for public use and examination not less than three copies of the sections of the Washington Administrative Code referred to.
Source: WA Statutes (Official Site)URL: https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=43.21C&full=trueFetched: 6/29/2026