Municipal Codes — Whatcom County
At a Glance
| County | Whatcom County, Washington |
|---|---|
| Population | 226,847 |
| Municipalities | 19 |
| Washington Statutes | Washington Statutes |
Legal Framework
Whatcom County and its municipalities are governed by layered law, from most specific to broadest:
- Municipal ordinances — each town, city, or village within Whatcom County publishes its own code. See the town pages under Whatcom County for municipality-specific codes.
- County ordinances — published by the Whatcom County Board of County Commissioners. Contact the County Clerk for the current code.
- State statutes — Washington Statutes (Washington)
- Federal code — U.S. Code · Code of Federal Regulations
How to Find a Specific Code
To find the code that applies to a specific address or situation, start with the most specific layer and work outward:
- Check the municipal code for the town, city, or village where the address is located.
- If the address is in an unincorporated area, the county code (Whatcom County ordinances) applies directly.
- State statutes (Washington) govern matters not covered by local code.
- Federal code applies everywhere within the United States.
References
- Washington Statutes — https://app.leg.wa.gov/rcw/
- U.S. Code — uscode.house.gov
- Code of Federal Regulations — ecfr.gov