Counties may establish districts to run ferry service

A county may establish a ferry district after a public hearing and a finding that it serves the public interest. The district covers the county, including land within its cities and towns.

A ferry district may build, buy, run, and maintain ferries and wharves, and charge a toll or provide service free. Service may cross waterways within or bordering the district, between parts of the district, or between the district and other ferry districts. The district’s governing body decides whether to charge a toll. A district may issue general obligation bonds to pay for building, buying, or preserving ferries and terminals if the county ordinance states that intent and the maximum planned debt.

A ferry district may tax property each year to fund ferry service and related costs. The tax applies to taxable property within the district. In counties with at least 1.5 million people, the rate may not exceed 7.5 cents per $1,000 of assessed value. Elsewhere, it may not exceed 75 cents per $1,000. A district created after June 11, 2026, needs voter approval to impose more than 10 cents per $1,000; this approval rule does not apply in counties with at least 1.5 million people. Tax money may pay only for ferry service, vessels, docks, related shuttles and improvements, and staff costs. The voter approval rule applies to districts created after June 11, 2026.

A county must promptly appoint five county residents to an advisory committee for its ferry district, unless an eligible existing committee serves instead. The committee advises the county ferry district. At least three members must represent frequent ferry users, and two must represent other areas of the county. The county is encouraged to appoint at least one member of a federally recognized tribe. If a county moving from a county-owned ferry system to a district already has a locally established ferry advisory committee, the district’s governing body must designate that committee. Members serve without pay. The county must appoint the committee promptly after establishing the district.

The state’s 10-mile restriction on other ferry crossings and bridges does not apply to ferry service operated by ferry districts. The restriction otherwise concerns crossings and toll bridges within 10 statute miles of certain state-operated crossings or bridges on Puget Sound and connected waters.