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Pasco prohibits public disturbance noise received within a residential district between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. Sounds from instruments, amplifiers, radios, TVs and the unamplified human voice are barred during these nighttime hours under PMC Chapter 9.130.
Pasco prohibits construction, excavation, demolition or alteration noise received within a residential district between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. under PMC 9.130.030. Powered tools like saws, drills and sanders are likewise barred during those nighttime hours.
Pasco treats habitual barking as a violation. Per the City, dogs that can be heard barking continuously off the owner's property for five minutes or longer are nuisance animals under PMC 6.05.350, and frequent animal noise in residential districts is also a public disturbance noise under PMC 9.130.030.
Pasco prohibits amplified sound from instruments, amplifiers, radios and similar devices received within a residential district between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. under PMC 9.130.030. Loudspeakers used for commercial advertising or to attract attention are also restricted.
Pasco has no leaf-blower-specific ordinance, but PMC 9.130.030 prohibits operating powered lawn and garden tools, blowers and fans between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. when the noise crosses a residential boundary. Daytime use is generally allowed under PMC 9.130.030.
Pasco prohibits motor vehicle audio systems operated so as to be audible more than 75 feet from the vehicle, plus exhaust noise from engines without mufflers and unnecessary horn use, all as public disturbance noises under PMC 9.130.030.
Pasco sets maximum permissible noise levels in PMC 9.130.040 by adopting the Washington State standard (WAC 173-60-040): roughly 55 dBA into residential (Class A) property by day, reduced 10 dBA to about 45 dBA between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m.
For officially sanctioned outdoor musical events in Pasco public parks and places, PMC 9.130.070 caps sound at an Leq of 95 dBA over one minute measured 50 feet from the source; the City may shut down a show exceeding 105 dBA for five minutes in any 30-minute period.
Industrial noise in Pasco is capped by PMC 9.130.040, adopting WAC 173-60-040: an industrial (Class C) source may send up to 70 dBA into other industrial property, 65 dBA into commercial, and 60 dBA into residential, with a 10 dBA nighttime reduction for residential receivers.
Aircraft noise in Pasco (home to the Tri-Cities Airport, PSC) is not regulated by city ordinance. Washington's noise rules (WAC 173-60-050) exempt aircraft in flight and flight-related airport sounds, and the FAA holds primary authority over aircraft operations.
Pasco, an incorporated city in Franklin County, does not allow short-term rentals under 30 days. The city's own FAQ states plainly that it does not permit rentals shorter than 30 days, so there is no STR permit to obtain. Only longer-term (30-plus-day) rentals are licensed, under Pasco Municipal Code Chapter 5.60.
Pasco has no short-term rental registry because rentals under 30 days are not allowed. The registration that exists is for rentals of 30 days or longer: under PMC Chapter 5.60 every rental dwelling must hold an annual Rental License and pass a certificate of inspection every two years. Any business also needs a license under PMC 5.05.020.
Pasco does not allow sub-30-day rentals, so no STR-specific tax or fee applies. Washington lodging taxes (retail sales tax plus local lodging tax) apply to transient lodging under 30 days at licensed hotels, motels and RV parks - administered under PMC Chapter 3.161 and RCW Chapter 67.28. Stays of 30 days or more are not transient lodging.
Pasco sets no short-term rental occupancy cap because sub-30-day rentals are not allowed. For housing the city does authorize, occupancy follows the building and housing codes enforced through the Rental License inspection program (PMC Chapter 5.60) and general dwelling standards, not an STR-specific guest limit. A proposed STR ordinance discussed in 2025-2026 contemplated occupancy limits but was not adopted.
Pasco has no short-term rental parking standard because rentals under 30 days are not allowed. Off-street parking for dwellings follows the city's zoning parking requirements (PMC Title 25), and accessory dwelling units carry their own parking rules. A proposed STR ordinance discussed in 2025-2026 would have added parking standards, but it was not adopted.
Pasco has no STR-specific noise rule because sub-30-day rentals are not allowed. Noise at any Pasco property is governed by the city's noise control code, PMC Chapter 9.130, which prohibits public disturbance noise and sets maximum permissible environmental noise levels. Those general rules - not an STR ordinance - are what apply to any disturbance at a rented dwelling.
Pasco does not allow short-term rentals under 30 days at any property, primary residence or not, so there is no primary-residence STR pathway. The closest residency rule is for accessory dwelling units: PMC Chapter 25.161 requires long-term residential use, bars transient/short-term rentals, and requires owner occupancy more than 180 days a year.
Pasco has no host-presence or on-site-manager rule for short-term rentals because rentals under 30 days are not allowed. A 2025-2026 proposed STR ordinance would have required a local property representative able to respond to issues, but it was not adopted. The existing owner-presence rule is the ADU owner-occupancy requirement in PMC Chapter 25.161.
Pasco does not use an annual night cap; it prohibits sub-30-day rentals outright, which is stricter than a day limit. The operative threshold is the 30-day minimum stay: anything shorter is not allowed. For accessory dwelling units, PMC Chapter 25.161 reinforces this by requiring long-term occupancy of more than 180 days a year and barring transient or vacation rental use.
Pasco's code sets no STR insurance requirement because sub-30-day rentals are not allowed. Washington's state STR law, RCW Chapter 64.37, requires operators to carry liability insurance of at least $1 million (or use a platform providing equal coverage) - but that applies to lawful STRs, not a use Pasco prohibits. A 2025-2026 city proposal was not adopted.
Pasco's Municipal Code does not appear to set its own electric-vehicle-charging-space parking rules, so Washington state law controls. Under RCW 46.08.185, parking in a space served by publicly available EV charging equipment while not connected to the charger is a parking infraction with a $124 monetary penalty, and the spaces must be marked with vertical signage.
Pasco bans storing RVs, boats, trailers and campers on any public street or right-of-way, except parked in front of the owner's property up to 72 hours per two-week period for loading and unloading. On private residential lots, recreational equipment storage is allowed but limited to side and rear yards in the larger R-S zoning districts.
Pasco allows street parking on most public streets but caps how long a vehicle may stay in one place. Under PMC 10.65.030 no vehicle may remain parked on any street or municipal property longer than 14 days. Posted signs may impose shorter limits, and Chapter 10.70 designates streets where parking is restricted or time-limited.
Pasco has no citywide overnight ban on residential streets, so vehicles may generally park overnight within the 14-day limit. However, PMC 10.65.070 prohibits overnight parking in certain City lots, including the lot at South Fourth Avenue and West Columbia Street (Peanuts Park / Farmers' Market), and posted City lots and parks have their own hours.
Pasco treats vehicle hulks and junk vehicles left in the public right-of-way as abandoned. Under Chapter 9.135 PMC, an abandoned vehicle is any hulk, junk vehicle or automobile hulk left in a public right-of-way for 24 hours, and the City may impound it. Junk vehicles on private property are also a public nuisance subject to abatement.
Pasco restricts heavy commercial vehicles by zone. Under PMC 10.65.020, no vehicle with a maximum gross weight of 14,000 pounds or more may park on or off the street in a residential zone, except while making deliveries. In commercial and industrial zones, trucks, tractors, trailers, semi-trailers and 14,000-lb-plus vehicles may not stand on a City street more than two hours.
Pasco requires residential parking to be on an improved surface. Under PMC 25.185, primary parking areas and driveways in front yards must be hard-surfaced, and parking on dirt or grass is a code violation. Front-yard vehicle storage is limited to the area bounded by the garage/carport or parking slab and the right-of-way, plus a small additional strip.
Pasco regulates curb loading zones through Chapter 10.75 PMC. Permits for curb loading zones are issued by the City Engineer with Police Department approval, and the zones are signed and/or curb-painted yellow. Alleys may be used only for loading and unloading, and deliveries are the recognized exception to the heavy-vehicle parking ban in residential zones.
Pasco limits oversized and heavy vehicles by weight and zone. Under PMC 10.65.020, vehicles with a maximum gross weight of 14,000 pounds or more cannot park in residential zones except for deliveries, and may not stand more than two hours on commercial or industrial streets. Recreational equipment storage is also restricted to side and rear yards in R-S districts.
In snowy eastern Washington, Pasco makes residents responsible for clearing snow and ice from sidewalks and driveways next to their property and asks that snow be piled in the yard, not the street. The City plows streets on a three-tier priority system. There is no citywide winter on-street parking ban, but street-parked cars may be surrounded by plow snowbanks.
Unlike many western-Washington cities, Pasco permits state-legal consumer ('safe and sane') fireworks on set dates around Independence Day and New Year's. Aerial and explosive items are illegal. Discharge outside the permitted dates and hours is a civil infraction carrying a penalty of at least $250 per violation under Pasco Municipal Code 16.65.051.
Pasco allows small recreational fires (cooking fires, campfires, fire pits, and outdoor fireplaces) inside the city without a permit, provided the fire is no larger than 3 feet by 2 feet, clearances to property lines and combustibles are met, and it is not a No-Burn Day. Larger recreational fires are prohibited within the Urban Growth Area.
Open outdoor burning of yard debris, land-clearing material, and garbage has been substantially banned inside Pasco's Urban Growth Area since December 31, 2000. The traditional metal burn barrel is illegal throughout Washington. Limited exceptions exist for windblown tumbleweeds on designated burn days, and agricultural burning in Franklin County is permitted only by the Washington Department of Ecology.
Pasco has no California-style numeric defensible-space ordinance, but the City requires properties to be kept free of dangerous accumulations of dry weeds, brush, and combustible vegetation under its nuisance and fire-prevention codes. Because Pasco sits in dry shrub-steppe terrain prone to grass fires, the Code Enforcement and Fire divisions can order overgrown lots cleared.
Small backyard recreational fires (campfires, fire pits, cooking fires) are allowed in Pasco without a permit if kept under 3 feet by 2 feet, attended, clear of combustibles, and not lit on a No-Burn Day. Open burning of yard waste and garbage is banned in the Urban Growth Area, and burn barrels are illegal statewide.
Pasco does not have a separate local smoke-alarm ordinance; smoke alarms are required through the International Fire Code and International Residential Code adopted in Pasco Municipal Code Chapter 16.65 and 16.05, and through Washington State law. Alarms are required in every sleeping room, outside each sleeping area, and on every level of a dwelling, including basements.
Pasco regulates propane (LP-gas) storage through the International Fire Code adopted in Pasco Municipal Code Chapter 16.65. The IFC limits the size and placement of LP-gas containers, restricts large cylinders on or near combustible balconies of multi-family buildings, and sets installation, clearance, and permit standards for larger tanks. There is no unique Pasco-only numeric rule beyond the adopted code.
Pasco does not designate formal local wildland-urban-interface (WUI) overlay zones or a defensible-space ordinance. The City sits in dry shrub-steppe terrain in the Tri-Cities with a medium wildfire risk, and grass and brush fires are a recurring summer threat. Wildfire hazard mapping is provided by the Washington Department of Natural Resources rather than a Pasco zoning code.
In Pasco, fences, walls and hedges in the front yard of residentially, retail-business and office-zoned lots are limited to 3.5 feet, with an extra 1.5 feet of 85% transparent material allowed up to 5 feet. Side, rear and secondary-front yards allow up to 6 feet.
Pasco does not require a building permit for fences under 7 feet tall, but those fences must still meet the city's zoning design standards in PMC 25.180.050. Fences taller than 7 feet require a building permit, and retaining walls over 4 feet require one separately.
Pasco's code does not set residential cost-sharing rules for shared boundary fences. Washington's partition-fence statute (Ch. 16.60 RCW) is part of the Animals and Livestock title and applies mainly to agricultural enclosures, so most disputes between neighbors are private property-line and civil matters.
In Pasco, retaining walls under 4 feet tall are exempt from a building permit; walls over 4 feet (measured from the bottom of the footing to the top) or any wall supporting a surcharge require a permit. A retaining wall can also affect how fence height is measured along a common lot line.
Pasco fences must meet PMC 25.180.050: front-yard height of 3.5 ft (5 ft with a transparent top), 6 ft in side/rear yards, a 3-foot vision-clearance limit in the intersection sight triangle, a minimum 3-foot gate into at least one side yard, and structural posts/rails hidden from the street in front yards.
PMC 25.180.050 bans fences made of tires, pallets, bed springs, multi-colored materials, tarps, plastic sheets, corrugated sheet metal (except industrial districts), wheel rims, and similar non-fencing materials. Hog wire, chicken wire, field fence and similar wire mesh are not allowed in residential or commercial zones.
Pasco allows traditional fencing materials (wood, masonry, wrought iron, vinyl) under PMC 25.180.050 but bans non-fencing junk materials and most wire mesh in residential and commercial zones. Front-yard fences over 3.5 ft must be 85% transparent, and the I-182 overlay requires masonry block.
Washington requires pool barriers for residential and public pools through state-adopted building code provisions and Department of Health rules ensuring minimum 48-inch fencing.
Pasco prohibits dogs from running at large. Off the owner's premises a dog must be 'at heel' or restrained by a leash no longer than eight feet, held by a competent person. Cars and designated dog-training areas are exempt.
Pasco allows backyard chicken hens on qualifying residential lots, but roosters are banned citywide. On lots of 5,000 to under 22,000 sq ft, up to three hens are allowed, and coops must sit behind the dwelling and at least 10 feet from property lines.
Pasco repealed its breed-specific 'pit bull' restrictions effective December 2020, and no longer bans dogs by breed. Dangerous-dog rules apply to any dog by behavior, not breed. Washington's RCW 16.08.110 also limits breed-based bans.
Pasco's Animal Control chapter (PMC 6.05) does not set out a dedicated backyard beekeeping ordinance. Hives are treated as a land-use question under PMC Title 25 zoning, and beekeepers also register apiaries with the state under Washington's RCW 15.60.
Pasco adopts Washington's dangerous-wild-animal ban by reference in PMC 6.05.340. Possessing potentially dangerous wild animals (big cats, bears, wolves, primates, venomous snakes, and more) is prohibited under RCW Chapter 16.30, with narrow pre-2007 grandfather and institutional exemptions.
In Pasco, livestock such as horses, cattle, sheep, goats, and larger flocks of fowl are only allowed in the R-S-20, R-S-12, and R-S-1 suburban zoning districts, which require larger minimum lot sizes. Farm animals are not permitted in other zones.
Pasco does not require cats to be licensed, unlike dogs. Households on smaller single-family lots may keep up to three cats within a six-animal total. Nuisance and cruelty rules in PMC 6.05 still apply to cats.
On smaller single-family lots (5,000 to under 22,000 sq ft), Pasco limits residents to three dogs, three cats, three rabbits, and three hens, capped at six animals total. Keeping four or more dogs or cats is treated as a commercial kennel under PMC 6.05.010.
Pasco makes it unlawful to feed fowl, farm animals, or wildlife except in City-designated areas, a Class 3 civil infraction under PMC 9.100.120. Washington also bans feeding deer, elk, and moose statewide as of May 2025.
Pasco does not have a standalone 'hoarding' ordinance, but its cruelty and pet-limit rules address it. PMC 6.05.150 makes neglect a gross misdemeanor, four or more dogs or cats is a commercial kennel, and officers may remove neglected animals under PMC 6.05.160.
In Pasco, weeds, brush or uncultivated vegetation grown to a height of 12 inches or more above the ground is a public nuisance. The 12-inch threshold appears both in the Trees and Shrubs nuisance code (PMC 12.12.110) and is enforced by the city as a common code violation. Property owners must abate by cutting or removing the growth.
Pasco's Trees and Shrubs chapter (PMC 12.12) requires city permission to substantially prune trees or shrubs in the public planting strip or right-of-way, and prohibits abuse or mutilation of trees in public places. Property owners are responsible for maintaining vegetation on the abutting right-of-way and must keep it from overhanging sidewalks and streets.
Pasco regulates removal of trees in the public planting strip and right-of-way under PMC 12.12.080 (Permission to remove trees), which requires city permission. The city does not publish a general permit requirement for removing healthy trees on private property; private-yard trees are mainly limited by the nuisance and landscaping rules.
Pasco treats weeds, noxious weeds and overgrown vegetation as public nuisances. Vegetation reaching 12 inches, creating a fire hazard, or encroaching on sidewalks or neighboring property must be abated. Separately, Washington's noxious-weed law (RCW 17.10) requires landowners to control state-listed noxious weeds, enforced locally by the Franklin County Noxious Weed Control Board (located in Pasco).
Pasco runs its own non-potable irrigation utility and asks customers to follow a voluntary watering schedule by address: even-numbered addresses water Tuesday, Thursday and/or Sunday; odd-numbered addresses water Monday, Wednesday and/or Saturday. The irrigation season typically runs April through October. PMC 13.85.180 prohibits wasting irrigation water.
Pasco's Municipal Code does not specifically prohibit residential rainwater collection. Under Washington Department of Ecology policy, on-site use of rooftop-collected rainwater does not require a water-right permit, so capturing rain off a roof for outdoor use on the same property is generally allowed. Standard building and plumbing rules still apply to tanks and any indoor use.
Pasco encourages water-wise landscaping. Its landscaping code (PMC 25.180.080) allows xeriscape areas with approved plans, favors low-water and drought-resistant turf and plant materials, and requires water-conserving or drip irrigation where plantings need regular watering. Residential properties must keep at least 50% of the required front-yard area in live vegetation.
Pasco's landscape code (PMC 25.180.080) sets minimum live-vegetation coverage, which limits how much of a regulated landscape area can be artificial turf or hard ground cover. Residential front yards must keep at least 50% of the required area in live vegetation, and the code expressly bars lava rock in commercial landscaped areas. Pasco does not publish a blanket residential ban on artificial turf.
Pasco has no specific ordinance banning backyard composting, but accumulated yard debris and organic waste must not become a public nuisance, fire hazard, or vector/odor problem under the city's nuisance code. Curbside service and the BDI Transfer facility (1721 Dietrich Road) handle yard debris; the city's nuisance rules require dead/dying vegetation and rubbish to be controlled.
Under PMC 16.60.020, all outdoor swimming pools in Pasco must be enclosed by a nonclimbable fence or approved barrier at least five feet high, with a self-closing gate latched from the pool side. The barrier must sit no closer than three feet from the water's edge with a maximum two-inch gap below it.
Pasco requires a building permit for any swimming pool deeper than 24 inches under Municipal Code Title 16, issued through the city Building Division. Submittals must include a permit application, a complete site plan showing the safety barrier, and full installation instructions for the pool.
Pasco has adopted the 2015 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code (ISPSC) as its official pool code under PMC 16.60.010, supplemented by a local five-foot barrier rule (PMC 16.60.020). Pools must pass a final building inspection, and the safety barrier must be shown on the site plan before approval.
Pasco's pool rules apply to above-ground and below-ground pools alike. A building permit is required for any pool deeper than 24 inches, and the same PMC 16.60.020 five-foot nonclimbable barrier and the adopted 2015 ISPSC apply to above-ground installations.
Pasco requires a building permit for hot tubs under PMC Title 16, and they fall under the same Swimming Pool, Spa, and Hot Tub Code (Ch. 16.60) that adopts the 2015 ISPSC. The PMC 16.60.020 barrier rule and zoning setbacks apply to spas and hot tubs.
Pasco allows home occupations as an accessory use to a residence under PMC Chapter 25.150. The business may occupy no more than 20 percent of the home's gross floor area; an attached or detached garage may be used so long as the area used does not exceed 600 square feet.
Pasco prohibits all on-site signage for home occupations. Under PMC Chapter 25.150's environmental standards, there may be no signs, display, or other advertisement upon the property, and off-premises advertising may not give the home occupation's address or location.
Pasco requires a home occupation business license under PMC 25.150.010. Applications go through the Washington State Department of Revenue Business Licensing Service with a city endorsement, and the city's Director of Community and Economic Development decides home occupation applications within 10 working days.
Cottage food in Pasco is governed by Washington state law, not a city ordinance. The Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) issues the cottage food permit ($355 for two years), caps annual gross sales at $35,000, allows only non-perishable foods, and requires a home kitchen inspection.
Home child care in Pasco is licensed by the Washington Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF), not the city. A family home child care license is required to care for unrelated children on a regular basis; care of related children and brief occasional care are exempt under state law.
Pasco allows one attached or one detached ADU per residential parcel with a conforming single-family home (not in the RP zone). The ADU may be up to 1,000 sq ft or 55% of the main house, whichever is less, and up to 25 ft tall. No extra parking is required, but occupants must live in the ADU more than 180 days per year.
In Pasco, detached storage buildings such as sheds are a permitted residential accessory use, limited cumulatively to 200 square feet of gross floor area and 15 feet in height, with no container (shipping-container) storage allowed. A habitable structure and a non-habitable structure such as a shed must be at least 6 feet apart.
Converting a garage into living space in Pasco generally creates an accessory dwelling unit (ADU). Pasco's ADU Guide lists a garage conversion (attached or detached) as a recognized ADU type. The resulting unit is capped at 1,000 sq ft or 55% of the main house, whichever is less, and requires building permits.
Pasco has no carport-specific ordinance; carports are governed as residential accessory structures under the zoning code. Detached accessory structures must meet the zoning district's setbacks, and a non-habitable structure must be at least 6 feet from a habitable one. A building permit is generally required.
Pasco has no separate tiny-home ordinance. A permanent tiny house on a foundation is treated as an ADU, capped at 1,000 sq ft or 55% of the main house, whichever is less. A tiny home on wheels (titled as a motor vehicle) and RVs/motorhomes are not recognized as ADUs and cannot serve as permanent dwellings.
Backyard barbecuing with charcoal or propane grills is allowed at Pasco homes and is treated as cooking, not open burning. The main limits come from the International Fire Code adopted in Pasco Municipal Code Chapter 16.65, which bars charcoal and open-flame grills from combustible multi-family balconies and within 10 feet of combustible construction, with exceptions for houses and sprinklered buildings.
Backyard smokers (charcoal, wood-pellet, or propane) are allowed at Pasco homes as cooking appliances, not as prohibited open burning. The governing limits come from the International Fire Code adopted in Pasco Municipal Code Chapter 16.65, which restricts charcoal and open-flame cooking devices on combustible multi-family balconies and within 10 feet of combustible construction, with exceptions for houses and sprinklered buildings.
Pasco residential setbacks vary by zoning district. The city's Quick Zoning Reference Table shows most low-density zones (R-S-1, R-1, R-1-A, R-2 through R-4) require a 20-foot front yard, 5-foot side yards, and 5-foot rear yards, while larger suburban zones (R-S-20, R-S-12) require 25-foot front and rear and 10-foot sides.
Maximum building height in Pasco depends on the zoning district. Per the city's Quick Zoning Reference Table, most low-density residential zones (R-S-20 through R-2, plus RT) cap principal buildings at 35 feet, R-3 at 40 feet, and R-4 at 45 feet. Accessory buildings are generally limited to 15-18 feet.
Maximum lot coverage in Pasco depends on the zoning district. Per the city's Quick Zoning Reference Table, most low-density residential zones (R-S-20 through R-2) allow up to 40% coverage, the higher-density R-3 and R-4 zones allow up to 60%, the RT zone allows 20%, and the RP zone allows 50%.
Pasco's Code Division enforces Title 9 nuisance rules against blighted property. Trash-covered lots, dilapidated buildings and fences, dust blowing onto neighbors, and outdoor storage of junk or vehicle parts are common violations. The city may abate uncorrected conditions and bill the owner.
In Pasco residential zones, solid waste containers must be stored to the rear of the front-yard setback line, not in the front yard. Carts may go to the curb only during a 24-hour collection window, from 7:00 p.m. the day before pickup until 6:59 p.m. on collection day.
Pasco requires owners to keep vacant lots free of nuisances. Weeds over 12 inches, dry vegetation that is a fire hazard, accumulated rubbish, dumping, and blowing dust are public nuisances under PMC 9.90.040. The city may abate an uncorrected lot and bill the owner.
In Pasco, weeds, grass or other vegetation reaching 12 inches or more in height is a public nuisance under PMC 9.90.040, as is vegetation that is a fire hazard or encroaches on neighbors. The city may issue written notice and abate uncut growth at the owner's expense.
Pasco requires a free permit for yard sales, applied for at least 24 hours in advance. Households are limited to two sales per calendar year, each lasting no more than two consecutive days. Sales must be on residential property you occupy, and merchandise must be used or secondhand.
Pasco residents receive weekly curbside garbage collection through the city's contracted hauler, Basin Disposal, using wheeled carts. PMC Chapter 8.05 governs collection, points of collection and weight limits. Carts may go to the curb only during the 24-hour window before collection.
Pasco residents must store carts behind the front-yard setback line in residential zones and may roll them to the curb only during a 24-hour window: 7:00 p.m. the day before collection to 6:59 p.m. on collection day. Carts go at the curb edge, roadway shoulder, or alley.
Pasco's residential coupon program gives each residential account two coupons per year for free disposal of up to 500 pounds of waste each at the contractor's transfer station. Brush and bulky items may also be bundled for curbside pickup within size and weight limits.
Pasco does not mandate curbside recycling. Residents recycle by dropping materials at Basin Recycling's neighborhood centers, which accept aluminum and steel (tin) cans, newspaper, mixed/office paper, and flattened cardboard. There is no city ordinance forcing households to separate recyclables.
Pasco has no local organics ordinance. Composting is governed by Washington's 2022 Organics Management Law (HB 1799, RCW 70A.205), which phases in food and yard waste diversion for businesses by generation volume and requires jurisdictions in designated areas to offer organics collection by April 1, 2027.
Pasco treats political signs as temporary signs but exempts them from the 30-day display limit that applies to other temporary signs. Campaign signs on private property may be up to 32 square feet. Signs may be placed in the periphery of the public roadway if they do not interfere with traffic, and on private property or fences with the owner's consent.
Pasco requires a free yard sale permit and limits yard sale signs to a maximum of 4 signs per sale, each no larger than 2 square feet, with the sale address in 2-inch-minimum lettering. Signs may not go up more than 24 hours before the sale and must be removed within 24 hours of permit expiration, and may not be placed in the right-of-way or on utility poles or subdivision fences.
Pasco's outdoor lighting code (PMC Chapter 12.32) requires outdoor lighting systems to be shielded from above so that the edge of the shield is level with or below the center of the light source, minimizing direct light emitted above the horizontal. The chapter also covers lighting source, unlawful acts, exemptions, and penalties.
Pasco addresses light trespass through its outdoor lighting code (PMC Chapter 12.32), which requires outdoor lighting to be shielded from above so the shield edge is level with or below the center of the light source. By cutting off direct light above the horizontal, the standard limits glare and spillover; unlawful-acts and penalty provisions back it up.
Pasco parks operate on posted hours, with closure hours and penalties set under the city's park code (PMC 9.100.050, 'Hours/closure'). Posted hours vary by park - for example, Chiawana Park is open 8 a.m. to dusk. Being present in a park during closed hours is prohibited under the park code.
Washington does not impose a statewide juvenile curfew; cities may enact local curfews under general police powers, subject to constitutional limits.
Washington's Liquor and Cannabis Board licenses cannabis retailers and imposes statewide 1,000-foot buffers from schools and other sensitive uses, which local governments may reduce but not eliminate.
Washington uniquely prohibits recreational home cultivation of cannabis statewide, with cultivation only permitted by licensed producers and qualifying medical patients.
Commercial drone operations in Washington are governed by FAA Part 107, with state law adding criminal liability for invasive uses and limited authority over state-owned land.
Washington combines federal FAA airspace preemption with state criminal statutes prohibiting drone voyeurism, harassment, and interference with first responders that apply uniformly statewide.
Washington RCW 49.46 establishes a state minimum wage with annual CPI adjustments and permits cities to set higher local minimum wages, unlike many preemption states.
Washington RCW 49.46.200 mandates paid sick leave for nearly all employees, and RCW 50A.04 provides paid family and medical leave funded by payroll premiums.
Washington has no statewide predictable scheduling law and does not preempt local rules, allowing cities like Seattle to enforce secure scheduling ordinances.
Washington's Shoreline Management Act (RCW 90.58) requires Shoreline Substantial Development Permits for most construction within 200 feet of marine and freshwater shorelines statewide.
Washington requires all communities participating in the National Flood Insurance Program to adopt floodplain ordinances meeting state minimum standards under RCW 86.16.
Washington Department of Ecology administers federally-required NPDES stormwater permits statewide, setting minimum standards for municipal, construction, and industrial stormwater that all jurisdictions must implement.
Washington issues concealed pistol licenses under RCW 9.41.070 on a shall-issue basis to qualified applicants, with statewide preemption preventing local concealed carry rules.
Washington RCW 9.41.290 broadly preempts local firearm regulation, reserving authority over firearm laws to the state legislature with very limited exceptions.
Washington allows open carry of firearms by qualified adults without a permit, with limited statutory restrictions and broad preemption barring most local open carry rules.
Washington RCW 9.41.050 governs carrying firearms in vehicles statewide, requiring a concealed pistol license to carry a loaded handgun in a motor vehicle.
Washington has no state E-Verify mandate, and RCW 49.60 prohibits employment discrimination based on national origin or immigration-related characteristics statewide.
Washington's Keep Washington Working Act under RCW 10.93.160 limits state and local cooperation with federal immigration enforcement, establishing statewide sanctuary protections.
Washington RCW 59.18.650 requires landlords to have one of 16 enumerated lawful causes to terminate most residential tenancies statewide.
Washington HB 1217 (2025) caps annual residential rent increases at 7 percent plus CPI or 10 percent, whichever is lower, statewide.
Washington's Growth Management Act under RCW 36.70A.170 requires counties and cities to designate and protect agricultural lands of long-term commercial significance through zoning.
Washington RCW 7.48.305 protects established agricultural activities from nuisance lawsuits when operations existed before nearby nonagricultural land uses changed the area.
Washington RCW 70A.530 bans single-use plastic carryout bags statewide and requires retailers to charge a pass-through fee for compliant paper or reusable bags.
Washington RCW 70A.245 bans expanded polystyrene foam food service containers, packing peanuts, and coolers in phases starting June 2024 to combat plastic pollution.
Washington RCW 70A.550 limits single-use food service ware including plastic straws and utensils to upon-request distribution at restaurants and food service businesses.
Washington RCW 64.38.055 voids homeowner association covenants prohibiting solar panel installation on owner property statewide, while permitting only reasonable placement rules that do not significantly impair efficiency or increase cost.
Washington RCW 64.38.055 and RCW 64.90.510 prevent HOAs and condominium associations from prohibiting solar panels, while RCW 35.21.700 limits local government ability to ban solar collectors on residential property.
Washington RCW 26.28.080 sets the minimum age for purchasing tobacco and vapor products at 21, aligning with federal Tobacco 21 standards statewide.
Washington has not enacted a statewide flavored tobacco ban, leaving flavor restrictions to limited Department of Health authority and federal FDA enforcement on flavored vapor cartridges.
Washington RCW 70.345 requires licensing for vapor product retailers, distributors, and delivery sellers, with state Department of Revenue oversight and tax collection.