The City of Newcastle is a “code city,” which means state law gives it a lot of freedom to make its own local rules. Washington law says that code cities can use any powers that aren’t specifically taken away by the state.

Newcastle’s laws are created by the City Council, which has seven elected members. They pass ordinances, which become the official city laws called the Newcastle Municipal Code. They also approve resolutions, which help guide the city’s policies, set fees, and approve contracts. The Council can also make motions, which give direction on how the city should operate.

Newcastle is a contract city, meaning services like police and fire are provided through agreements with other agencies instead of being run directly by the city.

The city uses a Council-Manager form of government. This means the City Council makes the rules and sets the big goals, while the City Manager is in charge of carrying them out. Every two years, the Council chooses one of its members to serve as Mayor, who leads meetings and represents the city at public events.