King County, WA Ban on Facial Recognition by County Agencies (Ordinance 19296)
King County, WA · King County, Wash., Ordinance 19296 (June 1, 2021)
King County (the Seattle area) was the first US county to ban its government, including the Sheriff's Office, from using facial recognition technology. The unanimous 2021 ordinance also bars county agencies from getting facial recognition information through third parties. Remains in effect as of June 2026.
Technical detail
Ordinance 19296 (2021) adds a chapter to K.C.C. Title 2 prohibiting county administrative offices and executive departments from acquiring or using facial recognition technology or information derived from it, with a narrow National Child Search Assistance Act exception.
Who is protected: King County residents
Who must comply: King County administrative offices and executive departments, including the Sheriff's Office
Key facts
| Jurisdiction | King County, WA |
|---|---|
| Level | County |
| Status | In effect |
| Protection strength | Moderate protection |
| Enacted | 2021-06-01 |
| Citation | King County, Wash., Ordinance 19296 (June 1, 2021) |
| Enforced by | King County government (internal compliance) |
| Private right of action | No — agency enforcement only |
| Topics | facial recognition · biometric data · police and surveillance AI · government use of AI · consumer data privacy |
| Last verified | 2026-06-11 |
| Official source | Facial Recognition Technology Ban Passed by King County Council ↗ |
More AI rules in King County, WA
- King County GenAI Guidelines · In effect
- Ordinance prohibiting King County government and Sheriff use · In effect
- Ordinance outlawing algorithmic rent price fixing in unincor · In effect
Related facial recognition rules elsewhere
- Virginia § 15.2-1723.2 (facial recognition by local law enforcement, eff. July 1, 2026) · In effect
- Ban biometric recognition in public accommodations (Ban The Scan) · Proposed / pending
- Limit facial recognition in residential buildings (Ban The Scan) · Proposed / pending
- Texas v. Google · In effect
- Lorenzano-Nunez v. Roestenberg — FR wrongful arrest (2026) · Blocked / in litigation
- Montgomery County MD Police Directive FC 0627 · In effect
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