Pop. 42,853 · Snohomish County
Edmonds does not have a local airport. The nearest commercial airports are Seattle-Tacoma International (SEA, ~30 miles south) and Paine Field (PAE, ~10 miles northeast). Aircraft noise is regulated federally by the FAA. No local aircraft noise ordinance applies.
Edmonds noise rules are governed by ECC Ch. 5.30, which adopts the WAC 173-60 Environmental Designation for Noise Abatement (EDNA) framework. Residential maintenance and homeowner project noise is exempt between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m. (ECC §5.30.110). Nighttime limits (10 p.m.–7 a.m.) are 10 dBA lower than daytime maximums for Class A (residential) receiving properties.
Persistent barking dog complaints are handled under ECC §5.30.130 (public disturbance noises) and ECC Ch. 5.05 (animal control). During nighttime hours, call 911; during daytime, contact animal control at 425-771-0205. Animal control may initiate the abatement process for chronic offenders.
Construction noise is exempt from Edmonds noise limits under ECC §5.30.110 on weekdays between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. and on Saturdays between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. Construction is prohibited on Sundays and federal holidays. Violations are subject to civil penalties.
SCC 10.01.030(2) sets dB(A) limits at the receiving property boundary by district. Residential receiving property allows 52 (rural source), 55 (residential source), 57 (commercial), 60 (industrial). Rural receiving property is 49/52/55/57. Night cuts residential/rural limits by 10 dB(A).
Snohomish County has no daytime leaf-blower ban, but operating a leaf blower, saw, drill, sander, grinder, fan, garden tool or similar device at night in a rural or residential district is a public disturbance noise under SCC 10.01.040(2)(a), except emergency work.
Industrial-source noise received on residential property in unincorporated Snohomish County is capped at 60 dB(A) daytime (SCC 10.01.030(2)), dropping 10 dB(A) at night. Washington's WAC 173-60-040 mirrors this: Class C source into Class A residential receiving is limited to 60 dBA, minus 10 dBA nighttime.
Amplified or reproduced music heard as comprehensible rhythms inside another residence, or outdoors 75 feet or more from the source in any district, is a day-and-night public disturbance noise under SCC 10.01.040(1)(g) in unincorporated Snohomish County.
Outdoor music from an instrument, band or amplifier is a public disturbance noise at any hour when heard as comprehensible rhythms 75 feet or more from the source (SCC 10.01.040(1)(g)). A public-disturbance exemption permit under SCC 10.01.050(6) can authorize an event.
Unmuffled exhaust on motor vehicles, off-road vehicles and watercraft is a day-and-night public disturbance noise under SCC 10.01.040(1)(b). SCC 10.01.030(4) also sets on-road dB(A) caps measured 50 feet from the lane: motorcycles 78/82, cars and light trucks 72/78.
Beekeeping is regulated at the state level under RCW 15.60 (Washington State Department of Agriculture). Hives must be registered with WSDA. Edmonds has no specific beekeeping ordinance; state standards apply. Contact city planning for zoning setback questions in residential areas.
Edmonds requires dogs to be on a leash no longer than eight feet whenever off the owner's premises (ECC 5.05.010, 5.05.050). Dogs are permitted in city parks and on the waterfront walkway only when leashed and under owner control (ECC 5.05.060). The Marina Beach Off-Leash Area at 498 Admiral Way is the only legal off-leash location, open dawn to dusk. Dogs are entirely prohibited from Brackett's Landing North and the Shoreline Sanctuary Conservation Area.
Washington State RCW 16.30 prohibits keeping certain dangerous wild animals as pets, including wolves, bears, lions, tigers, and non-human primates. Edmonds ECC Ch. 5.05 covers wild and exotic animals locally. Contact Snohomish County animal control for specific species questions.
Unincorporated Snohomish County allows chickens and small-animal husbandry in residential and rural zones under the Unified Development Code. Structures housing animals (other than household pets) must sit at least a set distance from property lines, and livestock may not run at large.
Livestock may not run at large in Snohomish County. SCC 9.16.010 designates the entire county a stock-restricted area, so horses, mules, donkeys, cattle, goats, sheep, and swine cannot roam free. Loose livestock may be impounded at the owner's expense.
There is no breed ban in Snohomish County, and Washington law bars pure breed bans. Under RCW 16.08.110 a county may not prohibit or specially regulate a dog by breed unless it offers a good-behavior exemption process. The county regulates dangerous dogs by conduct, not breed.
Unincorporated Snohomish County limits a household to 25 dogs. SCC 6.06.008 makes it unlawful to own, keep, or maintain more than 25 dogs on a premises. Licensed pet shops, boarding facilities, and animal shelters are exempt from the cap.
Snohomish County prohibits cruelty, neglect, and abandonment of animals under SCC 9.12.080. Failing to provide adequate food, water, shelter, sanitation, medical care, space, or rest is unlawful. Combined with the 25-dog limit and state cruelty law, this addresses hoarding conditions.
Snohomish County has no leash requirement or number limit specifically for cats. Cats are not covered by the dog leash law, and the 25-animal cap applies to dogs. Cats are still subject to the countywide animal nuisance and cruelty rules in SCC chapter 9.12.
Snohomish County's animal code does not set a general backyard wildlife-feeding ban. Feeding large carnivores such as bears and cougars is prohibited by Washington state law under RCW 77.15.792, enforced by the Department of Fish and Wildlife. Attractant nuisances may also draw county nuisance action.
Edmonds City Council adopted an ADU code update on June 11, 2024, complying with state HB 1337. Up to 2 ADUs (attached and/or detached) are allowed per single-family lot. Maximum ADU size: 1,200 sq ft. Maximum height: 24 ft. No owner-occupancy requirement. Impact fees capped at 50% of principal unit. Building permit required.
Sheds and detached accessory structures in Edmonds must comply with ECDC zoning setbacks and the Washington State Building Code (WAC 51-50). Permit requirements depend on size; small structures under 200 sq ft may be exempt from a full building permit but still must meet setback requirements.
Garage conversions to living space or ADUs require a building permit under WAC 51-50 and ECDC. Conversions must meet all applicable zoning, energy code, and habitability standards. HB 1337 (2023) facilitates garage-to-ADU conversions with relaxed requirements for impact fees and design.
In unincorporated Snohomish County a recreational vehicle cannot be a primary residence. A tiny house counts as a dwelling only if built on a foundation, permitted, and connected to water and sewer; a tiny house on wheels is regulated as an RV.
In unincorporated Snohomish County a carport is an accessory structure used to cover vehicles or boats. Detached garages and storage structures over 2,400 square feet must sit at least 15 feet from external property lines; over 4,000 square feet, at least 20 feet.
Residential swimming pools, hot tubs, and spas in Edmonds must comply with the 2021 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code (ISPSC) adopted at ECDC 19.35.000 and the 2021 International Residential Code Appendix AG, both adopted statewide under RCW 19.27.031 (WAC 51-51, WAC 51-50). The baseline residential barrier is at least 48 inches high, with self-closing/self-latching gates and openings that will not pass a 4-inch sphere. Public and semi-public pools (apartments, hotels, schools) are regulated by Snohomish Health Department under WAC 246-260-031. Edmonds also caps fence height at six feet under ECDC 17.30.000, and pool/spa structures must meet the accessory-structure setbacks of the underlying zoning district under Title 16 ECDC.
Most in-ground and larger residential pools in unincorporated Snohomish County need a building permit through the Planning & Development Services department. Small prefabricated above-ground pools that are shallow and low-volume are exempt from a permit but still need code-compliant barriers.
Small prefabricated above-ground pools that are under 24 inches deep and hold no more than 5,000 gallons are exempt from a Snohomish County building permit. Deeper or larger above-ground pools need a permit, and all require a code-compliant barrier.
Pool barrier gates must be self-closing and self-latching and open away from the pool. For public pools, Washington WAC 246-260-031 requires self-closing, self-latching gates with a key or coded lock unless a lifeguard is on duty.
A hot tub or spa fitted with a safety cover that complies with ASTM F 1346 is exempt from the pool barrier/fence requirement in Snohomish County. Without a compliant cover, the spa must be enclosed by a code-compliant barrier like any pool.
Edmonds does not have a dedicated STR parking ordinance. STRs in detached single-family homes are treated like the residential use and the analogous bed-and-breakfast standard in ECDC 20.23 requires one off-street parking space per rental room (in all zones except BD), with adjacent legal on-street parking countable toward the requirement.
STR guests in Edmonds must comply with the citywide noise ordinance (ECC Chapter 5.30). The city follows Washington's environmental noise levels: 55 dBA daytime and 45 dBA at the receiving residential property line at night, with quiet hours from 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.
Edmonds does not set a numeric guest cap unique to short-term rentals. Stays must be fewer than 30 consecutive nights, hosts must post a maximum occupancy figure for guests under RCW 64.37, and the analogous bed-and-breakfast rule (ECDC 20.23) bars stays longer than 30 consecutive days and prohibits kitchens in individual guest rooms.
STR operators must collect and remit Washington State retail sales tax (6.5%) and applicable lodging/hotel-motel tax under RCW 67.28. Edmonds may levy a local lodging tax in addition to the state rate. All operators must register with WA Dept. of Revenue.
Edmonds regulates short-term rentals through the Community Development Code. Bed & breakfasts are covered under ECDC 20.23. Hosts must obtain a City of Edmonds business license (ECC Chapter 4.72). STR zoning may be addressed through ECDC 20.23 or newer ordinance updates.
Rather than an online registry, unincorporated Snohomish County requires each bed-and-breakfast (STR) to obtain a certificate of occupancy before hosting and to renew it annually. The county also registers the use through the land-use permit issued under SCC 30.28.020.
Snohomish County's bed-and-breakfast rules require a host to be present: SCC 30.28.020(3)(c) directs that the owner operate the facility and reside on the premises. Meal service is limited to overnight guests and no separate kitchens are allowed in guest rooms, reinforcing a hosted model.
Unincorporated Snohomish County effectively requires an owner-occupied STR: SCC 30.28.020(3)(c) states the owner shall operate the facility and reside on the premises. The lodging must be within the owner's single-family residence, so absentee whole-house short-term rentals are not permitted as bed-and-breakfasts.
Unincorporated Snohomish County imposes no cap on rental nights. SCC 30.28.020(3)(f) states there is no limit on the number of days a guest may stay at the establishment. However, occupancy of one month or more is treated as a lease and falls outside the transient lodging tax.
The county's bed-and-breakfast code sets no specific liability-insurance requirement for STRs. It instead requires compliance with fire, health and building codes, and at three or more guest rooms compliance with state transient-accommodation regulations under the Washington Department of Health.
Outdoor burning is banned within Edmonds city limits under ECC §5.22.030. This includes debris fires, yard waste burning, and burn barrels. Recreational fires in fire pits, chimineas, and fire bowls are allowed under Puget Sound Clean Air Agency rules. WAC 173-425 governs regional burning seasons. Illegal fires may incur fines starting at $2,000.
Recreational fire pits in Edmonds are allowed as small recreational fires under fire code: under 3 ft diameter, 25 ft from structures, constantly attended with water nearby, dry wood only. Prohibited during any active burn ban.
Fireworks are illegal in the City of Edmonds. Discharge and sale of all consumer fireworks is prohibited within city limits. In May 2024, Snohomish County also banned sale of fireworks in all no-fireworks cities. Report violations to non-emergency line: 425-407-3999.
Snohomish County has no single 'clear your brush' ordinance countywide, but the 2021 Washington Wildland-Urban Interface Code applies to new commercial and residential permits on parcels mapped high or very-high wildfire hazard, requiring ignition-resistant construction and driveway/access standards.
Washington law requires smoke detection devices inside all dwelling units. Owners must install them; tenants must maintain them and replace batteries. Any dwelling sold on or after July 1, 2019 must have at least one working smoke alarm before a buyer occupies it.
Backyard campfires, cooking fires, and bonfires burning charcoal or bare untreated wood are allowed on private property in unincorporated Snohomish County as recreational fires, provided they stay under three feet in diameter and two feet high, are attended, and are not during a burn ban.
Snohomish County has adopted the 2018 International Fire Code (SCC 30.53A.010), which governs liquefied-petroleum (propane) gas storage, container sizes, and installation. Small residential grill and heater cylinders are exempt from permits, but larger LP-gas storage requires code compliance and, above thresholds, a fire-code permit.
Washington's Wildland-Urban Interface Code applies to parcels mapped high or very-high wildfire hazard. On those parcels, new construction requires class-1 ignition-resistant roofs, exterior walls, and decks, plus driveway access standards. The rules took statewide effect July 1, 2023 under RCW 19.27.560.
Fence height limits are set by Edmonds Community Development Code Ch. 17.30. In general, fences up to 6 ft are allowed in rear and side yards; front yard fences are limited to 4 ft. A decorative trellis may add up to 2 ft, for a maximum of 8 ft. Fences over 6 ft must comply with the applicable building setback.
Snohomish County Code does not assign shared-fence cost or ownership between neighbors, but it does limit what can sit near a property line: fences over six feet must meet the building setback, and corner-lot fences must stay under 42 inches inside the sight-clearance triangle.
Unincorporated Snohomish County exempts fences up to eight feet high from a building permit, as long as they have no masonry or concrete above six feet. Taller fences, or those with masonry above six feet, require a permit from Planning and Development Services.
In unincorporated Snohomish County, a retaining wall up to four feet high (measured from the bottom of the footing to the top of the wall) is exempt from a building permit unless it supports a surcharge. Walls over four feet, or supporting extra load, need a permit.
Snohomish County allows up to three strands of wire on top of fences six feet or less high. Fences taller than eight feet, or those with masonry or concrete elements above six feet, lose the building-permit exemption and require a permit.
Snohomish County requires fences six feet or less to sit within any required landscaped-area width, or without a setback where none is required; taller site-obscuring fences must meet the building setback. All corner-lot fences must keep the 15-foot sight-clearance triangle clear above 42 inches.
Snohomish County Code sets no approved-materials list for residential fences; wood, vinyl, chain-link, and similar materials are all permissible. The controlling limits are on height (eight feet without a permit), masonry above six feet, wire strands, and corner-lot visibility.
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.
Tree removal in Edmonds is governed by the Edmonds Community Development Code (ECDC) critical areas and tree retention provisions. Significant trees in critical areas or associated with development require a tree removal permit. Street trees are protected under city code; contact Public Works for removal requests.
For new development, retained trees must be fenced at the drip line and not disturbed. Abutting owners may trim weeds, grass, brush and blackberries in the first 10 feet of an unopened right-of-way, but may not cut significant trees there.
Rooftop rainwater collection for outdoor use is allowed in Snohomish County with no water-right permit, following Washington's 2009 state policy. Storage tanks and any plumbed indoor use still follow building/plumbing code, but landscape irrigation from a rain barrel needs no special county approval.
Snohomish County sets no maximum lawn or grass height for private residential yards in unincorporated areas. The old Title 7 nuisance chapters are repealed, and Title 10 covers only chronic (crime-related) nuisance property, not overgrown lawns. Height rules come from your city or HOA.
Snohomish County has no ordinance banning backyard composting, and it is encouraged for yard waste. In the unincorporated county, residential solid-waste and recyclables collection is regulated under SCC Ch. 7.42, and yard/organics service is available through the county's contracted haulers.
Snohomish County enforces state noxious-weed law. Every property owner must eradicate all Class A weeds and control designated Class B and listed Class C weeds. The county Noxious Weed Control Board (SCC Ch. 3.42) can order control and bill or lien the owner.
Snohomish County government sets no countywide lawn-watering schedule. Outdoor water use is governed by your local water/utility purveyor (for example the Alderwood, Cross Valley, or PUD-served districts and cities), which may impose voluntary or mandatory restrictions during drought.
Snohomish County does not require native landscaping for homeowners, but Title 30 rewards it: development landscape plans that use Puget Sound indigenous species can lower the required evergreen share, and buffer enhancement with Pacific Northwest natives helps meet tree-canopy standards.
Snohomish County has no ordinance prohibiting or specifically permitting artificial turf in residential yards. In required development landscaping, the code directs that non-vegetative materials be minimized, but there is no turf rule for ordinary homeowners.
Edmonds has a residential RV parking permit program. Residents may obtain an RV parking decal allowing parking in permit-designated areas on the Residential & Visitor Parking Map. Apply at City Hall or by email.
Commercial vehicles over 10,000 lbs. GVWR require a conditional use permit for storage in residential zones (ECDC §17.50.100). Street parking of commercial vehicles is subject to the 72-hour maximum rule and other traffic ordinances.
Under ECC §8.50.120, vehicles may not remain lawfully parked on a public street for more than 72 hours. Moving and re-parking a vehicle within the same block to reset the time limit is prohibited (ECC §8.48.162). The city's parking enforcement unit patrols and issues citations.
Abandoned vehicle removal is regulated under ECC Ch. 8.48 and RCW 46.55. Vehicles left on public or private property without permission for more than 24 hours may be declared abandoned. Automobile hulks on private property are subject to abatement. Contact the parking enforcement unit at 425-771-0205.
Snohomish County has no blanket overnight parking ban for passenger cars in unincorporated areas. The real limits are the 72-hour RV cap (SCC 11.06), the large-vehicle rules (SCC 11.05), and the 24-hour abandoned-vehicle threshold (SCC 10.36).
Snohomish County sets no specific paved-driveway or front-yard parking-surface rule for ordinary residents in its parking chapters. Vehicle parking is instead shaped by the large-vehicle ban in residential zones (SCC 11.05) and off-street parking standards in the development code (SCC 30.26).
Snohomish County has no unique parking-chapter rule dedicated to EV charging for homeowners. EV-ready and charging-station requirements come from Washington's statewide building and energy codes adopted county-wide, not a special county ordinance.
Snohomish County does not run a residential colored-curb parking system (red/yellow/white zones) in its unincorporated parking chapters, and residents may not paint public curbs themselves. Curb markings on county roads are controlled by Public Works and the state traffic-control manual.
Oversized vehicles - anything with a GVWR of 14,001 lbs or more, plus commercial trailers and construction equipment - are banned from urban-residential public roads and limited to 12 hours per day elsewhere under SCC 11.05. RVs over the limit fall under the separate 72-hour RV rule (SCC 11.06).
Snohomish County's large-vehicle parking chapter carves out active loading and unloading: a large commercial vehicle or trailer that would otherwise be barred from an urban-residential road may stop there while actively loading or unloading materials or passengers (SCC 11.05.030).
Selling home-baked goods, jams, candies and other non-hazardous foods requires a WSDA cottage food permit under RCW 69.22 and WAC 16-149. Annual gross sales of cottage food products may not exceed $35,000. Snohomish County does not add its own cottage food rule.
If a home occupation is run inside the residence, no certificate of occupancy is required by Snohomish County PDS. If it is run in a garage or accessory building, a certificate of occupancy is required and is subject to annual inspection and renewal.
A home-based child care in Washington is a licensed family home provider through the Department of Children, Youth & Families (DCYF). A family home provider may care for up to 12 children at a time under RCW 43.216.010; the program is licensed under WAC 110-300.
Home occupations are allowed in dwellings in unincorporated Snohomish County subject to SCC 30.28.050. The business must be run by resident family members, use no more than one-fourth of the dwelling's floor area, and not change the residential character of the property.
A home occupation in unincorporated Snohomish County may have one sign that is unlighted, no larger than two square feet, and attached flat to the building. External display of merchandise is prohibited.
Edmonds has FEMA-designated Special Flood Hazard Areas (Zone A/AE) along creeks and coastal bluff areas. FEMA flood maps for Edmonds reference panels 53061C1292 EF, 53061C1285 EF, 53061C1315 EF, and 53061C1305 EF. All development in Zone A/AE requires a floodplain development permit. Pool construction in flood zones has no permit exemptions and may require engineer certification under FEMA TB-5.
Edmonds enforces the Shoreline Management Act along its Puget Sound waterfront. Shoreline setbacks, vegetation buffers, and habitat protections apply to waterfront properties and development near streams.
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 Department of Ecology administers federally-required NPDES stormwater permits statewide, setting minimum standards for municipal, construction, and industrial stormwater that all jurisdictions must implement.
Charcoal barbecues and cooking fires are allowed on private property in unincorporated Snohomish County as recreational fires. Propane and gas grills are ordinary cooking appliances. Cooking fires must stay small, use only charcoal or clean firewood, be attended, and are still restricted during air-quality burn bans.
A charcoal or wood-fired smoker on private property is a cooking fire under Puget Sound Clean Air Agency rules: keep it under three feet in diameter and two feet high, burn only charcoal or clean firewood, attend it, and don't smoke out neighbors. Gas smokers are appliances.
In unincorporated Snohomish County, setbacks are set by zone in the SCC 30.23 bulk matrices. In the common urban R-7,200, R-8,400, and R-9,600 residential zones, the minimum side and rear setback is five feet, with larger street and front setbacks fixed per zone.
Snohomish County caps building height by zone in the SCC 30.23 bulk matrices. Common urban residential zones allow about 30 to 35 feet; height is measured from average final grade to the roof, with specific exemptions for chimneys, spires, towers, and similar features.
Snohomish County limits how much of a lot buildings may cover, set by zone in the SCC 30.23 bulk matrices. Most urban residential zones, including R-7,200, R-8,400, and R-9,600, allow a maximum lot coverage of 35 percent.
Accumulated junk, wrecked vehicles and repeated nuisance activity on unincorporated property are code violations. A "junkyard" is over 50 cubic feet of junk in an urban growth area, and chronic nuisance property can be court-ordered abated with daily penalties.
Owners of vacant unincorporated parcels must still control noxious weeds and cannot let others dump waste on the land. Illegal dumping and accumulated junk on empty lots are enforceable nuisances under county and state law.
Snohomish County sets no permit requirement or specific rule for occasional residential garage and yard sales in unincorporated areas. Sellers must still avoid blocking rights-of-way, follow sign rules, and not run a de facto ongoing retail business from a home.
In unincorporated Snohomish County, collection containers may not be kept in the public right-of-way and must be stored on private property. Bins should go out no sooner than the day before pickup and be removed within 24 hours after collection.
Snohomish County has no set grass-height limit for residential yards, but every property owner must eradicate Class A noxious weeds and control designated Class B and C noxious weeds under state law, enforced by the county Noxious Weed Control Board.
Collection containers must be kept on private property, never in the public right-of-way. Set them out no sooner than the day before pickup, within 10 feet of the traveled roadway without blocking pedestrians or cyclists, and remove them within 24 hours after collection.
In unincorporated Snohomish County, certificated haulers collect residential garbage under WUTC-set rates. In the recycling service zone, single-family garbage service is offered only combined with recycling, and recycling is collected weekly, preferably on the same day as garbage.
Certificated haulers in unincorporated Snohomish County must offer bulky-materials collection for reuse, recycling or disposal, both inside and outside the recycling service zone. Residents can also self-haul large items to county solid waste transfer stations for a disposal fee.
In the recycling service zone, single-family garbage service is bundled with weekly recycling collection. Haulers must collect newspaper, mixed paper, cardboard, metal cans, glass, and PETE #1 and HDPE #2 plastic bottles, and no more than five percent of collected recyclables may be landfilled.
Dumping solid waste anywhere except a permitted site is unlawful. Under SCC 7.35.120, littering up to one cubic foot is a civil infraction, up to a cubic yard is a misdemeanor, and a cubic yard or more is a gross misdemeanor, plus restitution.
In unincorporated Snohomish County political signs are exempt from zone bans and number/square-footage limits, but they must not obstruct driver sight distance, must meet right-of-way rules, and must obey height and lighting limits.
In unincorporated Snohomish County a single-family residence may display one unlighted name sign up to two square feet per face. Real-estate signs advertising sale or lease may be up to 15 square feet per building site under SCC 30.27.010.
In unincorporated Snohomish County outdoor lighting must be hooded or shaded so that direct light does not glare onto surrounding property or rights-of-way. Sign lighting has the same rule, so light spilling onto a neighbor can be a violation.
Unincorporated Snohomish County has no formal dark-sky ordinance, but its development standards require outdoor lighting to be hooded or shaded so direct light does not create glare when viewed from surrounding property or rights-of-way.
Where hours are not otherwise posted, Snohomish County parks are open daily from 6:00 a.m. until dusk. No one may be present in a county park while it is closed except registered campers in a designated, paid campsite.
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 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 two regimes. Communities created on or after July 1, 2018 fall under WUCIOA (RCW 64.90), whose lien carries a 6-month super-priority over first mortgages and can be foreclosed like a mortgage. Older associations use the Homeowners' Associations Act (RCW 64.38), whose lien may be foreclosed only after strict notice and dollar thresholds.
Washington requires HOA board meetings to be open to owners and gives owners broad record-access rights. WUCIOA communities follow RCW 64.90.445 (open meetings) and RCW 64.90.495 (records); older associations follow RCW 64.38.035 and 64.38.045. As of January 1, 2026, the WUCIOA open-meetings rule (RCW 64.90.445) applies to all Washington community associations.
Washington HOAs may adopt and enforce rules and architectural standards and enforce the recorded declaration. Under WUCIOA, RCW 64.90.405 authorizes rule adoption and enforcement, while RCW 64.90.510 fixes outer limits the rules cannot cross (flags, solar, signs). Older HOAs draw the same rulemaking power from RCW 64.38.020.
Both Washington regimes let HOAs impose reasonable fines, but only after notice and an opportunity to be heard and only under a fine schedule already adopted by the board and furnished to owners. WUCIOA communities use RCW 64.90.405; older associations use RCW 64.38.020. Neither statute sets a dollar cap on fines.
Washington statutes override HOA covenants that ban solar panels, the U.S. or state flag, or political signs. WUCIOA RCW 64.90.510 protects all three for newer communities; older HOAs are covered by RCW 64.38.055 (solar), 64.38.033 (U.S. flag), and 64.38.034 (political yard signs). HOAs may set reasonable time, place, and manner rules but cannot prohibit outright.
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.
For nonpayment of rent, a Washington landlord must serve a 14-day pay-or-vacate notice in the form set by RCW 59.18.057 before filing an unlawful detainer under RCW 59.12.030. Lease-violation terminations require a 10-day cure notice, and waste, nuisance, or unlawful activity requires only 3 days. Most evictions also require just cause under RCW 59.18.650.
RCW 59.18.060 requires Washington landlords to keep rentals 'fit for human habitation' — structurally sound, weathertight, with working plumbing, heat, hot water, electrical systems, pest control, and reasonable locks. After written notice, RCW 59.18.070 sets repair deadlines: 24 hours for lost heat, water, or electricity, 72 hours for major fixtures, 10 days otherwise.
Washington RCW 59.18.650 requires landlords to have one of 16 enumerated lawful causes to terminate most residential tenancies statewide.
RCW 59.18.150 requires a Washington landlord to give at least two days' written notice before entering to inspect, repair, or maintain the unit, and at least one day's notice to show it to prospective tenants or buyers. Entry must be at reasonable times; no advance notice is required only in a genuine emergency.
Under RCW 59.18.170, a Washington landlord may not charge any late fee on rent paid within five days of its due date; a fee may begin only once rent is more than five days past due. The statute sets no specific dollar cap, though some cities and counties impose stricter local limits.
Under RCW 59.18.200, a Washington tenant may end a month-to-month tenancy with at least 20 days' written notice. A landlord, however, cannot end a periodic tenancy at will: RCW 59.18.650 requires 'just cause,' and most landlord-driven reasons (owner move-in, sale, demolition) demand 60 to 120 days' written notice.
Washington bars cities from passing local rent control under RCW 35.21.830, and that preemption still stands. But in 2025 the state enacted its first statewide rent-increase cap. Under HB 1217, a landlord may not raise rent in any 12-month period by more than 7% plus CPI or 10%, whichever is less, and may not raise it at all in the first year.
Under RCW 59.18.140, a Washington landlord must give at least 90 days' prior written notice before raising rent (30 days for income-based subsidized housing). The 2025 Rent Stabilization Act (HB 1217) also caps annual increases statewide and bars any increase during the first 12 months of a tenancy.
Washington sets no dollar cap on residential security deposits, but it controls how they are collected and returned. A landlord may collect a deposit only with a written rental agreement and a written move-in checklist describing the unit's condition. After the tenancy ends, the landlord has 30 days to refund the deposit with an itemized statement of deductions.
Washington's general adverse possession period is 10 years under RCW 4.16.020, requiring possession that is actual, open and notorious, exclusive, hostile, and continuous. A shorter 7-year period applies under RCW 7.28.070 when the occupant holds under good-faith color of title and pays all taxes legally assessed on the land for those seven years.
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.