Washington Ordinances (2026)

Washington HB 1337 (RCW 36.70A.681) requires cities and counties to allow two ADUs per lot in urban growth areas, preempting restrictive local rules.

Washington adopts the International Residential Code statewide; detached one-story sheds 200 square feet or less are exempt from building permits.

Washington recognizes tiny houses on foundations under IRC Appendix Q and tiny houses on wheels as recreational vehicles under RCW 35.21.686.

Washington RCW 16.52 criminalizes animal cruelty and neglect statewide, providing the legal foundation for animal hoarding prosecutions when owners fail to provide necessary food, water, shelter, and veterinary care to multiple animals.

Washington RCW 15.60 requires all beekeepers with one or more hives to register their apiaries annually with the Washington State Department of Agriculture, supporting disease tracking and pollinator health statewide.

Washington RCW 16.08 governs dangerous and potentially dangerous dogs through behavior-based standards rather than breed identity, requiring registration, secure confinement, and liability insurance for declared dangerous dogs across all jurisdictions.

Washington RCW 16.30 prohibits private possession, breeding, and importation of dangerous wild animals including big cats, bears, wolves, and primates, applying uniformly statewide with limited grandfather and accreditation exceptions.

Washington adopts the International Building Code statewide through chapter 51-50 WAC, setting maximum heights and stories tied to construction type and occupancy classifications.

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.

Washington does not impose a statewide juvenile curfew; cities may enact local curfews under general police powers, subject to constitutional limits.

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's partition fence law requires adjoining landowners using a boundary fence for livestock to share construction and maintenance costs equitably under RCW 16.60.

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.

Washington restricts consumer fireworks to specific dates and types under RCW 70.77. State law sets minimum standards, prohibits illegal aerials, and allows local governments to enact stricter rules but not weaker ones.

Washington's Clean Air Act (RCW 70A.15) bans outdoor burning in urban growth areas and most cities. The Department of Ecology and clean air agencies enforce statewide standards regardless of local rules.

Washington adopts the International Fire Code statewide under RCW 19.27.031, including NFPA 58 standards for liquefied petroleum gas (propane). These rules govern container placement, capacity, and installation regardless of city.

Washington adopted the International Wildland-Urban Interface Code statewide under RCW 19.27. New construction in designated WUI areas must meet ignition-resistant building, defensible space, and water supply requirements.

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 WAC 246-215 enforced under RCW 43.20 establishes the statewide retail food code requiring mobile food units including food trucks to obtain permits from local health jurisdictions and meet uniform sanitation standards.

Washington's cottage food law allows home-based production of low-risk foods under a state permit administered by WSDA, with uniform statewide rules that municipalities cannot override.

Washington licenses family home child care providers through DCYF and preempts local zoning that would treat licensed home daycares as commercial uses requiring special permits.

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 requires jurisdictions over 25,000 to provide organics collection and bans certain organic waste disposal under RCW 70A.205.545.

Washington law expressly permits rooftop rainwater collection for onsite use without a water right permit, preempting any municipal prohibition on basic harvesting.

Washington Forest Practices Act (RCW 76.09) regulates commercial timber harvest statewide; nonconversion harvests require state-issued permits.

Washington Department of Ecology administers water rights and may issue drought emergency orders that override local outdoor watering practices statewide.

Washington RCW 17.10 mandates statewide control of designated noxious weeds; landowners must prevent spread regardless of municipal location.

Aircraft noise in Washington is preempted by federal aviation law, and the state expressly excludes aircraft in flight from its noise control regulations under WAC 173-60-050.

Amplified music in Washington is regulated under the statewide Maximum Environmental Noise Levels, which set decibel caps at the property line based on receiving zone and time of day.

Washington's noise code exempts temporary construction sounds during daytime hours from EDNA limits, while night construction still must comply with strict nighttime sound levels.

Industrial sources in Washington must comply with EDNA limits set by WAC 173-60, with the receiving residential zone limited to 60 dBA daytime and 50 dBA nighttime.

Washington's Noise Control Act sets statewide maximum environmental noise levels by zone, with stricter nighttime limits between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. that apply to all jurisdictions.

Washington's RCW 46.55 governs how abandoned vehicles are impounded, noticed, redeemed, and auctioned, providing a uniform statewide framework that local jurisdictions must follow.

Washington requires EV-ready parking in new construction and prohibits HOAs from banning EV charging stations, establishing baseline requirements that supersede conflicting local rules.

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 law requires short-term rental operators to maintain primary liability insurance of at least $1 million or operate through a platform that provides equivalent coverage. This statewide requirement applies regardless of local rules.

Washington imposes statewide sales tax and lodging taxes on short-term rental stays under 30 days. Operators must register with the Department of Revenue, collect applicable taxes, and remit them regardless of local jurisdiction.

Washington courts protect political signs as core First Amendment speech, and state law restricts how local governments may regulate temporary political signage on private property.

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's Commercial Telephone Solicitation Act (RCW 19.158) and Consumer Protection Act govern unwanted commercial solicitation. State law preempts certain telephone solicitation rules and provides statewide remedies against deceptive practices.

Washington WAC 246-260 enforced under RCW 70.90 requires public swimming pools, including those at apartments, hotels, and HOAs, to maintain barriers at least four feet high with self-closing self-latching gates statewide.

Washington WAC 246-260 regulates public spas and hot tubs at hotels, apartments, gyms, and HOAs, requiring permits, water testing, temperature limits, and posted bather safety warnings under RCW 70.90 statewide.

Washington RCW 70.90 and WAC 246-260 establish statewide operational safety rules for public pools including water quality, signage, lifeguard or warning sign requirements, and anti-entrapment drain compliance under federal VGB Act.

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.

Washington requires curbside recycling availability in urban areas under RCW 70A.205 and mandates organics collection for businesses under RCW 70A.205.545. Counties and cities must implement state-mandated waste reduction plans.

Washington's Forest Practices Act (RCW 76.09) governs commercial timber harvest on forestlands statewide through Department of Natural Resources permits. Cities cannot regulate qualifying forest practices that follow state class IV applications.