Title 58 — Title 58 BOUNDARIES AND PLATS

The legislature finds that the process by which land is divided is a matter of state concern and should be administered in a uniform manner by cities, towns, and counties throughout the state. The purpose of this chapter is to regulate the subdivision of land and to promote the p…

As used in this chapter, unless the context or subject matter clearly requires otherwise, the words or phrases defined in this section shall have the indicated meanings.(1) "Binding site plan" means a drawing to a scale specified by local ordinance which: (a) Identifies and shows…

Every subdivision shall comply with the provisions of this chapter. Every short subdivision as defined in this chapter shall comply with the provisions of any local regulation adopted pursuant to RCW 58.17.060.[ 1974 ex.s. c 134 s 1; 1969 ex.s. c 271 s 3.]

(1) A proposed division of land, as defined in RCW 58.17.020, shall be considered under the subdivision or short subdivision ordinance, and zoning or other land use control ordinances, in effect on the land at the time a fully completed application for preliminary plat approval o…

A city, town, or county may adopt by ordinance procedures for the divisions of land by use of a binding site plan as an alternative to the procedures required by this chapter. The ordinance shall be limited and only apply to one or more of the following: (1) The use of a binding …

*** CHANGE IN 2026 *** (SEE 6309-S.SL) ***The provisions of this chapter shall not apply to:(1) Cemeteries and other burial plots while used for that purpose;(2) Divisions of land into lots or tracts each of which is one-one hundred twenty-eighth of a section of land or larger, o…

An assessors plat made in accordance with RCW 58.18.010 need not comply with any of the requirements of this chapter except RCW 58.17.240 and 58.17.250.[ 1969 ex.s. c 271 s 5.]

(1) The legislative body of a city, town, or county shall adopt regulations and procedures, and appoint administrative personnel for the summary approval of short plats and short subdivisions or alteration or vacation thereof. When an alteration or vacation involves a public dedi…

Each short plat and short subdivision granted pursuant to local regulations after July 1, 1974, shall be filed with the county auditor and shall not be deemed "approved" until so filed.[ 1974 ex.s. c 134 s 12.]

A preliminary plat of proposed subdivisions and dedications of land shall be submitted for approval to the legislative body of the city, town, or county within which the plat is situated.Unless an applicant for preliminary plat approval requests otherwise, a preliminary plat shal…

Notice of the filing of a preliminary plat of a proposed subdivision adjacent to or within one mile of the municipal boundaries of a city or town, or which contemplates the use of any city or town utilities shall be given to the appropriate city or town authorities. Any notice re…

(1) Upon receipt of an application for preliminary plat approval the administrative officer charged by ordinance with responsibility for administration of regulations pertaining to platting and subdivisions shall provide public notice and set a date for a public hearing. Except a…

Any notice made under chapter 58.17 or 36.70B RCW that identifies affected property may identify this affected property without using a legal description of the property including, but not limited to, identification by an address, written description, vicinity sketch, or other re…

A county, city, or town may adopt an ordinance providing for the administrative review of a preliminary plat without a public hearing by adopting an ordinance providing for such administrative review. The ordinance may specify a threshold number of lots in a subdivision above whi…

If a city, town or county has established a planning commission or planning agency in accordance with state law or local charter, such commission or agency shall review all preliminary plats and make recommendations thereon to the city, town or county legislative body to assure c…

(1) The city, town, or county legislative body shall inquire into the public use and interest proposed to be served by the establishment of the subdivision and dedication. It shall determine: (a) If appropriate provisions are made for, but not limited to, the public health, safet…

The city, town, or county legislative body shall consider the physical characteristics of a proposed subdivision site and may disapprove a proposed plat because of flood, inundation, or swamp conditions. Construction of protective improvements may be required as a condition of ap…

Local regulations shall provide that in lieu of the completion of the actual construction of any required improvements prior to the approval of a final plat, the city, town, or county legislative body may accept a bond, in an amount and with surety and conditions satisfactory to …

(1) Preliminary plats of any proposed subdivision and dedication shall be approved, disapproved, or returned to the applicant for modification or correction within ninety days from date of filing thereof unless the applicant consents to an extension of such time period or the nin…

(1) Cities shall include in their development regulations a process through which an applicant can seek review and approval of an administrative lot split, which may be combined with concurrent review of a residential building permit to create new middle housing, as defined in RC…

Each preliminary plat submitted for final approval of the legislative body shall be accompanied by the following agencies' recommendations for approval or disapproval:(1) Local health department or other agency furnishing sewage disposal and supplying water as to the adequacy of …

Whenever a city, town, or county receives an application for the approval of a short plat of a short subdivision that is located adjacent to the right-of-way of a state highway, the responsible administrator shall give written notice of the application, including a legal descript…

Each and every plat, or replat, of any property filed for record shall:(1) Contain a statement of approval from the city, town or county licensed road engineer or by a licensed engineer acting on behalf of the city, town or county as to the layout of streets, alleys and other rig…

Every final plat or short plat of a subdivision or short subdivision filed for record must contain a certificate giving a full and correct description of the lands divided as they appear on the plat or short plat, including a statement that the subdivision or short subdivision ha…

(1) When the legislative body of the city, town, or county, or such other agency as authorized by RCW 58.17.100, finds that the subdivision proposed for final plat approval conforms to all terms of the preliminary plat approval, and that said subdivision meets the requirements of…

Any decision approving or disapproving any plat shall be reviewable under chapter 36.70C RCW.[ 1995 c 347 s 717; 1983 c 121 s 5; 1969 ex.s. c 271 s 18.]Notes:Finding—Severability—Part headings and table of contents not law—1995 c 347: See notes following RCW 36.70A.470.

The county auditor shall refuse to accept any plat for filing until approval of the plat has been given by the appropriate legislative body, or such other agency as authorized by RCW 58.17.100. Should a plat or dedication be filed without such approval, the prosecuting attorney o…

No plat or short plat may be approved unless the city, town, or county makes a formal written finding of fact that the proposed subdivision or proposed short subdivision is in conformity with any applicable zoning ordinance or other land use controls which may exist.[ 1981 c 293 …

Whenever any parcel of land is divided into five or more lots, tracts, or parcels of land and any person, firm or corporation or any agent of any of them sells or transfers, or offers or advertises for sale or transfer, any such lot, tract, or parcel without having a final plat o…

If performance of an offer or agreement to sell, lease, or otherwise transfer a lot, tract, or parcel of land following preliminary plat approval is expressly conditioned on the recording of the final plat containing the lot, tract, or parcel under this chapter, the offer or agre…

No building permit, septic tank permit, or other development permit, shall be issued for any lot, tract, or parcel of land divided in violation of this chapter or local regulations adopted pursuant thereto unless the authority authorized to issue such permit finds that the public…

Whenever any person is interested in the vacation of any subdivision or portion thereof, or any area designated or dedicated for public use, that person shall file an application for vacation with the legislative authority of the city, town, or county in which the subdivision is …

When any person is interested in the alteration of any subdivision or the altering of any portion thereof, except as provided in RCW 58.17.040(6), that person shall submit an application to request the alteration to the legislative authority of the city, town, or county where the…

Any hearing required by RCW 58.17.212, 58.17.215, or 58.17.060 may be administered by a hearings examiner as provided in RCW 58.17.330.[ 1987 c 354 s 7.]

The alteration of a subdivision is subject to RCW 64.04.175.[ 1991 c 132 s 2.]

Any person who violates any court order or injunction issued pursuant to this chapter shall be subject to a fine of not more than five thousand dollars or imprisonment for not more than ninety days or both.[ 1969 ex.s. c 271 s 22.]

The granting of an easement for ingress and egress or utilities over public property that is held as open space pursuant to a subdivision or plat, where the open space is already used as a utility right-of-way or corridor, where other access is not feasible, and where the grantin…

In the enforcement of this chapter, the prosecuting attorney may accept an assurance of discontinuance of any act or practice deemed in violation of this chapter from any person engaging in, or who has engaged in such act or practice. Any such assurance shall be in writing and be…

Except for subdivisions excluded under the provisions of RCW 58.17.040, as now or hereafter amended, permanent control monuments shall be established at each and every controlling corner on the boundaries of the parcel of land being subdivided. The local authority shall determine…

The survey of the proposed subdivision and preparation of the plat shall be made by or under the supervision of a registered land surveyor who shall certify on the plat that it is a true and correct representation of the lands actually surveyed.[ 1969 ex.s. c 271 s 26.]

Whenever a survey of a proposed subdivision or short subdivision reveals a discrepancy, the discrepancy shall be noted on the face of the final plat or short plat. Any discrepancy shall be disclosed in a title report prepared by a title insurer and issued after the filing of the …

In order that there be a degree of uniformity of survey monumentation throughout the cities, towns and counties of the state of Washington, there is hereby created a joint committee composed of six members to be appointed as follows: The Washington state association of counties s…

All cities, towns, and counties shall establish procedures to provide reasonable advance notice of proposals to adopt, amend, or repeal local ordinances adopted in accordance with this chapter. These procedures shall include but not be limited to advance notice to individuals or …

Any city, town or county shall, by ordinance, regulate the procedure whereby short subdivisions, subdivisions, streets, lots and blocks are named and numbered. A lot numbering system and a house address system, however, shall be provided by the municipality for short subdivisions…

A copy of any plat recorded in the manner provided in this chapter and certified by the county auditor of the county in which the same is recorded to be a true copy of such record and the whole thereof, shall be received in evidence in all the courts of this state, with like effe…

Any person, firm, corporation, or association or any agent of any person, firm, corporation, or association who violates any provision of this chapter or any local regulations adopted pursuant thereto relating to the sale, offer for sale, lease, or transfer of any lot, tract or p…

(1) Whenever a city, town, or county receives an application for the approval of a plat of a subdivision that lies in whole or in part in an irrigation district organized pursuant to chapter 87.03 RCW, the responsible administrator shall give written notice of the application, in…

Whenever land within a subdivision granted final approval is used in a manner or for a purpose which violates any provision of this chapter, any provision of the local subdivision regulations, or any term or condition of plat approval prescribed for the plat by the local governme…

(1) As an alternative to those provisions of this chapter requiring a planning commission to hear and issue recommendations for plat approval, the county or city legislative body may adopt a hearing examiner system and shall specify by ordinance the legal effect of the decisions …

All ordinances and resolutions enacted at a time prior to the passage of this chapter by the legislative bodies of cities, towns, and counties and which are in substantial compliance with the provisions of this chapter, shall be construed as valid and may be further amended to in…