Title 79 — Title 79 PUBLIC LANDS

(1) The department is authorized to sell any real property not designated or acquired as state forestlands, but acquired by the state, either in the name of the forest board, the forestry board, or the division of forestry, for administrative sites, lien foreclosures, or other pu…

(1) Not more than one hundred and sixty acres of any land granted to the state by the United States shall be offered for sale in one parcel and no university lands shall be offered for sale except by legislative directive or with the consent of the board of regents of the Univers…

The department shall exercise general supervision and control over the sale for any purpose of land granted to the state for educational purposes. It shall be the duty of the department to prepare all reports, data, and information in its records pertaining to any such proposed s…

All state lands shall be sold on terms and conditions established by the board in light of market conditions. Sales by real estate contract or for cash may be authorized. All deferred payments shall draw interest at such rate as may be fixed, from time to time, by rule adopted by…

Any person desiring to purchase any state lands shall file an application on the forms provided by the department and accompanied by the fees authorized under RCW 79.02.250.[ 2003 c 334 s 311; 1982 1st ex.s. c 21 s 151; 1979 ex.s. c 109 s 2; 1967 c 163 s 4; 1959 c 257 s 3; 1927 c…

Whenever application is made to purchase less than a section of unplatted state lands, the department may order the inspection of the entire section or sections of which the lands applied for form a part.[ 2003 c 334 s 327; 1959 c 257 s 9; 1927 c 255 s 28; RRS s 7797-28. Prior: 1…

The department may cause any state lands to be surveyed for the purpose of ascertaining and determining the area subject to sale.[ 2003 c 334 s 330; 1982 1st ex.s. c 21 s 153; 1959 c 257 s 11; 1927 c 255 s 30; RRS s 7797-30. Prior: 1909 c 223 s 2; 1907 c 256 s 5; 1903 c 74 s 1; 1…

When in the judgment of the department, there is sufficient interest for the appraisement and sale of state lands, the department shall cause each tract of land to be inspected as to its topography, development potential, forestry, agricultural, and grazing qualities, coal, miner…

Except as provided in RCW 79.11.340, all sales of land under this chapter shall be at public auction, to the highest bidder, on the terms prescribed by law and as specified in the notice provided under RCW 79.11.120, and no land shall be sold for less than its appraised value.[ 2…

In no case shall any lands granted to the state be offered for sale under this chapter unless the same shall have been appraised by the board within ninety days prior to the date fixed for the sale. A purchaser of state lands may not rely upon the appraisal prepared by the depart…

Before any state lands are offered for sale, the department may establish the fair market value of those authorized improvements not owned by the state.[ 2003 c 334 s 336; 1979 ex.s. c 109 s 5; 1959 c 257 s 14; 1927 c 255 s 34; RRS s 7797-34. Prior: 1915 c 147 s 2; 1909 c 223 s 3…

When the department decides to sell any state lands, or with the consent of the board of regents of the University of Washington, or by legislative directive, decides to sell any lot, block, tract, or tracts of university lands, it is the duty of the department to fix the date, p…

*** CHANGE IN 2026 *** (SEE 2348.SL) ***(1) The department shall give notice of the sale by advertisement published not fewer than two times during a four-week period prior to the time of sale in at least one newspaper of general circulation in the county in which the whole, or a…

Actions under this chapter are subject to the notification requirements of RCW 43.17.400.[ 2007 c 62 s 3.]Notes:Finding—Intent—Severability—2007 c 62: See notes following RCW 43.17.400.

The department is authorized to expend any sum in additional advertising of such sale as it determines to be for the best interest of the state.[ 2003 c 334 s 348; 1927 c 255 s 48; RRS s 7797-48. Prior: 1923 c 19 s 1; 1897 c 89 s 14. Formerly codified as RCW 79.01.192, 79.12.320.…

Sales by public auction under this chapter shall be conducted under the direction of the department or its authorized representative. The department or department's representative are hereinafter referred to as auctioneers. On or before the time specified in the notice of sale ea…

A purchaser of state lands who is not the owner of the authorized improvements thereon shall deposit with the auctioneer making the sale, at the time of the sale, the appraised value of such improvements. The department shall pay to the owner of the improvements the sum deposited…

Any sale which has been offered, and for which there are no bids received shall not be reoffered until it has been readvertised as specified in RCW 79.11.130 and 79.11.140. If all sales cannot be offered within the specified time on the advertised date, the sale shall continue on…

The department shall enter upon its records a confirmation of sale and issue to the purchaser a contract of sale if the following conditions have been met:(1) No fewer than ten days have passed since the auctioneer's report has been filed;(2) No affidavit is filed with the depart…

If any land offered for sale is not sold, it may again be advertised for sale, as provided in this chapter, whenever in the opinion of the commissioner it shall be expedient to do so. Whenever any person applies to the department in writing to have such land offered for sale, agr…

The purchaser of state lands under the provisions of this chapter, except in cases where the full purchase price is paid at the time of the purchase, shall enter into and sign a contract with the state, to be signed by the commissioner on behalf of the state, with the seal of the…

Each and every contract for the sale of, and each deed to, state lands shall contain the following reservation: "The party of the first part hereby expressly saves, excepts, and reserves out of the grant hereby made, unto itself and its successors and assigns forever, all oils, g…

Whenever the state shall have heretofore sold or may hereafter sell any state lands and issued a contract of purchase or executed a deed of conveyance therefor, in which there is a reservation of all oils, gases, coal, ores, minerals, and fossils of every kind and of rights in co…

The department shall cause all unplatted state lands, within the limits of any incorporated city or town, or within two miles of the boundary thereof, where the valuation of such lands is found by appraisement to exceed one hundred dollars per acre, to be platted into lots and bl…

When, in the judgment of the department the best interest of the state will be thereby promoted, the department may vacate any plat or plats covering state lands, and vacate any street, alley, or other public place therein situated. The vacation of any such plat shall not affect …

Whenever all the owners and other persons having a vested interest in the lands abutting on any street, alley, or other public place, or any portion thereof, in any plat of state lands, lying outside the limits of any incorporated city or town, petition the department, the depart…

State lands held under lease as provided in RCW 79.13.370 shall not be offered for sale, or sold, during the life of the lease, except upon application of the lessee.[ 2003 c 334 s 380; 1927 c 255 s 75; RRS s 7797-75. Prior: 1897 c 89 s 23. Formerly RCW 79.01.300, 79.12.560.]Note…

(1) The purpose of this section is to provide revenues to the state and its various taxing districts through the sale of public lands which are currently used primarily for grazing and similar low priority purposes, by enabling their development as irrigated agricultural lands.(2…

(1) When any public land of the state is offered for sale and the state has paid assessments for local improvements, or benefits, to any municipal corporation authorized by law to assess the same, the amount of the assessments paid by the state shall be added to the appraised val…

*** CHANGE IN 2026 *** (SEE 2348.SL) ***(1) Except as provided in RCW 79.10.030(2), the department shall manage and control all lands acquired by the state by escheat, deed of sale, gift, devise, or under RCW 79.19.010 through 79.19.110, except such lands that are conveyed or dev…