Title 58 — Title 58 BOUNDARIES AND PLATS

This chapter may be cited as the land development act.[ 1992 c 191 s 12; 1973 1st ex.s. c 12 s 35.]

The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise.(1) "Metadata" means data that describes other data. For the purposes of this chapter, metadata means geodetic reference system utilized, applicable epoch, statement of rel…

The most recent version of the state plane coordinate system for the state of Washington, which has been established by NGS, based on the NSRS, for defining and stating the positions or locations of points on the surface of the earth within the state of Washington must be known a…

The Washington plane coordinate system shall be named, and in any land description in which it is used it shall be designated, the "Washington plane coordinate system," and the zone used must be specified.[ 2020 c 50 s 3; 1989 c 54 s 12.]

(1) The plane coordinates of a point on the earth's surface, to be used in expressing the position or location of the point in the appropriate zone of the WPCS, consist of two distances, expressed in feet and decimals of a foot or meters and decimals of a meter, along with the me…

When any tract of land to be defined by a single description extends from one coordinate zone into other zones, the positions of all points on its boundaries must be referred to only one of the zones, the zone which is used being specifically named in the description along with t…

The official geodetic datums to which geodetic coordinates including, but not limited to, latitude, longitude, ellipsoid height, orthometric height, or dynamic height are referenced within the state of Washington must be as defined for the NSRS.[ 2020 c 50 s 6.]

Coordinates based on the Washington plane coordinate system, purporting to define the position of a point on a land boundary, may be presented to be recorded in any public land records or deed records. The method and source for establishing coordinates shall be described in the l…

When the values are expressed in feet, one foot equals 0.3048 meters, must be used as the standard foot for WPCS.[ 2020 c 50 s 8.]

The use of the term "Washington plane coordinate system" on any map, report of survey, or other document, shall be limited to coordinates based on the Washington plane coordinate system as defined in this chapter.[ 2020 c 50 s 9; 1989 c 54 s 18.]

The provisions of this chapter may not be construed to prohibit the appropriate use of other datums, other geodetic reference networks or systems, or other plane coordinate systems. Any other such datums, networks, or systems used must comply fully with the information requiremen…

Whenever coordinates based on the Washington plane coordinate system are used to describe any tract of land which in the same document is also described by reference to any subdivision, line or corner of the United States public land surveys, the description by coordinates shall …

Nothing contained in this chapter shall require any purchaser or mortgagee to rely on a description, any part of which depends exclusively upon the Washington plane coordinate system.[ 2020 c 50 s 11; 1989 c 54 s 20.]

If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected.[ 1989 c 54 s 21.]

It is the intent of the legislature to establish a coordinated system of state base maps to assist all levels of government to more effectively provide the information to meet their responsibilities for resource planning and management.It is further the legislature's intent to el…

The department of natural resources shall establish and maintain a state base mapping system. The standards for the state base mapping system shall be:(1) A series of fifteen minute United States geological survey quadrangle map separates at a scale of one to 48,000 (one inch equ…

Any state agency purchasing or acquiring United States geological survey quadrangle map separates shall do so through the department of natural resources.[ 1973 1st ex.s. c 159 s 3.]

The department of natural resources shall be the primary depository of all United States geological survey quadrangle map separates for state agencies: PROVIDED, That any state agency may maintain duplicate copies.[ 1973 1st ex.s. c 159 s 4.]

(1) All United States geological survey quadrangle map separates shall be available at cost to all state agencies, local agencies, the federal government, and any private individual or company through duplication and purchase.The department shall coordinate all requests for the u…

It is the responsibility of the state to provide a means for the identification and preservation of survey points for the description of common land boundaries in the interest of the people of the state. There is a necessity for the adoption and maintenance of a system of permane…

The department of natural resources is designated as the official agency for surveys and maps. The commissioner of public lands shall appoint an advisory board of five members, the majority of whom shall be registered professional engineers or land surveyors, who shall serve at t…

The commissioner of public lands, the department of natural resources, and the advisory board are authorized to cooperate and advise with various departments and subdivisions of the state, counties, municipalities, and registered engineers or land surveyors of the state for the f…

The agency designated by RCW 58.24.020 is further authorized to:(1) Set up standards of accuracy and methods of procedure;(2) Compile and publish maps and records from surveys performed under the provisions of this chapter, and to maintain suitable indexes of surveys to prevent d…

All employees who are in responsible charge of work under the provisions of this chapter shall be licensed professional engineers or land surveyors.[ 1982 c 165 s 5; 1951 c 224 s 5.]Notes:Severability—1951 c 224: See note following RCW 58.24.010.

There is created in the state treasury the surveys and maps account which shall be a separate account consisting of funds received or collected under chapters 43.92, 58.22, and 58.24 RCW, moneys appropriated to it by law. This account shall be used exclusively by the department o…

A fee set by the board of natural resources shall be charged by each county auditor, in addition to any other fees required by law, as a condition precedent to the filing and recording of any surveys, subdivision plats, short plats, and condominium surveys, plats, or maps. Such f…

It is the duty of the city or town council of any city or town in this state situate upon public lands of the United States or lands, the legal and equitable title to which is in the United States of America, to enter at the proper land office of the United States such quantity o…

Said council must cause a survey to be made by some competent person, of the lands which the inhabitants of said city or town may be entitled to claim under the said act of congress, located according to the legal subdivisions of the sections and by the section lines of the Unite…

A plat thereof must be made in triplicate, on a scale of not less than eighty feet to one inch, which must be duly certified under oath by the surveyor, one of which must be filed with the county auditor of the county wherein the city or town is situated, one must be deposited in…

Before proceeding to make such survey, at least ten days' notice thereof must be given, by posting within the limits of such city or townsite, not less than five written or printed notices of the time when such survey shall commence, or by publication thereof in a newspaper publi…

Such plat must show as follows:(1) All streets, alleys, avenues, roads and highways, and the width thereof.(2) All parks, squares and all other grounds reserved for public uses, with the boundaries and dimensions thereof.(3) All lots and blocks, with their boundaries, designating…

Such surveyor must mark all corners of blocks or lots shown on the plat by substantial stakes or monuments, and must set stone or iron monuments at the points of intersection of the center lines of all the streets, where practicable, or as near as possible to such points, and the…

If a stone is used as a monument, it must have a cross cut in the top at the point of intersection of the center lines of streets, or a hole may be drilled in the stone to mark such point. If an iron monument is used it must be at least two inches in diameter by two and one-half …

All such plats must be made on mounted drawing paper, and filed and recorded in the office of the county auditor, and he or she must keep the original plat for public inspection. The fee of such county auditor for filing and recording each of such plats and the field notes accomp…

Each lot or parcel of said lands having thereon valuable improvements or buildings ordinarily used as dwellings or for business purposes, not exceeding one-tenth of one acre in area, shall be rated and assessed by the said corporate authorities at the sum of one dollar; each lot …

Every person, company, corporation or association claimant of any city or town lot or parcel of land within the limits of such city or townsite, must present to the council, by filing the same with the clerk thereof, within three months after the patent (or certified copy thereof…

If it is found that the amounts hereinbefore specified as assessments and fees for costs and expenses prove to be insufficient to cover and defray all the necessary expenses, the council must estimate the deficiency and assess such deficiency pro rata upon all the lots and parcel…

At the expiration of six months after the time of filing of such patent, or a certified copy thereof in the office of the county auditor, if there has been no adverse claim filed in the meantime, the council must execute and deliver to such claimant, his or her, its or their heir…

Townsite entries may be made by incorporated towns or cities on the mineral lands of the United States, but no title shall be acquired by such towns or cities to any vein of gold, silver, cinnabar, copper or lead, or to any valid mining claim or possession held under existing law…

In all cases of adverse claims or disputes arising out of conflicting claims to lands or concerning boundary lines, the adverse claimants may submit the decision thereof to the council of such city or town by an agreement in writing specifying particularly the subject matter in d…

The said council must give public notice by advertising for four weeks in a newspaper published in said city or town, or, if there be no newspaper published in said city or town, then by publication in some newspaper having general circulation in such city or town, and not less t…

All lots in such city or townsite which were unoccupied at the time of the entry of said townsite in the United States land office shall be sold by the corporate authorities of such city or town, or under their direction, at public auction to the highest bidder for cash, each lot…

All school lots or parcels of land, reserved or occupied for school purposes, must be conveyed to the school district in which such city or town is situated, without cost or charge of any kind whatever. All lots or parcels of land reserved or occupied for municipal purposes must …

No mere informality, failure or omission on the part of any of the persons or officers named in this chapter invalidates the acts of such person or officer; but every certificate or deed granted to any person pursuant to the provisions of this chapter is prima facie evidence that…

Such corporate authorities shall promptly execute and perform all duties imposed upon them by the provisions of this chapter.[ 1909 c 231 s 19; RRS s 11503. Prior: 1888 c 124 pp 216-220.]

No deed to any lot or parcel of land in such townsite entry shall be made or delivered to any alleged occupant thereof before proof shall have been made under oath showing such claimant to have been an occupant of such lot or parcel of land within the meaning of said laws of cong…

See RCW 58.28.510.

See RCW 58.28.520.

See RCW 58.28.440.

See RCW 58.28.490.