Wash. Rev. Code § 49.60 § 49.60.030

Freedom from discrimination -- Declaration of civil rights.

In Force
Verified 10/26/2026 · Next check 11/25/2026
effective 10/7/2026WashingtonFair Housing & Anti-Discrimination

Operative Text

Wash. Rev. Code § 49.60 § 49.60.030
(1) The right to be free from discrimination because of race, creed, color, national origin, citizenship or immigration status, sex, honorably discharged veteran or military status, sexual orientation, or the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability is recognized as and declared to be a civil right. This right shall include, but not be limited to:
(a) The right to obtain and hold employment without discrimination;
(b) The right to the full enjoyment of any of the accommodations, advantages, facilities, or privileges of any place of public resort, accommodation, assemblage, or amusement;
(c) The right to engage in real estate transactions without discrimination, including discrimination against families with children;
(d) The right to engage in credit transactions without discrimination;
(e) The right to engage in insurance transactions or transactions with health maintenance organizations without discrimination: PROVIDED, That a practice which is not unlawful under RCW 48.30.300 , 48.44.220 , or 48.46.370 does not constitute an unfair practice for the purposes of this subparagraph;
(f) The right to engage in commerce free from any discriminatory boycotts or blacklists. Discriminatory boycotts or blacklists for purposes of this section shall be defined as the formation or execution of any express or implied agreement, understanding, policy or contractual arrangement for economic benefit between any persons which is not specifically authorized by the laws of the United States and which is required or imposed, either directly or indirectly, overtly or covertly, by a foreign government or foreign person in order to restrict, condition, prohibit, or interfere with or in order to exclude any person or persons from any business relationship on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, sex, honorably discharged veteran or military status, sexual orientation, the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability, or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability, or national origin, citizenship or immigration status, or lawful business relationship: PROVIDED HOWEVER, That nothing herein contained shall prohibit the use of boycotts as authorized by law pertaining to labor disputes and unfair labor practices; and
(g) The right of a mother to breastfeed her child in any place of public resort, accommodation, assemblage, or amusement.
(2) Any person deeming himself or herself injured by any act in violation of this chapter shall have a civil action in a court of competent jurisdiction to enjoin further violations, or to recover the actual damages sustained by the person, or both, together with the cost of suit including reasonable attorneys' fees or any other appropriate remedy authorized by this chapter or the United States Civil Rights Act of 1964 as amended, or the Federal Fair Housing Amendments Act of 1988 (42 U.S.C. Sec. 3601 et seq.).
(3) Except for any unfair practice committed by an employer against an employee or a prospective employee, or any unfair practice in a real estate transaction which is the basis for relief specified in the amendments to RCW 49.60.225 contained in chapter 69, Laws of 1993, any unfair practice prohibited by this chapter which is committed in the course of trade or commerce as defined in the Consumer Protection Act, chapter 19.86 RCW, is, for the purpose of applying that chapter, a matter affecting the public interest, is not reasonable in relation to the development and preservation of business, and is an unfair or deceptive act in trade or commerce.
Source: Legislative text reproduced verbatim
Plain English

Washington's Law Against Discrimination, codified at Wash. Rev. Code § 49.60.030, formally recognizes freedom from discrimination as a civil right in the state. The provision covers a broad range of protected characteristics—including race, national origin, citizenship or immigration status, sex, sexual orientation, disability status, and military service, among others—and extends those protections across housing and real estate transactions, employment, credit, insurance, public accommodations, and commerce. Individuals who believe they have been harmed by a violation may pursue civil action to stop the discriminatory conduct, recover actual damages, and obtain attorneys' fees.

Written by anthropic/claude-sonnet-4.6 · Reviewed on October 7, 2026

Plain English — not legal advice.

For Property Managers

Under Wash. Rev. Code § 49.60.030, property owners and managers operating in Washington are expected to conduct all real estate transactions—including rental applications, lease offers, and tenant interactions—without regard to any of the protected characteristics enumerated in the statute, which include race, national origin, citizenship or immigration status, disability, familial status, and several others. Compliant operators generally apply consistent, documented criteria to all applicants and residents, and they ensure that policies around service animals and dog guides align with the disability protections recognized in this provision. Because violations can expose a party to civil suits, actual damages, and attorneys' fees, operators commonly review their practices against the full list of protected classes set out in § 49.60.030.

General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.

For Tenants

Wash. Rev. Code § 49.60.030 declares that engaging in real estate transactions free from discrimination—including discrimination based on race, sex, disability, citizenship or immigration status, sexual orientation, familial status, and other characteristics—is a recognized civil right in Washington. Tenants who believe a landlord's conduct has violated this provision may have grounds to file a civil action in court seeking an injunction, actual damages, and attorneys' fees, or to pursue a complaint through an administrative process. Tenant-rights organizations and legal aid offices familiar with Washington's Law Against Discrimination can help individuals understand which enforcement paths may be available under § 49.60.030 and related provisions.

General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.

Generated October 7, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.

Effective Timeline

Current
Oct 7, 2026
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Related Rules

§ 5.106
§ 5.106 Equal access in accordance with the individual's gender identity in community planning and development programs.
§ 5.109
§ 5.109 Equal participation of faith-based organizations in HUD programs and activities.
§ 2
Policies; recommendations

Source Information

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