Wash. Rev. Code § 49.60 § 49.60.260
Enforcement of orders of administrative law judge -- Appellate review of court order.
Operative Text
(1) The commission or any person entitled to relief of a final order may petition the court within the county wherein any unfair practice occurred or wherein any person charged with an unfair practice resides or transacts business for the enforcement of any final order which is not complied with and is issued by the commission or an administrative law judge under the provisions of this chapter and for appropriate temporary relief or a restraining order, and shall certify and file in court the final order sought to be enforced. Within five days after filing such petition in court, the commission or any person entitled to relief of a final order shall cause a notice of the petition to be sent by certified mail to all parties or their representatives. (2) If within sixty days after the date the administrative law judge's order concerning an unfair practice in a real estate transaction is entered, no petition has been filed under subsection (1) of this section and the commission has not sought enforcement of the final order under this section, any person entitled to relief under the final order may petition for a decree enforcing the order in the superior courts of the state of Washington for the county in which the unfair practice in a real estate transaction under RCW 49.60.222 through 49.60.224 is alleged to have occurred. (3) From the time the petition is filed, the court shall have jurisdiction of the proceedings and of the questions determined thereon, and shall have the power to grant such temporary relief or restraining order as it deems just and suitable. (4) If the petition shows that there is a final order issued by the commission or administrative law judge under RCW 49.60.240 or 49.60.250 and that the order has not been complied with in whole or in part, the court shall issue an order directing the person who is alleged to have not complied with the administrative order to appear in court at a time designated in the order, not less than ten days from the date thereof, and show cause why the administrative order should not be enforced according to the terms. The commission or any person entitled to relief of any final order shall immediately serve the noncomplying party with a copy of the court order and the petition. (5) The administrative order shall be enforced by the court if the person does not appear, or if the person appears and the court finds that: (a) The order is regular on its face; (b) The order has not been complied with; and (c) The person's answer discloses no valid reason why the order should not be enforced, or that the reason given in the person's answer could have been raised by review under RCW 34.05.510 through 34.05.598 , and the person has given no valid excuse for failing to use that remedy. (6) The jurisdiction of the court shall be exclusive and its judgment and decree shall be final, except that the same shall be subject to appellate review by the supreme court or the court of appeals, on appeal, by either party, irrespective of the nature of the decree or judgment. The review shall be taken and prosecuted in the same manner and form and with the same effect as is provided in other cases.
Washington law under Wash. Rev. Code § 49.60.260 establishes a court-based mechanism for enforcing final orders issued by the Washington State Human Rights Commission or an administrative law judge in cases involving unfair practices, including housing discrimination. When a final order goes uncomplied with, it can be brought before a superior court in the county where the unfair practice occurred or where the respondent resides or does business. The court gains exclusive jurisdiction once a petition is filed and may grant temporary relief or restraining orders, with any resulting judgment subject to appellate review by the Washington Supreme Court or Court of Appeals.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers subject to a final order under Wash. Rev. Code § 49.60.260 are generally expected to comply with that order promptly, since noncompliance can trigger court enforcement proceedings. A compliant operator typically responds to any administrative order issued under this chapter without waiting for a court to compel action, as the statute provides a structured show-cause process for those who do not comply. Operators who believe an order is improper generally pursue available administrative review remedies under RCW 34.05.510 through 34.05.598 rather than simply ignoring the order, since failure to use those remedies can foreclose certain defenses in later court proceedings under § 49.60.260.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under Wash. Rev. Code § 49.60.260, a person who has been granted relief through a final order of the Human Rights Commission or an administrative law judge has the right to seek court enforcement if that order is not followed. If the Commission has not acted within sixty days of an administrative law judge's order involving a real estate transaction, § 49.60.260(2) allows the person entitled to relief to petition a Washington superior court directly for a decree enforcing the order. Tenants and others seeking to understand their enforcement options may benefit from consulting a tenant-rights organization or legal aid provider familiar with Washington fair housing law.
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.
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