Wash. Rev. Code § 59.18 § 59.18.075
Seizure of illegal drugs -- Notification of landlord.
Operative Text
(1) Any law enforcement agency which seizes a legend drug pursuant to a violation of chapter 69.41 RCW, a controlled substance pursuant to a violation of chapter 69.50 RCW, or an imitation controlled substance pursuant to a violation of chapter 69.52 RCW, shall make a reasonable attempt to discover the identity of the landlord and shall notify the landlord in writing, at the last address listed in the property tax records and at any other address known to the law enforcement agency, of the seizure and the location of the seizure of the illegal drugs or substances. (2) Any law enforcement agency which arrests a tenant for threatening another tenant with a firearm or other deadly weapon, or for some other unlawful use of a firearm or other deadly weapon on the rental premises, or for physically assaulting another person on the rental premises, shall make a reasonable attempt to discover the identity of the landlord and notify the landlord about the arrest in writing, at the last address listed in the property tax records and at any other address known to the law enforcement agency.
Under Wash. Rev. Code § 59.18.075, when a law enforcement agency seizes illegal drugs or controlled substances from a rental property, or arrests a tenant for threatening or assaulting others on the premises with a deadly weapon or through physical assault, the agency is required to make a reasonable effort to identify the landlord and send written notification to the landlord's address on file in property tax records, as well as any other known address. The law places the notification duty squarely on the law enforcement agency, not on the tenant or landlord. This provision ensures that property owners receive timely written notice of serious criminal activity occurring at their rental properties.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 59.18.075, law enforcement is obligated to attempt to identify and notify landlords in writing when drug seizures or qualifying arrests occur on their rental properties. Compliant property managers generally keep their contact information current in county property tax records so that statutory notifications can actually reach them. Landlords who receive such a notice typically review it carefully and consult with a qualified attorney to understand what options may be available under the Residential Landlord-Tenant Act, including any lease-related remedies.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section § 59.18.075 establishes a law enforcement duty to notify landlords of drug seizures and certain arrests on rental premises — it is not a provision that directly grants or removes tenant rights, but tenants should be aware that their landlord will likely receive written notice of qualifying incidents. Tenants who believe a landlord has taken adverse action in response to such a notice may want to review their rights under Washington's Residential Landlord-Tenant Act, Wash. Rev. Code § 59.18.010 et seq. Consulting a tenant-rights organization or legal aid service can help tenants understand whether any protections or defenses apply to their situation.
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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