Wash. Rev. Code § 59.20 § 59.20.045
Enforceability of rules against a tenant.
Operative Text
Rules are enforceable against a tenant only if: (1) Their purpose is to promote the convenience, health, safety, or welfare of the residents, protect and preserve the premises from abusive use, or make a fair distribution of services and facilities made available for the tenants generally; (2) They are reasonably related to the purpose for which they are adopted; (3) They apply to all tenants in a fair manner; (4) They are not for the purpose of evading an obligation of the landlord; (5) They are not retaliatory or discriminatory in nature; and (6) With respect to any new or amended rules not contained within the rental agreement, the tenant was provided at least thirty days' written notice of the new or amended rule. The tenant must be provided with at least three months to comply with the new or amended rule after the thirty-day notice period. Within the three-month grace period, any violation of the new or amended rule must result in a warning only. After expiration of the three-month grace period, any violation of the new or amended rule subjects the tenant to termination of the tenancy as authorized under RCW 59.20.080 (1)(a).
Under Washington's Manufactured/Mobile Home Landlord-Tenant Act, specifically Wash. Rev. Code § 59.20.045, a park rule is only legally enforceable against a tenant if it meets a set of defined criteria: it must serve a legitimate purpose such as health, safety, or fair distribution of services; be reasonably connected to that purpose; apply fairly to all tenants; not be designed to help the landlord avoid its own obligations; and not be retaliatory or discriminatory. For any new or amended rule not already in the rental agreement, tenants must receive at least 30 days' written notice before the rule takes effect, followed by a three-month grace period during which only warnings—not termination—may be issued for violations.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers operating under Wash. Rev. Code § 59.20.045 generally ensure that every park rule is grounded in a legitimate purpose—such as resident safety or equitable access to shared facilities—and is applied consistently across all tenants without favoritism. When introducing new or amended rules not already contained in the rental agreement, compliant operators provide written notice at least 30 days in advance and then allow tenants a full three months to come into compliance, issuing only written warnings during that grace period. Operators also take care that no rule is crafted in a way that shifts a landlord obligation onto tenants or that could be characterized as retaliatory or discriminatory.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Wash. Rev. Code § 59.20.045 establishes that a park rule cannot be enforced against you unless it satisfies several specific legal requirements, including that it serves a legitimate purpose, applies fairly to all residents, and is not retaliatory or discriminatory. If a landlord attempts to enforce a new or amended rule without providing the required 30-day written notice and a subsequent three-month grace period with warnings only, that enforcement may not be valid under the statute. Tenants who believe a rule fails to meet these criteria may consider raising the issue as a defense in any tenancy-termination proceeding, filing a complaint with a relevant local or state housing authority, or reaching out to a tenant-rights organization for general information about available options.
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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