Wash. Rev. Code § 59.20 § 59.20.355
Manufactured/mobile home communities -- Notice of opportunity to compete to purchase -- Failure to comply by owner -- Penalty -- Civil action.
Operative Text
(1) An owner who sells or transfers a manufactured/mobile home community and willfully fails to comply with RCW 59.20.325 , 59.20.330 , or 59.20.305 is liable to the state of Washington for a civil penalty in the amount of $10,000. This penalty is the exclusive state remedy for a violation of RCW 59.20.325 , 59.20.330 , or 59.20.305 . (2) The attorney general may bring a civil action in superior court in the name of the state against a landlord under this section to recover the penalty specified in subsection (1) of this section.
Under Wash. Rev. Code § 59.20.355, when an owner of a manufactured/mobile home community sells or transfers the community and willfully fails to follow the notice and opportunity-to-compete requirements set out in related statutes (RCW 59.20.305, 59.20.325, and 59.20.330), that owner becomes liable to the state of Washington for a $10,000 civil penalty. This penalty is described as the exclusive state remedy for such violations, meaning the state's recourse is limited to this specific monetary consequence. The Washington Attorney General is authorized to bring a civil action in superior court on behalf of the state to collect that penalty from a non-compliant owner.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Operators of manufactured/mobile home communities in Washington who are considering a sale or transfer of their property should be aware that § 59.20.355 attaches a $10,000 civil penalty to willful non-compliance with the notice and resident opportunity-to-compete provisions found in RCW 59.20.305, 59.20.325, and 59.20.330. Compliant operators generally document their adherence to each required notice step and timeline before completing any sale or transfer transaction. Because the Attorney General can pursue this penalty in superior court, maintaining clear records of compliance with the related notice statutes is a standard practice in this area.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Residents of manufactured/mobile home communities in Washington have an interest in knowing that § 59.20.355 creates a financial consequence for owners who willfully bypass the notice and opportunity-to-compete requirements that protect residents during a community sale or transfer. While the $10,000 civil penalty under this provision runs to the state rather than directly to individual residents, the existence of this enforcement mechanism may be relevant context when residents believe their statutory notice rights under RCW 59.20.305, 59.20.325, or 59.20.330 were not honored. Residents who believe a violation occurred may wish to contact the Washington Attorney General's office or a tenant-rights organization to understand what options, if any, are available to them.
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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