Wash. Rev. Code § 59.30 § 59.30.020
Definitions.
Operative Text
The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise. (1) "Complainant" means a landlord, community owner, or tenant, who has a complaint alleging a violation of chapter 59.20 RCW. (2) "Department" means the department of revenue. (3) "Director" means the director of revenue. (4) "Landlord" or "community owner" means the owner of a mobile home park or a manufactured housing community and includes the agents of a landlord. (5) "Manufactured home" means a single-family dwelling built according to the United States department of housing and urban development manufactured home construction and safety standards act, which is a national preemptive building code. A manufactured home also: (a) Includes plumbing, heating, air conditioning, and electrical systems; (b) is built on a permanent chassis; and (c) can be transported in one or more sections with each section at least eight feet wide and forty feet long when transported, or when installed on the site is three hundred twenty square feet or greater. (6) "Manufactured/mobile home" means either a manufactured home or a mobile home. (7) "Manufactured/mobile home lot" means a portion of a manufactured/mobile home community designated as the location of one mobile home, manufactured home, or park model and its accessory buildings, and intended for the exclusive use as a primary residence by the occupants of that mobile home, manufactured home, or park model. (8) "Mobile home" means a factory-built dwelling built prior to June 15, 1976, to standards other than the United States department of housing and urban development code, and acceptable under applicable state codes in effect at the time of construction or introduction of the home into the state. Mobile homes have not been built since the introduction of the United States department of housing and urban development manufactured home construction and safety act. (9) "Mobile home park," "manufactured housing community," or "manufactured/mobile home community" means any real property that is rented or held out for rent to others for the placement of two or more mobile homes, manufactured homes, or park models, for the primary purpose of production of income, except where the real property is rented or held out for rent for seasonal recreational purposes only and is not intended for year-round occupancy. (10) "Owner" means one or more persons, jointly or severally, in whom is vested: (a) All or part of the legal title to the real property; or (b) All or part of the beneficial ownership, and a right to present use and enjoyment of the real property. (11) "Park model" means a recreational vehicle intended for permanent or semipermanent installation and is used as a primary residence. (12) "Recreational vehicle" means a travel trailer, motor home, truck camper, or camping trailer that is primarily designed and used as temporary living quarters, is either self-propelled or mounted on or drawn by another vehicle, is transient, is not occupied as a primary residence, and is not immobilized or permanently affixed to a manufactured/mobile home lot. (13) "Respondent" means a landlord, community owner, or tenant, alleged to have committed a violation of chapter 59.20 RCW. (14) "Tenant" means any person, except a transient as defined in RCW 59.20.030 , who rents a mobile home lot.
Section 59.30.020 of Washington's Revised Code establishes the working vocabulary for the dispute-resolution chapter governing manufactured and mobile home communities. It defines key terms—such as 'landlord,' 'tenant,' 'manufactured home,' 'mobile home,' and 'manufactured/mobile home community'—that determine who is covered by the chapter and what types of dwellings and lots fall within its scope. These definitions draw important distinctions, for example between homes built before and after the federal HUD construction standards that took effect on June 15, 1976, and between primary residences and seasonal or transient recreational vehicles.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 59.30.020, a 'landlord' or 'community owner' includes not only the property owner but also their agents, meaning that on-site managers and representatives may be treated as the landlord for purposes of this chapter. Operators of communities with two or more lots rented for income—as opposed to seasonal recreational use only—should be aware that their properties likely qualify as a 'manufactured/mobile home community' subject to the full chapter. Keeping clear records of the type of dwellings on each lot (manufactured home, mobile home, or park model) can help establish which regulatory standards apply under this definitional framework.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 59.30.020 defines 'tenant' as a person who rents a manufactured or mobile home lot and is not classified as a transient under RCW 59.20.030, which means lot renters who use the space as a primary residence generally fall within the chapter's protections. Understanding whether your dwelling qualifies as a 'manufactured home,' 'mobile home,' or 'park model' under these definitions can affect which rights and complaint procedures are available to you. Tenants who believe a violation of chapter 59.20 RCW has occurred may file a complaint as a 'complainant' under this chapter, and consulting a tenant-rights organization familiar with Washington's manufactured housing laws can help clarify how these definitions apply to a particular 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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