6589-S

AN ACT Relating to information from cities, towns, and counties regarding restrictions on real estate; adding a new section to chapter 35.21 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 35A.21 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 36.70 RCW; and providing an effective date.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. A new section is added to chapter 35.21 RCW to read as follows:

(1) A property owner may make a written request for a statement of restrictions applicable to a single parcel, tract, lot, or block of real property to the city or town in which the real property is located.

(2) Within thirty days of the receipt of the request, the city or town shall provide the owner, by registered mail, with a statement of restrictions as described in subsection (3) of this section.

(3) The statement of restrictions shall include the following:

(a) The zoning currently applicable to the real property;

(b) Pending zoning changes applicable to the real property;

(c) Readily available information regarding designation of any portion of the real property as agricultural land, forest land, mineral resource land, wetland, an area with a critical recharging effect on aquifers used for potable water, a fish and wildlife habitat conservation area, a frequently flooded area, and as a geological hazardous area; and

(d) If information regarding the designations listed in (c) of this subsection are not readily available, inform the owner of the procedure by which the owner can obtain that site-specific information from the city or town.

(4) If a city or town fails to provide the statement of restrictions within thirty days after receipt of the written request, the owner shall be awarded recovery of all attorneys' fees and costs incurred in any successful application for a writ of mandamus to compel production of a statement.

(5) For purposes of this section:

(a) "Owner" means any vested owner or any person holding the buyer's interest under a recorded real estate contract in which the seller is the vested owner; and

(b) "Real property" means a parcel, tract, lot or block: (i) Containing a single-family residence that is occupied by the owner or a member of his or her family, or rented to another by the owner; or (ii) five acres or less in size.

(6) This section does not affect the vesting of permits or development rights.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 35A.21 RCW to read as follows:

(1) A property owner may make a written request for a statement of restrictions applicable to a single parcel, tract, lot, or block of real property to the code city in which the real property is located.

(2) Within thirty days of the receipt of the request, the code city shall provide the owner, by registered mail, with a statement of restrictions as described in subsection (3) of this section.

(3) The statement of restrictions shall include the following:

(a) The zoning currently applicable to the real property;

(b) Pending zoning changes applicable to the real property;

(4) If a code city fails to provide the statement of restrictions within thirty days after receipt of the written request, the owner shall be awarded recovery of all attorneys' fees and costs incurred in any successful application for a writ of mandamus to compel production of a statement.

(5) For purposes of this section:

(a) "Owner" means any vested owner or any person holding the buyer's interest under a recorded real estate contract in which the seller is the vested owner; and

(6) This section does not affect the vesting of permits or development rights.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. A new section is added to chapter 36.70 RCW to read as follows:

(1) A property owner may make a written request for a statement of restrictions applicable to a single parcel, tract, lot, or block of real property located in an unincorporated portion of a county to the county in which the real property is located.

(2) Within thirty days of the receipt of the request, the county shall provide the owner, by registered mail, with a statement of restrictions as described in subsection (3) of this section.

(3) The statement of restrictions shall include the following:

(a) The zoning currently applicable to the real property;

(b) Pending zoning changes applicable to the real property;

(4) If a county fails to provide the statement of restrictions within thirty days after receipt of the written request, the owner shall be awarded recovery of all attorneys' fees and costs incurred in any successful application for a writ of mandamus to compel production of a statement.

(5) For purposes of this section:

(a) "Owner" means any vested owner or any person holding the buyer's interest under a recorded real estate contract in which the seller is the vested owner; and

(6) This section does not affect the vesting of permits or development rights.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. This act takes effect January 1, 1997.