AN ACT Relating to mobile home dealer's licenses; and amending RCW 46.70.023.

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

Sec. 1. Section 4, chapter 241, Laws of 1986 and RCW 46.70.023 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) An "established place of business" requires a permanent, enclosed commercial building located within the state of Washington easily accessible at all reasonable times. An established place of business shall have an improved display area of not less than three thousand square feet in or immediately adjoining the building, or a display area large enough to display six or more vehicles of the type the dealer is licensed to sell, whichever area is larger. The business of a vehicle dealer, including the display and repair of vehicles, may be lawfully carried on at an established place of business in accordance with the terms of all applicable building code, zoning, and other land-use regulatory ordinances. The dealer shall keep the building open to the public so that they may contact the vehicle dealer or the dealer's salespersons at all reasonable times. The books, records, and files necessary to conduct the business shall be kept and maintained at that place. The established place of business shall display an exterior sign with the business name and nature of the business, such as auto sales, permanently affixed to the land or building, with letters clearly visible to the major avenue of traffic. In no event may a room or rooms in a hotel, rooming house, or apartment house building or part of a single or multiple-unit dwelling house be considered an "established place of business" unless the ground floor of such a dwelling is devoted principally to and occupied for commercial purposes and the dealer offices are located on the ground floor. A mobile office or mobile home may be used as an office if it is connected to utilities and is set up in accordance with state law.

(2) If a dealer maintains a place of business at more than one location or under more than one name in this state, he or she shall designate one location as the principal place of business of the firm, one name as the principal name of the firm, and all other locations or names as subagencies. A subagency license is required for each and every subagency: PROVIDED, That the department may grant an exception to the subagency requirement in the specific instance where a licensed new motor vehicle dealer is unable to locate their used vehicle sales facilities adjacent to or at the established place of business. This exception shall be granted and defined under the promulgation of rules consistent with the administrative procedure act.

(3) All vehicle dealers shall maintain ownership or leasehold throughout the license year of the real property from which they do business. The dealer shall provide the department with evidence of ownership or leasehold whenever the ownership changes or the lease is terminated.

(4) A subagency shall comply with all requirements of an established place of business.

(5) A temporary subagency shall meet all local zoning and building codes for the type of merchandising being conducted. The dealer license certificate shall be posted at the location. No other requirements of an established place of business apply to a temporary subagency.

(6) A wholesale vehicle dealer shall have office facilities in a commercial building within this state, and all storage facilities for inventory shall be listed with the department, and shall meet local zoning and land use ordinances. A wholesale vehicle dealer shall maintain a telecommunications system. An exterior sign visible from the nearest street shall identify the business name and the nature of business. A wholesale dealer need not maintain a display area as required in this section. When two or more vehicle dealer businesses share a location, all records, office facilities, and inventory, if any, must be physically segregated and clearly identified.

(7) A retail vehicle dealer shall be open during normal business hours, maintain office and display facilities in a commercially zoned location or in a location complying with all applicable building and land use ordinances, and maintain a business telephone listing in the local directory. When two or more vehicle dealer businesses share a location, all records, office facilities, and inventory shall be physically segregated and clearly identified.

(8) A listing dealer need not have a display area if the dealer does not physically maintain any vehicles for display.

(9) A subagency license is not required for a mobile home dealer to display an on-site display model, a consigned mobile home not relocated from its site, or a repossessed mobile home if sales are handled from a principal place of business or subagency. A mobile home dealer shall identify on-site display models, repossessed mobile homes, and those consigned at their sites with a sign that includes the dealer's name and telephone number.

(10) Every vehicle dealer shall advise the department of the location of each and every place of business of the firm and the name or names under which the firm is doing business at such location or locations. If any name or location is changed, the dealer shall notify the department of such change within ten days. The license issued by the department shall reflect the name and location of the firm and shall be posted in a conspicuous place at that location by the dealer.

(11) A vehicle dealer's license shall upon the death or incapacity of an individual vehicle dealer authorize the personal representative of such dealer, subject to payment of license fees, to continue the business for a period of six months from the date of the death or incapacity.

(12) The owner of a mobile home park who sells mobile homes located on mobile home lots within the park shall be eligible to be licensed as a mobile home dealer without meeting the requirements of subsections (1) and (7) of this section regarding an established place of business, causing the business to remain open to the public during normal business hours, furnishing a display area, compliance with applicable zoning and land use ordinances, and the prohibition against conducting the business in a dwelling house. Such an applicant for a mobile home dealer's license shall comply in all other respects with the requirements of this chapter for licensure of mobile home dealers.

(13) The director of the department of licensing may grant waivers from any of the requirements of this section for any mobile home park owner who applies for a mobile home dealer license if compliance will cause unreasonable hardship to the applicant.

(14) If there is a conflict between local government rules and regulations regarding requirements for licensure of mobile home dealers and the requirements imposed by this chapter or by the rules and regulations of the department of licensing, the local government rules and regulations shall prevail.