Wash. Rev. Code § 57.16.090 (2026)

The decision of the district board of commissioners upon any objections made within the time and in the manner herein prescribed may be reviewed by the superior court upon an appeal thereto taken in the following manner. The appeal shall be made by filing written notice of appeal with the secretary of the board of commissioners and with the clerk of the superior court in the county in which the real property is situated within ten days after publication of a notice that the resolution confirming such assessment roll has been adopted, and such notice of appeal shall describe the property and set forth the objections of such appellant to such assessment. Within ten days from the filing of such notice of appeal with the clerk of the superior court, the appellant shall file with the clerk of the court a transcript consisting of the assessment roll and the appellant's objections thereto, together with the resolution confirming the assessment roll and the record of the district commissioners with reference to the assessment. The transcript, upon payment of the necessary fees therefor, shall be furnished by the secretary of the board of commissioners and shall be certified by the secretary to contain full, true, and correct copies of all matters and proceedings required to be included in such transcript. Such fees shall be the same as the fees payable to the county clerk for the preparation and certification of transcripts on appeal to the supreme court or the court of appeals in civil actions. At the time of the filing of the notice of appeal with the clerk of the superior court, the appellant shall file a sufficient bond in the penal sum of two hundred dollars, with at least two sureties, to be approved by the judge of the court, conditioned to prosecute such appeal without delay, and if unsuccessful to pay all costs to which the district is put by reason of such appeal. The court may order the appellant, upon application therefor, to execute and file such additional bond or bonds as the necessity of the case may require. Within three days after such transcript is filed in the superior court, the appellant shall give written notice to the secretary of the district that such transcript is filed. The notice shall state a time, not less than three days from the service thereof, when the appellant will call up the cause for hearing. The superior court shall, at such time or at such further time as may be fixed by order of the court, hear and determine such appeal without a jury. The appeal shall have preference over all civil causes pending in the court, except eminent domain proceedings and actions of forcible entry and detainer. The judgment of the court shall confirm, unless the court shall find from the evidence that such assessment is either founded upon a fundamentally wrong basis or a decision of the board of commissioners thereon was arbitrary or capricious, or both, in which event the judgment of the court shall correct, modify, or annul the assessment insofar as it affects the property of the appellant. A certified copy of the decision of the court shall be filed with the officer who shall have custody of the assessment roll, who shall modify and correct the assessment roll in accordance with such decision. Appellate review of the judgment of the superior court may be sought as in other civil cases. However, the appeal must be sought within fifteen days after the date of the entry of the judgment of such superior court. A certified copy of the order of the supreme court or the court of appeals upon such appeal shall be filed with the officer having custody of the assessment roll, who shall thereupon modify and correct the assessment roll in accordance with the decision.

Rules of court: Cf. RAP 5.2, 18.22.

Part headings not law—Effective date—1996 c 230: See notes following RCW 57.02.001.

Severability—1988 c 202: See note following RCW 2.24.050.