Wash. Rev. Code » Title 69 · Chapter 69.50
Revised Code of Washington

Wash. Rev. Code § 69.50.502 (2026)

Warrants for administrative inspections

✓ current as of May 2026
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Issuance and execution of administrative inspection warrants shall be as follows:
(1) A judge of a superior court, or a judge of a district court within his or her jurisdiction, and upon proper oath or affirmation showing probable cause, may issue warrants for the purpose of conducting administrative inspections authorized by this chapter or rules hereunder, and seizures of property appropriate to the inspections. For purposes of the issuance of administrative inspection warrants, probable cause exists upon showing a valid public interest in the effective enforcement of this chapter or rules hereunder, sufficient to justify administrative inspection of the area, premises, building, or conveyance in the circumstances specified in the application for the warrant;
(2) A warrant shall issue only upon an affidavit of a designated officer or employee having knowledge of the facts alleged, sworn to before the judge and establishing the grounds for issuing the warrant. If the judge is satisfied that grounds for the application exist or that there is probable cause to believe they exist, he or she shall issue a warrant identifying the area, premises, building, or conveyance to be inspected, the purpose of the inspection, and, if appropriate, the type of property to be inspected, if any. The warrant shall:
(a) State the grounds for its issuance and the name of each person whose affidavit has been taken in support thereof;
(b) Be directed to a person authorized by RCW 69.50.500 to execute it;
(c) Command the person to whom it is directed to inspect the area, premises, building, or conveyance identified for the purpose specified and, if appropriate, direct the seizure of the property specified;
(d) Identify the item or types of property to be seized, if any;
(e) Direct that it be served during normal business hours and designate the judge to whom it shall be returned;
(3) A warrant issued pursuant to this section must be executed and returned within ten days of its date unless, upon a showing of a need for additional time, the court orders otherwise. If property is seized pursuant to a warrant, a copy shall be given to the person from whom or from whose premises the property is taken, together with a receipt for the property taken. The return of the warrant shall be made promptly, accompanied by a written inventory of any property taken. The inventory shall be made in the presence of the person executing the warrant and of the person from whose possession or premises the property was taken, if present, or in the presence of at least one credible person other than the person executing the warrant. A copy of the inventory shall be delivered to the person from whom or from whose premises the property was taken and to the applicant for the warrant;
(4) The judge who has issued a warrant shall attach thereto a copy of the return and all papers returnable in connection therewith and file them with the clerk of the court in which the inspection was made.
[ 2012 c 117 s 369; 1971 ex.s. c 308 s 69.50.502.]
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 6 cases, 1986–2005 · leading case: City of Seattle v. McCready, 868 P.2d 134 (Wash. 1994).
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City of Seattle v. McCready, 868 P.2d 134 (Wash. 1994). “260 (weights and measures laws); RCW 69.50.502 (pharmaceutical premises). None of the uniform code provisions relied upon by Seattle contain an authorization for a court to issue a search warrant upon less than probable cause.”
Bosteder v. City of Renton, 117 P.3d 316 (Wash. 2005). “070, whereby courts are explicitly authorized to issue administrative search warrants in support of the enforcement of specific laws. See RCW 15.17.190 (horticultural grading laws); RCW 16.”
Bosteder v. City of Renton, 155 Wash. 2d 18 (Wash. 2005). “260 (weights and measures laws); RCW 69.50.502 (pharmaceutical premises). McCready I, 123 Wn.”
Mark v. Williams, 724 P.2d 428 (Wash. Ct. App. 1986). · cites it 2× “upon proper oath or affirmation showing probable cause, may issue warrants for the purpose of conducting administrative inspections authorized by this chapter or rules hereunder, and seizures or [sic] property appropriate to the inspections.”
State v. Lansden, 30 P.3d 483 (Wash. 2001). “260 (weights and measures); RCW 69.50.502 (pharmaceutical premises). No such statute is applicable to the circumstances of the instant case.”
State v. Lansden, 144 Wash. 2d 654 (Wash. 2001). “260 (weights and measures); RCW 69.50.502 (pharmaceutical premises). No such statute is applicable to the circumstances of the instant case.”
— Wash. Rev. Code § 69.50.502(1) — 1 case
Mark v. Williams, 724 P.2d 428 (Wash. Ct. App. 1986). “upon proper oath or affirmation showing probable cause, may issue warrants for the purpose of conducting administrative inspections authorized by this chapter or rules hereunder, and seizures or [sic] property appropriate to the inspections.”
— Wash. Rev. Code § 69.50.502(2)(e) — 1 case
Mark v. Williams, 724 P.2d 428 (Wash. Ct. App. 1986). “upon proper oath or affirmation showing probable cause, may issue warrants for the purpose of conducting administrative inspections authorized by this chapter or rules hereunder, and seizures or [sic] property appropriate to the inspections.”
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