Wash. Rev. Code » Title 7 · Chapter 7.48
Revised Code of Washington

Wash. Rev. Code § 7.48.120 (2026)

Nuisance defined

✓ current as of May 2026
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Nuisance consists in unlawfully doing an act, or omitting to perform a duty, which act or omission either annoys, injures or endangers the comfort, repose, health or safety of others, offends decency, or unlawfully interferes with, obstructs or tends to obstruct, or render dangerous for passage, any lake or navigable river, bay, stream, canal or basin, or any public park, square, street or highway; or in any way renders other persons insecure in life, or in the use of property.
[Code 1881 s 1235; 1875 p 79 s 1; RRS s 9914.]

Notes:

Crimes
malicious mischief: Chapter 9.61 RCW.
nuisances: Chapter 9.66 RCW.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 63 cases (19 in the last 5 years), 1953–2026 · leading case: Miotke v. City of Spokane, 678 P.2d 803 (Wash. 1984).
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Miotke v. City of Spokane, 678 P.2d 803 (Wash. 1984). · cites it 4× “*331 A more specific definition of the elements of a nuisance action is provided in RCW 7.48.120: Nuisance consists in unlawfully doing an act, or omitting to perform a duty, which act or omission either annoys, injures or endangers the comfort, repose, health or safety of…”
Kitsap Cnty. v. Kitsap Rifle & Revolver Club, 337 P.3d 328 (Wash. Ct. App. 2014). · cites it 4× “” RCW 7.48.120 also defines “nuisance” as an “act or omission [that] either annoys, injures or endangers the comfort, repose, health or safety of others .”
Hostetler v. Ward, 704 P.2d 1193 (Wash. Ct. App. 1985). · cites it 3× “010 and RCW 7.48.120 define actionable nuisances.”
Lakey v. Puget Sound Energy, Inc., 296 P.3d 860 (Wash. 2013). “” RCW 7.48.120. Where a defendant’s conduct causes a reasonable fear of using property, this constitutes an injury taking the form of an interference with property.”
Albin v. Nat'l Bank of Com., 375 P.2d 487 (Wash. 1962). · cites it 4× “Supporting that theory, the plaintiffs content themselves with a citation of RCW 7.48.120 [4] and the case of Bruskland v.”
Collinson v. John L. Scott, Inc., 778 P.2d 534 (Wash. Ct. App. 1989). · cites it 3× “RCW 7.48.120 provides a more specific definition of the elements of a nuisance action: Nuisance consists in unlawfully doing an act, or omitting to perform a duty, which act or omission either annoys, injures or endangers the comfort, repose, health or safety of others, offends…”
Asche v. Bloomquist, 133 P.3d 475 (Wash. Ct. App. 2006). “RCW 7.48.120. A public nuisance is one that affects the entire community and a private nuisance is any other *800 nuisance.”
Grundy v. Thurston Cnty., 117 P.3d 1089 (Wash. 2005). “" RCW 7.48.120. ¶ 14 A nuisance "which affects equally the rights of an entire community or neighborhood" is a public nuisance.”
Grundy v. Thurston Cnty., 155 Wash. 2d 1 (Wash. 2005). “” RCW 7.48.120. ¶14 A nuisance “which affects equally the rights of an entire community or neighborhood” is a public nuisance.”
Asche v. Bloomquist, 133 P.3d 475 (Wash. Ct. App. 2006). “RCW 7.48.120. A public nuisance is one that affects the entire community and a private nuisance is any other nuisance.”
Tiegs v. Boise Cascade Corp., 922 P.2d 115 (Wash. Ct. App. 1996). · cites it 2× “010; RCW 7.48.120. A public nuisance "affects equally the rights of an entire community or neighborhood, although the extent of the damage may be unequal.”
Womack v. Von Rardon, 135 P.3d 542 (Wash. Ct. App. 2006). “*545 RCW 7.48.120 defines nuisance as "unlawfully doing an act, or omitting to perform a duty, which act or omission either annoys, injures or endangers the comfort, repose, health or safety of others .”
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