Revised Code of Washington

Wash. Rev. Code § 7.48.170 (2026)

Successive owners liable

✓ current as of May 2026
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Every successive owner of property who neglects to abate a continuing nuisance upon, or in the use of such property caused by a former owner, is liable therefor in the same manner as the one who first created it.
[Code 1881 s 1239; 1875 p 79 s 5; RRS s 9917.]
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 4 cases, 1953–2014 · leading case: Wallace v. Lewis Cnty., 137 P.3d 101 (Wash. Ct. App. 2006).
Wallace v. Lewis Cnty., 137 P.3d 101 (Wash. Ct. App. 2006). · cites it 2× “990 (1925); see RCW 7.48.170. Consequently, if the nuisance remains, the plaintiff may continue to collect damages for uncompensated harm until the nuisance is *111 abated.”
Wallace v. Lewis Cnty., 134 Wash. App. 1 (Wash. Ct. App. 2006). · cites it 2× “990 (1925); see RCW 7.48.170. Consequently, if the nuisance remains, the plaintiff may continue to collect damages for uncompensated harm until the nuisance is abated.”
City of Seattle v. Fender, 254 P.2d 470 (Wash. 1953). · cites it 2× “" RCW 7.48.170. "SUCCESSIVE OWNERS LIABLE. Every successive owner of property who neglects to abate a continuing nuisance upon or in the use of such property, caused by a former owner, is liable therefor in the same manner as the one who first created it.”
Zoya Spencer v. Robert & Karen Luton (Wash. Ct. App. 2014). “Substantial evidence likewise supports the finding that rocks fall onto Spencer's property only rarely. Eight rocks at most would not appear to constitute the "injurious" or "indecent or offensive to the senses" conditions described in RCW 7.”
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