Wash. Rev. Code » Title 9 · Chapter 9.66
Revised Code of Washington

Wash. Rev. Code § 9.66.010 (2026)

Public nuisance

✓ current as of May 2026
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A public nuisance is a crime against the order and economy of the state. Every place
(1) Wherein any fighting between people or animals or birds shall be conducted; or,
(2) Wherein any intoxicating liquors are kept for unlawful use, sale or distribution; or,
(3) Where vagrants resort; and
Every act unlawfully done and every omission to perform a duty, which act or omission
(1) Shall annoy, injure or endanger the safety, health, comfort, or repose of any considerable number of persons; or,
(2) Shall offend public decency; or,
(3) Shall unlawfully interfere with, befoul, obstruct, or tend to obstruct, or render dangerous for passage, a lake, navigable river, bay, stream, canal or basin, or a public park, square, street, alley, highway, or municipal transit vehicle or station; or,
(4) Shall in any way render a considerable number of persons insecure in life or the use of property;
Shall be a public nuisance.
[ 1994 c 45 s 3; 1971 ex.s. c 280 s 22; 1909 c 249 s 248; 1895 c 14 s 1; Code 1881 s 1246; RRS s 2500.]

Notes:

Findings—Declaration—Severability—1994 c 45: See notes following RCW 7.48.140.
Severability—Construction—1971 ex.s. c 280: "If any provision of this 1971 amendatory act, or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act, or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected: PROVIDED, That should provisions of this 1971 amendatory act pertaining to the playing of bingo, or holding raffles, permitting the operation of amusement games be held invalid or unconstitutional by the supreme court of the state of Washington as being violative of Article II, section 24, of the Constitution of the state of Washington, then the provisions hereof relating to each such item as aforesaid specifically declared invalid or unconstitutional by such court shall remain inoperative unless and until the qualified electors of this state shall approve an amendment to Article II, section 24, of the Constitution which may remove any constitutional restrictions against the legislature enacting such laws." [ 1971 ex.s. c 280 s 21.]
Boxing and wrestling regulated: Chapter 67.08 RCW.
Devices simulating traffic control signs declared public nuisance: RCW 47.36.180.
Highway obstructions: Chapter 47.32 RCW.
Navigation, obstructing: Chapter 88.28 RCW.
Parimutuel betting on horse races permitted: RCW 67.16.060.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 8 cases, 1958–2019 · leading case: State v. Villarreal, 984 P.2d 1064 (Wash. Ct. App. 1999).
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State v. Villarreal, 984 P.2d 1064 (Wash. Ct. App. 1999). · cites it 8× “Additionally, after the suppression hearing, the State successfully moved to supplement the record with RCW 9.66.010 as a basis for the seizure. This statute partly provides: "A public nuisance is a crime against the order and economy of the state.”
State v. Primeau, 422 P.2d 302 (Wash. 1966). · cites it 5× “The next campaign started with a skirmish in justice court when, on a mailed summons and complaint filed in the Northlake District Justice of the Peace Court for King County, the prosecuting attorney charged the Primeaus with one count of maintaining a public nuisance (RCW…”
State v. Kerry, 663 P.2d 500 (Wash. Ct. App. 1983). · cites it 2× “Rockett cited Kerry, without warning, for creating a public nuisance in violation of RCW 9.66.010. RCW 9.66.010 provides in relevant part: A public nuisance is a crime against the order and economy of the state.”
City of Spokane v. McDonough, 485 P.2d 449 (Wash. 1971). · cites it 2× “It is one offense to be disorderly in the presence of either convened house of the legislature (RCW 9.55.010), and another to commit a nuisance by conduct which annoys or injures the comfort or repose of any considerable number of persons.”
State Ex Rel. Schillberg v. Safeway Stores, Inc., 450 P.2d 949 (Wash. 1969). “010 nor a public nuisance under RCW 9.66.010 nor RCW 7.48, and that the scheme was in fact a lawful means of promotional advertising, the learned trial judge denied the injunction and Snohomish County appeals.”
State v. SCM Glidco Organics Corp., 592 So. 2d 710 (Fla. 1st DCA 1991). “Washington's public nuisance statute ( Wash. Rev. Code § 9.66.010 ) defined a public nuisance as "[e]very act unlawfully done and every omission to perform a duty, which act or omission (1) [s]hall annoy, injure or endanger the safety, health, comfort, or repose of any…”
Jefferson Cnty. v. Michael Anderson (Wash. Ct. App. 2019). “120, and RCW 9.66.010 based on his violations of Jefferson County Code (JCC) since 1997.”
State v. Wren, 321 P.2d 911 (Wash. 1958). “The appellant was convicted and sentenced in the superior court for Pierce county for the commission of a public nuisance in violation of RCW 9.66.010. The pertinent part of the statute reads as follows: “Every act unlawfully done and every omission to perform a duty, which act…”
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