Removal

Washington State law RCW 49.60.227 provides property owners with two remedies to address racially restrictive covenants that are deemed void by RCW 49.60.224: modification and removal.

Modification: this process allows property owners to record a straightforward form with the county auditor or county official charged with the responsibility for recording instruments in the county of the impacted property. Each county has their own process for pursuing a restrictive covenant modification. You can learn each county’s process or contact the county recording official by clicking on the links below:

Removal: this process allows property owner, occupants, or tenants to have the racist stricken from the covenant impacting their property by bringing an action in the superior court in the county in which the property is located. This process would likely require an attorney. The Eastern Washington Covenants Team is working to build a connection with a nonprofit legal clinic who could provide this service. Please check back for more.

County Name Resource Link
Spokane County https://www.spokanecounty.org/4272/Restrictive-Covenant-Modification
Walla Walla County https://www.co.walla-walla.wa.us/departments/auditor/index.php
Whitman County https://www.whitmancounty.org/167/Auditor
Garfield County No known covenants
Asotin County https://www.asotincountywa.gov/181/Auditor
Benton County https://www.bentoncountywa.gov/pview.aspx?id=55343
Franklin County https://franklincountyauditor.com/
Yakima County https://www.yakimacounty.us/2594/Restrictive-Covenant-Modifications
Chelan County https://www.co.chelan.wa.us/auditor
Klickitat County No known covenants
Okanogan County No known covenants
Ferry County No known covenants
Stevens County https://www.stevenscountywa.gov/pview.aspx?id=21103&catid=0
Pend Oreille County No known covenants
Adams County https://www.co.adams.wa.us/departments/auditor.php
Lincoln County No known covenants
Douglas County https://www.douglascountywa.net/184/Auditor
Grant County https://www.grantcountywa.gov/268/Auditor
Kittitas County https://www.co.kittitas.wa.us/auditor/
Columbia County No known covenants