In Washington State, boundary trees are considered common property of the adjoining landowners. Any decisions regarding the removal or substantial trimming of these trees must be agreed upon by both parties. Unauthorized tree work can lead to legal action and potential compensation claims.
HOA governing documents are public record in Washington. An HOA must record its governing documents with the county land records to be enforceable.
When any fence has been, or shall hereafter be, ed by any person on the boundary line of his or her land and the person owning land adjoining thereto shall make, or cause to be made, an inclosure enclosure, so that such fence may also answer the purpose of inclosing enclosing his or her ground, he or she shall ...
Rather, any entry and possession for the required ten years that is exclusive, continuous, hostile, actual, and open—even if under a mistaken claim of title—is sufficient to support a claim of title by adverse possession.
The short answer is no, Washington State does not have a “7-year fence law.” What we do have are adverse possession laws, which are governed by RCW 7.28. 050. Under these laws, the period typically required for someone to claim adverse possession of a piece of property is 10 years—not 7 years.
While you might want to know how to get around HOA fence rules, there is no way to circumvent these rules. Breaking the rules and regulations of your HOA can result in fines, lawsuits, and other penalties. The best way to navigate a fence dispute is to work with local authorities and be willing to compromise.
Fence height restrictions in Washington are dependent on the fence's location on your property. Front yard fences are typically limited to four feet, while back and side yard fences may be up to six feet. However, these are general guidelines, and actual restrictions may vary by location.
Under RCW 16.60. 030, if two neighbors share a fence line and one of them needs a fence for their property's protection, the other neighbor must help build it. Once notified, the other neighbor is responsible for constructing half of the fence, as close to the property line as possible.
The WUCIOA provides a legal structure for the creation, management, and termination of iniums, cooperatives, and planned communities. Effective since July 1, 2018, the Act is codified in Chapter 64.90 RCW and outlines the responsibilities of HOAs, developers, and owners within common interest communities.