It's surprising how often "liability" comes up among city- and business owners.

 

 During the 1997 session, the legislature adopted SSB 5254 which amended the recreational user statute, RCW 4.24.210, to expand covered activities by adding skateboarding to the list of activities allowed on public and private property. This means that the cities will not be held responsible for injuries sustained by skateboarders or inline skaters at skateboard parks operated by the city as long as: (1) a fee is not charged for use of the skateboard park; and (2) conspicuous signs are posted to warn of any known dangerous, artificial, latent conditions. This legislation was effective on July 27, 1997.

 

 

RCW 4.24.210

 Liability of owners or others in possession of land and water areas for injuries to recreation users -- Limitation.

 

 (1) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (3) or (4) of this section, any public or private landowners or others in lawful possession and control of any lands whether designated resource, rural, or urban, or water areas or channels and lands adjacent to such areas or channels, who allow members of the public to use them for the purposes of outdoor recreation, which term includes, but is not limited to, the cutting, gathering, and removing of firewood by private persons for their personal use without purchasing the firewood from the landowner, hunting, fishing, camping, picnicking, swimming, hiking, bicycling, skateboarding or other nonmotorized wheel-based activities, hanggliding, paragliding, rock climbing, the riding of horses or other animals, clam digging, pleasure driving of off-road vehicles, snowmobiles, and other vehicles, boating, nature study, winter or water sports, viewing or enjoying historical, archaeological, scenic, or scientific sites, without charging a fee of any kind therefor, shall not be liable for unintentional injuries to such users.

 

 (2) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (3) or (4) of this section, any public or private landowner or others in lawful possession and control of any lands whether rural or urban, or water areas or channels and lands adjacent to such areas or channels, who offer or allow such land to be used for purposes of a fish or wildlife cooperative project, or allow access to such land for cleanup of litter or other solid waste, shall not be liable for unintentional injuries to any volunteer group or to any other users.

 

 (3) Any public or private landowner, or others in lawful possession and control of the land, may charge an administrative fee of up to twenty-five dollars for the cutting, gathering, and removing of firewood from the land.

 

 (4) Nothing in this section shall prevent the liability of a landowner or others in lawful possession and control for injuries sustained to users by reason of a known dangerous artificial latent condition for which warning signs have not been conspicuously posted. A fixed anchor used in rock climbing and put in place by someone other than a landowner is not a known dangerous artificial latent condition and a landowner under subsection (1) of this section shall not be liable for unintentional injuries resulting from the condition or use of such an anchor. Nothing in RCW 4.24.200 and 4.24.210 limits or expands in any way the doctrine of attractive nuisance. Usage by members of the public, volunteer groups, or other users is permissive and does not support any claim of adverse possession.

 

 (5) For purposes of this section, a license or permit issued for statewide use under authority of chapter 79A.05 RCW or Title 77 RCW is not a fee.

 [2003 c 39 ß 2; 2003 c 16 ß 2; 1997 c 26 ß 1; 1992 c 52 ß 1. Prior: 1991 c 69 ß 1; 1991 c 50 ß 1; 1980 c 111 ß 1; 1979 c 53 ß 1; 1972 ex.s. c 153 ß 17; 1969 ex.s. c 24 ß 2; 1967 c 216 ß 2.]

 NOTES:

 Reviser's note: This section was amended by 2003 c 16 ß 2 and by 2003 c 39 ß 2, each without reference to the other. Both amendments are incorporated in the publication of this section under RCW 1.12.025(2). For rule of construction, see RCW 1.12.025(1).

 

 Finding -- 2003 c 16: "The legislature finds that some property owners in Washington are concerned about the possibility of liability arising when individuals are permitted to engage in potentially dangerous outdoor recreational activities, such as rock climbing. Although RCW 4.24.210 provides property owners with immunity from legal claims for any unintentional injuries suffered by certain individuals recreating on their land, the legislature finds that it is important to the promotion of rock climbing opportunities to specifically include rock climbing as one of the recreational activities that are included in RCW 4.24.210. By including rock climbing in RCW 4.24.210, the legislature intends merely to provide assurance to the owners of property suitable for this type of recreation, and does not intend to limit the application of RCW 4.24.210 to other types of recreation. By providing that a landowner shall not be liable for any unintentional injuries resulting from the condition or use of a fixed anchor used in rock climbing, the legislature recognizes that such fixed anchors are recreational equipment used by climbers for which a landowner has no duty of care." [2003 c 16 ß 1.].

 

 Purpose -- 1972 ex.s. c 153: See RCW 79A.35.070.

 Off-road and nonhighway vehicles: Chapter 46.09 RCW.

 Snowmobiles: Chapter 46.10 RCW.