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Washington · reviewed September 2026

Seasonal RV site agreements in Washington

What Washington law says about seasonal and annual RV guests, sub-metered electricity, sales tax and online signatures — and the clauses your agreement should carry because of it. Written for park owners, not lawyers.

Guest or tenant?RCW 59.20 defines a 'recreational vehicle' as a unit designed and used as temporary living quarters and not occupied as a primary residence, while a 'park model' is an RV used as a primary residence and is covered like a mobile home.
Metered electricNo Washington statute or UTC rule specific to RV park submetering was found; the UTC regulates investor-owned utilities, not a park's pass-through billing, and many parks are served by PUDs or cooperatives whose own policies govern resale.
Sales / lodging taxRetail sales tax, B&O tax and local lodging taxes apply to RV park/trailer camp space rented to 'transient' occupants, meaning less than one month (or less than 30 continuous days if the rental does not begin on the first of the month).
Signing onlineUniform Electronic Transactions Act (adopted 2020) (RCW ch. 1.80)

Short version. Details, citations and sources are below.

Is a seasonal guest a tenant in Washington?

RCW 59.20 defines a 'recreational vehicle' as a unit designed and used as temporary living quarters and not occupied as a primary residence, while a 'park model' is an RV used as a primary residence and is covered like a mobile home. RCW 59.20.080(4) says RCW 59.12 and 59.18 govern eviction of recreational vehicles from a park, while 59.20 governs mobile homes, park models and RVs used as a primary residence; a 'transient' (renting for less than one month and not as a primary residence) is not a tenant at all. In practice, seasonal RV sites used for recreation sit outside the MHLTA, but renting spaces year-round to people living in their RVs can bring the park under RCW 59.20 with its just-cause eviction rules. RCW 59.20.095 only covers short-term RV agreements on vacant lots in a park that has given notice of closure.

What that means for notices and removal

Recreational RV occupants: RCW 59.18/59.12 unlawful detainer process (14-day pay-or-vacate for nonpayment; other RLTA notices), though recent decisions question whether the RLTA applies where the landlord supplies only a space and no dwelling. RVs used as a primary residence/park models: RCW 59.20.080 just-cause grounds and notices (14 days for nonpayment, 15 days for substantial rule violations, 5 days for nuisance). Write agreements to state the site is for recreational, not residential, use.

Cite: RCW 59.20.030, 59.20.080(4), 59.20.095; RCW 59.18.040; RCW ch. 59.12

Sub-metering electricity to RV sites in Washington

No Washington statute or UTC rule specific to RV park submetering was found; the UTC regulates investor-owned utilities, not a park's pass-through billing, and many parks are served by PUDs or cooperatives whose own policies govern resale. Bill at cost and keep meter records; if the park falls under RCW 59.20, the landlord must maintain utilities provided to the lot in good working condition (59.20.130(6)).

Sales and lodging tax on seasonal sites in Washington

Retail sales tax, B&O tax and local lodging taxes apply to RV park/trailer camp space rented to 'transient' occupants, meaning less than one month (or less than 30 continuous days if the rental does not begin on the first of the month). A continuous stay of one month or more is a rental of real property, not taxable lodging, so seasonal/annual site agreements are outside sales and lodging tax.

Cite: WAC 458-20-166; RCW 82.04.050

Signing agreements online in Washington

Uniform Electronic Transactions Act (adopted 2020). Electronic signatures are valid for seasonal site agreements when the guest agrees to sign electronically, intends to sign, and the record is kept in a form that can be reproduced and shown not to have changed. Seasonal Sites records the signer’s typed name, email, time, IP address and a SHA-256 fingerprint of the exact text signed, and stores the signed PDF.

Cite: RCW ch. 1.80

Clauses to include in a Washington seasonal agreement

These are added on top of the eleven sections in the free template. Adjust the bracketed parts and have a local attorney read the result.

Recreational use, not a residence"The Site is licensed for recreational use only. The Guest maintains a permanent residence elsewhere at the address above, and the Site is not the Guest’s primary residence. Nothing in this agreement creates a residential tenancy." In this state the line between a recreational guest and a residential tenant is what decides which removal process applies, so say it plainly and keep the guest’s home address on file.
Notice periodMatch the notice periods in your termination section to the ones the state uses (14-day notice appears in the rules summarized above) rather than inventing shorter ones; a shorter contractual notice is not enforceable where the statute sets a floor.
Metered electricity"Electricity is individually metered and billed at the Park’s actual cost per kWh from its utility, with no markup, read on or about the [day] of each month; readings are available to the Guest on request." Keep the utility bills and meter readings for at least three years.
Term length and taxState the exact term dates and that the agreement is for a continuous stay of 30 days or more, and keep the signed copy with the term on it — where the summary above shows a long-stay exemption, that document is usually what the auditor asks for.
Electronic signature consent"The Guest consents to sign this agreement electronically and to receive invoices, receipts and notices by email at the address above." Keep the signer name, email, date/time, IP address and a fingerprint of the signed text.

Get the free seasonal site agreement template

Eleven plain-English sections, Word and PDF, with bracketed fields to fill in. Then paste the Washington clauses above into it.

Or skip the paperwork entirely

Seasonal Sites takes this same agreement, fills in each guest’s name, site, rate and dates, emails them a link to sign on their phone, puts the installments on autopay, bills metered electric from your readings, and keeps the signed PDF with the audit record. Renewals for the whole park go out in one click. It works beside whatever reservation system you already use.

Other states

Sources

This page summarizes public sources as of September 2026 for park owners and is not legal or tax advice. Statutes, tariffs and tax rules change; confirm anything you rely on with the agency or an attorney licensed in Washington. Found an error? Email hello@seasonalsites.com.