2012 Revised Code of Washington
Title 84 - PROPERTY TAXES
84.36 Exemptions.
84.36.020 Cemeteries, churches, parsonages, convents, and grounds.

RCW 84.36.020 Cemeteries, churches, parsonages, convents, and grounds. (Effective until December 31, 2020.)

The following real and personal property is exempt from taxation:

     (1) All lands, buildings, and personal property required for necessary administration and maintenance, used, or to the extent used, exclusively for public burying grounds or cemeteries without discrimination as to race, color, national origin or ancestry;

     (2) All churches, personal property, and the ground, not exceeding five acres in area, upon which a church of any nonprofit recognized religious denomination is or will be built, together with a parsonage, convent, and buildings and improvements required for the maintenance and safeguarding of such property. The area exempted in any case includes all ground covered by the church, parsonage, convent, and buildings and improvements required for the maintenance and safeguarding of such property and the structures and ground necessary for street access, parking, light, and ventilation, but the area of unoccupied ground exempted in such cases, in connection with church, parsonage, convent, and buildings and improvements required for the maintenance and safeguarding of such property, does not exceed the equivalent of one hundred twenty by one hundred twenty feet except where additional unoccupied land may be required to conform with state or local codes, zoning, or licensing requirements. The parsonage and convent need not be on land contiguous to the church property. Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, to be exempt the property must be wholly used for church purposes. The loan or rental of property otherwise exempt under this subsection to a nonprofit organization, association, or corporation, or school for use for an eleemosynary activity or for use for activities related to a farmers market, does not nullify the exemption provided in this subsection if the rental income, if any, is reasonable and is devoted solely to the operation and maintenance of the property. However, activities related to a farmers market may not occur on the property more than fifty-three days each assessment year. For the purposes of this section, "farmers market" has the same meaning as "qualifying farmers market" as defined in RCW 66.24.170.

[2010 c 186 § 2; 1994 c 124 § 16; 1975 1st ex.s. c 291 § 12; 1973 2nd ex.s. c 40 § 1; 1971 ex.s. c 64 § 3; 1961 c 103 § 3; 1961 c 15 § 84.36.020. Prior: 1955 c 196 § 4; prior: 1939 c 206 § 8, part; 1933 ex.s. c 19 § 1, part; 1933 c 115 § 1, part; 1929 c 126 § 1, part; 1925 ex.s. c 130 § 7, part; 1915 c 131 § 1, part; 1903 c 178 § 1, part; 1901 c 176 § 1, part; 1899 c 141 § 2, part; 1897 c 71 §§ 1, 5, part; 1895 c 176 § 2, part; 1893 c 124 §§ 1, 5, part; 1891 c 140 §§ 1, 5, part; 1890 p 532 §§ 1, 5, part; 1886 p 47 § 1, part; Code 1881 § 2829, part; 1871 p 37 § 4, part; 1869 p 176 § 4, part; 1867 p 61 § 2, part; 1854 p 331 § 2, part; RRS § 11111, part. Formerly RCW 84.40.010.]

Notes:

Application -- Expiration date -- 2010 c 186: See notes following RCW 84.36.037.      Effective dates -- Severability -- 1975 1st ex.s. c 291: See notes following RCW 82.04.050.      Construction -- 1961 c 103: See note following RCW 49.60.040. Burial lot for particular person: RCW 68.24.220. Nonprofit cemetery associations, certain exemptions: RCW 68.20.110, 68.20.120.

RCW 84.36.020

Cemeteries, churches, parsonages, convents, and grounds. (Effective December 31, 2020.)

The following real and personal property shall be exempt from taxation:

     All lands, buildings, and personal property required for necessary administration and maintenance, used, or to the extent used, exclusively for public burying grounds or cemeteries without discrimination as to race, color, national origin or ancestry;

     All churches, personal property, and the ground, not exceeding five acres in area, upon which a church of any nonprofit recognized religious denomination is or shall be built, together with a parsonage, convent, and buildings and improvements required for the maintenance and safeguarding of such property. The area exempted shall in any case include all ground covered by the church, parsonage, convent, and buildings and improvements required for the maintenance and safeguarding of such property and the structures and ground necessary for street access, parking, light, and ventilation, but the area of unoccupied ground exempted in such cases, in connection with church, parsonage, convent, and buildings and improvements required for the maintenance and safeguarding of such property, shall not exceed the equivalent of one hundred twenty by one hundred twenty feet except where additional unoccupied land may be required to conform with state or local codes, zoning, or licensing requirements. The parsonage and convent need not be on land contiguous to the church property. To be exempt the property must be wholly used for church purposes: PROVIDED, That the loan or rental of property otherwise exempt under this paragraph to a nonprofit organization, association, or corporation, or school for use for an eleemosynary activity shall not nullify the exemption provided in this paragraph if the rental income, if any, is reasonable and is devoted solely to the operation and maintenance of the property.

[1994 c 124 § 16; 1975 1st ex.s. c 291 § 12; 1973 2nd ex.s. c 40 § 1; 1971 ex.s. c 64 § 3; 1961 c 103 § 3; 1961 c 15 § 84.36.020. Prior: 1955 c 196 § 4; prior: 1939 c 206 § 8, part; 1933 ex.s. c 19 § 1, part; 1933 c 115 § 1, part; 1929 c 126 § 1, part; 1925 ex.s. c 130 § 7, part; 1915 c 131 § 1, part; 1903 c 178 § 1, part; 1901 c 176 § 1, part; 1899 c 141 § 2, part; 1897 c 71 §§ 1, 5, part; 1895 c 176 § 2, part; 1893 c 124 §§ 1, 5, part; 1891 c 140 §§ 1, 5, part; 1890 p 532 §§ 1, 5, part; 1886 p 47 § 1, part; Code 1881 § 2829, part; 1871 p 37 § 4, part; 1869 p 176 § 4, part; 1867 p 61 § 2, part; 1854 p 331 § 2, part; RRS § 11111, part. Formerly RCW 84.40.010.]

Notes:

Effective dates -- Severability -- 1975 1st ex.s. c 291: See notes following RCW 82.04.050.      Construction -- 1961 c 103: See note following RCW 49.60.040. Burial lot for particular person: RCW 68.24.220. Nonprofit cemetery associations, certain exemptions: RCW 68.20.110, 68.20.120.