Is prostitution legal in Washington State?
Prostitution is not legal in Washington State. Washington prostitution laws state that exchanging sex for any item of value is illegal. Soliciting, patronizing, or using a third party to facilitate sexual services are also crimes across the state.
State Guide: U.S. prostitution laws for all 50 states
Prostitution Laws of Washington State
- RCW 9A.88.030: Prostitution
- RCW 9A.88.050: Prostitution - Sex of parties immaterial - No defense
- RCW 9A.88.060: Promoting prostitution - Definitions
- RCW 9A.88.070: Promoting prostitution in the first degree
- RCW 9A.88.080: Promoting prostitution in the second degree
- RCW 9A.88.085: Promoting travel for prostitution
- RCW 9A.88.090: Permitting prostitution
- RCW 9A.88.110: Patronizing a prostitute
- RCW 9A.88.120: Additional fee assessments
- RCW 9A.88.130: Additional requirements
- RCW 9A.88.140: Vehicle impoundment
RCW 9A.88.030: Prostitution
(1) A person is guilty of prostitution if such person engages or agrees or offers to engage in sexual
conduct with another person in return for a fee.
(2) For purposes of this section, "sexual conduct" means "sexual intercourse" or "sexual contact,"
both as defined in chapter 9A.44 RCW.
(3) Prostitution is a misdemeanor.
RCW 9A.88.050: Prostitution - Sex of parties immaterial - No defense
In any prosecution for prostitution, the sex of the two parties or prospective parties to the sexual
conduct engaged in, contemplated, or solicited is immaterial, and it is no defense that:
(1) Such persons were of the same sex; or
(2) The person who received, agreed to receive, or solicited a fee was a male and the person who
paid or agreed or offered to pay such fee was female.
RCW 9A.88.060: Promoting prostitution - Definitions
The following definitions are applicable in RCW 9A.88.070 through 9A.88.090:
(1) "Advances prostitution." A person "advances prostitution" if, acting other than as a prostitute or
as a customer thereof, he causes or aids a person to commit or engage in prostitution, procures or
solicits customers for prostitution, provides persons or premises for prostitution purposes, operates
or assists in the operation of a house of prostitution or a prostitution enterprise, or engages in any
other conduct designed to institute, aid, or facilitate an act or enterprise of prostitution.
(2) "Profits from prostitution." A person "profits from prostitution" if, acting other than as a
prostitute receiving compensation for personally rendered prostitution services, he accepts or
receives money or other property pursuant to an agreement or understanding with any person
whereby he participates or is to participate in the proceeds of prostitution activity.
RCW 9A.88.070: Promoting prostitution in the first degree
(1) A person is guilty of promoting prostitution in the first degree if he knowingly:
(a) Advances prostitution by compelling a person by threat or force to engage in prostitution or
profits from prostitution which results from such threat or force; or
(b) Advances or profits from prostitution of a person less than eighteen years old.
(2) Promoting prostitution in the first degree is a class B felony.
RCW 9A.88.080: Promoting prostitution in the second degree
(1) A person is guilty of promoting prostitution in the second degree if he knowingly:
(a) Profits from prostitution; or
(b) Advances prostitution.
(2) Promoting prostitution in the second degree is a class C felony.
RCW 9A.88.085: Promoting travel for prostitution
(1) A person commits the offense of promoting travel for prostitution if the person knowingly sells
or offers to sell travel services that include or facilitate travel for the purpose of engaging in what
would be patronizing a prostitute or promoting prostitution, if occurring in the state.
(2) For purposes of this section, "travel services" has the same meaning as defined in RCW
19.138.021.
(3) Promoting travel for prostitution is a class C felony.
RCW 9A.88.090: Permitting prostitution
(1) A person is guilty of permitting prostitution if, having possession or control of premises which
he knows are being used for prostitution purposes, he fails without lawful excuse to make reasonable
effort to halt or abate such use.
(2) Permitting prostitution is a misdemeanor.
RCW 9A.88.110: Patronizing a prostitute
(1) A person is guilty of patronizing a prostitute if:
(a) Pursuant to a prior understanding, he or she pays a fee to another person as compensation for such
person or a third person having engaged in sexual conduct with him or her; or
(b) He or she pays or agrees to pay a fee to another person pursuant to an understanding that in return
therefor such person will engage in sexual conduct with him or her; or
(c) He or she solicits or requests another person to engage in sexual conduct with him or her in return
for a fee.
(2) For purposes of this section, "sexual conduct" has the meaning given in RCW 9A.88.030.
(3) Patronizing a prostitute is a misdemeanor.
RCW 9A.88.120: Additional fee assessments
(1)
(a) In addition to penalties set forth in RCW 9A.88.010, 9A.88.030, and 9A.88.090, a person who
is either convicted or given a deferred sentence or a deferred prosecution as a result of an arrest for
violating RCW 9A.88.010, 9A.88.030, 9A.88.090, or comparable county or municipal ordinances
shall be assessed a fifty dollar fee.
(b) In addition to penalties set forth in RCW 9A.88.110, a person who is either convicted or given
a deferred sentence or a deferred prosecution as a result of an arrest for violating RCW 9A.88.110
or a comparable county or municipal ordinance shall be assessed a one hundred fifty dollar fee.
(c) In addition to penalties set forth in RCW 9A.88.070 and 9A.88.080, a person who is either
convicted or given a deferred sentence or a deferred prosecution as a result of an arrest for violating
RCW9A.88.070, 9A.88.080, or comparable countyor municipal ordinances shall be assessed a three
hundred dollar fee.
(2) The court may not suspend payment of all or part of the fee unless it finds that the person does
not have the ability to pay.
(3) When a minor has been adjudicated a juvenile offender for an offense which, if committed by
an adult, would constitute a violation under this chapter or comparable county or municipal
ordinances, the court shall assess the fee as specified under subsection (1) of this section. The court
may not suspend payment of all or part of the fee unless it finds that the minor does not have the
ability to pay the fee.
(4) Any fee assessed under this section shall be collected by the clerk of the court and distributed
each month to the state treasurer for deposit in the prostitution prevention and intervention account
under RCW 43.63A.740 for the purpose of funding prostitution prevention and intervention
activities.
RCW 9A.88.130: Additional requirements
(1) When sentencing or imposing conditions on a person convicted of, or receiving a deferred
sentence or deferred prosecution for, violating RCW 9A.88.110 or 9.68A.100, the court must impose
a requirement that the offender:
(a) Not be subsequently arrested for patronizing a prostitute or patronizing a juvenile prostitute; and
(b) Remain outside the geographical area, prescribed by the court, in which the person was arrested
for violating RCW 9A.88.110 or 9.68A.100, unless such a requirement would interfere with the
person's legitimate employment or residence or otherwise be infeasible.
(2) This requirement is in addition to the penalties set forth in RCW 9A.88.110, 9A.88.120, and
9.68A.100.
RCW 9A.88.140: Vehicle impoundment
(1) Upon an arrest for a suspected violation of patronizing a prostitute or patronizing a juvenile
prostitute, the arresting law enforcement officer may impound the person's vehicle if (a) the motor
vehicle was used in the commission of the crime; (b) the person arrested is the owner of the vehicle;
and (c) the person arrested has previously been convicted of patronizing a prostitute, under RCW
9A.88.110, or patronizing a juvenile prostitute, under RCW 9.68A.100.
(2) Impoundments performed under this section shall be in accordance with chapter 46.55 RCW.