Washington statute
RCW 10.79.040 — Search without warrant unlawful—Penalty
Current through 2026 Regular Session
Part of Chapter 10.79: Searches And Seizures, Revised Code of Washington.
Criminal charges under this statute
Full text of RCW 10.79.040
Statutory text current through the 2026 Regular Session. This publication reproduces the official text of the Revised Code of Washington from the Code Reviser's published files; it is not the official statutes of the State of Washington.
(1) It shall be unlawful for any police officer or other peace officer to enter and search any private dwelling house or place of residence without the authority of a search warrant issued upon a complaint as by law provided.
(2) Any police officer or other peace officer violating the provisions of this section is guilty of a gross misdemeanor.
Official sources
Legal terms used in this section
Questions this section answers
Is search without warrant unlawful a felony or a misdemeanor in Washington?
Search without warrant unlawful is a Gross Misdemeanor in Washington under RCW 10.79.040.
Which Washington statute covers search without warrant unlawful?
Search without warrant unlawful is governed by RCW 10.79.040 (Search without warrant unlawful—Penalty).
This reference is informational and is not legal advice.