Selling landlocked land in Washington

How Washington law handles land with no road access

A landowner whose property has no reasonable access can condemn a private way of necessity across a neighbor's land in superior court. The owner must prove reasonable necessity and pay compensation first. The court may award the neighbor attorney fees.

Statutory route: Condemnation of a private way of necessity in superior court.

Law: RCW 8.24.010 et seq.; Wash. Const. art. I, sec. 16. Court routes take time and cost money. Ask a local attorney.

Your options as a landlocked owner

• Ask a neighbor to sell or grant an access easement, in writing and recorded.
• Offer the land to the neighbor who borders it. They are often the most natural buyer.
• Use the Washington legal route above to create access, then sell.
• Sell as-is to a cash buyer who accepts land without access.

Washington land at a glance

• Average farm real estate value: $3,800 per acre (2026, USDA).
• Average property tax on farmland: about $18.89 per acre per year (2022 Census of Agriculture).
• Transfer tax: Real estate excise tax (REET) of 1.1% on the lowest part of the sale price, then 1.28%, 2.75% and 3% on higher parts. Through 2026 the brackets break at $525,000, $1,525,000 and $3,025,000. For sales on or after January 1, 2027, they break at $551,000, $1,551,000 and $3,051,000. Land classified as farm or timber land for current use pays a flat 1.28% if the buyer keeps that use. Local REET is added on top.
• Seller disclosure: Sellers of vacant land zoned for residential use must give the buyer a seller disclosure statement within 5 business days after mutual acceptance. Vacant land zoned for commercial use or more than 4 homes usually needs the commercial disclosure statement instead. The buyer can waive the statement, but not its environmental section if any environmental answer is yes. Sales by an estate's personal representative, foreclosures and gifts to family are exempt. After delivery, the buyer has 3 business days to rescind.

These are statewide averages, not an appraisal. See selling land in Washington for county values, or try the land value estimator.

How a cash sale handles this

Liberty Acres is a family-owned cash land buyer. We buy land anywhere in the US, in any condition, including land with back taxes, inherited land and land with no road access. We pay back taxes and all closing costs, use no agents and charge no commissions, and close through a title company, escrow company or real estate attorney who pays you by wire or check.

Common questions