Racism isn’t history: it lurks in the deeds of more than 37,000 homeowners in King County with at least 35,000 more in other counties. Look deep in the fine print. Many Queen Anne residents have this clause in their deeds: “No person or persons of Asiatic, African or Negro blood, lineage, or extraction shall be permitted to occupy a portion of said property.”
1. Search Your Property Records
You don’t need a lawyer to start. Most records are accessible through the county auditor or recorder’s office.
- King County: Use the King County Recorder’s Official Records Search. You can search by your name or property tax ID.
- Look for: ”Covenants, Conditions, and Restrictions” (CC&Rs) or “Restrictive Covenants” usually filed when the subdivision was first created.
- UW Database: The Racial Restrictive Covenants Project has already mapped thousands of these. You can check their interactive map to see if your specific block is flagged.
2. Strike the Language (Restrictive Covenant Modification)
Since 2019, Washington State law (RCW 49.60.227) provides a simple, free process to “strike” this language.
- The Form: You need to file a Restrictive Covenant Modification document. You can find this on your specific county’s recording page.
- The Process:
- Attach a copy of the original document with the illegal language.
- Sign the modification form in front of a notary.
- Submit it to the County Auditor. Recording fees are waived for this specific action.
3. The Covenant Homeownership Program
If you or your ancestors were directly impacted (displaced or barred) by these covenants, you may be eligible for down payment assistance or closing cost support through the Covenant Homeownership Account Act administered by the Washington State Housing Finance Commission and HomeSight. Learn more here!