The Thurston County Auditor’s Office would like landowners to know they can provide modification to eliminate racially restrictive language from titles at no cost.
During the first half of the 20th century, such covenants were recorded on at least 300 properties in the county.
A 1969 Washington state law provides that racially discriminatory housing covenants have no legal effect. Therefore, those remaining on current titles are not valid or enforceable. Now, they can be removed at no cost so they do not pass from buyer to buyer.
Starting in January 2019, Washington residents could file a document for no charge at a county auditor's office to strike this language from their property title.
"I'm not sure property owners are aware of this," said Mary Hall, Thurston County auditor, in a press release. “We are reaching out now because in the two years since we've had this no-cost option, we haven't had a single correction filed in Thurston County … We are assuming most people don't know about the history of these invalid racial restrictions in Thurston County or that they can eliminate them."
For landowners who file modification forms to strike racially restrictive language, notary services are available free of charge at any of Olympia Federal Savings’ seven Thurston County branches.
"This project demonstrates a community commitment to self-improvement, inclusivity and compassionate care towards our neighbors who were not welcomed in areas of our county in the past,” said Lori Drummond, Olympia Federal Savings president and chief executive officer.
Any landowners who need help filling out a modification form can receive no-cost legal aid via the Thurston County Bar Association's Inclusion and Diversity Section.
For a list of participating lawyers, contact tcauditor@co.thurston.wa.us.
Because additional parcels may contain the discriminatory covenants, landowners who were not contacted by the Auditor’s Office can research their own properties at ThurstonAuditor.org.
