Duties of sheriff or designated alternate entity accepting found property.
RCW 63.40.070
in effect(1) This chapter does not modify the requirements for a sheriff to accept found property under chapter 63.21 RCW. (2) If a county designates an alternate department or governmental entity to accept found property under RCW 63.21.090 : (a) The designated department or governmental entity shall comply with the disposition requirements under this chapter in the same manner as would be required of the sheriff; and (b) The sheriff is not required to accept found property from a finder of said property, unless the property is any of the following: A bank card; charge or credit card; cash; government-issued document, financial document, or legal document; firearm; evidence in a judicial or other official proceeding; or an item that is not legal for the finder to possess. Such found property accepted by a sheriff must be retained or disposed of in accordance with this chapter and other applicable state laws.
(1) This chapter does not modify the requirements for a sheriff to accept found property under chapter 63.21 RCW.
(2) If a county designates an alternate department or governmental entity to accept found property under RCW 63.21.090 :
(a) The designated department or governmental entity shall comply with the disposition requirements under this chapter in the same manner as would be required of the sheriff; and
(b) The sheriff is not required to accept found property from a finder of said property, unless the property is any of the following: A bank card; charge or credit card; cash; government-issued document, financial document, or legal document; firearm; evidence in a judicial or other official proceeding; or an item that is not legal for the finder to possess. Such found property accepted by a sheriff must be retained or disposed of in accordance with this chapter and other applicable state laws.
Source: WA Statutes (Official Site)URL: https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=63.40&full=trueFetched: 6/29/2026