Do not call list Washington state: the complete compliance guide

Last updated 2026-07-10

What is Washington state's Do Not Call law?

Washington has its own Do Not Call statute at RCW 80.36.390, separate from the federal Telephone Consumer Protection Act (47 U.S.C. 227) and the FTC's National Do Not Call Registry ^[1][2]. The state law came before the national registry and lives alongside it. Both apply to calls made to Washington residents. A telemarketer who scrubs only the federal list is halfway done.

The Washington law covers residential telephone subscribers. It bars any telephone solicitor from calling a number on either the state list or the National DNC Registry without a valid exemption. The Attorney General enforces the state law. The FTC and FCC share enforcement of the federal rules.

Here's the practical reality. Since 2003, when the FTC's national registry launched, Washington has leaned on the federal list as the working registry for residents. The state's own legal authority and penalty structure under RCW 80.36.390 stay fully intact ^[3]. Break both, and you answer to both.

How does a Washington resident add their number to the Do Not Call list?

Washington residents register for the federal National Do Not Call Registry the same way everyone else does: at donotcall.gov or by calling 1-888-382-1222 ^[2]. It's free. It takes about two minutes. The number stays on the list permanently unless you remove it or the number gets disconnected and reassigned.

Registration takes effect 31 days after you sign up. Register on July 1, and telemarketers have until August 1 to scrub you. Calls during that 31-day window are not violations under the federal rules ^[2].

Washington also runs a complaint intake process through the Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division. Residents file at atg.wa.gov. The AG's office chases patterns of violations more than one-off calls, so if a company hit you once after you registered, file with both the FTC (donotcall.gov/report) and the Washington AG ^[3]. Two records beat one.

Cell phones are covered. For a closer look at how mobile numbers interact with DNC registries, see our guide on mobile phone do not call list.

What are the penalties for violating Washington's Do Not Call rules?

Washington's RCW 80.36.390 allows civil penalties up to $1,000 per violation ^[3]. Each illegal call is its own violation. The Attorney General can bring enforcement actions, and the statute gives private citizens the right to sue for actual damages or $500 per violation, whichever is greater.

The federal layer piles on. Under the TCPA (47 U.S.C. 227), the FTC can seek civil penalties up to $51,744 per violation, an amount the FTC adjusts for inflation and publishes periodically ^[4]. Private plaintiffs can recover $500 per call, or up to $1,500 per call for a willful violation ^[5]. Class actions are common and expensive.

The combined exposure is what should keep you up at night. A dialing campaign that hits 10,000 Washington numbers on the DNC list could face private federal TCPA claims of up to $500 each, state claims of up to $1,000 each, and AG enforcement on top. That math turns ugly fast.

Enforcement history shows the stakes are real. In FTC v. Caribbean Cruise Line (2014), the FTC secured a $1.3 million judgment tied to DNC violations and illegal robocalls ^[6]. Washington's AG has brought its own actions under the state Consumer Protection Act (RCW 19.86) alongside the DNC statute, and that act allows treble damages in egregious cases ^[3].

Which calls are exempt from Washington's Do Not Call rules?

Not every outbound call to a registered number is illegal. Both the federal and Washington rules carry exemptions, and this is where most real compliance questions live.

Exempt categories under the federal rules (generally mirrored at the state level) include ^[1][2]:

Exemption	What it covers
Established business relationship (EBR)	Calls to customers who bought from you within the last 18 months, or inquired within 3 months
Prior express written consent	Consumer gave written consent to be called
Nonprofit organizations	Calls made by or on behalf of 501(c)(3) entities for charitable purposes
Political calls	Calls for candidates or political causes (not robocalls to cells without consent)
Surveys and research	Calls with no sales pitch
Existing debt collection	Calls to collect a debt owed to the caller

The EBR exemption is the one most outbound sales teams lean on. It also generates the most litigation. The clock on a purchase-based EBR starts at the last transaction date, not the last contact date. A customer who bought from you 20 months ago and hasn't purchased since is back on the protected list.

Washington's law generally tracks these federal exemptions, but the AG's office has discretion in enforcement. Leaning on a thin EBR claim against an aggressive AG is not a place you want to be.

What scrubbing rules apply to telemarketers calling Washington?

Calling into Washington means pulling the National DNC Registry from the FTC's database, which you access by subscribing at donotcall.gov ^[2]. The FTC charges by area code: the first five area codes are free, and each additional area code costs $75 per year, adjusted annually for inflation ^[2].

For a full walkthrough of how to pull the list and what format it comes in, see how do i get the do not call list.

Scrubbing frequency is the part people get wrong. The FTC requires organizations to access an updated version of the registry at least every 31 days ^[2]. A number that wasn't registered when you pulled last month may be registered now. Monthly scrubs are the floor. Weekly is smart for high-volume dialers.

You also need your own internal Do Not Call list. Under 47 U.S.C. 227 and FCC regulations at 47 C.F.R. 64.1200, any company making telemarketing calls must keep an internal DNC list for consumers who asked not to be called again ^[1][5]. Honor that request within 30 days. The registry subscription and the internal list are both required. Neither one alone is enough.

LeadCompliant's free DNC checker and compliance kit help you verify whether a number is on the national registry before your team dials.

How does Washington's law interact with federal TCPA rules?

The TCPA (47 U.S.C. 227) sets a federal floor. States can add requirements on top. They can't take them away ^[1]. Washington does exactly that, giving residents an extra private right of action and the AG an independent enforcement track.

The FCC implements the TCPA through rules at 47 C.F.R. 64.1200. One FCC change hit Washington callers hard: the 2023 order in its one-to-one consent proceeding (FCC 23-107) tightened consent so it has to be specific to the seller, not a blanket opt-in handed to a lead generation site that then resells it to dozens of buyers ^[7]. The FCC described the goal as closing what it called the "lead generator loophole."

For Washington callers who buy leads, this changes everything. If your vendor collects opt-ins that read "I agree to be contacted by up to 50 partners," that consent no longer satisfies TCPA requirements for your company. You need consent that names you.

The two-regime structure also means you can get sued twice. A plaintiff's attorney can file a TCPA case in federal court and a Washington Consumer Protection Act or RCW 80.36.390 case in state court. Some file both in one action. That doubles the procedural complexity and the discovery burden.

What about robocalls and autodialer rules in Washington?

Washington regulates robocalls beyond the standard DNC framework. RCW 80.36.400 covers automatic dialing and announcing devices (ADADs). It requires that a prerecorded message call give the recipient a way to be added to a Do Not Call list, and that the call disconnect within a set period after the recipient hangs up ^[3].

Federally, the TCPA bars using an automatic telephone dialing system (ATDS) or prerecorded voice to call cell phones without prior express consent, full stop, no matter the DNC status ^[1]. The Supreme Court's 2021 decision in Facebook v. Duguid narrowed the ATDS definition to systems that use a random or sequential number generator to store or produce numbers, which eased pressure on dialers pulling from static lists ^[8]. The Court held that a device "must have the capacity either to store a telephone number using a random or sequential number generator, or to produce a telephone number using a random or sequential number generator." Washington's state law can still reach conduct the federal definition misses.

Text messages count as "calls" under the TCPA. Send SMS to Washington cell numbers and the same consent and DNC rules apply. For SMS-specific compliance obligations, see our do not call telemarketer list guide.

How does Washington compare to other state Do Not Call laws?

Washington is one of roughly 30 states with its own DNC statute layered on the federal framework. The details vary a lot.

State	Penalty per violation	Private right of action	State-run registry
Washington	Up to $1,000	Yes (RCW 80.36.390)	Primarily uses federal
Florida	Up to $10,000	Yes	Yes (separate state list)
Indiana	Up to $10,000	Yes	Yes (separate state list)
Pennsylvania	Up to $1,000	Yes	Yes (separate state list)
Alabama	Up to $10,000 (CPA)	Yes	Uses federal list

Florida, Indiana, and Pennsylvania each run separate state registries that telemarketers must subscribe to on top of the federal list ^[9][10][11]. Washington does not run a fully separate registry the same way, which actually makes life a little easier for callers. Scrubbing the National DNC Registry covers the core obligation. You still owe compliance with Washington's penalties and AG enforcement authority.

Alabama makes a useful comparison. It relies on the federal registry and enforces through its Consumer Protection Act rather than a dedicated DNC statute, close in structure to Washington's approach. The do not call list Alabama framework means callers need the federal list plus a read on the state AG's posture, which is the same calculation you run for Washington.

For state-specific details on other jurisdictions, see our guides on florida do not call list and indiana do not call list.

How do Washington consumers report Do Not Call violations?

Two channels are worth knowing.

First, the FTC's national complaint system at donotcall.gov/report ^[2]. The FTC logs every complaint and uses the data to spot patterns and pick enforcement targets. No single complaint usually triggers action. Enough complaints about the same company or number absolutely do. The FTC publishes complaint data every year; its FY2023 Do Not Call Registry Data Book reported more than 1.1 million registry complaints for the fiscal year ^[4].

Second, the Washington Attorney General's Consumer Protection hotline at 1-800-551-4636 and the online complaint form at atg.wa.gov ^[3]. The AG's office can pursue civil penalties under RCW 80.36.390 and the state Consumer Protection Act (RCW 19.86). Complaints here get more individual attention for egregious or repeat violators than FTC filings do, because the AG handles far less volume.

Consumers can also sue directly. A private plaintiff doesn't need a government agency to move first. With a $500 statutory floor under the TCPA and up to $1,000 per violation at the state level, individual suits are common, especially from consumers who got hit with a lot of calls.

For more on the report process, see do not call list report.

What should small outbound sales teams do right now to comply?

Running outbound into Washington without a recent compliance audit? Here's what actually matters.

Get a National DNC Registry subscription. The FTC's system at donotcall.gov is the starting point. The first five area codes are free, and Washington's are 206, 253, 360, 425, and 509, so if you're calling Washington only, you may pull the list at no cost ^[2]. Scrub every 31 days at minimum.

Build and maintain an internal DNC list. Every consumer who tells you not to call gets logged right away and honored within 30 days ^[5]. Not optional. The FTC looks for it in audits.

Review your consent documentation for any cells you're autodialing. After the FCC's one-to-one consent rule took effect January 27, 2025, generic multi-advertiser consent forms are dead ^[7]. Get consent that names your company.

Buying leads? Ask vendors for the exact consent language consumers saw. If they can't produce it, treat those numbers as unconsented.

For a structured way to handle all of this, LeadCompliant's one-time compliance kit includes consent checklist templates, internal DNC list structure, and scrubbing workflow documentation you can size to your team.

For the wider picture of what the national DNC system requires, the do not call list hub covers federal obligations in full. And if you need the actual do not call list number to register or report, that guide has it.

Nobody has clean data on how many small outbound teams scrub correctly. The closest proxy is FTC enforcement, and the pattern there is consistent: EBR and consent documentation failures, more than missed registry scrubs, sit under most of the actions the agency brings.

What exemptions and safe harbors protect telemarketers under Washington law?

The federal safe harbor is worth getting precise. If a telemarketer can show it had procedures in place, trained its staff, scrubbed its lists within 31 days, and the call came from an error rather than a policy failure, that creates a safe harbor defense against TCPA liability ^[1][5]. The same logic runs in Washington. Documented good-faith compliance gives you a defense even when a call slips through.

The safe harbor does nothing for willful or knowing violations. If someone's on your internal DNC list and a manager calls them anyway to close a deal, that's not a procedural slip. That's a decision, and it kills the defense.

Washington's AG tends to focus enforcement on systematic violators: companies with stacks of complaints, no internal procedures, or plain disregard for registration status. A company with documented scrubbing processes and training records is far less likely to draw AG action even when the occasional error gets through.

The dnc registry guide covers the technical access and subscription side of keeping compliant access to the list, which is the foundation of any safe harbor argument.

Frequently asked questions

Is Washington state's Do Not Call list separate from the federal list?

Washington has its own DNC statute under RCW 80.36.390 but relies primarily on the federal National Do Not Call Registry (donotcall.gov) for consumer registration rather than running a fully separate list. The state law adds independent penalties up to $1,000 per violation and gives the Washington Attorney General separate enforcement authority. Telemarketers must comply with both the federal rules and Washington's state statute.

How much does it cost to register on the Do Not Call list in Washington?

Registration is free for consumers. Washington residents register through the national system at donotcall.gov or by calling 1-888-382-1222. There is no fee and no renewal required. The number stays on the registry permanently unless it's disconnected, reassigned, or you remove it yourself. Telemarketers pay to access the registry database, not consumers who register.

How long does it take for a Washington number to be active on the Do Not Call list?

Under federal rules, registration takes effect 31 days after sign-up. Telemarketers have that window to update their lists. A call received on day 15 after registration is not technically a violation yet. After 31 days, any covered solicitation call to that number without a valid exemption (prior business relationship, consent, etc.) is a potential violation under both federal TCPA and Washington state law.

Can businesses still call Washington customers they've done business with before?

Yes. The established business relationship (EBR) exemption allows calls to customers who purchased from you within the last 18 months or who made an inquiry within the last 3 months, even if their number is on the DNC list. The clock resets with each new transaction. After 18 months with no purchase, the exemption expires and the consumer's DNC registration blocks your calls again.

What should I do if I get a robocall to my Washington number after registering?

File a complaint at donotcall.gov/report with the number that called you, the date, and what the call was about. Also file with the Washington Attorney General at atg.wa.gov. If you received multiple calls, document each one separately. For TCPA violations, you also have a private right of action to sue for $500 per call (up to $1,500 for willful violations) without waiting for government action.

Do text messages count as calls under Washington's Do Not Call rules?

Yes. The TCPA treats text messages as calls, so SMS solicitations to Washington cell numbers are subject to the same rules as voice calls. If a number is on the DNC list and you send a marketing text without prior express written consent, that's a potential violation. Washington's state law similarly covers electronic solicitations. The FCC has consistently applied TCPA rules to commercial text messages since 2003.

Are political calls exempt from Washington's Do Not Call list?

Political calls to landlines are generally exempt from DNC restrictions under both federal and Washington law. However, robocalls (prerecorded messages) to cell phones require prior express consent even for political content under the TCPA, because the ATDS restriction on cell phone calls doesn't have a political exemption. Live calls from a human to a cell phone for political purposes are in a grayer area and the FCC has not fully resolved all scenarios.

How do Washington's penalties compare to other states?

Washington caps violations at $1,000 per call under RCW 80.36.390. Florida and Indiana go up to $10,000 per violation. Pennsylvania is similar to Washington at $1,000. On top of state penalties, federal TCPA exposure of up to $1,500 per willful violation applies everywhere, including Washington. Washington also has the Consumer Protection Act (RCW 19.86), which allows treble damages in egregious cases, potentially multiplying liability significantly.

Do nonprofits have to comply with Washington's Do Not Call rules?

Nonprofits calling on their own behalf for charitable purposes are exempt from the National DNC Registry rules and generally from Washington's statute. However, if a for-profit telemarketer is making calls on behalf of a nonprofit and receives compensation, that for-profit company does not automatically inherit the exemption. The specific structure of the relationship matters. Political organizations are separately exempt for certain call types but not for autodialed cell phone calls.

What records does a Washington telemarketer need to keep to prove compliance?

You need documentation showing: the date you accessed the National DNC Registry and which area codes you pulled, your internal DNC list with dates entries were added, consent records for any cell numbers you called or texted using an ATDS or prerecorded message, and training records for staff. The FTC's safe harbor requires documented procedures. If litigation happens, these records are what your attorney will ask for first, and their absence is damaging.

Is the Alabama Do Not Call list the same kind of system as Washington's?

Alabama uses the federal National DNC Registry rather than running a fully separate state list, similar to Washington's approach. Alabama enforces through its Consumer Protection Act and the AG's office rather than a dedicated DNC statute, whereas Washington has RCW 80.36.390. Both states stack state-level enforcement authority on top of the federal TCPA regime. Telemarketers calling either state need the federal registry subscription plus awareness of state AG enforcement posture.

What happens if someone on my Do Not Call list calls me back and makes a purchase?

A new purchase restarts the established business relationship clock, giving you 18 months of EBR exemption from the date of that transaction. The key word is transaction. A callback or inquiry alone restarts only the 3-month inquiry EBR, not the 18-month purchase EBR. Document the date and nature of the interaction. If the EBR is your defense, the burden of proof is on you to show it existed and when it started.

Where do I report a Washington business that is calling DNC-registered numbers?

Report to two places: the FTC at donotcall.gov/report (national database) and the Washington Attorney General at atg.wa.gov or 1-800-551-4636. Include the caller's number, the date and time of each call, what was said or offered, and whether you've asked them not to call before. For repeated violations you can also consult a private attorney about a TCPA suit, which does not require prior government action.

Sources

1. FTC, National Do Not Call Registry – consumer and business information: Registration is free at donotcall.gov or 1-888-382-1222; takes effect 31 days after sign-up; telemarketers must scrub every 31 days; first five area codes free then per-area-code annual fee
2. Washington Attorney General, Consumer Protection Division: Washington RCW 80.36.390 authorizes AG enforcement and private suits; penalties up to $1,000 per violation; RCW 80.36.400 governs automatic dialing devices
3. FTC, National Do Not Call Registry Data Book FY2023: FTC reported more than 1.1 million registry complaints in FY2023; civil penalties up to $51,744 per violation
4. Legal Information Institute, 47 CFR 64.1200 (Cornell Law School): Internal DNC list required; consumer opt-out must be honored within 30 days; safe harbor available for documented procedures
5. FTC, Legal Library cases and proceedings (FTC v. Caribbean Cruise Line): FTC secured $1.3 million judgment related to DNC violations and illegal robocalls (2014)
6. Supreme Court, Facebook Inc. v. Duguid, 592 U.S. 395 (2021): ATDS definition narrowed to systems using random or sequential number generators; decided April 1, 2021
7. Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Florida Do Not Call Program: Florida operates a separate state DNC registry with penalties up to $10,000 per violation
8. Indiana Attorney General, Consumer Protection Division: Indiana runs its own separate state DNC registry with penalties up to $10,000 per violation
9. Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, consumer protection: Pennsylvania maintains a separate state DNC list with penalties up to $1,000 per violation