Martial Arts Laws in Washington: Contracts, Cancellation, Safeguarding and Combat Sports

Washington's Health Studio Services Act, RCW 19.142, expressly names the martial arts, so most for-profit schools selling memberships are covered. Contracts must be written, carry a 3-business-day cancellation notice, and cannot require payments over more than 36 months. Supervisors at for-profit and nonprofit organizations must report suspected abuse by staff or volunteers who coach or train children. Amateur MMA events run under Department of Licensing rules through licensed amateur sanctioning organizations, and a training facility that holds amateur MMA exhibitions with an admission fee needs its own license.

Washington at a glance

A field that reads “none located” means our research did not find a statewide rule. It does not prove that none exists, and local rules may still apply.

Which martial arts businesses does Washington law reach?

Washington regulates contracts for "health studio services" under RCW 19.142. The definition of "health studio" in RCW 19.142.010(3) covers any person or entity selling instruction, training, assistance, or use of facilities that purport to help patrons improve their physical condition or appearance through physical exercise, body building, weight loss, figure development, "the martial arts," or similar activity. Because martial arts are named in the statute, a for-profit karate, taekwondo, BJJ, MMA, Muay Thai, or Krav Maga school that sells memberships or programs should assume it is covered.

The statute excludes public schools, approved private schools, colleges, licensed professionals acting within their license, certain IRS tax-exempt nonprofits whose health studio functions are only incidental, member-controlled nonprofit corporations organized under chapter 24.03A RCW, and a narrow class of preexisting aerobic-class facilities charging an initiation fee under $50 with no memberships over one year (RCW 19.142.010(3)(a) to (f)). Recreational or social programs with only incidental exercise are excluded from "health studio services" (RCW 19.142.010(4)).

What are the membership contract rules in Washington?

Every contract must be in writing, and the buyer must get a copy of the contract and the studio rules at signing (RCW 19.142.030). Before sale, the studio must give each prospective buyer a written list of all membership plans with descriptions and prices, and it may not sell a plan that is not on the list. Special offers and discounts must be in writing and available to all prospective members, with a limited exception for group offers. Misrepresenting staff qualifications, facilities, results, or member capacity is prohibited (RCW 19.142.020).

Under RCW 19.142.040, the contract must state the operator's name and address, the signing date, a description of services and equipment, the contract duration, the dues and whether they can be adjusted, and the rules. No contract may require payments or financing over more than 36 months from the contract date, and no term may be measured by or last for the buyer's life. Dues may not be raised more than once per calendar year. Services must begin within 12 months of signing unless delayed by war, fire, flood, or other natural disaster.

The contract must contain clauses explaining each cancellation right and the buyer's refund rights, plus a boldface, capitalized "BUYER'S RIGHT TO CANCEL" notice in the form set out in RCW 19.142.040(9). A studio may not ask a buyer to waive any part of the chapter. A contract that does not comply, or that contains a waiver, is void and unenforceable (RCW 19.142.090).

Pre-opening sales carry extra duties. Money paid before a facility opens must go into a trust account at a federally insured institution in Washington, the Attorney General must be notified in writing within 7 days of the first deposit, and withdrawals may not begin until 30 days after the entire facility opens (RCW 19.142.060). A studio can avoid the trust account by posting a $150,000 surety bond before any pre-opening sales (RCW 19.142.070). Failing to keep the trust account or furnish the bond is a class C felony (RCW 19.142.080).

Cancellation, refunds and automatic renewal in Washington

A buyer may cancel without penalty by written notice delivered or mailed before midnight of the third business day after signing. A business day excludes Sundays and legal holidays (RCW 19.142.010(1)). The studio must refund all amounts paid within 30 days (RCW 19.142.040(9); RCW 19.142.050).

The contract must also allow cancellation if the buyer dies or becomes totally disabled; if the buyer moves more than 25 miles from the studio (or any affiliated studio offering the same services at no extra cost) and cancels after the first year of a contract longer than one year; for any reason on 30 days' written notice if the contract runs longer than one year; if the facility closes permanently and no comparable facility is offered within 10 miles; and if a promised facility is not completed on time or, for pre-opening sales, within the first 5 business days after it opens (RCW 19.142.040(7)). On cancellation, the buyer gets a refund of unused prepaid dues and relief from future dues. Initiation fee refunds vary by reason and are set out in RCW 19.142.050, including a separately signed "NONREFUNDABLE AMOUNT" clause option for relocation and 30-day-notice cancellations.

We did not locate a general Washington consumer automatic renewal statute. Senate Bill 5207 (2025-26), which addressed refunds for electronic media subscriptions, remained in the Senate Ways and Means Committee when we checked. Federal rules still apply to online sign-ups, including the Restore Online Shoppers' Confidence Act (15 U.S.C. §§ 8401 to 8405). Auto-renewing memberships must also fit within the 36-month payment cap and the once-a-year dues increase limit in RCW 19.142.040.

Child safeguarding, abuse reporting and background checks in Washington

Washington's mandatory reporter list in RCW 26.44.030(1)(a) covers listed professions such as school personnel, nurses, licensed child care providers, and clergy. Coaches are not named in that list. However, RCW 26.44.030(1)(b) requires any person acting in an official supervisory capacity with a for-profit or nonprofit organization to report when they have reasonable cause to believe a child was abused or neglected by someone they supervise who coaches, trains, educates, or counsels children or has regular unsupervised access to them. That reaches school owners, program directors, and head instructors who supervise staff or volunteers. Reports under (1)(b) go to law enforcement. Reports must be made at the first opportunity and no later than 48 hours (RCW 26.44.030(1)(h)). Anyone else may report (RCW 26.44.030(3)). The DCYF statewide line is 866-363-4276.

RCW 26.44.030(23) directs organizations whose employees or volunteers are subject to the reporting duty to display the DCYF mandated reporter poster in a common area. A school whose managers are covered by (1)(b) should consider posting it.

We found no Washington statute requiring background checks for private youth sports coaches or martial arts instructors. RCW 43.43.832 lets a business or organization request an applicant's conviction record from the Washington State Patrol, which is a voluntary tool. Background checks are a best practice, not a statutory mandate, for an ordinary private school.

The Zackery Lystedt Law, RCW 28A.600.190, sets concussion rules (annual information sheet, removal from play, written clearance) for school district athletics. Under RCW 4.24.660, a private nonprofit youth program that uses school district facilities must give a statement of compliance with those concussion policies to gain the district's liability protection. We found no provision extending the concussion law to for-profit private youth programs operating on their own premises.

Business registration, tax, workers' compensation and insurance in Washington

Corporations and LLCs register with the Secretary of State Corporations and Charities Division. Most businesses also need a state business license and Unified Business Identifier through the Department of Revenue Business Licensing Service. City business licenses, zoning, and occupancy permits are local.

Sales tax depends on the facility. Under RCW 82.04.050(3)(m), charges for an "athletic or fitness facility" are retail sales. The same subsection excludes martial arts classes, training, or events held at a facility that is not operated within and as part of an athletic or fitness facility, and defines martial arts broadly. Department of Revenue guidance on athletic or fitness facilities lists facilities that exclusively provide martial arts classes, training, or events as not making retail sales (service and other activities B&O tax applies). A school that is primarily used for strength and conditioning, exercise classes, or equipment-based training may be an athletic or fitness facility, and all instruction there is a retail sale. Mixed-use schools should get a ruling from the Department of Revenue.

We found no state license specific to martial arts or fitness businesses, and no health studio registration. We found no general state requirement to carry liability insurance. Workers' compensation through Labor and Industries (or approved self-insurance) is required for employers with workers in Washington; Title 51 covers all employment except listed exemptions (RCW 51.12.010; RCW 51.12.020), with no small-employer threshold.

MMA, kickboxing and combat-sports regulation in Washington

The Department of Licensing Combative Sports Program regulates boxing, kickboxing, martial arts, and wrestling events under chapter 67.08 RCW and chapter 36-12 WAC. "Martial arts" is defined to include full-contact karate, taekwondo, kung fu, judo, Muay Thai, and similar contests (RCW 67.08.002(15)). Licenses are required for promoters, officials, contestants, event physicians, and others (RCW 67.08.100). Applicants for boxer, kickboxer, martial arts participant, and referee licenses must submit a physical performed by a physician (RCW 67.08.100(2)). Promoters must have an ambulance or paramedical unit on site (RCW 67.08.160).

Amateur events sanctioned by listed bodies such as USA Boxing, the AAU, or Golden Gloves are exempt (RCW 67.08.015(2)(b)), but amateur mixed martial arts is not. Amateur MMA events must be sanctioned by a DOL-licensed amateur sanctioning organization, and the promoter, officials, and participants must be licensed (RCW 67.08.002(2)(g)). No-holds-barred, toughman, and elimination tournament events are banned, and promoting one is a class C felony (RCW 67.08.015(4)).

Ordinary classes and in-house sparring are not events under the statute. But a "training facility" that offers MMA training and holds amateur exhibitions where an admission fee is charged must be licensed (RCW 67.08.002(23); RCW 67.08.100(1)(p)). If you plan to sell tickets to in-house fight nights, contact DOL first.

Who enforces these rules in Washington?

A violation of RCW 19.142 is a per se unfair or deceptive act under the Consumer Protection Act, chapter 19.86 RCW (RCW 19.142.100). The Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division enforces the CPA (RCW 19.86.080), and consumers may sue for actual damages, costs, and attorney fees, with discretionary treble damages up to $25,000 per violation (RCW 19.86.090). Buyers who win a claim under the health studio chapter are entitled to reasonable attorney fees (RCW 19.142.110).

Non-compliant contracts are void and unenforceable (RCW 19.142.090), which can wipe out a school's right to collect. The Attorney General can sue on a pre-opening bond, and so can any pre-opening buyer (RCW 19.142.070).

Frequently asked questions

Can a martial arts school in Washington sell a multi-year membership?

Yes, but no contract may require payments or financing over more than 36 months, and no lifetime terms are allowed (RCW 19.142.040(4)). Any contract longer than one year must let the member cancel for any reason on 30 days' written notice.

How do cancellations work in Washington?

Members can cancel within 3 business days of signing for a full refund within 30 days. They can also cancel for death or total disability, a move of more than 25 miles after the first year of a longer contract, closure without a comparable site within 10 miles, and late facility completion (RCW 19.142.040(7); RCW 19.142.050).

Do Washington martial arts instructors need background checks?

We found no statute requiring them for private schools. Checks through the Washington State Patrol are available on request (RCW 43.43.832) and are a recommended practice. Supervisors do have a legal duty to report suspected abuse by staff and volunteers who work with children (RCW 26.44.030(1)(b)).

Does my MMA gym need a license in Washington?

Not for ordinary classes or sparring. You need a DOL training facility license if you offer MMA training and hold amateur exhibitions with an admission fee, and amateur MMA bouts must be sanctioned by a DOL-licensed amateur sanctioning organization with licensed participants (RCW 67.08.002; RCW 67.08.100).

Official sources

1. RCW 19.142 Health Studio Services · Washington State Legislature
2. RCW 19.86 Unfair Business Practices, Consumer Protection · Washington State Legislature
3. SB 5207 (2025-26) bill summary · Washington State Legislature
4. RCW 26.44.030 Reports, duty and authority to make · Washington State Legislature
5. Report child abuse or neglect · Washington Department of Children, Youth, and Families
6. RCW 43.43.832 Background checks, disclosure of information · Washington State Legislature
7. RCW 28A.600.190 Youth sports, concussion and head injury guidelines · Washington State Legislature
8. RCW 4.24.660 Liability of school districts under contracts with youth programs · Washington State Legislature
9. RCW 82.04.050 Sale at retail (athletic or fitness facility, martial arts) · Washington State Legislature
10. Athletic or fitness facilities · Washington Department of Revenue
11. Apply for a business license · Washington Department of Revenue
12. Corporations and Charities Filing System · Washington Secretary of State
13. RCW 51.12.010 and 51.12.020 Employments included and excluded · Washington State Legislature
14. Workers' compensation insurance · Washington Department of Labor and Industries
15. RCW 67.08 Boxing, martial arts, and wrestling · Washington State Legislature
16. WAC 36-12 Boxing, martial arts, and wrestling rules · Washington State Legislature
17. Amateur mixed martial arts training facility license · Washington State Department of Licensing
18. Consumer Protection · Washington State Office of the Attorney General