(1) In all cases of irregular subdivided tracts or lots of land other than any regular government subdivision the assessor shall outline a plat of such tracts or lots and notify the owner or owners thereof with a request to have the same surveyed by the county engineer, and cause the same to be platted into numbered (or lettered) lots or tracts. If any county has in its possession the correct field notes of any such tract or lot of land a new survey shall not be necessary and such tracts may be mapped from such field notes. In case the owner of such tracts or lots neglects or refuses to have the same surveyed or platted, the assessor shall notify the county legislative authority in and for the county, who may order and direct the county engineer to make the proper survey and plat of the tracts and lots. A plat shall be made on which said tracts or lots of land shall be accurately described by lines, and numbered (or lettered), which numbers (or letters) together with number of the section, township and range shall be distinctly marked on such plat, and the field notes of all such tracts or lots of land shall describe each tract or lot according to the survey, and such tract or lot shall be numbered (or lettered) to correspond with its number (or letter) on the map. The plat shall be given a designated name by the surveyor thereof. When the survey, plat, field notes and name of plat, shall have been approved by the county legislative authority, the plat and field notes shall be filed and recorded in the office of the county auditor, and the description of any tract or lot of land described in said plats by number (or letter), section, township and range, shall be a sufficient and legal description for revenue and all other purposes.

(2) Upon the request of eighty percent of the owners of the property to be surveyed and the approval of the county legislative authority, the county assessor may charge for actual costs and file a lien against the subject property if the costs are not repaid within ninety days of notice of completion, which may be collected as if such charges had been levied as a property tax.

Reviser's note: This section was amended by 1994 c 124 § 23 and by 1994 c 301 § 39, each without reference to the other. Both amendments are incorporated in the publication of this section pursuant to RCW 1.12.025(2). For rule of construction, see RCW 1.12.025(1).