Are skimpy swimsuits allowed at WA pools, beaches? Going topless? See state law
When the sun starts shining in Washington state, people start venturing outside regularly.
For many, warmer weather means a chance to go swimming or soak up the sun.
Before you take a dip in your local lake, river or public pool, however, it’s important to know what you can wear in public — and when you’re allowed to show some skin.
Is wearing a thong bikini or skimpy swim briefs against the rules? What about going topless?
Here’s what to know:
What is considered indecent exposure in Washington state?
In Washington state, you can be found guilty of indecent exposure if you show off your body in an “open and obscene” way, “knowing that such conduct is likely to cause reasonable affront or alarm,” the Revised Code of Washington says.
It typically involves “a person revealing his or her private parts in a public space,” according to the Law Offices of Morgan Fletcher Benfield in Tacoma.
“The act of breastfeeding or expressing breast milk is not indecent exposure,” state law says.
When determining whether nudity counts as an obscene act, location and context are key, according to William Muse, public information officer with the Tacoma Police Department.
As an example, he compared an unclothed person standing by the window in a nudist colony to a naked person standing in view of a place of worship.
Where is nudity banned in Washington state?
Although Washington law doesn’t specifically ban nudity, several cities and counties across the Evergreen State have their own rules about how much you’re allowed to bare in public.
Seattle, famous for its Solstice Cyclists naked bike ride, has relaxed rules about nudity.
In contrast, Pierce County municipal code defines “unlawful public exposure” as revealing or exhibiting any portion or the anus, genitals or “female breast lower than the upper edge of the areola.”
In Snohomish County, you can be found guilty of “lewd conduct” if you’re caught exposing “any part of the male or female genitals, pubic hair, pubic area, perineum, anus, or bottom one-half of the anal cleft” as well as parts of the female breast.
Are bathing suits required at public pools?
Most public pools and beaches throughout Washington state have rules about what visitors should wear while swimming and splashing.
“Proper swimming attire must be worn” at public pools in Bellingham, although the city doesn’t specify what that entails.
“Cut-offs and jean shorts are not allowed” at public pools in Tacoma, the rules says.
Kennewick Parks & Recreation says that “all persons using the pool must be dressed in swimming attire,” defined by a “swimming or bathing suit for women and girls and swim trunks with a liner for men and boys.”
“Underwear of any kind is not appropriate swimwear,” the parks department said. “Saggy or long shorts; jeans, khaki or sweat pant shorts are not appropriate swimwear.”
Where are clothing-optional beaches in Washington?
Washington state doesn’t have any official nude beaches or parks, but there are a few clothing-optional spots across the state, according to Yakima radio station NewsTalk KIT.
They include:
- Denny Blaine Park in Seattle
- Howell Park in Seattle
- Point Wells Beach in Woodway
What are penalties for indecent exposure?
In most cases, indecent exposure is a misdemeanor punishable by up to 90 days in county jail and a $1,000 fine, according to John T. Law in Bellevue.
If you’re charged with exposing yourself to a child under 14 years old, “This escalates the possible penalties to up to a year in jail and/or a fine of up to $5,000,” the Law Offices of Morgan Fletcher Benfield said.
People convicted of certain sex offenses could face a class C felony, punishable by a maximum of five years in prison and $10,000 in fines.
This story was originally published June 10, 2026 at 5:00 AM with the headline "Are skimpy swimsuits allowed at WA pools, beaches? Going topless? See state law."