Burien, WA Code Violation Reporting: Common Violations (2026)

Burien's nuisance chapter turns every code violation into a nuisance. Section 8.45.015 finds all violations of city ordinances detrimental to public health, safety and welfare, makes it unlawful to cause, create, maintain, suffer or allow a nuisance to remain, and treats public and private nuisances as the same thing. Section 8.45.020(5) then defines a nuisance three ways: a violation of any Burien ordinance, an act or omission that annoys, injures or endangers the comfort, repose, health or safety of others or interferes with the free use of property, and a list of named conditions. Those conditions are trash covered premises, dangerous structures, accumulations that shelter vermin or create a fire hazard, junk vehicles, attractive nuisances, obstructions to the public right-of-way, vegetation, illegal dumping and dumping in waterways. Section 8.45.070 sends enforcement to Chapter 1.15 BMC and says the nuisance provisions are not exclusive of other enforcement in the code.

Under Chapter 1.15, a code enforcement officer first tries voluntary correction under § 1.15.100 by explaining the violation and asking for a fix, or by signing a written agreement. The officer can be the building official, the fire marshal, the chief of the Burien police department or a designee, or the community development or public works director. Voluntary correction efforts need not be made for a repeat violation or where the violation creates a risk of imminent harm. Otherwise the officer issues a notice of civil violation under § 1.15.120.

The recipient must respond within 14 days of service by paying and correcting, entering a voluntary correction agreement, asking for a mitigation hearing with a $100.00 filing fee, or requesting a contested hearing before the Burien hearing examiner established in Chapter 2.15 BMC. The hearing is scheduled no sooner than 14 and no later than 60 calendar days after the request, and the city must prove the violation by a preponderance of the evidence. Responses go to the city clerk by mail or hand delivery, because telephone, facsimile and email responses do not count. A petition for judicial review of an examiner decision on property use is due within 21 days of the decision.