Skip to main content
CityRuleLookup

Spokane County, WA Code Violation Reporting: Common Violations (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Governing chapter
SCC 6.13, Nuisances (adopted Dec. 16, 2025)
Common citations
Junk vehicles, illegal sewage, unpermitted construction
Chronic nuisance
3 incidents/60 days or 4/12 months
Civil infraction
$250 per violation under SCC 6.13.090
Enforcers
Code Enforcement, Sheriff, Planning/Building/Public Works

Summary

Spokane County Code Chapter 6.13 defines a "nuisance" as any unlawful act or condition that endangers others' health, safety, or property, then lists the specific violations code enforcement cites most: illegal sewage disposal, poisonous materials accessible to people or animals, unpermitted or unsecured construction, and accumulated junk vehicles or vessel parts, under SCC 6.13.040.

These county ordinances apply to unincorporated areas of Spokane County. Incorporated cities within the county may have their own rules that take precedence over county-level regulations.

1.A "nuisance" consists of performing an unlawful act, or omitting to perform a duty, or permitting an act or condition to occur or exist which:A.Unreasonably interferes with, annoys, injures, or endangers the comfort, repose, health, or safety of others...2.The following specific acts, omissions, places, conditions, or otherwise, are hereby declared to be nuisances...A.The discharge of sewage, human excrement, or other waste in any location or manner, except through approved means of sewage disposal...D.Any poisonous material or poisonous thing on any property accessible to any animal or person.I.Property where one or more abandoned or derelict vessels, junk vehicles, or vehicle or vessel parts are accumulated, dismantled, parked, placed or stored unless the abandoned or derelict vessels, junk vehicles, or parts thereof pose no threat to human health or safety or to the environment...J.Any building or structure where construction commenced and then ceased and the building or structure has not been secured closed to entry and presents a hazard to the public, or any building or structure that has been constructed or modified without required permits.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 63).

Full Breakdown

040 gives Spokane County code enforcement its working list of prohibited conditions. A nuisance is first defined broadly as any unlawful act, omitted duty, or condition that unreasonably interferes with the comfort, health, or safety of others, obstructs a public right-of-way, or renders neighboring property insecure. 130; and buildings that were started and abandoned unsecured, or built or modified without required permits. 040(2)(M). 040(3), letting code enforcement skip the usual voluntary-compliance notice and move straight to a civil infraction.

Violations & Fines

Enforcement authorities, Spokane County Code Enforcement Officers, the Sheriff's Office, and the Planning, Building, and Public Works directors, may issue a $250 class 1 civil infraction under SCC 6.13.090 once a notice of nuisance violation goes uncorrected for 14 days. A property found to be a chronic nuisance, three violations in 60 days or four in a year, can be cited immediately without that 14-day notice period.

Frequently Asked Questions

What counts as a nuisance in unincorporated Spokane County?
SCC 6.13.040 lists specific violations including illegal sewage discharge, poisonous materials accessible to people or animals, unpermitted or abandoned construction, accumulated solid waste, and junk vehicles or derelict vessels that are not enclosed or lawfully fenced, plus any breach of the building, zoning, noise, health, or critical-areas titles.
How many junk vehicles can I keep on my property?
None that are visible and unenclosed. SCC 6.13.040(2)(I) treats junk vehicles or vessel parts as a nuisance unless they sit fully inside a building or are stored lawfully by a licensed dismantler or dealer behind fencing that meets SCC Chapter 14.618 or RCW 46.80.130.
What makes a property a chronic nuisance?
A property becomes a chronic nuisance under SCC 6.13.040(3) once a nuisance or ongoing criminal activity is documented three or more times in any 60-day period, or four or more times in any 12-month period, letting code enforcement skip the standard notice and move directly to a civil infraction.
Do zoning and building violations count as nuisances too?
Yes. SCC 6.13.040(2)(M) folds violations of Title 3 (Buildings), Title 4 (Zoning/Shoreline), the noise chapter (SCC 6.12), Title 8 (Health and Sanitation), Title 11.20 (Critical Areas), and Title 14 (Zoning Code) directly into the nuisance definition, so any breach of those titles can be enforced as a nuisance.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Spokane County

All Spokane County rules

Compare Spokane County to another location·View the Washington code violation reporting overview

Get notified when Common Violations in Spokane County, WA changes

We'll email you the moment we detect a change in the code. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.

We'll never sell or share your email. One-click unsubscribe in every email.

See something wrong?

Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.

Common Violations in Cities Across Spokane County