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Grant 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
GCC 1.32, effective 3-19-2019
Primary enforcer
Grant County Sheriff's Office
Base citation fine
$500 per occurrence
Violation types listed
6 categories under 1.32.020
Repeat violation fines
$500 / $1,000 / $2,000

Summary

Grant County Code Chapter 1.32 lists six categories of code violations the county enforces countywide in unincorporated Grant County, from unpermitted work to ignored stop-work orders. The Sheriff's Office is the primary enforcing agency, backed by Public Works and Development Services.

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

This title shall apply to the enforcement of Grant County ordinances and codes, including those related to building, zoning, environmental health and safety, and quality of life. Violations include but are not limited to: (1)Failure to obtain required permits or authorizations within the administrative jurisdiction of the applicable department;(2)Failure to comply with the terms or conditions of a permit or authorization issued by the applicable department;(3)Failure to comply with any county code provision within the administrative jurisdiction of the applicable department;(4)Failure to comply with rules or regulations adopted pursuant to the administrative authority of the applicable department;(5)Removal without authorization or defacing any sign, notice or order posted pursuant to the administrative authority of the applicable department; and(6)Failure to comply with a stop work or emergency order issued under this chapter.

Full Breakdown

020, the county's enforcement title covers building, zoning, environmental health and safety, and quality-of-life codes. The six listed violation types are: failing to obtain a required permit or authorization; failing to comply with a permit's terms or conditions; failing to comply with any county code provision within a department's jurisdiction; failing to comply with rules or regulations a department adopted under its administrative authority; removing or defacing a posted sign, notice, or order without authorization; and failing to comply with a stop-work or emergency order issued under the chapter.

040 separately declares that violations of specific chapters, including Titles 10, 11, 14, 22, 23, 24, and 25, are public nuisances the Sheriff may act on if a condition creates a present or imminent hazard. 020 runs to the Grant County Sheriff and deputies (the primary authorized officials), the Director of Public Works, the Director of Development Services, and their designees, with the Prosecuting Attorney able to bring legal proceedings and the Board of Commissioners able to designate additional enforcement staff. The chapter was repealed and rewritten in full by Ord. No. 19-027-CC on March 19, 2019, and later amended in 2021.

Violations & Fines

A violation can draw a warning notice, a citation carrying a $500 fine per occurrence under GCC 1.32.140, a stop-work order, or an emergency order, and each day a violation continues can count as a separate citable violation. Repeat violations within 24 months add escalating fines of $500, $1,000, and $2,000 for the second, third, and fourth-or-later offense under GCC 1.32.220.

Frequently Asked Questions

What counts as a code violation in unincorporated Grant County?
GCC 1.32.020 lists unpermitted work, non-compliance with permit terms, violating any county code within a department's jurisdiction, ignoring adopted rules, defacing a posted notice, and disregarding a stop-work or emergency order.
Who enforces these violations?
The Grant County Sheriff's Office is the primary authorized enforcement official under GCC 1.32.020, along with the Directors of Public Works and Development Services and their designated representatives.
Can a single ongoing violation result in multiple citations?
Yes. GCC 1.32.090 provides that each day a person violates or fails to comply with a cited provision may be treated as a separate violation, including during the period a contested hearing is pending.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Grant County

All Grant County rules

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