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

King County Code Enforcement investigates a wide range of violations in unincorporated areas. The most common include: (1) Junk and debris accumulation — storage of refuse, waste, and household junk visible from public areas or neighboring properties, in violation of KCC Title 21A (Zoning) and public nuisance provisions. (2) Construction without a permit — building additions, sheds, garages, and renovations without required King County building permits, particularly common in rural areas. (3) Clearing or grading without permits — unauthorized land clearing, tree removal, and earth grading that can affect drainage, slope stability, and critical habitats, a significant issue in King County's environmentally sensitive terrain. (4) Junk vehicles — storage of inoperable, abandoned, or unlicensed vehicles on residential properties. (5) Illegal businesses — operating commercial activities (auto repair, retail, manufacturing) in residential zones. (6) Dangerous or open-to-entry buildings — structures that pose safety risks due to deterioration or being left unsecured. (7) Illegally placed mobile homes or manufactured homes — placing mobile homes without proper permits and site preparations. (8) Critical area and shoreline violations — unauthorized development in wetlands, streams, steep slopes, or shoreline buffers, which are heavily regulated under KCC Title 21A and the Washington Shoreline Management Act. (9) Livestock infractions — keeping livestock (chickens, goats, horses) in zones or quantities not permitted by zoning code.