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

Under § 20.30.740(A), the categories of code violation Shoreline declares a public nuisance are: violation of City land use and development or public health ordinances; a public nuisance under Chapters 7.48 and 9.66 RCW; violation of any code adopted in Chapter 15.05 SMC; violation of Chapter 12.15 SMC, Use of Right-of-Way; an accumulation of refuse beyond what Chapter 13.14 SMC, the Solid Waste Code, allows; nuisance vegetation; dumping or discarding material onto the public right-of-way, waterway or other public property; violation of Chapter 13.10 SMC, Surface Water Utility; and violation of Chapter 13.12 SMC, Floodplain Management.

Section 20.30.740(B) exempts anything done under the express authority of a statute or ordinance. Every category is enforced the same way under Subchapter 9 of Chapter 20.30 SMC. The Director investigates and, on finding a violation, issues a notice and order to the responsible party (the owner, lessor, tenant or other person who controls the property) describing the violation and required corrective action, per § 20.30.760. The named party has 14 days to appeal to the Hearing Examiner under §§ 20.30.220 and 20.30.790, after which an unappealed notice becomes a final determination of liability.

Noncompliance triggers a $500.00 civil penalty for the first 14 days under § 20.30.770(D)(1), rising to 150 percent for the next 14 days and doubling each 14-day period after that, plus abatement costs collected as a property lien under § 20.30.775. A willful violation can instead be prosecuted as a misdemeanor carrying up to a $1,000 fine and 90 days in jail under § 20.30.770(B), or as a civil infraction under Chapter 7.80 RCW per § 20.30.770(A).