Bothell, WA Code Violation Reporting: How to Report (2026)

The City of Bothell assigns code enforcement by title. Under BMC § 11.20.004, the community development director enforces Chapter 11.20 and BMC Titles 8, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 20, 21 and 22 plus the shoreline master program, while the public works director enforces Titles 17 and 18. The word director in the chapter covers either one and the director's authorized representatives, and either can call on the police, fire, building, public works or other city departments for help.

Section 11.20.005 starts the process once the director has reason to believe a violation exists. The section itself prescribes no complaint form, hotline or web portal; what it fixes is the duty to investigate and the content of the notice. A notice of violation must carry four things at minimum: a separate statement of each provision violated, the corrective action needed, a reasonable time for compliance, and a statement that subsequent violations can lead to criminal prosecution under BMC § 11.20.010.

Service is formal. The director serves the owner, tenant or other responsible person by personal service, by certified mail with return receipt requested plus regular U.S. mail (deemed served three days after deposit in the regular mail), or by posting on the property. Posting is allowed only when the person cannot after due diligence be served personally within King or Snohomish County and no mailing address can be found. Proof of service is a written declaration under penalty of perjury. The director can also mail or post a notice for residential and nonresidential rental units in the structure.

Noise is the one subject where the code spells out who must complain. Under BMC § 8.26.070, when two or more persons having separate residences in a neighborhood state in writing that someone is violating BMC 8.26.060, Public nuisance and disturbance noises, the code enforcement officer shall advise the person originating the noise that it is a nuisance and must cease. After an appeal, the hearing examiner can mail the decision to a complainant who has provided an address (BMC § 11.20.009(C)). Under BMC § 11.20.004(E), nothing in the chapter imposes a duty on the city or its employees that would support a damages claim in a civil action.