Skagit County, WA Code Violation Reporting: How to Report (2026)
Key Facts
- Report method
- Written Request for Investigation (RFI) on County forms
- Filed with
- Planning and Development Services
- Confidentiality
- None, RFI is a public record
- Response duty
- Director notifies filer of results, if requested
- Misdemeanor fine
- Up to $1,000 or 90 days jail
- Stop-work violation
- $500-$1,000 fine or up to 1 year jail
Summary
Any person who believes a Title 14 or 15 violation has occurred in unincorporated Skagit County may file a written Request for Investigation, called an RFI, on forms from Planning and Development Services. SCC 14.09.210 makes the RFI a public record, guarantees a results notice on request, and starts the Director's mandatory investigation and graduated enforcement process.
(1) Requests for Investigation. (a) Any person who believes a violation of SCC Title 14 or 15 has occurred may file a written Request for Investigation (“RFI”) on forms provided by the Department. (b) If requested, the Director must notify the person who files an RFI of the results of the Department’s investigation after it is complete. (c) The RFI is a public record and may be subject to disclosure per RCW Chapter 42.56, the Public Records Act.
Full Breakdown
210(1)(a); anyone who believes a violation of Title 14 (land use) or Title 15 (building) has occurred can submit one, and the Director must tell the filer the outcome once the investigation is complete if asked. 56, so it is not a confidential complaint. Once filed, the Director must investigate and confirm the violation before taking any corrective step, and the code directs the Director toward a graduated process that uses notification and an education step first, offering the property owner a chance to fix the problem before fines are imposed; the Director can decline to act on de minimis violations or ones that call for discretionary interpretation of the land use code.
09, including a stop work order or other administrative order, or ask the Prosecuting Attorney to charge the case as a misdemeanor. Inspectors need the property owner's consent to enter for most inspections; if entry is refused or no responsible party can be found, the Director can ask the Prosecuting Attorney's office to help obtain a warrant. Skagit County Code Title 14, 15, and 16 violations are treated as public nuisances subject to abatement.
Violations & Fines
A confirmed violation that isn't corrected can bring a misdemeanor charge under SCC 14.09.130(1): a fine of up to $1,000, up to 90 days in jail, or both, with each day of the violation counted as a separate offense under SCC 14.09.120(5). Ignoring a stop work order is a gross misdemeanor with a fine of $500 to $1,000 or up to a year in jail, and the property owner is jointly and severally liable for penalties and site restoration alongside anyone else responsible.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I report a code violation in unincorporated Skagit County?
Is my code complaint kept private?
What happens after I file an RFI?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Skagit County
Compare Skagit County to another location·View the Washington code violation reporting overview
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