Spokane County, WA Code Violation Reporting: How to Report (2026)
Key Facts
- Who investigates
- Code Enforcement, Sheriff's Office, Planning/Building/Public Works
- Notice required
- Written notice of nuisance violation, SCC 6.13.070
- Cure period
- 14 days from receipt of the notice
- Civil infraction
- $250 per violation, SCC 6.13.090
- Service methods
- Mail, posting on-site, or personal delivery
- Skip notice if
- Emergency, repeat violation, or chronic nuisance
Summary
When a Spokane County code enforcement officer documents a nuisance, SCC 6.13.070 requires a written notice of nuisance violation naming the address, the code section violated, and the corrective action needed, warning that failing to fix the problem within 14 days can bring a $250 civil infraction under SCC 6.13.090.
1.When an enforcement authority has observed and documented that a violation of this chapter exists on/in a property, it shall, unless otherwise provided herein, issue a notice of nuisance violation to the person(s) in charge, containing the following:A.The street address, parcel number(s), or description of the building, structure, premises, or land in terms reasonably sufficient to identify its location;B.A description of the violation(s) creating the nuisance;C.A reference to the title, chapter, and section of the Spokane County Code, regulation, state law, or other written order which has been violated; and...E.A statement that the failure to remedy the violation(s) within fourteen days of receipt of the notice of nuisance violation may result in the issuance of a civil infraction for two hundred fifty dollars in accordance with section 6.13.090 of this chapter.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 63).
Full Breakdown
Spokane County's nuisance-reporting and enforcement process runs through SCC Chapter 6.13. Six enforcement authorities can investigate and act on a complaint: the directors or designees of the Planning, Building, and Public Works departments, the Prosecuting Attorney, Spokane County Code Enforcement Officers, and any Sheriff's Office law enforcement officer, under SCC 6.13.030. Once an authority observes and documents a violation, SCC 6.13.070 requires it to issue a written notice of nuisance violation identifying the property by street address or parcel number, describing the violation, citing the specific code section or state law broken, and spelling out the corrective action needed and the deadline to complete it.
The notice must warn that failing to remedy the violation within 14 days of receipt can result in a $250 civil infraction under SCC 6.13.090. Notice can be served by regular mail, by posting it prominently on the property, or by personal delivery to the person in charge. Before issuing a notice, SCC 6.13.060 directs the enforcement authority to first attempt voluntary compliance and may offer an abatement agreement with a specific deadline and corrective steps. That standard notice-and-cure process can be skipped, moving straight to a civil infraction, when an emergency exists, the violation is a repeat, the property owner cannot be reached, the person in charge knew the conduct was unlawful, or the property already qualifies as a chronic nuisance under SCC 6.13.040(3).
Violations & Fines
Ignoring a notice of nuisance violation past its 14-day correction deadline exposes the property owner to a $250 class 1 civil infraction under SCC 6.13.090, with each day the violation continues counted as a separate offense. The county can also refer the matter to the Prosecuting Attorney for a warrant of abatement, injunctive relief, or a lien against the property for the county's abatement costs under SCC 6.13.080.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who enforces nuisance and code violations in unincorporated Spokane County?
What must a notice of nuisance violation include?
How long do I have to fix a violation after getting a notice?
Can the county skip the notice and cite me immediately?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Spokane County
Compare Spokane County to another location·View the Washington code violation reporting overview
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