Bothell, WA Code Violation Reporting: Response Times (2026)
Key Facts
- Compliance period
- Set case by case; no fixed number of days in § 11.20.006
- Fastest case
- Immediately or the same day for health, safety or environmental threats
- Appeal request
- In writing within 15 calendar days after service
- Hearing notice
- At least 10 calendar days before the hearing
- Examiner decision
- Within 10 working days after review is completed
- Court appeal
- Within 21 calendar days of the examiner's decision
- Civil penalty
- Up to $250.00 per day for each violation
Summary
The City of Bothell, Washington sets no fixed number of days for compliance in BMC § 11.20.006. The director weighs five criteria to set a reasonable time, and where health, safety or the environment is threatened that time can be immediately or within the same day. A notice that is not appealed becomes the director's final order.
A. Determination of Time. When calculating a reasonable time for compliance, the director should consider the following criteria: 1. The type and degree of violation cited in the notice; 2. The stated intent, if any, of a responsible party to take steps to comply; 3. The procedural requirements for obtaining a permit to carry out corrective action; 4. The complexity of the corrective action, including seasonal considerations, construction requirements and the legal prerogatives of landlords and tenants; and 5. Any other circumstances beyond the control of the responsible party. B. In appropriate circumstances, particularly where the violation(s) present a potential threat to the health, safety, and welfare of individuals, the public, or the environment, a reasonable time for compliance may be immediately or within the same day. C. Order Becomes Final Unless Appealed. Unless an appeal is filed with the director for hearing before the hearing examiner in accordance with BMC 11.20.009, the notice of violation shall become the final order of the director.
Full Breakdown
BMC § 11.20.006 governs how long a responsible party in the City of Bothell has to fix a cited violation. It does not set a deadline for the city to answer a complaint; it sets the clock that starts once a notice of violation is served. The director should weigh five things: the type and degree of violation cited, the stated intent of a responsible party to comply, the procedural requirements for obtaining a permit to carry out the corrective action, the complexity of the work including seasonal considerations, construction requirements and the legal prerogatives of landlords and tenants, and any other circumstances beyond the responsible party's control.
Where a violation presents a potential threat to the health, safety, and welfare of individuals, the public or the environment, the compliance time can be immediately or within the same day. Related orders move faster still. A cease activity order under BMC § 11.20.007 prohibits work or activity at the site, and an emergency order under BMC § 11.20.008 specifies its own time for compliance; a condition not corrected within that time is declared a public nuisance that the director is authorized to abate summarily, with the cost recovered from the owner or person responsible.
The next clocks come from the appeal section. A person served with a notice has 15 calendar days after service to request a hearing in writing, and when the last day is a Saturday, Sunday, or federal or city holiday the period runs until 5:00 p.m. on the next business day. Notice of the hearing issues at least 10 calendar days before it. The hearing examiner issues a decision within 10 working days after the review is completed, and a further appeal to the Bothell municipal court (criminal penalties) or by land use petition under Chapter 36.70C RCW (civil penalties) must be filed within 21 calendar days of the decision.
If nobody appeals, the notice becomes the final order of the director and a copy is filed with the King County department of records and elections or the Snohomish County auditor. When a notice has been recorded and the property changes hands, the new owner gets the same number of days to comply, counted from the date the conveyance of title is completed.
Violations & Fines
Missing the compliance date exposes the responsible person in the City of Bothell to civil penalties of up to $250.00 per day for each violation, from the date set for compliance until compliance is achieved (BMC § 11.20.010). Failing to obey a cease activity order or an emergency order is itself a violation of the chapter. The director can reduce penalties once a correction is verified, but the responsible person carries the burden of proof that the violation was corrected.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do I have to fix a code violation in the City of Bothell?
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Sources & Official References
Other rules in Bothell
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Response Times in Nearby Cities
How other cities in King County handle response times.