Spokane County, WA Code Violation Reporting: Response Times (2026)
Key Facts
- Response deadline
- 14 days from notice of investigation
- Level I penalty
- $200
- Level II penalty
- $500
- Daily accrual
- +$50 per day violation continues
- Appeal window
- 14 days from notice of violation
Summary
Once Spokane County mails a notice of investigation for a zoning violation, the property owner has fourteen days to respond or show proof of compliance. Missing that window lets the enforcement authority escalate to a Level I notice of violation with a $200 penalty under Section 14.408.080.
14.408.080 - Civil notice of violation procedures. 1.The person(s) to whom a notice of investigation is sent, as set forth in section 14.408.060, shall have fourteen days to respond or show proof of compliance. Proof of compliance includes, but is not limited to, entry into a voluntary compliance agreement under section 14.408.100.2.If proof of compliance is not received within the fourteen-day period, the enforcement authority may issue a level I notice of violation and assess monetary penalties based on the schedule contained in section 14.408.140.3.The enforcement authority may issue a level II notice of violation and assess monetary penalties based on the schedule contained in section 14.408.140 if:a.Neither a response nor proof of compliance was received within the fourteen-day period from the date of service of a level I notice of violation; orb.The terms of a voluntary compliance agreement have been violated or have not been met; orc.Repeat violations have occurred on the same property within an eighteen-month period of time.
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
080, Civil notice of violation procedures, sets the clock that governs how fast a cited property owner must act. 100. 140. The process can escalate further: a Level II notice of violation follows if neither a response nor proof of compliance arrives within fourteen days of a Level I notice, if a voluntary compliance agreement's terms are violated, or if a repeat violation occurs on the same property within an eighteen-month window. For each day a violation continues after a Level II notice is served, the county can assess cumulative civil penalties.
A notice of violation itself must set a correction date at least fourteen days out, unless the enforcement authority finds the violation immediately hazardous to public health or safety, in which case a shorter deadline applies. Recipients also get fourteen days from service of a notice of violation to file an appeal with the county hearing examiner.
Violations & Fines
Failure to respond or achieve compliance within the fourteen-day window after a notice of investigation triggers a Level I notice of violation ($200); missing the follow-up fourteen-day window after a Level I notice, breaching a compliance agreement, or repeating a violation within eighteen months triggers a Level II notice ($500), plus $50 per day the violation continues.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do I have to fix a code violation after Spokane County sends a notice?
What happens if I miss the 14-day compliance deadline?
How much time do I have to appeal a Spokane County notice of violation?
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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