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CityRuleLookup

Code Violation Reporting in King County, WA (2026)

2 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 2 cities in King County, Washington.

Verified from official government sources

Note: These county rules apply to unincorporated areas of King County. If you live within an incorporated city, that city's own rules apply: see the city list below.

How to Report

Unincorporated King County residents report suspected code violations through the county's online Permitting portal or by calling code enforcement at 206-296-6600; the code authorizes a director to act on 'field observations or reliable complaints.'

How to Report Code Violations in King County

Some Restrictions

King County Code § 23.02.040

In order to discourage public nuisances, make efficient use of public resources and otherwise promote compliance with applicable code provisions, a director may, in response to field observations or reliable complaints, determine that civil code violations have occurred or are occurring and may: 1. Enter into voluntary compliance agreements with persons responsible for code compliance...

Response Times

King County targets citations within 60 days of a complaint and notice-and-orders within 120 days, per code enforcement guidelines.

King County Code Complaint Response Times

Light Restrictions

King County Code § 23.02.070.H

As a guideline, citations should be issued within sixty days from receipt of a complaint, and notice and orders should be issued within one hundred twenty days from receipt of a complaint. Stop work orders should be issued promptly upon discovery of a violation in progress. I. Any complainant who provides a mailing address and requests to be kept advised of enforcement efforts should be mail...

Code Violation Reporting by City in King County

2 cities in King County have their own code violation reporting rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.

All King County ordinances

See every category we cover for King County: parking, noise, fences, fires, animals, pools, and more.

King County Ordinance Hub →