Moving to Auburn, WA?

Outdoor concerts and festivals must meet ACC 8.28 limits and often need a special event permit. Downtown Auburn and Les Gove Park events follow a written noise plan and curfew.

Auburn does not ban gas leaf blowers. Powered yard equipment runs 7 AM to 10 PM weekdays and 9 AM to 10 PM Sundays under ACC 8.28.010. Commercial landscapers follow the same hours.

Amplified music audible inside a neighbor's home is a public disturbance at any hour under ACC 8.28. Party speakers cannot exceed 55 dBA day or 45 dBA night at the property line.

Industrial sources into residential zones are capped at 60 dBA day and 50 dBA night under WAC 173-60 via ACC 8.28. The Boeing Auburn plant and Valley warehouses must meet these limits.

Auburn applies WAC 173-60 EDNA limits through ACC 8.28. Residential: 55 dBA day, 45 dBA night. Industrial receiving: 60 dBA day, 50 dBA night. Measured at the receiving property line.

Federal law preempts local aircraft noise. Auburn Municipal Airport follows FAA Part 150 and Sea-Tac overflights are under FAA and Port of Seattle. ACC 8.28 exempts aircraft in flight.

Auburn restricts public disturbance noise under ACC 8.28. Yelling and amplified sound are restricted 10 PM to 8 AM. WAC 173-60 limits drop to 45 dBA nighttime in residential zones.

Auburn treats persistent barking as public disturbance noise under ACC 6.02.140. Animal noise plainly audible across property lines continuously or repeatedly is a violation at any hour.

Auburn allows construction 7 AM to 10 PM weekdays and Saturdays, and 9 AM to 10 PM Sundays, under ACC 8.28.010. Outside hours, equipment and hammering are a public disturbance.

Auburn does not impose a maximum number of rental nights per year for short-term rentals. Operators may rent as often as they wish, subject to business license and safety compliance.

Short-term rentals in Auburn must follow the citywide noise ordinance in ACC 8.28, which prohibits disturbing noise especially between 10 PM and 7 AM. Operators should post house rules and respond to complaints.

Auburn STRs must provide adequate off-street parking under ACC 18.52. Guest vehicles cannot block sidewalks, driveways, or create hazards on residential streets.

Auburn does not mandate minimum liability insurance for STRs, but Washington RCW 64.37 requires platforms to provide $1 million coverage. Operators should carry their own commercial short-term rental policy.

Auburn follows Washington State Building Code (IRC) occupancy guidelines based on bedroom count and square footage. STRs commonly cap occupancy at 2 per bedroom plus 2 additional guests.

Auburn STR operators must obtain a City business license and comply with Washington RCW 64.37 requirements. Platforms verify compliance before listing goes live in many cases.

Auburn requires short-term rental operators to obtain a City business license and register with the Washington State Department of Revenue. Hosting platforms like Airbnb collect state lodging taxes.

Auburn STRs pay Washington state sales tax, state and local lodging taxes, and a city business license fee. Airbnb and Vrbo typically remit state taxes automatically on behalf of operators.

Auburn has limited wildfire-urban interface exposure on the Lea Hill plateau and west bluffs. Valley floor is low-risk urban. DNR classifies forested hillsides under RCW 76.04 WUI standards.

Auburn follows the 2021 IFC under ACC 15.36. Smoke alarms required in each bedroom, outside sleep areas, every level. CO alarms required in dwellings with fuel appliances per RCW 19.27.530.

Backyard fires in Auburn follow ACC 15.36: under 3 ft wide, 25 ft clearance, clean firewood only, adult supervision. Chimineas and manufactured fire pits allowed when used per maker instructions.

Auburn has no formal defensible space mandate but requires abatement of hazardous vegetation under ACC 8.20. Dead, dry, or fire-prone plant material must be removed on city notice.

All consumer fireworks banned year-round in Auburn under ACC 8.24, including sparklers. Fines up to $1,000 plus confiscation. Only licensed pro displays per RCW 70.77 are allowed.

Auburn permits small recreational fires under ACC 15.36 (2021 IFC). Fires must be under 3 ft wide, 2 ft tall, with 25 ft clearance, clean firewood, and adult supervision. PSCAA burn bans override.

Outdoor burning is heavily restricted in Auburn. Yard waste and land-clearing burns are banned under PSCAA Regulation I. Only small recreational fires are allowed when no burn ban is active.

Auburn does not impose a citywide overnight parking ban, but enforces the 72-hour rule, signed time-limited zones, and no-parking signs at parks, trailheads, and downtown lots after hours.

Auburn driveways must remain paved, accessible, and used for vehicle parking per ACC Title 18 zoning code, which limits front-yard paving and requires approved curb cuts for new driveways.

EV charging in Auburn follows the Washington State Energy Code, which requires EV-ready capacity in new multifamily and commercial parking and protects public charging stalls from non-charging vehicles.

On-street parking in Auburn is governed by ACC Title 10 and RCW 46.55, with a 72-hour limit on continuous parking and strict no-park zones near hydrants, driveways, and intersections.

Vehicles left over 72 hours on Auburn streets, or with expired tabs and flat tires, can be tagged and towed as abandoned under RCW 46.55 and ACC Title 10 enforcement.

Auburn restricts RV, trailer, and boat parking on public streets to 72 hours and sets additional limits on driveway and front-yard storage of recreational vehicles under ACC Title 18 zoning.

Large commercial trucks, semitrailers, and vehicles over a posted weight limit are prohibited from parking on Auburn residential streets for more than a short period under ACC Title 10 and RCW 46.55.

RCW 16.60 governs boundary fences and cost-sharing in Washington. ACC 18.31.020 controls height and placement. Spite fences allow civil remedy. A survey before building is strongly recommended.

Retaining walls over 4 feet from footing to top require a building permit and engineering in Auburn under IRC R105.2. Walls near Lea Hill and Lakeland steep slopes face critical area review.

Auburn fences must be structurally sound, maintained, and built within property lines under ACC 18.31.020. Sight triangles cap 42 inches at driveways. Critical areas need extra review.

Auburn restricts electric and barbed-wire fences in residential zones under ACC 18.31.020. Wood, vinyl, chain link, and ornamental iron are allowed. RC agricultural zones may allow barbed wire.

Auburn requires a building permit for fences over 6 feet under IRC R105.2. Fences 6 feet or less need no permit but must meet ACC 18.31.020 zoning. Retaining walls over 4 feet need a permit.

Pools over 24 inches deep need a 48-inch barrier with self-closing, self-latching gates under the Washington State Building Code and IRC Appendix G as adopted in Auburn. Openings must not pass a 4-inch sphere.

Auburn caps fences at 42 inches in front setback areas under ACC 18.31.020. Interior fences may reach the zone maximum building height. A 6 percent measurement tolerance applies.

Auburn allows 4 fowl on lots of 6,000 sq ft plus 1 per 2,000 sq ft added, capped at 10 under ACC 18.31.220. Coops must sit in the rear yard and 10 feet from property lines.

Washington RCW 77.15.792 prohibits intentional feeding of deer, elk, bears, and cougars. Auburn enforces these through Code Enforcement. Songbird feeders are allowed but cannot attract bears.

Auburn allows large livestock (horses, cattle, goats, sheep) only in RC and R-1 zones under ACC 18.31.220. Most residential zones prohibit them. Mini-goats may be allowed on smaller lots.

Auburn allows honeybee hives as permitted animals under ACC 18.31.220 with rear yard placement. Hives must sit 10 feet from property lines. State apiarist rules under RCW 15.60 apply.

Auburn does not ban any dog breed. Dangerous dog designations are based on individual behavior under RCW 16.08 and ACC 6.02. Owners of declared dangerous dogs face containment and insurance rules.

Auburn follows Washington RCW 16.30 banning private ownership of dangerous wild animals (big cats, bears, non-human primates, venomous reptiles). ACC 6.02 adds local enforcement. Ferrets are legal.

Auburn requires dogs off the owner's property to be on a leash no longer than 8 feet under ACC 6.02.040. The leash must be held by a competent person. Violations are civil infractions.

Auburn regulates tree pruning under ACC 18.76 Tree Preservation. Trimming of significant trees over 6 in DBH must follow ANSI A300; topping is discouraged. ROW branches under 14 ft must be trimmed.

Auburn Utilities uses voluntary lawn watering guidelines May-September with odd-even schedules and watering before 10 AM or after 6 PM. Mandatory drought restrictions activate under ACC 13.06.

WA authorizes rainwater harvesting under RCW 90.03.260. Auburn allows rooftop rain barrels for non-potable use with no permit. Systems over 5,000 gal need review. Potable use requires DOH approval.

Auburn regulates overgrown vegetation as a nuisance under ACC 8.12. Grass and weeds over 12 inches on developed lots trigger abatement notice. Native plantings are exempt with approved plan.

Auburn permits artificial turf in residential yards with no specific ban. Commercial and multi-family projects must meet ACC 18.50 screening and ACC 13.48 stormwater standards. HOAs may restrict.

Auburn encourages native plants under ACC 18.50. Natives satisfy critical area mitigation and stormwater plans. Native yards are exempt from the tall grass rule when intentionally designed and maintained.

Auburn owners must control state-listed noxious weeds under RCW 17.10 and King County Weed Board rules. Class A must be eradicated, Class B controlled. ACC 8.12 treats overgrown weeds as nuisance.

Auburn requires a tree removal permit under ACC 18.76 for significant trees 6 in DBH or larger. Hazard trees have an expedited process. Unpermitted removal can trigger fines up to $5,000 per tree.

Auburn allows home occupations in residential zones under ACC 18.60 when they remain clearly incidental to the residential use. A business license and compliance with strict performance standards are required.

Auburn allows home occupations in all residential zones under ACC 18.60. Must be incidental, resident-operated, max one non-resident employee. An Auburn Business License is required.

Auburn prohibits home occupation exterior signage under ACC 18.60. No yard, window, or banner signs for a home business. One nameplate up to 1 sq ft showing the occupants name is the only exception.

Family home daycares are allowed as accessory uses in Auburn residential zones under ACC 18.07 when state-licensed through DCYF per WAC 110-300. Providers must meet fire, safety, and zoning standards.

Auburn limits home business customer visits under ACC 18.60 to traffic levels no greater than a residence: max 4 clients per day with no more than 2 at once. Deliveries limited to standard vehicles.

Auburn follows WA Cottage Food Law RCW 69.22. Home food producers may sell up to $25,000/year of approved low-risk foods direct to consumers after WSDA permit. Auburn Business License is also required.

Auburn requires a building permit for in-ground and above-ground pools deeper than 24 inches under ACC Title 15 and the IRC. Plans must show barriers, electrical, and plumbing per code.

Auburn requires a barrier at least 48 inches high surrounding any pool deeper than 24 inches, per IRC Appendix G. Self-closing, self-latching gates and non-climbable design are mandatory.

Auburn requires electrical permits for hot tubs and spas, and barriers under IRC Appendix G unless equipped with an ASTM F1346 safety cover. Setbacks and GFCI protection apply.

Auburn pools must comply with federal VGB Act anti-entrapment drain covers, WAC 246-260 for commercial pools, and building code barriers. Private homeowners should also follow safety best practices.

Above-ground pools deeper than 24 inches require Auburn building permits and barrier compliance under IRC Appendix G. Removable or retractable ladders satisfy barrier rules for some designs.

Auburn allows tiny homes on foundations as dwellings or ADUs if they meet WA Building Code IRC Appendix Q. Tiny homes on wheels are RVs and cannot be permanent dwellings except in approved RV parks.

Carports in Auburn follow ACC 15.36 and 18.31. Open carports under 200 sq ft may be permit-exempt but must meet setbacks. Attached carports always require a building permit regardless of size.

Auburn permits ADUs and DADUs under ACC 18.31.120 per WA HB 1337. Up to two ADUs per lot, max 1,000 sq ft, no owner-occupancy rule. Unit lot subdivision for fee-simple sale is allowed.

Auburn follows the 2021 IRC through ACC 15.36. Sheds 200 sq ft or less and 10 ft or less tall do not need a building permit but must meet ACC 18.31 setbacks: 5 ft rear-side, 10-15 ft front. Larger sheds require permits.

Converting a garage to living space in Auburn requires a building permit under ACC 15.36. Independent units become ADUs. Replacement parking not required under WA HB 1337 near transit.

Auburn follows the Department of Ecology Western Washington Stormwater Manual through ACC Title 13 surface water code, requiring runoff control for new and redeveloped sites in the Green River watershed.

Auburn requires temporary erosion and sediment control (TESC) plans for clearing and grading per ACC Title 15 and the Ecology stormwater manual, with wet-season rules limiting soil disturbance from October to April.

Grading permits are required in Auburn for fills, cuts, and landscape regrades beyond thresholds in ACC Title 15, with drainage plans reviewed by Public Works under the Ecology Stormwater Manual.

Auburn regulates construction in FEMA-mapped Zone AE floodplains along the Green River and White River under ACC Title 15.68 and the Critical Areas Ordinance, requiring elevation and flood vents.

Auburn City Code does not allow state-licensed recreational marijuana producers, processors, or retailers within city limits. I-502 permits local bans and Auburn maintains one under ACC Title 18.

Washington I-502 does not legalize recreational home cultivation of cannabis. Growing marijuana at home in Auburn remains illegal except for qualified medical patients under RCW 69.51A with strict limits.

Rooftop solar in Auburn requires an electrical permit and usually a building permit under ACC Title 15 and Washington State Building Code, with streamlined review for compliant residential systems.

Washington's RCW 64.38.055 and RCW 64.90 limit how Auburn homeowners associations can restrict rooftop solar, protecting reasonable installations from outright bans while allowing design guidelines.

Auburn permits seasonal holiday lights and displays on residential property without a permit. Displays must avoid creating a traffic sight hazard or excessive light trespass onto neighbors.

Auburn allows temporary political signs on private property with owner permission under ACC 18.56. Signs cannot block sight distance and must be removed shortly after the election.

Auburn allows temporary garage sale signs on private property during the sale under ACC 18.56. Signs in the public right-of-way, on utility poles, or on street trees are prohibited and can be removed.

Auburn allows residential garage sales without a permit, limited to a few events per year. Sales must be on private property and temporary signs must follow ACC 18.56 sign code rules.

Auburn regulates property blight including junk, overgrown vegetation, unsecured structures, and nuisance conditions under ACC Title 8 Chapter 8.12 and the adopted International Property Maintenance Code.

Auburn has no citywide ordinance requiring property owners to shovel snow or ice from adjacent sidewalks. Clearing is encouraged for safety but not mandatory in most residential areas.

Auburn vacant-lot owners must keep lots free of weeds, debris, and fire hazards. Grass and weeds over 12 inches typically require mowing, and dumping is prohibited under ACC 8.12 and 8.16.

Auburn requires solid waste containers to be stored out of public view between collection days under ACC 8.08.100 and property maintenance provisions in ACC Title 15. Cans cannot remain at the curb.

Auburn prohibits light trespass from one property onto another under ACC Title 18 lighting standards and nuisance provisions, with enforcement through Code Enforcement when complaints are substantiated.

Auburn outdoor lighting standards in ACC Title 18 require shielded fixtures and limit light spill across property lines to protect neighbors and preserve night-sky quality in residential areas.

Auburn does not run a citywide rental registration or landlord licensing program. Owners follow the Washington Residential Landlord-Tenant Act and Auburn business license rules under ACC Title 5.

Rent control is preempted statewide by RCW 35.21.830, so Auburn landlords set market rents; tenant protections come from RCW 59.18 (Residential Landlord-Tenant Act) and HB 1351 notice reforms.

Washington RCW 59.18.650 requires just cause to terminate most residential tenancies. Auburn landlords must identify one of the 16 statutory grounds and use the state-prescribed notice form before filing eviction.

Auburn requires mandatory solid waste service for all residential and commercial customers under ACC Chapter 8.08. Waste Management is the city contractor and provides weekly garbage and biweekly recycling pickup.

Auburn provides curbside recycling biweekly through WM under ACC 8.08. Accepted items include paper, cardboard, metal cans, glass bottles, and plastics 1 and 2. Contamination can result in refused collection.

ACC 8.08.100 requires Auburn customers to set out solid waste containers by the scheduled start time on collection day and return them to an out-of-view storage location within a reasonable time after pickup.

Auburn residents dispose of bulky items through WM on-call bulky pickup (fee per item) or by self-hauling to the Algona Transfer Station. Illegal dumping is prohibited under ACC 8.16.030.

Commercial drone operations in Auburn must comply with FAA 14 CFR Part 107 including Remote Pilot certification. Airspace around Auburn Municipal Airport requires LAANC authorization for operation.

Recreational drone use in Auburn is governed by FAA rules (49 USC 44809 and TRUST test) with no local drone-specific ordinance. City parks and airport airspace near Auburn Municipal Airport have restrictions.

Auburn food trucks are generally limited to commercial and mixed-use zones or private property with owner consent, with additional restrictions in downtown, parks, and residential areas under ACC Title 18.

Food trucks in Auburn need a city business license, a county Public Health mobile food permit, and a Washington State business license before serving customers at permitted sites.

Auburn requires a solicitor license under ACC 5.20.220 administered by the Auburn Police Department. Commercial door-to-door sales without a license are prohibited and subject to citation.

Auburn residents can post a No Solicitors sign to opt out of commercial door-to-door visits. Licensed solicitors must respect the sign under ACC 5.20, and violations can result in citation.

Auburn parks close one-half hour after sunset and reopen one-half hour before sunrise under ACC 2.22.220. Entering a closed park is criminal trespass under ACC 9.96.900 and Chapter 9A.52 RCW.

Auburn City Code Chapter 9.10 sets a juvenile curfew prohibiting minors under 18 from being in public places during late-night hours. Violations are civil infractions handled by Auburn Municipal Court.

Auburn residential setbacks are defined in ACC Title 18 zoning, with typical single-family requirements of 20 feet in front, 5 feet on the sides, and 20 feet in the rear, plus eave and fence exceptions.

Lot coverage in Auburn residential zones is capped between 35 and 55 percent depending on zone, measured under ACC Title 18 including primary and accessory structures but excluding specified uncovered features.

Auburn single-family height limits are typically 35 feet in R-5 through R-10 zones under ACC Title 18, with higher limits in downtown Auburn (DUC) where mixed-use heights can reach 75 feet or more.

Auburn does not require a permit or fee for occasional residential garage sales. Ongoing or commercial-scale sales require a business license and retail zoning under ACC Title 5 and Title 18.

Auburn HOAs typically require architectural review committee approval for exterior changes. Washington RCW 64.90 requires associations to respond to applications within reasonable timeframes.

Washington RCW 64.90 governs HOA assessments for Auburn associations. Boards must follow budget procedures, provide notice, and may levy special assessments with member consent in some cases.

Washington HOA disputes in Auburn often go through internal appeals, mediation, and ultimately King or Pierce County Superior Court. RCW 64.90 encourages alternative dispute resolution.

Auburn HOAs enforce CC&Rs through written notice, hearings, and fines as authorized by governing documents and RCW 64.90. Owners have due process rights including notice and opportunity to be heard.

Washington RCW 64.90 (WUCIOA) governs HOA board procedures for associations formed after July 2018. Boards must hold open meetings, keep records, and follow notice rules.

Scaffolding at Auburn construction sites follows Washington State Building Code (RCW 19.27) and WISHA safety rules, with permits required for scaffolds over 10 feet and right-of-way encroachments needing city approval.

Auburn property owners must control rats, insects, and other vermin under ACC Chapter 8.12 nuisances and International Property Maintenance Code standards, with complaints handled by city code enforcement.

Auburn elevators are regulated by Washington Department of Labor and Industries under RCW 70.87 and WAC 296-96. Annual inspections, operating permits, and licensed contractor maintenance are required.

Federal EPA RRP Rule requires certified contractors for renovations on pre-1978 homes in Auburn. Sellers and landlords must disclose known lead hazards under Title X and federal disclosure rules.