Unincorporated Whatcom County has no single blight ordinance; it reaches neglected property through separate tools — litter control (WCC 8.28), the junk-vehicle nuisance code (WCC 8.32), and health-code abatement. The City of Bellingham enforces its own nuisance code (BMC 10.28) within city limits.
Whatcom County code enforcement, run through Planning and Development Services, addresses blighted conditions in the unincorporated county piece by piece. Accumulating solid waste or dumping on a property is unlawful under WCC 8.28.080. Abandoned, wrecked, dismantled, or inoperative vehicles on private property are declared a public nuisance under WCC 8.32. The county health code (Title 24) provides abatement, civil penalties, and liens for uncorrected conditions. Bellingham declares and abates nuisances under its own municipal code (BMC 10.28) for property inside the city.
Litter over one cubic foot is a Class 1 civil infraction plus a $25-per-cubic-foot cleanup fee. Uncorrected conditions can be abated with the cost liened; a third same health-code violation is a misdemeanor up to $1,000 per day.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Whatcom County, WA
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