Pierce County, WA Property Maintenance: Property Blight (2026)
Key Facts
- Code
- PCC Ch. 8.08
- Applies to
- Unincorporated Pierce County
- Enforced by
- Planning & Public Works
- Process
- Voluntary compliance first
- Remedy
- Abatement + cost lien
Summary
Pierce County Code Chapter 8.08 declares accumulated solid waste, junk vehicles, unpermitted salvage sites and unfinished structures to be public nuisances in unincorporated Pierce County, and lets Planning & Public Works order abatement after voluntary compliance fails. Cities like Tacoma and Puyallup enforce their own blight codes.
It is the purpose and intent of this Chapter to eliminate the effects of accumulated solid waste, accumulated damaged and inoperable vehicles and vessels, unpermitted septic/sewage systems, and unpermitted motor vehicle salvage, storage, or repair sites. These conditions create blight, depress land values, generate health hazards, damage the environment...
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance 2026-515, and legislation passed through May 26, 2026).
Full Breakdown
PCC 8.08.010 states the chapter's intent is to eliminate the effects of accumulated solid waste, damaged and inoperable vehicles, unpermitted septic systems and salvage sites because those conditions "create blight, depress land values, generate health hazards" and attract illegal dumping in rural and urbanized unincorporated areas. PCC 8.08.040 defines a public nuisance as any act or condition that unreasonably annoys, injures or endangers others, or renders persons insecure in the use of property. PCC 8.08.050 then lists specific per se nuisances including unpermitted salvage/repair yards, unfinished or unpermitted buildings, and property maintained in violation of a county permit or written order. Complaints go to Pierce County code enforcement, which pursues voluntary compliance before a notice and order to correct.
Violations & Fines
Code enforcement issues a notice and order to correct; unabated nuisances can be abated by the county with costs and a lien assessed against the landowner under PCC 8.08, in addition to other civil or criminal penalties.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this apply inside Tacoma or Puyallup?
How do I report a blighted property?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Pierce County
Compare Pierce County to another location·View the Washington property maintenance overview
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