Olympia, WA Property Maintenance: Property Blight (2026)

OMC 16.10.020 declares unsafe or unfit structures and premises public nuisances in the judgment of the Enforcement Officer, who under OMC 16.10.030 is the Building Official or the Building Official's designee. The chapter is modeled on Chapter 35.80 RCW. Premises means any structure, lot, parcel or land, improved or unimproved, including adjacent sidewalks and parking strips. The unsafe or unfit list in OMC 16.10.030(H) runs to nineteen conditions, including a structure showing 33% or more damage or deterioration of its supporting members or 50% of its nonsupporting members, abandonment for a period in excess of six months so as to be an attractive nuisance or hazard, and a vacated building not secured against entry and subject to acts of unlawful burning.

Procedure is in OMC 16.10.050. After a preliminary investigation the Enforcement Officer serves a written complaint, personally or by certified mail, on all persons with an interest shown in the records of the Thurston County Auditor, and posts it on the property. A hearing follows not less than ten days nor more than thirty days after service. The officer must order demolition, or vacating and securing pending demolition, where restoration would cost more than sixty percent of the structure's value, or thirty percent where fire or other calamity damage left it vacant for six months or more. Other cases get repair, clearing, vacating or securing orders. If the owner ignores a final order, the City can do the work, and the cost becomes a special assessment and a lien of equal rank with state, county and municipal taxes (OMC 16.10.060).

An order can be appealed to the Hearing Examiner within thirty days from service and posting, with the fee set in OMC 4.40.010 (OMC 16.10.070). The examiner must conclude the matter within sixty days of filing, and the appeal stays the order except for emergent measures such as securing the building (OMC 16.10.080). Related rules: Section 111.1.5 of the Property Maintenance Code in OMC 16.06.020 lists dangerous structure conditions, and OMC 16.06.030 requires vacant property registration.