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.
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.
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.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Tacoma, WA
Tacoma allows residential lawn ornaments and yard art without permits provided they do not exceed the 15-foot accessory-structure height limit in TMC 13.06 a...
Tacoma, WA
Tacoma does not regulate residential inflatable holiday decorations by size or type. The Noise Code (TMC 8.122) applies to continuously running blower motors...
Tacoma, WA
Tacoma has no ordinance restricting when residents may put up or take down holiday lights. The general Noise Ordinance at TMC 8.122 applies to any amplified ...
Tacoma, WA
Built-in outdoor kitchens in Tacoma require building permits from Planning and Development Services (PDS) when they include new electrical, plumbing, gas pip...
Tacoma, WA
Backyard wood and pellet smokers in Tacoma single-family yards are permitted but subject to Puget Sound Clean Air Agency (PSCAA) Regulation I, Section 9.11, ...
Tacoma, WA
Tacoma adopts the International Fire Code through TMC Title 3 (Fire Prevention) as Tacoma Fire Code. IFC Section 308.1.4 prohibits open-flame cooking devices...
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