Bellevue, WA Property Maintenance: Vacant Lot Maintenance (2026)
Key Facts
- Weed/turf height limit
- 8 inches (BCC 9.13.040(A))
- Vacancy threshold
- 90+ consecutive unoccupied days
- Districts covered
- LL-1, LL-2, SR-1 to SR-4, LDR-1
- Civil penalty
- $100 to $500 per day escalating
- Erosion control duty
- Abandoned sites, Ch. 23.76 BCC
Summary
Bellevue caps weeds and turf grass at eight inches on vacant residences and abandoned construction sites in its single-family land use districts under BCC 9.13.040(A). A dwelling counts as vacant after 90 consecutive unoccupied days, and owners must keep the premises clean, sanitary and vermin-free or face a public nuisance civil violation.
A. Premises. The premises shall be clean, safe, and sanitary, free from waste, garbage, excessive vegetation, and shall not pose a threat to the public health, welfare, or safety. Effective measures shall be taken to protect against the breeding or presence on the premises of vermin. The premises or yard shall be maintained free from weeds and turf grasses in excess of eight inches. Owners shall also comply with the provisions of Chapter 14.06 BCC.
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance 6929, passed July 14, 2026).
Full Breakdown
015(A) limits its reach to land use districts LL-1, LL-2, SR-1, SR-2, SR-3, SR-4, and LDR-1. 020 defines a "vacant residence" as any dwelling unit that remains unoccupied or unused for 90 or more consecutive days, and an "abandoned construction site" as a lot where the responsible person has stopped work for 90 days, evidenced by things like missed inspections or removed equipment and supplies. 030 puts the maintenance duty and its cost on the "responsible person," a term covering owners, lessors, tenants, agents, contractors, developers or occupants.
06 BCC. 040 covers the structure itself: buildings must stay structurally sound and weather-tight, openings must be secured against birds, vermin and trespassers, foundations must be animal-proof, and exterior walls, roofs and features like gutters and chimneys must be kept safe and anchored. 890. 76 BCC to keep sediment from leaving the site.
Violations & Fines
BCC 9.13.060 declares any violation of Chapter 9.13 a public nuisance under Chapter 9.10 BCC and a civil violation under Chapter 1.18 BCC. That means the standard monetary penalty schedule applies: $100 for the first day of violation, $200 the second, $300 the third, $400 the fourth, and $500 per day for each day after that, with abatement also available, and the hearing examiner can double penalties for a repeat violation.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does a house count as "vacant" under Bellevue's maintenance code?
How tall can weeds get on a vacant lot in Bellevue before it's a violation?
Which Bellevue neighborhoods does the vacant residence maintenance chapter cover?
What happens if a vacant lot in Bellevue isn't maintained?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Bellevue
Compare Bellevue to another location·View the Washington property maintenance overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.
Vacant Lot Maintenance in Nearby Cities
How other cities in King County handle vacant lot maintenance.