Kent, WA Property Maintenance: Vacant Lot Maintenance (2026)

Owners of vacant or undeveloped lots in Kent are required to maintain them in a safe and sanitary condition under Kent City Code 8.01 (Property Maintenance) and KCC 15.08 (General and Supplementary Provisions of Zoning). This includes keeping vegetation, grass, and weeds under 12 inches in height, removing accumulated trash, tires, and construction debris, and preventing the lot from becoming a harborage for rats, raccoons, or transient encampments. Vacant structures on a lot must be secured with all openings boarded or locked to prevent unauthorized entry under KCC 14.08 (Building Code). Fencing is not required on every vacant lot, but swimming pools on vacant lots must be drained or secured with a 5-foot fence per KCC 14.09. Large vacant lots in floodplains or critical areas have additional vegetation management rules under KCC 11.06 (Critical Areas). Illegal dumping on vacant lots is common and the property owner, not the dumper, is initially responsible for cleanup unless the dumper is identified. Code Enforcement will send a Notice and Order requiring abatement within 30 days; failure to comply can lead to city cleanup with costs assessed as a lien. Contact Kent Code Enforcement at 253-856-5270 to report a problem lot.