Lewis County, WA Property Maintenance: Vacant Lot Maintenance (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing chapter
- Chapter 1.22 LCC, Abatement of Public Nuisances
- Nuisance trigger
- Visible trash, junk, lumber or yard waste piles
- Enforcing directors
- Community Development, Public Works, Health and Social Services
- Lien interest rate
- 10 percent per year on abatement costs
- Interference penalty
- Misdemeanor, up to $1,000 and 90 days
- Lien filing deadline
- Within 90 days of abatement
Summary
In unincorporated Lewis County, a vacant or unimproved lot with visible piles of trash, junk, discarded lumber, old appliances, tires or yard waste is declared a public nuisance under LCC § 1.22.020(7)(b)(i). Community Development, Public Works or Health and Social Services directors can order abatement, and the county can clean the lot itself and bill the owner.
"Nuisance," "violation" or "nuisance violation" means: ... The existence of any of the following conditions: ... Premises containing visible accumulations of trash, junk, litter, boxes, discarded lumber, ashes, bottles, boxes, building materials which are not properly stored or neatly piled, cans, concrete, crates, empty barrels, dead animals or animal waste, glass, tires, mattresses or bedding, numerous pieces of broken or discarded furniture and furnishings, old appliances or equipment or any parts thereof, iron or other scrap metal, packing cases or material, plaster, plastic, rags, wire, yard waste or debris, salvage materials or other similar materials, except that kept in garbage cans or containers maintained for regular collection. Nothing in this subsection shall prevent the temporary retention of waste in covered receptacles;
Full Breakdown
22 LCC, Abatement of Public Nuisances (Ord. 1181, 2003), lets Lewis County declare and clean up nuisance conditions on any parcel, improved or vacant, in the unincorporated county. 020(7)(b)(i) defines a nuisance to include premises containing visible accumulations of trash, junk, litter, discarded lumber, old appliances, scrap metal, tires and yard waste not kept in a proper container, a condition especially common on vacant lots where nothing else limits what accumulates. The code carves out one exception: temporary storage of waste in covered receptacles awaiting collection is not a violation.
020(1). 030, the county can seek a court injunction and, for conditions posing an immediate threat, summarily abate the nuisance without prior notice, though it must notify the responsible party (and any landlord, if the party is a tenant) as soon as possible afterward. 030(5), recorded within 90 days and running with the land ahead of most other liens except state and county taxes. 030(4).
Violations & Fines
Interfering with an abatement crew is a misdemeanor punishable by up to 90 days in jail and a $1,000 fine under § 1.22.030(4). Unpaid abatement costs, personnel time, disposal fees and 10 percent annual interest, become a recorded lien against the lot within 90 days of the work under § 1.22.030(5)(a), and the lien takes priority over every claim on the property except state and county tax liens.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Lewis County make me clean up a vacant lot I own but don't use?
What if the county cleans up my lot itself?
Is temporarily storing yard waste in a bin on a vacant lot a violation?
Can someone stop a Lewis County cleanup crew from abating a nuisance lot?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Lewis County
Compare Lewis County 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.