Owners of vacant unincorporated parcels must still control noxious weeds and cannot let others dump waste on the land. Illegal dumping and accumulated junk on empty lots are enforceable nuisances under county and state law.
The county has no separate "vacant lot mowing" ordinance, but existing rules still apply. Under RCW 17.10.140, every owner must eradicate Class A noxious weeds and control designated Class B and C weeds on their land, including empty lots, or the Snohomish County Noxious Weed Control Board can control them at the owner's expense. Dumping solid waste on any ground without a permit is unlawful under SCC 7.35.120, and heavy junk accumulation can meet the SCC 30.91J.020 junkyard threshold. Persistent problems are handled as chronic nuisance property under SCC 10.75.
Weed non-compliance: board may control weeds and bill the owner (RCW 17.10.140). Unlawful dumping ranges from a civil infraction to a gross misdemeanor under SCC 7.35.120.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Snohomish County, WA
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See how Snohomish County's vacant lot maintenance rules stack up against other locations.
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