Vacant and rural lots in unincorporated Pierce County fall under Code Chapter 8.08, which makes accumulated solid waste, junk vehicles, abandoned appliances and unsecured hazards public nuisances regardless of whether the parcel is occupied. Owners remain responsible for abatement costs under PCC 8.08.
PCC 8.08.050 targets the exact conditions that plague vacant parcels: subsection (E) declares unsecured hazards such as "unused, abandoned, or discarded refrigerators, freezers, or large appliances, or any unsecured or abandoned excavation, pit, mine, cistern, storage tank, or shaft" to be nuisances; subsection (F) covers accumulated solid waste; and subsection (I) covers accumulated junk vehicles, derelict vessels and vehicle parts. PCC 8.08.010(B) notes these conditions provide breeding grounds for rodents, hornets and mosquitoes and attract illegal dumping. The county holds the landowner responsible for the cost of abatement under PCC 8.08.010(E). Illegal dumping on a vacant lot is separately a misdemeanor under PCC 8.32.020.
Nuisances on a vacant lot are abatable by the county after notice, with costs charged to the owner. Dumping garbage on private property without the owner's consent is a misdemeanor under PCC 8.32.020; littering also carries penalties under RCW 70A.200.060.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
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Backyard residential composting is allowed and encouraged in Pierce County with no permit, but a compost pile that creates odor, attracts vermin, or otherwis...
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Pierce County has no ordinance specifically prohibiting or permitting synthetic/artificial turf on residential lots. Installation must still meet general zon...
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Pierce County encourages native and drought-tolerant plantings and requires native-vegetation retention on many development sites, but homeowners are free to...
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Rooftop rainwater collection is broadly allowed in Washington, and Pierce County has no ordinance prohibiting residential rain barrels or cisterns; larger sy...
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Pierce County government sets no county-wide residential watering schedule; outdoor watering rules are set by your water provider — mainly Tacoma Water and l...
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Every Pierce County landowner has an enforceable duty under RCW 17.10.140 to eradicate class A noxious weeds and control listed class B and C weeds. The Pier...
See how Pierce County's vacant lot maintenance rules stack up against other locations.
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