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Kitsap County, WA Property Maintenance: Vacant Lot Maintenance (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Penalty
$250 per day per violation
Enforcing agency
DCD or Public Works director
Jurisdiction
Unincorporated Kitsap County only
Hearing timing
20 to 60 days after notice
Correction deadline
30 days after affirmed order
Repeat violations
Penalty may be doubled

Summary

In unincorporated Kitsap County, a vacant or unimproved lot piled with trash, junk, litter, discarded lumber, old appliances, scrap metal or yard waste is a public nuisance under County Code Chapter 9.56. The Department of Community Development or Public Works director can order cleanup, and an owner who ignores a notice of abatement faces a $250-per-day penalty plus a county lien.

These county ordinances apply to unincorporated areas of Kitsap County. Incorporated cities within the county may have their own rules that take precedence over county-level regulations.

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, white goods, 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 approved, covered receptacles;

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4864424; v0 updated 2025-12-08; through 12-08-2025).

Full Breakdown

020(10)(b)(i) defines a nuisance to include premises with visible accumulations of trash, junk, litter, discarded lumber, building materials not properly stored, old appliances, scrap metal, yard waste or similar debris, unless the material is kept in garbage cans or covered receptacles for regular collection. This reaches any premises, occupied or vacant, in unincorporated Kitsap County only; Bremerton, Port Orchard, Poulsbo and Bainbridge Island enforce their own municipal codes. 040. 050. 060(6)(a). 050(5)(c).

Violations & Fines

The monetary penalty is $250.00 per day or portion of a day the violation continues, assessed by the violations hearing examiner under § 9.56.040(5). Unpaid penalties and abatement costs become a lien against the property. Anyone who knowingly hinders or obstructs a county employee abating the nuisance commits a misdemeanor punishable by up to 90 days in jail and/or a $1,000 fine under § 9.56.060(5).

Frequently Asked Questions

Does this rule apply inside Bremerton or Port Orchard?
No. Kitsap County Code Chapter 9.56 governs unincorporated county land only; each incorporated city, including Bremerton, Port Orchard, Poulsbo and Bainbridge Island, enforces its own nuisance code for property inside city limits.
What counts as a nuisance on a vacant lot?
Visible accumulations of trash, junk, litter, discarded lumber, building materials not properly stored, old appliances, scrap metal, or yard waste, unless kept in garbage cans or covered containers for regular collection, per § 9.56.020(10)(b)(i).
What happens if I ignore the county's cleanup notice?
The county can abate the nuisance itself, bill you for the cost, and record a lien against the property. A monetary penalty of $250 per day also accrues once the violations hearing examiner affirms the notice of abatement.
Can I get more time to clean up my lot?
Yes. The director may grant an extension of the correction deadline if you show due diligence or substantial progress toward compliance but unforeseen circumstances delayed finishing the work, under § 9.56.030(1)(iii).

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Kitsap County

All Kitsap County rules

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