Skagit County, WA Rental Inspections: Tenant Complaint Process (2026)
Key Facts
- Complaint agency
- Skagit County Public Health Department
- Water restoration deadline
- 24 hours after supply ceases
- Plumbing repair deadline
- 72 hours
- Confirmed-complaint remedy
- Unit kept vacant until standards met
- Governing section
- SCC 12.48.220
Summary
Skagit County Public Health investigates tenant complaints about a rental's individual water system under SCC 12.48.220. Once SCPHD confirms a valid complaint, the unit must stay vacant until the water meets minimum drinking-water standards, and the landlord must restore potable water within 24 hours of an outage.
Landlords must provide adequate and potable water to their renters pursuant to Chapter 59.18 RCW, Residential Landlord Tenant Act. ... In the event that the water supply ceases, the landlord shall: (a) Provide potable drinking water within twenty-four (24) hours; and (b) Repair major plumbing fixtures within seventy-two (72) hours (e.g., chlorinator, filters, or other devices that make the water safe); or (c) Show a documented good faith attempt to meet minimum drinking water standards, subject to approval by the Health Officer. ... In the event of a valid complaint, as confirmed by the SPCHD investigation, the rental is to be kept vacant until the drinking water meets the minimum standards unless otherwise provided under Subsection (3)(c) of this Section.
Full Breakdown
220 gives Skagit County Public Health Department (SCPHD) a direct role in rental disputes over water quality on an individual, non-municipal water system. 110. If the water supply fails, Subsection (3) gives the landlord three ways to respond: provide potable drinking water to tenants within 24 hours, repair the major plumbing fixture involved (the code lists a chlorinator or filter as examples) within 72 hours, or document a good-faith attempt to meet the minimum standard, subject to the Health Officer's approval. The complaint mechanism is in Subsection (4): once SPCHD investigation confirms a valid complaint, the rental unit must be kept vacant until the drinking water meets the minimum standards, unless the landlord's good-faith effort under (3)(c) has been accepted. 290.
Violations & Fines
A landlord who fails to restore potable water within 24 hours, make the required plumbing repair within 72 hours, or document a good-faith effort approved by the Health Officer risks having SCPHD order the rental kept vacant under SCC 12.48.220(4) until the water meets minimum standards, on top of any fine under the county's public water system compliance process.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does a tenant file a water-quality complaint about a Skagit County rental?
Can a landlord keep renting a unit with a failed well while repairs are pending?
Does this rule apply to rentals on municipal water?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Skagit County
Compare Skagit County to another location·View the Washington rental inspections overview
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