Island County, WA Rental Property Rules: Repairs & Habitability (2026)
Key Facts
- Responsible party
- Landlord, for portions under landlord's control
- Common areas covered
- Entrances, halls, restrooms, storage rooms, parking lots
- Governing chapter
- 14.03A Fire Inspections
- Enforcement
- Class 1 civil infraction, Chapter 7.80 RCW
- Not covered locally
- General habitability (heat/water) set by state law
Summary
Under Island County's fire-inspection code, a landlord who rents out a building stays legally responsible for any portion still under the landlord's control and for shared spaces like entrances, halls, restrooms, storage rooms, and parking lots. Island County Code Section 14.03A.060 puts that duty on the property owner, not the tenant, whenever occupancy of a building or premises is divided.
When any building or premises are rented or leased or when use, occupancy , or control of any building or premises is divided, the owner or landlord shall be the responsible party under this chapter for those portions of the building or premises which remain under his control, use, or occupancy and for common or shared areas such as entrances, halls, restrooms, storage rooms, and parking lots.
Full Breakdown
03A, the county's Fire Inspections ordinance, subjects most occupied buildings, including apartments and rental housing, to an annual fire inspection by the Island County Building Official. 060 fixes who answers for that compliance once a building is rented, leased, or divided among more than one occupant: the owner or landlord remains the responsible party for whatever portion of the premises stays under the landlord's control, use, or occupancy, and specifically for common or shared areas such as entrances, halls, restrooms, storage rooms, and parking lots.
050 posted in a conspicuous place. 070 for refusing entry, failing to post the receipt, or not curing a cited fire hazard. 060 is the county's own answer to who is on the hook for fire-safety conditions in rented and multi-occupant buildings.
Violations & Fines
Failing to cure a fire-code deficiency in a common area after the Building Official orders it corrected is a Class 1 civil infraction under Chapter 7.80 RCW, enforced under Island County Code Section 14.03A.070, and each day the violation continues is a separate, separately punishable infraction. The Building Official, the Island County Sheriff, and other law enforcement officers may issue the infraction, and the county may also seek injunctive relief under Section 14.03A.080.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is responsible for fire-code violations in a rented Island County building?
Does Island County have its own rental habitability code?
What happens if an Island County landlord ignores a fire-code order?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Island County
Compare Island County to another location·View the Washington rental property rules overview
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