City of Spokane

Spokane Municipal Code

***Note: Many local criminal codes can now be located under Chapter 10.60 SMC while others are now cited under the Revised Code of Washington (RCW), which was incorporated into the municipal code in 2022. (See SMC 10.58.010). Code Enforcement, including Noise Control and Animal Regulations are located in Chapters 10.62 through 10.74.

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Title 10
Chapter 10.63
Section 10.63.051
 

Title 10 Regulation of Activities

Division V. Code Enforcement and Animal Regulations

Chapter 10.63 Property Maintenance and Use Standards

Section 10.63.051 Junk Vehicle Notice of Violation and Abatement Procedures

 

  1. A code compliance officer is authorized to issue a notice of violation and abatement notice upon a reasonable belief that a prohibition of this section exists.
  1. The notice of violation and abatement shall be issued to the property owner of record as shown on the last equalized assessment roll and the last registered and legal owner of record of such vehicle unless the vehicle’s identification numbers are not available to determine ownership.
  1. The notice of violation and abatement may be served utilizing personal service or by mailing a copy of the notice to the property owner or legal owner of the vehicle at his or her last known address by certified mail with a five-day return receipt requested. Proof of personal service shall be made by a written declaration under penalty of perjury by the person or persons effecting the service declaring the time and date of service and how service was made.
  1. The notice of violation and abatement shall contain substantially the following information:
  1. The name and address of the person to whom the notice is issued;
  1. The location of the subject property by address or other description sufficient for identification of the subject property;
  1. A description of the vehicle and its location and the reasons for which the City deems it to be a public nuisance in violation of this chapter;
  1. A description of the corrective action necessary to eliminate the violation;
  1. The date by which the corrective action must be completed;
  1. A statement that if any of the persons to whom the notice of violation and abatement is issued wish to appeal said notice, they may submit an appeal of the notice, pay the appeal fee as required by SMC 8.02.087, and request a hearing before the Hearing Examiner;
  1. A statement that if the persons to whom the notice of violation and abatement is issued fail to submit a notice of appeal within ten calendar days of the date of the notice or fail to voluntarily abate the nuisance by the date required, the City or its designee may abate the nuisance by removing and disposing of the junk vehicle and will assess all costs of the abatement against the owner of the property upon which the junk vehicle is located and/or may issue a civil infraction; and
  1. A statement that the owner of the property upon which the vehicle is located may provide a written statement before completing the corrective action required by the date outlined in the notice and deny responsibility for the presence of the vehicle on the property, with their reasons for the denial.

 

Date Passed: Monday, July 14, 2025

Effective Date: Wednesday, August 20, 2025

ORD C36701 Section 1