NUISANCE
(SMC 10.08.030)

A. NO PERSON may do an act, omit to act, engage in a course of activity, or create or maintain a condition which unreasonably:

1. interferes with the comfort, solitude, health, or safety of others; or

2. offends common decency; or

3. offends common sensibilities and senses by way of extreme noise, light, or odor; or

4. obstructs or renders hazardous for public passage any public way or place; or

5. pollutes or renders less usable any watercourse or water body.

1. a refrigerator, freezer, or other insulated container within which a child could suffocate;

2. a pit, excavation, swimming pool, well, or other uncovered hole into which a person could fall;

3. lumber, metal, plastic, paper, cardboard, or other scrap material deposited in such place and manner as to institute a hazardous attraction to children.

4. unused or junk vehicle or machinery or parts unless enclosed and secured as required by law for wrecking yards, or junk yard; or

5. an abandoned or vacant building, structure or part thereof not securely closed to entry.

1. any toxic, radioactive, caustic, explosive, malodorous, or septic substances, such as putrescent animal, fish, or fowl parts, animal or vegetable waste matter, excrement, and any material likely to attract or breed flies or rats, unless kept in proper receptacles as provided by the health and refuse laws;

2. any structure, collection of wood, cloth, paper, plastic, or glass material, vegetation, or flammable substances kept in such manner as to create a substantial risk of combustion or spread of fire.

LAND USE VIOLATIONS

LAND USE VIOLATIONS are any use made of a property or structure, other than the permitted uses for that zone. Violations of the City Code are criminal or civil offenses and you can be prosecuted, issued a citation, or suffer some other penalty. Examples of common Land Use Violations are:

1. AUTO STORAGE AND PARKING:

Intact vehicles may be legally parked in a driveway, side yard, or rear yard. Parking in the front yard is prohibited in residential zones.

Openly stored junk or dismantled vehicles and parts are considered to be a nuisance. Junk vehicles must be stored inside a building.

2. COMMERCIAL USE: Under SMC 11.19.440, residential streets may not be used for storage of commercial vehicles, or parking and storage of vehicles awaiting service.

3. ACCESSORY STRUCTURES AND USES: Under SMC 11.19.0302 an accessory use or structure is one other than the main use and includes sheds, garages, and fences. They have specified regulations as to size and location.

4. HOME OCCUPATION: Under SMC 11.19.0320 a Home Occupation is a business of such scale and method of operation as to be incidental and accessory to the primary residential use(s) of the premises. A Home Occupation could be a beautician, dressmaker, florist, photographer or word processor. An illegal Home Occupation could be an adult bookstore, adult entertainment, auto repair or one not allowed by Code.

5. YARD SALES: Under SMC 10.45.030 you are allowed to have two yard sales per year lasting a maximum of three days per sale. Anything more than that constitutes a business and is illegal.

REFUSE

REFUSE (SMC 13.02.0224, 13.02.0226) is an accumulation of trash and or garbage on a property. An accumulation of refuse may result in a Notice of Violation ordering the material to be cleaned. If the property owner fails to comply, the material will be abated by the City at the property owner’s expense.

VACANT & DANGEROUS BUILDINGS

VACANT AND DANGEROUS BUILDING (SMC 11.11.410 & 11.11.420) conditions are the responsibility of the property owner to secure, board, rehabilitate or demolish to safeguard the public health. Owners of structures not in compliance with Spokane Municipal Codes will be subject to notification to appear at a hearing of the  Building Official. At the Hearing, evidence of ownership and condition of the structure will be presented by staff from Code Enforcement and Construction  Services.

Approximately 100 substandard structures are monitored each year
by City staff to insure required rehabilitation is established.

JUNK VEHICLES

JUNK VEHICLE means any vehicle certified under RCW 46.55.230 meeting at least three of the following requirements:

1.  Is three years or older.

2.  Is extensively damaged, such damage including, but not limited to, any of the following:

a. Broken window or windshield.
b. Missing wheels or tires.
c. Missing motor or transmission.

3.   Is apparently inoperable.
4.   Has an approximately fair market value equal to the scrap in it.

Code Enforcement can assist property owners with the removal of unwanted junk vehicles. Upon request, an officer will inspect the vehicle to determine the condition and obtain license and vehicle identification numbers. In approximately 7 days from inspection, the property owner will receive by mail a "Junk Vehicle Affidavit" with instructions on junk vehicle removal. If there is a record of ownership, the affidavit can be processed in 15 days and the vehicle removed. If the Department of Licensing has no record of ownership, the vehicle can be removed in less time.

Junk vehicles on city streets are removed by Spokane Police Department,
Community Service Office by calling 625-4246.

FIRE HAZARD FROM VEGETATION & DEBRIS

OWNERS AND OCCUPANTS of property within the City must remove or destroy all grass, weeds, shrubs, bushes, trees, vegetation and all debris which are fire hazards or a menace to the public health, safety and welfare. Such condition is declared a nuisance. Code Enforcement may cause the removal of such vegetation and debris at the property owner’s expense. (SMC 10.08.040)

COMPOSTING

Improper Composting is accumulating and storing yard waste in such a manner to constitute a health or fire hazard. Improper composting may result in a Notice of Violation ordering the material to be removed. If the property owner fails to properly dispose of yard waste, the property will be abated at the property owner’s expense. Information on composting can be obtained by calling THE RECYCLING HOTLINE
at 747-0242