Code Enforcement

PDS Code Enforcement responds to citizen complaints about code violations in unincorporated Snohomish County for Planning & Development Services only. What type of code violations do we investigate? Some of the most common are building and clearing/grading without permits, work in critical areas, illegal businesses, and junkyard conditions. Please refer to the table below for an expanded list of common complaints that we receive and which departments or agencies handle them.

Good to Know

Code Enforcement works in the field. Unfortunately, we're not always available in the office.


If you have received a letter, invoice, or violation notice from Code Enforcement, please contact your assigned Code Enforcement Officer directly. If you'd like to speak with the Officer in person, please call them to schedule an appointment. If you have general questions about the code enforcement process, read our FAQ, see our common complaints handout, or call 425-388-3650.


Common Complaints and Where to Report Them

Use this alphabetical list of common complaints to determine which department or agency handles your concern. Links to online complaints forms and other helpful resources are included. The referral links are provided as a courtesy only. Please contact the recommended agency or department directly if you have questions or need additional assistance.


For Unincorporated Snohomish County Only

Is my complaint in unincorporated Snohomish County?
Before filing your investigation request, please verify that the violation address is within our jurisdiction for enforcement.

Address/parcel tools:

City Code Enforcement 

If the address of the violation is not within unincorporated Snohomish County, it may be under the jurisdiction of one of these cities.


Arlington | 360-403-3551

Bothell | 425-806-6400

Brier | 425-775-5440

Darrington | 360-436-1131

Edmonds  | 425-775-2525

Everett  | 425-257-8700

Gold Bar | 360-793-1101

Granite Falls | 360-691-6441

Index | (360) 793-2488

Lake Stevens | 425-622-9400

Lynnwood  | 425-670-5420

Marysville | 360-363-8379

Mill Creek  | 425-551-7254

Monroe | 360-863-4553

Mountlake Terrace | 425-670-8260

Mukilteo | (425) 263-8000

Snohomish | 360-568-3115

Stanwood | 360-454-5208

Sultan  | 360-793-2272

Tulalip Tribes | 360-716-4242

Woodway | 206-542-4443


Airport/airplane noise and low-flying aircraft

Report to:

Air Quality

Report to Puget Sound Clean Air Agency800-552-3565:

Animals and wildlife

Report to:

Snohomish County Animal Services425-388-3440

WA Department of Fish & Wildlife | 360-902-2936, Option 1

Appeals – Code Enforcement violation appeals

Do not submit your code enforcement violation appeals to Code Enforcement. Please follow the instructions on the back of the Notice of Violation carefully.

 

Appeals must be submitted to:

Snohomish County Planning and Development Services

Attention: Appeals 

3000 Rockefeller Ave, M/S 604

Everett, WA 98201

Burning and Smoke - outdoor (unincorporated Snohomish County only)

During burn bans, report to Puget Sound Clean Air Agency hotline at 800-595-4341

  • Addt’l resources and info for outdoor burning, contact PSCAA
Burn bans enacted by DNR for wildfire concerns and other information, visit DNR Burn Portal

 

Report violations to local Fire Dept

Businesses - illegal residential businesses and home occupations

Verify if there is a permit by using the PDS Map Portal or contact Ask Permit Tech.

Report violations to our PDS Code Enforcement team using the Investigation Request form


Clearing, fill, and grading/land disturbing activities complaints and concerns

Complaints or concerns regarding permitted projects:

Complaints regarding clearing, fill, and grading without permits:

Code, permitting, zoning, setback, building and land use code questions, and questions about permit status, allowable use, etc.

Contact Ask Permit Tech

Electrical permits and complaints – contact WA State L&I. The County does not issue electrical permits or conduct electrical inspections.


Code Enforcement – PDS Code Enforcement for unincorporated Snohomish County only

See Enforcement
Construction or building complaints and concerns

Complaints or concerns regarding permitted projects:

  • To verify if a project has a permit, use the PDS Map Portal or contact Ask Permit Tech.
  • For permitted projects, call 425-388-3311 and ask to speak with the inspector for that project.
  • For mud on the road due to construction traffic, report directly to Sheriff’s Office and Surface Water Management.
  • Electrical Work - report illegal work, obtain electrical permits, and get electrical code information at Washington State L&I.

Complaints regarding building or construction without permits:

COVID-19 violations by individuals, groups, or businesses

Visit Snohomish County Health Department for information

Critical Area violations (flood hazard, shoreline, wetland, etc.)

Verify if a project has a permit by using the PDS Map Portal or contact Ask Permit Tech.

Report critical area violations to our PDS Code Enforcement team using the Investigation Request form

Dangerous Building Conditions – structures severely damaged by earthquake, wind, or fire, abandoned building with unsecured or broken windows and doors

Report violations to our PDS Code Enforcement team using the Investigation Request form

Dispute Resolution and Mediation – neighbors, neighborhood, and landlord/tenant disputes

Contact Volunteers of America | 425-259-3191

Drainage

Report to Conservation and Natural Resources Surface Water Management | 425-388-3464

 

For diverting water to an adjacent property only—file a complaint with our PDS Code Enforcement team using the Investigation Request form

Driveways, access roads - building or filling in right-of-way or creating a new access or driveway without permits

Verify if a project has a permit by using the PDS Map Portal or contact Ask Permit Tech.

Report violations to our PDS Code Enforcement team using the Investigation Request form


Drugs or suspicious activity

Report to Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office

  • Call 911 for emergencies 
  • Non-emergency, please call 425-407-3999

Dumping, illegal dumping

Report to:

  • In or near a body of water, call 425-388-6481 to reach Conservation and Natural Resources Surface Water Management Division Water Quality Hotline.
  • Adjacent to a roadway, call 425-388-7500 to reach the County’s Road Maintenance Division.
  • On public or private property, call 425-339-5250 to reach Snohomish County Health Department.

Easements – disputes, someone using your easement, disputes about private roads, fence location, or property lines

Civil MatterPDS Code Enforcement does not handle civil matters

 

Property documents – visit Auditor’s Office online

Electrical – illegal work, permits, electrical codes

PDS Code Enforcement does not handle complaints about illegal or unpermitted electrical work or contractors. Contact WA State L&I. 

 

Contact Washington State L&I to report illegal work, obtain electrical permits, and for code information.


Enforcement - PDS Code Enforcement process, team directory, FAQ, and complaint forms.

 

Good to Know: Code Enforcement works in the field. We’re not always available in the office. If you have been assigned a Code Enforcement Officer and need to speak with them in person, please call them to schedule an appointment. 


Complaints: All complaints must be submitted using our Investigation Request form. We are not able to accept or process complaints by phone, email, or fax due to disclosure laws and the public records retention rules and procedures. Complaints that are not submitted using our investigation request form cannot be processed.


FAQ - See Assistance Bulletin #51

 

Report violations to us using the PDS Code Enforcement Investigation Request form

 

No Computer?
If you don’t have access to a computer, please download the form or call 425-388-3650 and leave us a voicemail with your name and address. We’ll send you a complaint form that you can mail back to us.

 

Letter, Invoice, Citation, Warning notice, or Notice of Violation
If you have received a letter or violation notice, please contact your assigned Code Enforcement Officer directly.

 

General Code Enforcement Questions & Coordinator: 425-388-3650

 

Code Enforcement Team


Fences

Civil Matter – spite fences, fence location disputes and property line disputes. PDS Code Enforcement does not handle civil matters.

Forest practices - DNR (harvesting timber, building or repairing forest roads or culverts, thinning your forest, or other forest practices) | County (Class IV permits)

See Dept of Natural Resources | (360) 856-3500

Snohomish County

Garbage and trash

Report to Snohomish County Health Department (425-339-5200) for:

  • Uncontained putrescible garbage or excessive amounts of animal waste that attracts flies or rodents
  • Illegal dumping on private or public property without the owner's permission
  • Burning of non-vegetative materials (can also be reported to local Fire Department)
  • Improper hazardous waste storage
Garbage cans/collection containersPDS Code Enforcement does not handle complaints regarding collection containers. 

Cans in ROW or blocking access:
  • If cans are in the right-of-way or blocking access, report to the Sheriff's Office. 

Graffiti

Report to Sheriff’s Office Non-Emergency line at 425-407-3999 

Hazardous or dangerous spills, leaking tanks

Report to Department of Ecology | 800-645-7911

 

If near water, report to Conservation and Natural Resources Surface Water Management

Homeless encampments, squatters, people living in cars


Report to Sheriff’s Office of Neighborhoods

Illicit Sewage DischargeReport to Snohomish Health District | 425-339-5250

Examples of illicit sewage discharge include:

  • Sewage discharging directly onto the ground.
  • Improper discharge or surfacing of sewage from broken or damaged side sewer lines.
  • Failure or malfunction of an on-site sewage system that results in the illicit discharge of sewage.
  • Recreational vehicles (RVs) discharging sewage to the ground.
  • Sewage discharging from a pipe or conveyance line to the ground surface or surface water.

Junk, junkyard conditions on private property only (old appliances, tires, etc.)

 

See Dumping for illegal dumping on public or private property, near/adjacent to water, or on roadway.


Definition of “junk

 

For household garbage and trash, report to Snohomish County Health Department

 

Report junkyard violations (not garbage/trash complaints) to us by using our PDS Code Enforcement Investigation Request Form


Landlord/Tenant disputes (including complaints about repairs or issues with the building, house, or apartment)

 

PDS Code Enforcement does not handle any aspect of Landlord/Tenant disputes, including, mold, rodents, building repairs or maintenance issues, lease or rental agreements, etc. 

Light - bright light or light pollution

Residential

  • Civil IssuePDS Code Enforcement does not handle civil matters

Commercial/Business

Mobile homes, illegal placement

Verify if a current permit is on file by using our PDS Map Portal or contact Ask Permit Tech.

Report violations to our PDS Code Enforcement team using the Investigation Request form


Mold, pollution, or other environmental health issues

See Snohomish County Health Department for resources and referrals

Noise—public disturbance noise (construction noise, heavy machinery or truck noise, fireworks, revving engines, barking dogs, loud neighbors and music, car exhaust noise, etc.)

Call the Sheriff’s Office Non-Emergency line at 425-407-3999


Allowable Daytime Hours:
 "Day" or "daytime," for the purposes of this chapter, means the hours between 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. on weekdays and between 9:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. on weekends.


Definition of public disturbance noise

Noxious weeds

PDS Code Enforcement does not handle complaints about noxious weeds, overgrown yards, or landscaping. 

 

Report to Noxious Weed Control Board

 

Noxious Weed Information


Overgrown yards, bushes, and landscaping (see above for noxious weeds)

Civil IssuePDS Code Enforcement does not handle civil matters

 

For overgrown bushes or trees obstructing the sidewalk, report to Road Maintenance at 425-388-7500


Parking - abandoned or parked cars, RV’s, trailers, or other vehicles on the side of the road, in the ROW, or on the street, parking in fire lanes on County roads

Report to Sno Co Sheriff’s Office online:

*If the incident is occurring now, call 911

  • Sheriff’s Non-Emergency line | 425-407-3999
For parking in fire lanes on a private road within a development only, report to our PDS Code Enforcement team using the Investigation Request form


Permits – Do they have a permit? Permit status and other permitting questions

Do they have a permit? Use our PDS Map Portal to verify is there is a permit by property address or parcel number.

Property line, easement, and private road disputes

 

Civil Issue - PDS Code Enforcement does not handle civil matters

Retaining walls, without permits

Verify if a project has a permit by using the PDS Map Portal or contact Ask Permit Tech.

Report violations to our PDS Code Enforcement team using the Investigation Request form


Right-of-Way - structures in the right-of-way, including signs, fences, retaining walls, landscaping, basketball hoops, and other obstructions

Report structures in the ROW to Public Works Right-of-Way | 425-388-6453

 

For constructionclearing, grading, paving, or adding a driveway in/adjacent to the ROW, report violations to our PDS Code Enforcement team using the Investigation Request form

Roads, public - flooding/drainage/water or mud on the road or maintenance issues


Report to Public Works Road Maintenance | 425-388-7500

 

For mud or track out on the road from construction traffic, report directly to Sheriff’s Office and Conservation and Natural Resources Surface Water Management | 425-388-3464

Rodents and pests

PDS Code Enforcement does not handle complaints about rodents or pests.


See Snohomish County Health Department for resources and referrals

RVs (recreational vehicles) and travel trailers - occupied or multiple RV’s on property

See RV Assistance Bulletin #53

Report violations to our PDS Code Enforcement team using the Investigation Request form


Septic systems – septic code questions, permits, inspections, complaints

 


PDS Code Enforcement does not handle complaints about any aspect of septic systems or septic permits.

 

Permitting, inspections, questions, and complaints—report to/contact Snohomish County Health Department | 425-339-5200

Sidewalks – overgrown bushes or trees obstructing the sidewalk, other obstructions on sidewalk

Report sidewalk obstructions to Road Maintenance at 425-388-7500

  • For obstructions in the street blocking access, call 911.
  • For obstructions on the side of the street/in right-of-way, report to Right-of-Way | 425-388-6453

Setback - building setback violations

Verify if a project has a permit by using our PDS Map Portal or contact Ask Permit Tech.

Report violations to our PDS Code Enforcement team using the Investigation Request form


Signs, illegally placed or oversize commercial signs (not parking or street signs)

Commercial sign code and permitting questions—contact Ask Permit Tech

 

Report violations to our PDS Code Enforcement team using the Investigation Request form


Storm drains – illegal connection, maintenance, drainage, and more

Contact/report to Conservation and Natural Resources Surface Water Management | 425-388-3464

Street lights—outages

Report to PUD | 425-783-1000

Traffic signals, street signs, and more

 

See Sno Co Public Works Roads FAQ | 425-388-6420

  • Traffic lights and street lights – for questions and comments contact Public Works
  • No Parking Signs
    1. Obtain no parking sign – contact Traffic Operations at 425-388-3610
    2. Parking complaints – report online to Sheriff’s Office
    3. Remove no parking sign – contact Road Maintenance at 425-388-7500

Trees – Hazardous trees, tree code and permitting questions

PDS Code Enforcement does not handle complaints or questions about hazardous trees.

 

See Hazardous Trees Assistance Bulletin #52

  • Hazardous tree or tree code and permitting questions--contact Ask Permit Tech

Trespassing—criminal trespassing, someone doing work on your property without your permission

Report to Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office

Water quality – turbid discharge, oil or chemical spills to surface waters or storm drains, and sewage or manure discharges to surface waters

Report to Conservation and Natural Resources Surface Water Management | 425-388-3464


Report to WA State Department of Ecology | 800-645-7911

Water retention or runoff, retention ponds

Report to Conservation and Natural Resources Surface Water Management | 425-388-3464

Water Withdrawal – use of surface water for irrigation or other uses

Report to WA State Department of Ecology | 800-645-7911

Zoning Violations

 

Zoning code and permitting questions—contact Ask Permit Tech

 

Report zoning violations to our PDS Code Enforcement team using the Investigation Request form

snoco trees

Snohomish County

PDS Code Enforcement Team


Good to Know: Code Enforcement works in the field. We’re not always available in the office. If you have been assigned a Code Enforcement Officer and need to speak with them in person, please call them directly to schedule an appointment. For general questions about the Code Enforcement process, read our FAQ or call 425-388-3650.


Code Enforcement Team


FAQ - See Assistance Bulletin #51


Online Complaint Form


Print or Download Complaint Form


Download Who to Call

Common Complaints and who handles them.


General Code Enforcement Questions & Coordinator

425-388-3650


Letter, Invoice, Citation, Warning Notice, or Notice of Violation

If you have received correspondence from our team, please contact your assigned Code Enforcement Officer noted in the letter. If you need assistance, call 425-388-3650.


Complaint Information

  • All complaints must be submitted using our Investigation Request form. Complaints that are not submitted using our form cannot be processed. 
  • We are not able to accept or process complaints by phone, email, or fax due to disclosure laws and the public records retention rules and procedures.
  • Can I file a complaint anonymously? Read our FAQ
  • An exact street address or parcel number is required.
  • Submit one complaint per address/parcel number.

No Computer?

If you don’t have access to a computer, please download the form or call 425-388-3650 and leave us a voicemail with your name and address. We’ll send you a complaint form to mail back to us.