Chapter 16.20
SHORT-TERM RENTAL ENFORCEMENT AND VIOLATIONS
Sections:
16.20.020 Enforcement procedures, notices, and citations.
16.20.010 Compliance.
Short-term rental owners, operators, and properties must comply with the provisions of this code including but not limited to the short-term rental regulations in Titles 11 and 14. Violations and enforcement must be in accord with this title. (Res. 2021-95 (Att. A), 7/27/21).
16.20.020 Enforcement procedures, notices, and citations.
(1) Enforcement Procedures. Unless specified otherwise in this chapter, all enforcement procedures in this title apply to short-term rental owners, operators, and properties.
(2) Notice of Violation for Consumer Safety by County Attorney. If an owner or operator is suspected of violating consumer safety requirements of RCW 64.37.030, the county attorney must issue a warning letter to the owner or operator for the first violation. Other procedures or requirements with regard to the warning letter must be consistent with this title. For any repeated violations, the county will employ its standard code compliance process consistent with this title.
(3) Citations must be issued consistent with Chapter 16.08; provided, that citations may be issued on-site at the discretion of the code compliance officer if a violation of short-term regulations in Titles 11 and 14 occurs. Alternatively, the citation may be accomplished in another manner consistent with this title.
(4) No provision within this section limits the application of any other applicable enforcement section within this title for a violation involving a short-term rental use, or for any other use of the property. (Res. 2021-95 (Att. A), 7/27/21).
16.20.030 Civil penalties.
(1) Civil penalties must be consistent with this title including Chapter 16.16, except as identified in subsection (2) of this section.
(2) Any additional violation of Section 11.88.290(3), standards, or 11.88.290(4), permits, within twelve months of any preceding violation of the same type of standard or permit requirement within those same subsections, is subject to a penalty of double the prior violation penalty amount.
(3) The first violation of consumer safety requirements of RCW 64.37.030 is a class 2 civil infraction under Chapter 7.80 RCW with a fine of one hundred twenty-five dollars. The fine for repeated violations must be consistent with Section 16.16.010, Assessment schedule. (Res. 2021-95 (Att. A), 7/27/21).
16.20.040 Revocation.
(1) Failure of the owner or operator to timely and reasonably respond to a complaint(s) relayed by code compliance officers are grounds for civil fines, revocation, or other penalties consistent with this title.
(2) The following conditions may result in denial of issuance or revocation of land use permits granted under short-term rental regulations in Titles 11 and 14:
(A) Failure to renew a short-term rental land use permit pursuant to Section 11.88.290, Short-term rental regulations, and Title 14 is grounds for immediate revocation of the permit.
(B) Failure to meet the criteria of Section 11.88.290, Short-term rental regulations, is grounds for immediate denial of issuance or revocation of the short-term rental land use permit.
(C) The discovery of material misstatements or providing of false information in the short-term rental land use permit application or renewal process is grounds for immediate revocation of the permit.
(D) Such other violations of Titles 11, 14, and 16 in the reasonable judgment of the administrator, so as to provide reasonable grounds for immediate revocation of the land use permit.
(E) If three violations are verified under subsection (2)(D) of this section or the owner or operator fails to make a timely response to resolve such violation twice during any twelve-month period, the penalty shall be revocation of the rental permit and, or a related conditional use permit in addition to any required civil penalties under Section 16.20.030.
(F) Denial of entry for required inspection, reinspection, or interference with an inspection or reinspection of a short term rental property under Section 11.88.290 is grounds for immediate denial of issuance or revocation of the short-term rental land use permit.
(G) Revocation or denial of a permit is subject to the appeal provisions of Chapters 14.12 and 16.12. (Res. 2021-95 (Att. A), 7/27/21).