Chapter 21.34
FIRE LANES
Sections:
21.34.010 Definition—Fire lane.
21.34.015 Duty to establish.
21.34.020 Duty of fire department.
21.34.025 Failure to comply—Lien on property.
21.34.030 Notice of lien—Form—Enforcement.
21.34.035 Duty to honor designated fire lanes.
21.34.040 Enforcement.
21.34.045 Duty of owner to report violations.
21.34.010 Definition—Fire lane.
“Fire lane” means a parcel of land designated and maintained by the owner to provide access to a building from an improved public street, for firefighting and other emergency equipment and personnel. (Ord. 3946 § 1 (part), 2004)
21.34.015 Duty to establish.
It shall be the duty of the owner, or designated agent, of any property to designate and maintain at all times any required fire lanes appurtenant to structures. Designation and maintenance shall include the installation and maintenance of signs, curb, and pavement markings identifying the fire lane as required by the fire code official. The signs, curb, and pavement markings shall be in a format approved by the fire department.
(1) Designated fire lanes serving single-family residences shall be maintained at all times.
(2) Any duties imposed upon “owner” within this chapter shall be imposed upon each owner, in reference to single-family residences serviced by a designated fire lane. Likewise, any charge or lien authorized against an owner in this chapter shall be authorized against each such owner on an apportioned basis. (Ord. 4848 § 37, 2024; Ord. 4491 § 4 (part), 2015; Ord. 3946 § 1 (part), 2004)
21.34.020 Duty of fire department.
Whenever it may come to the attention of the fire department, any employee, or officer of the fire department that a required fire lane has either not been designated or is not being maintained as required, the fire department shall:
(1) Cause notice to be given to the owner of said property or designated agent that failure to designate and maintain a fire lane is a violation of this chapter, and that such violation shall be corrected within thirty days of the date of such notice, and in the event the violation continues beyond the thirty-day period, that the fire department may commence enforcement proceedings by issuing a citation or coming on to the property of the violator and designate and sign the required fire lane.
(2) Whenever notice of violation is given to a property owner, under the provisions of this section, such notice shall be in writing and shall be served upon the property owner by mailing to the owner at the address as it appears on the property tax rolls maintained in the office of the King County assessor and by posting a copy of said notice in a conspicuous place on the premises where the violation is occurring. (Ord. 4491 § 4 (part), 2015; Ord. 3946 § 1 (part), 2004)
21.34.025 Failure to comply—Lien on property.
Any expense reasonably incurred by the city, as a result of the fire department carrying out its duty imposed by Section 21.34.020, shall become a charge against the owner of the property and a lien against the property. (Ord. 3946 § 1 (part), 2004)
21.34.030 Notice of lien—Form—Enforcement.
The notice of lien hereinbefore provided shall be substantially the same form as provided by law for liens for labor and material in the state, shall be filed with the same officer within the same time and manner and enforced and foreclosed as is provided by state law for liens of labor and material. (Ord. 3946 § 1 (part), 2004)
21.34.035 Duty to honor designated fire lanes.
It is unlawful for any person to cause or allow any vehicle or other impeding object to remain in a designated fire lane. Any person who fails to meet the duty imposed by this section is guilty of a misdemeanor; provided, that if the object violating this section is a motor vehicle licensed or registered under RCW Title 46, the violation is a traffic infraction. (Ord. 3946 § 1 (part), 2004)
21.34.040 Enforcement.
(a) The police department is authorized to impound any motor vehicle or impeding object remaining in a designated fire lane.
(b) The cost of impoundment shall be charged to the registered owner of any motor vehicle in violation of Section 21.34.035 of this chapter.
(c) The cost of impounding an impeding object other than a motor vehicle, left in a designated fire lane in violation of Section 21.34.035 shall be charged to the person found, through investigation by the police department, to be responsible for such violation. (Ord. 3946 § 1 (part), 2004)