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 are not always available in the office.
If you have questions about our process or need to file a complaint, please use the table below. If you have received a letter from Code Enforcement, need to speak with the Officer handling your case, or have questions about an invoice or monetary penalties, please contact your assigned Code Enforcement Officer directly to schedule an appointment.
Common Complaints
How to use this list
Use the alphabetical list below 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:
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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 | 206-542-444 |
Alphabetical List
Where to report your complaint
Abandoned or parked cars, RVs, trailers, or other vehicles on the side of the road, in the Right of Way (ROW), or on the street. | Report to Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office *If the incident is occurring now, call 911 Sheriff’s Non-Emergency line | 425-407-3999 |
Airport/airplane noise and low-flying aircraft | Report to: |
Air Quality | Report to Puget Sound Clean Air Agency | 800-552-3565: |
Animals and wildlife | Report to: Snohomish County Animal Services | 425-388-3440
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 |
Basketball hoops or other obstructions (overgrown bushes, etc.) on sidewalk | Report to Road Maintenance | 425-388-7500
For obstructions in the street blocking access, call 911. |
Building code questions | Contact Ask Permit Tech |
Building or construction without permits |
Do they have a permit? Do I need a permit? Contact Ask Permit Tech
Report building or construction without permit violations to us using the PDS Code Enforcement form |
Burning and Smoke - outdoor (unincorporated Snohomish County only) | During burn bans, report to Puget Sound Clean Air Agency hotline at 800-595-4341
Report to local Fire Department
Snohomish County Burn Permits |
Businesses - illegal residential businesses and home occupations |
For code or permitting questions, contact Ask Permit Tech
Report illegal residential business and home occupation violations to us using the PDS Code Enforcement form |
Clearing and grading/land disturbing activities without permits | See Permit Exemptions and FAQ
For code, permit verification, and permitting questions, contact Ask Permit Tech
Report clearing and grading/land disturbing violations to us using the PDS Code Enforcement form |
Code, permitting, zoning, setback, building code, permit status, allowable use, etc. questions |
For more detailed code or permitting information, contact Ask Permit Tech |
Construction – complaints about residential or commercial construction projects that have current permits/inspections | Call 425-388-3311 and ask to speak with the assigned inspector for that project.
PDS Code Enforcement does not handle complaints against properties with current permits |
COVID-19 violations by individuals, groups, or businesses | Report to WA State (coronavirus response website) |
Critical Area violations (flood hazard, shoreline) | Critical area code and permitting questions—contact Ask Permit Tech
Report critical area violations to us using the PDS Code Enforcement form |
Dangerous Building Conditions – unsecured or broken windows and doors | Report dangerous building conditions violations to us using the PDS Code Enforcement 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 us using the PDS Code Enforcement form |
Driveways, access roads - building or filling in right-of-way or creating a new access or driveway without permits | Code and permitting questions—contact Ask Permit Tech
Report driveway and access road violations to us using the PDS Code Enforcement form |
Drugs or suspicious activity | Report to Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office |
Dumping | Report to:
|
Easements – disputes, someone using your easement | Civil Issue—PDS Code Enforcement does not handle civil matters
Property documents – visit Auditor’s Office |
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. For other questions, please call 425-388-3650. | 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 form cannot be processed. FAQ - See Assistance Bulletin #51
Report violations to us using the PDS Code Enforcement form
No Computer?
Letter or Notice of Violation
General Code Enforcement Questions & Coordinator: 425-388-3650
Code Enforcement Website |
Fences | Civil Issue – spite fences, fence location disputes and property line disputes.
PDS Code Enforcement does not handle civil matters Fence Code Questions |
Forest practices - DNR (harvesting timber, building or repairing forest roads or culverts, thinning your forest, or other forest practices) | County (Class IV permits) | See Department of Natural Resources Check FPA permits
Snohomish County See Assistance Bulletin #92 (Class IV Forest Practices – General Permit) Code and permitting questions—contact Ask Permit Tech |
Garbage and trash | Report to Snohomish Health District (425-339-5200) for:
|
Graffiti | Civil Issue—PDS Code Enforcement does not handle civil matters |
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 | Report to Sheriff’s Office of Neighborhoods |
Junk, junkyard conditions on private property only
See Dumping above for illegal dumping on public or private property, near/adjacent to water, or on roadway. | Snohomish County Code definition of “junk”
Report private property junkyard condition violations to us using the PDS Code Enforcement form |
Landlord/Tenant disputes (including complaints about repairs or issues with the building, house, or apartment)
| Report to Landlord/Tenant’s Union | 425-339-1335 Additional Landlord-Tenant Resources |
Light - bright light or light pollution | Residential
Commercial/Business |
Mobile homes, illegal placement | Mobile home code or permitting questions--contact Ask Permit Tech Report illegal placement of mobile home violations to us using the PDS Code Enforcement form |
Mold, pollution, or other environmental health issues | See Snohomish Health District 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: Definition of public disturbance noise |
| Noxious weeds | Report to Noxious Weed Control Board |
Overgrown yards, bushes, and landscaping (see above for noxious weeds) | Civil Issue—PDS Code Enforcement does not handle civil matters See Sidewalks for overgrown bushes, trees, or other obstructions on sidewalk |
Parking (on side of street or on street), in fire lanes on County roads, or traffic complaints is handled by the Sheriff’s Office | Report parking on side of street/on street and in fire lanes on County roads to Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office For parking in fire lanes on a private road within a development only, report violations to us using the PDS Code Enforcement form |
Permits – Do they have a permit? Permit status and other permitting questions |
Do they have a permit? Use our PDS Map Portal to see permits by property address For more detailed code and permitting information, contact Ask Permit Tech |
Property line, easement, and private road disputes
| Civil Issue - PDS Code Enforcement does not handle civil matters |
Public road maintenance issues | Report to Public Works Road Maintenance |
Retaining walls, without permits | See Retaining Walls Assistance Bulletin #40
Retaining wall code questions and permitting—contact Ask Permit Tech
Report retaining wall violations to us using the PDS Code Enforcement form |
Right-of-Way - structures in the right-of-way, including signs, fences, retaining walls, landscaping, etc. | Report to Public Works Right-of-Way | 425-388-6453 |
Road flooding/drainage/water on the road | Report to Public Works Road Maintenance | 425-388-7500 |
Rodents and pests | See Snohomish Health District for resources and referrals
PDS Code Enforcement does not handle complaints about rodents or pests |
RVs (recreational vehicles) and travel trailers - occupied or multiple RV’s on property | See RV Assistance Bulletin #53
RV code questions—contact Ask Permit Tech
Report RV and travel trailer violations to us using the PDS Code Enforcement form |
Septic systems – code questions, permits, complaints
Note: PDS Code Enforcement does not handle complaints about any aspect of septic systems or septic permits. | Permitting and complaints—report/contact Snohomish Health District | 425-339-5200 |
Sidewalks – overgrown bushes or trees obstructing the sidewalk, other obstructions on sidewalk | Report to Road Maintenance at 425-388-7500 |
Setback - building setback violations | Setback, zoning, and permitting questions—contact Ask Permit Tech
Report setback violations to us using the PDS Code Enforcement 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 us using the PDS Code Enforcement 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 Snohomish County Public Works Roads FAQ | 425-388-6420
Traffic lights and street lights - questions and comments—Public Works |
Trees – Hazardous trees, tree code and permitting questions | See Hazardous Trees Assistance Bulletin #52
PDS Code Enforcement does not handle complaints or questions about hazardous trees |
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 us using the PDS Code Enforcement form |
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 us in person, please call directly to schedule an appointment. For other questions, please visit our website or call 425-388-3650.
Code Enforcement Website FAQ - See Assistance Bulletin #51 Download Complaint Form Download Who to Call Common Complaints and who handles them. General Code Enforcement Questions & Coordinator: 425-388-3650 Letter, invoice, 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. | Complaints
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. |