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Resident urges Island County to act on alleged building and septic code violations
Summary
A resident told the Board of Island County Commissioners that a property with an expired building permit is allegedly occupied without a certificate of occupancy, permanent electrical or septic permits; commissioners asked planning to investigate and provide an update.
Howard Schneider told the Board of Island County Commissioners on May 13, 2025, that a property in Island County has an expired building permit and appears to be occupied without required inspections and sanitary connections.
Schneider said the building permit expired in May 2022 and an extension is set to expire in May 2025. He told the commissioners the structure lacks a permanent electrical system, that “temporary electrical cords and telecommunication cords are visibly running into the structure,” and that the occupant is using a “temporary portable construction bathroom as primary sanitary facility.” Schneider said there is “no sewer permit currently on file for the property” and that an outhouse has been used in the neighborhood since 2020.
Schneider said these conditions pose “an impact on public health and safety risks,” calling the situation a potential fire hazard and “a nuisance for surrounding residents.” He asked the board to “investigate the specific case, review the planning department’s compliance failures to ensure consistent enforcement, implement an accountability framework, [and] improve transparency by keeping public informed of compliance actions.”
Commissioners did not take formal enforcement action at the meeting. Chair Adam asked planning to provide an update to all three commissioners on the property Schneider referenced. A commissioner said they expected code enforcement was already aware of the property and requested that planning follow up; Jonathan Lang was mentioned as being on the call and as a potential contact in planning.
The board did not adopt a new policy or open a formal enforcement proceeding during the meeting. Schneider’s remarks were delivered during the public comment period; the commissioners’ response was to request an informational update from planning staff rather than to vote on an enforcement measure.
The county’s planning or code enforcement staff are expected to report back to the commissioners; no timeline was specified at the meeting.
