Clark County code enforcement outlines civil process for chronic nuisance property; residents urged to file complaints

Donna Donner, code enforcement manager in Clark County Community Development, told neighborhood residents that county code enforcement is a complaint-driven, civil process and outlined what the county can and cannot do when properties become hazards or ongoing nuisances. "We are not criminal. We're not sheriffs. We're not law enforcement," Donner said, describing the ordinary process that starts with inspection, a notice or order to comply, and—if the order is not followed—daily civil penalties and lien filings.

Donner described limits on the department's authority: it is funded from the county general fund and does not have jurisdiction in the public right-of-way (the sheriff responds to right-of-way safety and criminal matters). She also explained that anonymous complaints are accepted but that the office will close anonymous complaints if staff cannot confirm the alleged violation from the public right-of-way. "If we can't see it from the public right of way and we get an anonymous complaint, we will close that case," she said.

The manager described a persistent nuisance property that had been referred to the civil division of the prosecuting attorney and said the county had opened a case in late 2023. Donner said civil litigation is required in cases where an owner will not comply and that the process can lead to a property foreclosure and county-funded cleanup followed by sale to recoup costs. "The prosecuting attorney's office are in the process of suing the property owner," she said. "The legal process takes time."

Donner also outlined the kinds of complaints the department handles—building-code and land-use violations, nuisance debris, junk vehicles and environmental violations—and noted the health department enforces household-garbage issues. She explained the county enforces state noise standards from the Washington Administrative Code for some commercial-noise complaints but that calls about loud neighbors at specific times should go to the sheriff because the county lacks a local noise ordinance.

Residents raised specific concerns about a long-running burned and debris-strewn property and about a proposed subdivision on Northeast 80th/88th Street that neighbors said may drain into wetlands, remove large trees and increase traffic without sidewalks. Donner encouraged neighbors to gather information, report specific addresses, and contact their county councilors; several neighborhood participants recommended organizing neighbors to submit coordinated written comments to county planning staff for upcoming hearings.