Commissioners, planning staff debate simpler timelines and stiffer stop‑work penalties in Title 19 rewrite

Planning staff and the county’s code counsel led an extended workshop on the proposed Title 19 code compliance rewrite intended to give the county new tools short of immediate criminal prosecution. Topics included: a standard courtesy notice and investigation period, a recommended 30‑day compliance period before daily monetary penalties begin; the distinction between a notice of violation and a stop‑work/cease‑and‑desist order; how penalties should accrue (examples discussed ranged from fixed daily fines to percentage‑based waivers for early compliance); the use of liens as an enforcement tool; and a threshold at which prolonged noncompliance or large penalty totals should be referred for criminal prosecution.

Staff recommended removing complex percentage waiver tables in favor of a simpler approach—no monetary penalties during an initial 30‑day compliance window, then a daily penalty that accrues until either compliance or a lien is filed. The draft also preserves flexibility to jump straight to a notice of violation or stop‑work order for emergencies or repeat offenders. Legal counsel noted the shoreline code already allows cease‑and‑desist orders and the proposed Title 19 language would extend similar authority to land‑use/code violations elsewhere.

Commissioners asked for standard forms and flow charts to make enforcement easier for staff, and staff committed to circulate revised draft language, penalty tables simplified to daily fines (example $100/day per violation), and example stop‑work order and notice templates. No final ordinance vote was taken; further workshops and a public review process were scheduled.