Building & Zoning Violations

Building Violations

For complaints regarding active construction without a building permit, a building inspector or code enforcement officer will respond and post a notice at the property ordering the property owner and all contractors to discontinue work until a permit has been issued.

If the construction is not permitted and is also not reported until after it is completed, a code enforcement officer will be responsible for initiating an investigation and proceeding with enforcement of the city's adopted building codes. 

In some instances, unpermitted work may be required to be completely removed if a permit cannot be issued due to inability to comply with applicable zoning and building codes. 

If you are unsure if a project requires a building permit, please contact the Inspection Services Division for assistance at (509) 543-5726.

Zoning Violations

Many of the most common violations are determined by your property's zoning district. If you're unsure which zoning district you're in, you can find the assigned zoning district for your property using the online parcel and zoning viewer. 

Common zoning violations include:

  • Incomplete landscaping
  • Vegetation or unpermitted fences obstructing vision at intersections
  • Parking on unimproved surfaces such as dirt or grass
  • Too many animals kept on a property
  • Unpermitted property uses based on zoning district

You can find out more about the regulations for your zoning district by viewing Planning Division.