Rules Committee, State & County Laws
State and County Laws
Below are some county codes and state laws that pertain to
issues that affect our area. Please be aware that these are not updated on a
regular basis so you must search the RCW (Revised Code of Washington) and County
Codes for the most recent laws regarding each issue. The steps for finding the
RCW and County Codes are listed below.
State Laws:
You can search for State Laws at
http://www.access.wa.gov/
Click on Government">
State and County Laws
Below are some county codes and state laws that pertain to
issues that affect our area. Please be aware that these are not updated on a
regular basis so you must search the RCW (Revised Code of Washington) and
County Codes for the most recent laws regarding each issue. The steps for
finding the RCW and County Codes are listed below.
State Laws:
You can search for State Laws at
http://www.access.wa.gov/ Click on Government, Click on State,
Click on RCW and WAC Searches, Search by Keyword, and make sure the box
labeled RCW & Dispositions is checked.
County Codes:
You can search for County Codes at
http://www.co.snohomish.wa.us/ Click on the County Code link and then
you can search by the Title or Keyword.
Planning and Development: You can access
information from Snohomish County Planning and Development Services in
regards to architectural guidelines for fences, sheds, decks, etc. at
www.co.snohomish.wa.us/pds/ or by calling 425-388-3311. Click on Forms
and Assistance Brochures.
Some Pertinent Laws:
State Laws:
RCW 46.61.235 - Stopping for pedestrians in crosswalks.
(1) The operator of an approaching vehicle shall stop and
remain stopped to allow a pedestrian to cross the roadway within an unmarked
or marked crosswalk when the pedestrian is upon or within one lane of the
half of the roadway upon which the vehicle is traveling or onto which it is
turning. For purposes of this section "half of the roadway" means all
traffic lanes carrying traffic in one direction of travel, and includes the
entire width of a one-way roadway.
(2) No pedestrian shall suddenly leave a curb or other place of safety and
walk, run, or otherwise move into the path of a vehicle which is so close
that it is impossible for the driver to stop.
(3) Subsection (1) of this section does not apply under the conditions
stated in RCW 46.61.240(2).
(4) Whenever any vehicle is stopped at a marked crosswalk or at any unmarked
crosswalk at an intersection to permit a pedestrian to cross the roadway,
the driver of any other vehicle approaching from the rear shall not overtake
and pass such stopped vehicle.
[1993 c 153 § 1; 1990 c 241 § 4; 1965 ex.s. c 155 § 34.]
RCW 46.61.560 - Stopping, standing, or parking outside
business or residence districts.
(1) Outside of incorporated cities and towns no person
may stop, park, or leave standing any vehicle, whether attended or
unattended, upon the roadway.
(2) Subsection (1) of this section and RCW 46.61.570 and 46.61.575 do not
apply to the driver of any vehicle that is disabled in such manner and to
such extent that it is impossible to avoid stopping and temporarily leaving
the vehicle in such position. The driver shall nonetheless arrange for the
prompt removal of the vehicle as required by RCW 46.61.590.
(3) Subsection (1) of this section does not apply to the driver of a public
transit vehicle who temporarily stops the vehicle upon the roadway for the
purpose of and while actually engaged in receiving or discharging passengers
at a marked transit vehicle stop zone approved by the state department of
transportation or a county upon highways under their respective
jurisdictions.
(4) Subsection (1) of this section and RCW 46.61.570 and 46.61.575 do not
apply to the driver of a solid waste collection company or recycling company
vehicle who temporarily stops the vehicle as close as practical to the right
edge of the right-hand shoulder of the roadway or right edge of the roadway
if no shoulder exists for the purpose of and while actually engaged in the
collection of solid waste or recyclables, or both, under chapters 81.77,
35.21, and 35A.21 RCW or by contract under RCW 36.58.030 [36.58.040].
[1991 c 319 § 408; 1984 c 7 § 72; 1979 ex.s. c 178 § 20;
1977 c 24 § 2; 1965 ex.s. c 155 § 64.]
County Codes:
10.28.040 - Use of roads and walks. No person shall
use the roads or walkways in such a manner as to hinder or obstruct the free
flow of traffic thereon. Legislative History: (Res. adopted August 7, 1978).
10.20.010 - Littering unlawful. All persons and
parties are hereby prohibited from depositing any garbage, debris or refuse
along and upon any public highway in this county or upon any property of the
county. Legislative History: (Res. adopted July 10, 1922).
10.20.020 - Penalty for violation. Any person
violating the terms of this chapter shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and upon
conviction shall be punished as provided in SCC 1.01.100. Legislative History:
(Res. adopted July 10, 1922).
10.01.040 - Public disturbance noise. It is unlawful
for any person to cause, or for any person in possession of property to allow
to originate from the property, sound that is a public disturbance noise.
(1) Public Disturbance Noises, Day and Night. Sounds
resulting from the following activities, occurring at any hour of the day or
night, are determined to be public disturbance noises.
(a) Keeping or harboring any animal whose frequent or
repetitive noisemaking unreasonably interferes with the peace and comfort
of persons in rural or residential districts, except farm animals in zones
where farm animals are allowed and except the keeping or harboring of
animals in commercial kennels, animal shelters, veterinary hospitals, pet
shops, and grooming parlors which are in compliance with noise impact
mitigation measures designed to meet the standards of SCC 10.01.030(2) and
SCC 10.01.040(1) required as a part of a conditional use permit or SEPA
determination issued by the Hearing Examiner or Department of Planning and
Development Services.
(b) The use of unmuffled exhaust systems on motor vehicles, off-road
vehicles and recreational watercraft.
(c) Creation of frequent, repetitive or continuous sounds in connection
with starting, repairing, operating or testing of motor vehicles, off-road
vehicles, or internal combustion engines in a manner that interferes with
the peace and comfort of persons in rural or residential districts.
(d) The sounding of vehicle horns for purposes other than public safety.
(e) The making of any loud and raucous sound within one thousand feet of
any school, hospital, sanitarium, nursing or convalescent facility, which
unreasonably interferes with the use of such facility, or with the peace,
comfort, or repose of persons therein.
(f) The use of a sound amplifier on public streets for commercial
advertising or for the purpose of attracting attention to the vehicle,
except as permitted by law, provided that ice cream vendors whose sole
method of sale is from a moving vehicle shall be exempted.
(g) The creation, by use of a musical instrument, sound amplifier or other
device capable of producing or reproducing sound, of sounds heard as
comprehensible music rhythms or felt:
(1) Within a residence not originating the noise, or
(2) Outdoors in a commercial, rural or residential district at a
distance of 75 feet or more from the noise source. Such sounds include
band sessions, automobile sound systems, and electronic sound
reproduction equipment whether the source of the sound is stationary,
portable, or in a motor vehicle.
(2) Public Disturbance Noises, at Night in Rural or
Residential Districts. Sounds resulting from the following activities are
determined to be public disturbance noises when they occur at night and
noise is received on property in a rural or residential district.
(a) Operation within a rural or residential district of
any mechanically powered saw, drill, sander, grinder, blower, fan, garden
tool or similar device, except devices engaged in emergency work exempted
under section SCC 10.01.050 (1)(g).
(b) Operating or permitting someone to operate an internal combustion
powered model.
(c) Construction activity, including blasting, unless a public disturbance
exemption permit pursuant to SCC 10.01.050(6) is obtained.
(d) The operation or idling, for more than ten minutes at a time, of
stationary trucks weighing in excess of 10,000 pounds GVWR, except
vehicles engaged in emergency work exempted under section
10.01.050(1)(g).
(e) The sounding of bells, chimes or carillons.
(f) The creation by use of a musical instrument, whistle, human voice,
sound amplifier, or other device capable of producing or reproducing
sound, of loud and raucous sounds which emanate frequently, repetitively
or continuously from any building, structure, vehicle or property, such as
sounds originating from a band session, automobile sound system or social
gathering.
(3) Exemptions from SCC 10.01.040. Sounds resulting from
activities identified in SCC 10.01.040(1) and 10.01.040(2) shall not be
considered public disturbance noises if:
(a) The activity which produces the noise is operated
in conformance with a valid Conditional Use Permit; and
(b) The Conditional Use Permit establishes conditions designed to meet the
standards of Chapter 10.01 SCC; and
(c) Sounds resulting from activities exempt from SCC 10.01.040(1) and (2)
pursuant to this section are not exempt from SCC 10.01.030. No sound
source specifically exempted from provisions of this chapter by SCC
10.01.050 (1), 10.01.050 (2), 10.01.050 (3), 10.01.050 (4), 10.01.050 (5),
10.01.050 (6), or 10.01.050 (7) may be determined to be a public
disturbance noise, to the extent that the particular source is exempted.
Legislative History: (Added Ord. 97-023, § 1, June 4, 1997, Eff date
January 1, 1998).
32.30.014 - Definition: Native growth protection areas (NGPA).
For purposes of this chapter, native growth protection areas are those lands
which are to be left permanently undisturbed in a substantially natural state.
No clearing, grading, filling, building construction or placement, or road
construction of any kind shall occur within these areas; PROVIDED, That
underground utility lines and drainage discharge swales may cross such areas
utilizing the shortest alignment possible if and only if no feasible alignment
is available which would avoid such a crossing. Removal of vegetation by the
property owner shall be limited to that which is hazardous; PROVIDED, FURTHER,
That buffer treatment authorized by SCC 32.30.040(2) shall be allowed in
native growth protection areas, except those areas protected in SCC
32.30.040(1). No net reduction to the area of an NGPA shall occur without
further environmental review by Snohomish county and adequate notice to all
parties of record. Passive recreational uses limited to nonmotorized trails,
exercise pathways and wildlife viewing areas shall be permitted. Legislative
History: (Added Amended Ord. 93-021, May 3, 1993; Amended Ord. 94-099, § 4,
Nov. 23, 1994; Amended Ord. 96-076, § 37, Nov. 27, 1996, Eff date Dec. 12,
1996).
9.14.030 - Dogs off premises to be on a leash. It
shall be unlawful for the owner or custodian of any dog to cause, permit, or
allow such dog to roam, run, stray or be away from the premises of such owner
or custodian and to be on any public place or any public property or the
private property of another unless such dog is controlled by an automatic
retractable leash or by a leash not more than eight feet in length. Any dog
found roaming, running, straying or being away from such premises and not on a
leash as herein provided, is hereby declared to be a nuisance and such dog may
be seized and impounded subject to redemption in the manner provided by
chapter 9.12 SCC. Legislative History: (§ 22 of Res. adopted July 10, 1978;
Amended Ord. 96-052 § 6, July 10, 1996, Eff date July 25, 1996).
11.04.010 - Parking violations. Except when
necessary to avoid conflict with traffic or in compliance with the law or the
direction of a police officer or official traffic-control device, or when a
vehicle is disabled, it is unlawful for any person to:
(1) stop, stand, or park a motor vehicle upon ways
designed and designated by an official sign for pedestrian, animal, or
nonmotor vehicular traffic, or
(2) park a motor vehicle within ten feet of a mailbox located along a county
roadway. Legislative History: (Res. adopted March 3, 1969; Amended Ord.
98-135, § 2, January 6, 1999, Eff date January 18, 1999).
11.16.020 - Designated maximum speed limit. Except
as otherwise provided in this chapter, the maximum speed limit that a person
may operate a vehicle of any character upon any road in the unincorporated
areas of Snohomish county shall be 35 miles per hour. Legislative History:
(Added Ord. 84-089, § 1, Aug. 27, 1984).
11.16.030 - Designated maximum speed limit - Residential
districts. The maximum speed limit that a person may drive a vehicle of
any type on a road in a residential district in the unincorporated area of
Snohomish county shall be 25 miles per hour except where a different speed
limit has been posted. "Residential District" shall have the same definition
as contained in RCW 46.04.470 as it currently exists or as that definition is
later amended: "Residence District" means the territory contiguous to and
including a public highway not comprising a business district, when the
property on such public highway for a continuous distance of 300 feet or more
on either side thereof is in the main improved with residences or residences
and buildings in use for business." If RCW 46.04.470 is later amended, the
amended language will control over the language in this section. Legislative
History: (Added Ord. 84-089, § 1, Aug. 27, 1984).
Last Updated:
05/01/08
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