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What is a Land Use Violation?

Properties do not have to look like this to experience a land use violation. It takes a complaint and investigation to start the process and often times it leads to the property getting a "lien" filed against the property. You will see it on title and is often marked "Complaint/Notice of Violation/Non-Compliance" in the heading of the title exception.

It clearly does not belong on title and escrow will start investigating this to get it released. These have been very common in the City of Seattle. You can go on line here to check out your City property and see what the history is.

In the past, when the City of Seattle has cleared the violation, they had been giving the homeowner the unrecorded Certificate of Compliance and closing their books. Of course, most sellers have no idea the importance of recording these to clear title and so when the property sells, the title will still be showing an old Notice of Violation on record. The City is now charging a $77.50 research fee obtain a copy of the Certificate of Compliance record. They do take credit cards for payment.

The City of Seattle has recently changed their policy and is now recording the Certificate of Compliance, but there are alot of properties that are not yet cleared.

King County also has lien rights for violaters. On October 1, 2009, King County enacted a new Code Citation process. According to the County, the citation process will offer property owners the option of paying a civil fine and cleaning up the property in a timely manner, rather than engaging the full code enforcement process. Additional information can be obtained by calling Diedre Andress at 206-296-6656.

The Theme this Week from RealtyTimes? Think Positive!!

This weeks Market Outlook, Lender Information, Buyers Advice, Pending Sales and much more is discussed in this weeks Realty Times.

Is your King County property on Septic?

If your listing or sale is on a septic tank system in King County, the County requires certain notices recorded on title before the sale out to your new buyer (if it has not already been done).

There is also a form that the buyers must sign, acknowledging that the title has this notice on it and the buyers will pay a nominal charge to the County on their closing statement.

Todays Tip? Make sure that escrow is notified that the property is on a septic system and it will be handled properly.

Julie Booth

Please call anytime to discuss a closing situation.

I am here to assist you and your customers in any way I can.

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P: 206-429-2696
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