Roach bill would bring parity to city and county governments, protect property values

Published 1:55 pm Tuesday, February 26, 2013

Sen. Pam Roach’s bill to grant a city or town the authority to define potentially dangerous litter as a nuisance and require its removal received a unanimous vote Monday from the Senate.

“This bill, if signed into law, will bring parity to cities which currently cannot enforce nuisance laws,” said Roach, R-Auburn. “Counties can enforce laws aimed at requiring property owners to remove nuisance-level litter. Cities should have that authority, too.”

Senate Bill 5323 was suggested by the Association of Washington Cities.

SB 5323 would give local governments the authority to determine that litter and potentially dangerous litter is a nuisance and would require the cost of removal to be borne by the property owner. Roach says this legislation will help preserve property values in areas where homeowners or tenants store wrecked cars or trash in their front yards.

“Local governments have a better handle of the needs of a community, and this is another tool cities will have to serve those needs.”

The bill now moves to the House of Representatives for consideration.