Check out the new Illegal Dumping informational Video--find links on our Home Page and Illegal Dumping page......Code Enforcement is temporarily located at the Fire Training Center at 1610 N. Rebecca St, bldg B. 

Junk Vehicle                                                         Not Junk Vehicles                                        Junk Vehicle

A junk vehicle is a vehicle that meets three of the following four requirements:
 

1. Is three years old, or older.

2. Is extensively damaged, such as broken windows, or missing wheels, tires, motor, or transmission.

3. Is apparently inoperable

4. Has an approximate fair market value equal only to the approximate value of the scrap in it.  Scrap value is currently approximately $60.

Junk Vehicle abatements:

All junk vehicles placed or situated on private property within the city limits of Spokane are public nuisances to be abated.  The only exceptions are those stated in SMC 10.16.030.  This may apply even in cases where permission has been given for the vehicle to be left on the property.

A Code Enforcement Officer is authorized to issue and serve abatement notices.  These notices are issued to the property owner where the vehicle is located, and to the last registered and legal owner of the vehicle, unless the identification numbers are not available to determine ownership.

The abatement notice will contain a description of the corrective action necessary to eliminate the violation and the date by which the corrective action must be completed to avoid a hearing by the Hearing Examiner.  The notice will also include the date and time of this hearing.  If anyone who received the abatement notice wants to contest the violation, they must attend the hearing or provide written testimony in time  for consideration at the hearing.  For more information on the hearings see SMC 10.16.050 and SMC 10.16.060.

Removal and Disposal costs:

If the vehicle is ordered to be abated, the city has authority to remove and dispose of it.  The costs of disposing of the vehicle may be assessed against the registered owner of the vehicle or against the owner of the property on which the vehicle is stored.  The city may also file a lien against the property for the cost of removal and any and all outstanding fines and collection costs.  For more information see SMC 10.16.070

Junk Vehicle Affidavits/Hulk Slips                   Click this button   for a request form.

Junk Vehicle affidavits, also known as Hulk Slips, may be requested when you have a junk vehicle on your property that you wish to dispose of, however, you do not have title to the vehicle.  It is a Department of Licensing requirement to have a Hulk slip to haul the vehicle off if you don't have the title.

Once Code Enforcement has received the Hulk Slip Request Form, a Code Enforcement Officer will go out to your property to inspect the vehicle.  If the vehicle does not meet the requirements of a junk vehicle, the Hulk slip request will be denied and you will have to pay a tow company to impound the vehicle.   If the Officer finds that the vehicle qualifies as a junk vehicle he or she will process the paperwork and it will be mailed to the requestor.   Only the land owner or person in charge of the property can get Hulk slips for their property.  Once you receive the paperwork you may call a salvage yard to come haul off the vehicle.  The City does not tow vehicles.

Code Enforcement does not do Hulk slips so that persons without titles may gain title to a vehicle.  This must be done through the Department of Licensing in Olympia.

Abandoned Vehicles

If a vehicle has been abandoned on your property and is not a junk vehicle, some private towing companies will haul it away for no charge.  Check with the towing companies for individual policies.  For vehicles that are not completely on your private property, contact the Spokane Police's Abandoned Vehicle Department @ 625-4246.   If you wish to gain title to the vehicle instead of having it hauled away, contact the Department of Licensing @ 482-3609 or www.dol.wa.gov .  The DOL will ask you to fill out a Public Disclosure Form (WAC 308-93-087) to request a Release of Interest Form.  You are then required to send the Release of Interest form to the owner of the vehicle by certified mail.  The owner signs and returns this form to you so that you can gain title to the vehicle.  Regulations regarding this process can be found  in RCW 46.12.380.

[ Home ] [ Up ]                                                                                               

Send mail to mhecker@spokanecity.org with questions or comments about this web site.
Last modified: 07/08/08