9.12.090 Notice of violation.
(1) Whenever an authorized county animal control officer has reasonable grounds to believe that an animal is violating or being maintained in violation of this title, the officer shall be authorized to issue to the violator a notice of violation containing:
(a) The names and address, if known, of the owner or person in violation of this title.
(b) A statement that the animal control officer has found the animal is violating, or being maintained in violation of this title with a brief description of the violation.
(c) A statement assessing a civil penalty for each violation and that the penalty shall be paid to the county within 15 days from the date of service. The penalties assessed shall be as follows: $100.00 for the first violation; $250.00 for the second violation; and $500.00 for each subsequent violation.
(d) A statement setting out an order of abatement and a reasonable period during which to comply as determined by the Snohomish county animal control officer.
(e) A statement advising that if any required abatement is not commenced within the time specified, or any civil penalty is not timely paid, the animal control officer shall have the authority to refer such noncompliance to the office of the prosecuting attorney, which shall have authority to issue a criminal citation, charging such person with violation of this title.
(f) A statement advising:
(i) that the notice of violation may be appealed to the Snohomish county hearing examiner pursuant to the provisions of SCC 2.02.125 and SCC 9.12.101;
(ii) that any per diem civil penalty shall not accrue during the pendency of such administrative appeal; and
(iii) that the failure to file a timely and complete appeal will constitute a waiver of all rights to an administrative appeal under county code.
(2) The notice of violation shall be served on the owner or keeper of the animal in violation of this title either personally or by mailing a copy of such notice by certified mail, postage prepaid, return receipt requested, to the person at his last known address. If service is by certified mail, the service shall be deemed complete upon the third day following the day upon which the notice was placed in the mail.
Proof of personal service of the notice shall be made at the time of service by a written declaration under penalty of perjury executed by the person effecting service, declaring time, date and manner in which service was made. (Amended by Ord. 80-115 § 2, Dec. 29, 1980; Amended by § 13 of Res. adopted July 10, 1978; Amended by Res. adopted July 9, 1973; Amended by Amended Ord. 93-077, Sept. 8, 1993, Eff date Jan. 1, 1994; Amended by Amended Ord. 06-133, Feb. 28, 2007, Eff date Mar. 16, 2007; Amended by Ord. 16-111, Nov. 14, 2016, Eff date Dec. 8, 2016).