City Council Expands Chronic Nuisance Law For Public Safety

On Tuesday, the Seattle City Council voted 7-1 to adopt legislation amending the city’s Chronic Nuisance Properties Ordinance, aiming to strengthen enforcement tools against properties that become persistent sources of criminal activity and neighborhood disruption. The measure, Council Bill 121006, was introduced by Mayor Bruce Harrell and sponsored by Public Safety Committee Chair Bob Kettle of District 7.

The legislation, which expands the types of activities that can trigger a chronic nuisance declaration, is designed to address challenges posed by after-hours venues and establishments that repeatedly violate the law and disrupt neighborhoods.

Councilmember Bob Kettle described the amendments as a critical update to the city’s public safety strategy.

“Updating the current ordinance is an important part of our broader strategic public safety framework,” Kettle said. “The previous ordinance, while useful, lacked the flexibility to address the challenges of present-day chronic nuisance properties. With our amendments, this fix will ensure that Seattle police have the tools they need to address violence, trafficking, and other severe public safety issues that come up, while continuing to keep our residents safe.”

Mayor Bruce Harrell praised the council’s support and highlighted the ordinance’s role in improving neighborhood safety.

“Public safety is our highest priority, and the city must be able to act quickly and decisively when a property becomes a persistent source of dangerous criminal activity and disorder that puts the surrounding community at risk,” Harrell said. “This update to strengthen our chronic nuisance properties ordinance is an important step in the right direction, protecting our neighborhoods from repeated harm and improving the quality of life for residents. I’m thankful for the support and partnership of the City Council on this effort.”

Councilmember Rob Saka, vice chair of the Public Safety Committee and a co-sponsor of the bill, described the legislation as a valuable addition to the city’s public safety toolkit.

“As co-sponsor of this bill, I am proud to support this important legislation for our city,” Saka said. “Building on the authority we gave to our fire chief to abate vacant or unsafe buildings, this council has created another tool for our law enforcement partners to help keep our neighborhoods and communities safe. Thank you to Mayor Harrell and Chair Kettle for their partnership on this legislation.”

Seattle’s original Chronic Nuisance Properties Ordinance was adopted in 2009, establishing criteria for declaring a property a chronic nuisance when certain offenses occurred repeatedly within a set period. Under the existing law, properties could be designated as nuisances after three or more incidents of drug activity, assault, prostitution, obstruction of traffic, weapons violations, or gang-related offenses within 60 days. Since its adoption, the ordinance has been applied 17 times, most recently in April 2025 following a deadly shooting near an after-hours nightclub in Seattle.

The updated ordinance retains the basic enforcement framework while broadening the list of qualifying offenses. It also addresses a significant limitation in the previous law by allowing activity adjacent to a property—or involving individuals associated with the property—to be considered when determining if it qualifies as a chronic nuisance. City officials say this change closes a loophole that prevented enforcement action when illegal or dangerous activity linked to a property spilled into surrounding neighborhoods.

Under the ordinance, once the chief of police determines that a property meets the criteria for a chronic nuisance, the city is required to notify the property owner or person in charge. This notification must include a description of the property, a summary of the nuisance activities, and a demand for the owner to respond within seven days to discuss corrective actions. If the owner fails to respond or if the nuisance is not abated to the satisfaction of the chief of police, the city can seek legal remedies, including a court order requiring the owner to eliminate the nuisance.

Penalties for noncompliance include fines of up to $750 per day from the date of the notice until the nuisance is resolved. The court may also authorize city inspections, order abatement actions, and impose liens on the property to recover costs incurred by the city in addressing the nuisance. Additionally, owners who fail to comply with the ordinance’s requirements may face civil penalties of up to $37,500.

The legislation now heads to Mayor Harrell for his signature. Once enacted, it will serve as an expanded enforcement tool for Seattle police and the City Attorney’s Office, particularly in addressing after-hours venues, illegal liquor sales, and fencing of stolen goods—issues that community members and law enforcement say have increasingly impacted neighborhood safety.

City leaders say the ordinance complements other recent public safety initiatives, including the council’s decision earlier this year to grant the fire chief greater authority to address vacant and unsafe buildings. Supporters see this legislation as part of a broader strategy to improve public safety while balancing enforcement with community accountability.

Kettle emphasized that the ordinance is not merely about punitive action but about creating safer environments for Seattle residents.

“Our goal isn’t just enforcement—it’s ensuring our communities are safe places for everyone,” Kettle said. “This ordinance gives us more flexibility to intervene before problems spiral out of control.”

Harrell echoed that sentiment, framing the ordinance as one part of a larger community safety effort.

“We’re focused on proactive steps that protect neighborhoods while respecting community relationships,” Harrell said. “This ordinance helps us do both.”