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A. It is the purpose and intent of this Chapter to provide for the protection of the health, safety, and general welfare of the citizens of Pierce County by proscribing chronic nuisances and establishing a procedure for the abatement of chronic nuisances where efforts to achieve voluntary compliance have failed. The remedy provided in this Chapter shall be in addition to, and not in lieu of, other civil or criminal remedies provided by State law and/or the Pierce County Code.

B. Pierce County is committed to protecting its citizens from the dangers of properties that are abandoned, where unsafe conditions exist, or where crime repeatedly occurs. Such properties are known as "nuisance properties" because of their adverse impact on the quality of life of the County's citizens. Additionally, when owners, financial institutions and persons in charge fail to take responsible action to secure and care for these properties, they deteriorate and become "chronic nuisance" properties. Chronic nuisance properties create a substantial financial burden, pose a significant strain on County services, interfere with other's use and enjoyment of their lands, and are a prohibited public nuisance. Persons in charge of such properties have a duty to take all reasonable measures to prevent and abate nuisance activity. It is the purpose of this Chapter to hold legally and financially accountable the owners and persons in charge of nuisance and chronic nuisance properties, and to provide for the restoration and abatement of such properties.

(Ord. 2019-21 § 1 (part), 2019; Ord. 2017-29 § 1 (part), 2017)