Except as otherwise permitted by city ordinance, no junk vehicles, as such term is defined in RCW 46.55.010, shall be stored on any property within the city for a period exceeding thirty (30) days, unless the same is stored on private property within an enclosed structure or is covered by a vehicle cover intended for such purpose. A junk vehicle does not include a motor vehicle which is in the process of being repaired as evidenced by the good faith efforts of the vehicle owner. Evidence relating to the good faith repair of a vehicle can be established by producing invoices showing work or parts purchased for repair or renovation of the vehicle, a declaration under penalty of perjury that the vehicle is in the process of being repaired and has been worked on during the past thirty (30) days or by providing such other reasonable information and evidence to comply with the intent of this chapter. It shall be a defense to abatement to move the junk vehicle into an enclosed structure (a building which has 3 sides, a door and a roof lawfully constructed on the property or to maintain a vehicle cover as set forth above). The owner of the real property where the vehicle is stored shall be responsible for a violation of this section.
A violation of this section shall be considered a public nuisance by storage of a junk vehicle. The nuisance may be abated with the cost of abatement assessed against the property owner and the registered owner of the vehicle, if the identity of the owner can be determined, unless the owner when transferring ownership of the vehicle has complied with RCW 46.12.101. (Ord. 109, 1-4-2003)