On July 27, 2026, Division I of the Washington Court of Appeals affirmed the City of Mountlake Terrace’s code enforcement actions and upheld the decisions of the City's Hearing Examiner and the Snohomish County Superior Court in Knight v. City of Mountlake Terrace.
The case arose from the City's code enforcement action at a residential rental property with significant health and safety code violations. In affirming the City's actions, the Court recognized the City's authority to enforce its municipal code through its administrative hearing process and rejected challenges to the Hearing Examiner's jurisdiction and procedures.
The decision reinforces the important role local governments play in protecting public health and safety through fair, consistent, and lawful code enforcement.
