Unlawful actions—Violation—Penalties
Seattle Mun. Code § 5.55.220
in effect5.55.220 - Unlawful actions—Violation—Penalties
A. It shall be unlawful for any person subject to the provisions of this Chapter 5.55 or Chapters 5.35, 5.37, 5.38, 5.39, 5.40, 5.45, 5.46, 5.48, 5.50, 5.52, and 5.53:
1. To violate or fail to comply with any of the provisions of this Chapter 5.55, or Chapters 5.35, 5.37, 5.38, 5.39, 5.40, 5.45, 5.46, 5.48, 5.50, 5.52, and 5.53, or any lawful rule or regulation adopted by the Director;
2. To make or manufacture any license required by this Chapter 5.55 except upon authority of the Director;
3. To make any false statement on any license, application, or tax return;
4. To aid or abet any person in any attempt to evade payment of a license fee or tax;
5. To refuse admission to the Director to inspect the premises and/or records as required by this Chapter 5.55, or to otherwise interfere with the Director in the performance of duties imposed by Chapters 5.35, 5.37, 5.38, 5.39, 5.40, 5.45, 5.46, 5.48, 5.50, 5.52, and 5.53;
6. To fail to appear or testify in response to a subpoena issued pursuant to Section 3.02.120 in any proceeding to determine compliance with this Chapter 5.55 and Chapters 5.35, 5.37, 5.38, 5.39, 5.40, 5.45, 5.46, 5.48, 5.50, 5.52, and 5.53;
7. To testify falsely in any investigation, audit, or proceeding conducted pursuant to this Chapter 5.55;
8. To continue to engage in any business activity, profession, trade, or occupation after the revocation of or during a period of suspension of a business license tax certificate issued under Section 5.55.030; or
9. In any manner, to hinder or delay the City or any of its officers in carrying out the provisions of this Chapter 5.55 or Chapters 5.35, 5.37, 5.38, 5.39, 5.40, 5.45, 5.46, 5.48, 5.50, 5.52, and 5.53.
B. Each violation of or failure to comply with the provisions of this Chapter 5.55, or Chapters 5.35, 5.37, 5.38, 5.39, 5.40, 5.45, 5.46, 5.48, 5.50, 5.52, or 5.53 shall constitute a separate offense. Except as provided in subsection 5.55.220.C, any person who commits an act defined in subsection 5.55.220.A is guilty of a gross misdemeanor, punishable in accordance with Section 12A.02.070. The provisions of Chapters 12A.02 and 12A.04 apply to the offenses defined in subsection 5.55.220.A, except that liability is absolute and none of the mental states described in Section 12A.04.030 need be proved.
C. Except as provided in subsections 5.55.220.C.1 and 5.55.220.C.2, each violation of Sections 5.40.080, 5.52.020, or 5.55.030 is a Class 1 civil infraction as contemplated by chapter 7.80 RCW, for which the penalty is $250 plus statutory assessments. Each day a person is in violation of Sections 5.40.080, 5.52.020, or 5.55.030 is a separate violation and the monetary penalties shall accumulate. A civil infraction under these sections shall be processed in the manner contemplated by chapter 7.80 RCW and notices of infraction for such violations may be issued by law enforcement officers or the Director, or the Director's designees, including License and Standards Inspectors.
1. Each person who commits a violation of Sections 5.40.080, 5.52.020, or 5.55.030 after having been found to have committed a previous violation of the same section is guilty of a gross misdemeanor punishable in accordance with Section 12A.02.070. Each day a person is in violation of Sections 5.40.080, 5.52.020, or 5.55.030 shall be a separate violation.
2. If a corporation commits a violation of Sections 5.40.080, 5.52.020, or 5.55.030 after having been found to have committed a previous violation of the same section then any individual who would be criminally liable for the corporation's acts, pursuant to Sections 12A.04.110, 12A.04.120, 12A.04.130 or any other provision of the Seattle Municipal Code, is guilty of a gross misdemeanor punishable in accordance with Section 12A.02.070, whether or not the individual has been found to have committed a previous violation of the same section. Each day a person is in violation of Sections 5.40.080, 5.52.020, or 5.55.030 shall be a separate violation. For purposes of this subsection 5.55.220.C.2, corporation shall have the meaning as set forth in Section 12A.04.110.
D. Prosecution pursuant to this section shall not be commenced more than four (4) years after the Director knew or should have known that the act(s) constituting the offense occurred. The penalties and punishments established by this section shall be in addition to all other penalties provided by law.
E. Upon a determination that a person is subject to criminal prosecution under this section, the Director and agents of the Director, who are commissioned as non-uniformed special police officers pursuant to SMC Section 5.55.225, may issue citations and make arrests for criminal violations of this section.
(Ord. I-137, § 9, 2025; Ord. 126880, § 11, 2023; Ord. 126108, § 9, 2020; Ord. 125971, § 9, 2019; Ord. 125324, § 14, 2017; Ord. 124833, § 9, 2015; Ord. 124808, § 10, 2015; Ord. 122764, § 4, 2008; Ord. 122564, § 9, 2008; Ord. 122192, § 8, 2006; Ord. 122191, § 8, 2006; Ord. 121266, § 29, 2003; Ord. 120668, § 4, 2001.)
Source: City of Seattle, Seattle Municipal Code and City Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/wa/seattle/codes/municipal_code?nodeId=TIT5REFITA_SUBTITLE_IITA_CH5.55GEADPR_5.55.220UNACIOENFetched: 11/1/2026