8.10.150 Liens.
A. Generally. The city shall have a lien for any civil penalty imposed or for the cost of any abatement work done pursuant to this chapter, or both, against the real property on which the civil penalty was imposed or any of the abatement work was performed.
B. Priority. The lien shall be subordinate to all existing special assessment liens previously imposed upon the same property and shall be paramount to all other liens, except for state and county taxes.
C. Contents. The claim of lien shall contain the following:
1. The authority for imposing a civil penalty or proceeding to abate the violation, or both;
2. A brief description of the civil penalty imposed or the abatement work done, or both, including the violations charged and the duration thereof, including the time the work is commenced and completed and the name of the persons or organizations performing the work;
3. A legal description of the property to be charged with the lien;
4. The name of the known or reputed owner, and, if not known, the fact shall be alleged;
5. The amount, including lawful and reasonable costs, for which the lien is claimed; and
6. Signed verification by the director or his/her authorized representative, under penalty of perjury under the laws of the state of Washington, that the declarant believes the claim is just.
D. Recording. The director shall cause a claim for lien to be filed for record in the Pierce County auditor’s office within 90 days from the date the civil penalty is due or within 90 days from the date of completion of the abatement work performed pursuant to this chapter.
E. Duration. A lien created under this chapter shall be valid until the amount of money specified in the lien is paid in full.
F. Foreclosure. A lien created under this chapter may be foreclosed and enforced by a civil action in a court having jurisdiction. All persons who have legally filed claims or liens against the same property prior to commencement of the action shall be joined as parties, either as plaintiff or defendant. Dismissal of an action to foreclose a lien at the instance of a plaintiff shall not prejudice another party to the suit who claims a lien. (Ord. 1162 § 1, 2009).