Mold Removal in Spanaway, WA

Unincorporated Pierce County

Spanaway is a census-designated place south of Tacoma, about 39 miles from Seattle in a straight line, often grouped with neighboring Parkland. It began as the planned community of Lake Park and has long been a stop on the way to Mount Rainier along Pacific Avenue South and SR 7. Because it isn't a city, Pierce County provides permits and code enforcement.

Moisture in Spanaway houses

Spanaway Lake is the local landmark, but most mold here doesn't come from the lake. It comes from ordinary water problems that the wet season makes worse:

• A slow drip under a sink or behind a washer that soaks the subfloor.
• Roof leaks that wet attic insulation and sheathing.
• Crawl spaces with damp soil and little air movement.
• Condensation on windows and outside walls during cold, damp months.

The Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department's guidance is to stop leaks, repair roofs and plumbing, and move water away from basement walls and slabs. Pierce County takes part in the National Flood Insurance Program, so flood insurance is available to property owners, and building, clearing or excavating in floodplain areas generally needs a county permit. If a lake-area lot ever takes on water, dry it out within 24 to 48 hours.

Permits come from the county

The Pierce County Planning & Public Works Development Center, at the county annex on South 35th Street in Tacoma, is the central location for building permits in unincorporated areas. Mold cleanup isn't permitted work by itself, but structural repairs or rebuilding afterward may be.

A gap renters should know about

Spanaway renters have no clear county office for rental mold complaints. Pierce County Code Enforcement lists mold as a public-health concern outside its jurisdiction and treats landlord-tenant conflicts as civil matters. The Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department has said it has no regulatory power over rental housing. That leaves state law: give your landlord written notice of the leak or moisture problem. Washington law requires landlords to keep units weathertight and in good repair, and written notice starts repair timelines. The Department of Health's renters page explains the basics. This is general information, not legal advice.

Health and hiring

The county health department's mold FAQ is a good starting point. EPA says mold can irritate the eyes, skin, nose, throat and lungs. When you call, you'll be connected with an independent local company. Washington has no state mold license or certification, so check that the company is registered with Washington L&I as a construction contractor on L&I's Verify a Contractor tool.