What is a blight designation?

A blight designation is an official recognition by the state of Washington that a certain area of land is blighted. This means that the area does not meet the standard of health, safety, economic wellbeing, and public welfare that the state expects. This designation is important because it gives the state the power to take the land through Eminent Domain. This is when the government, or a privately owned entity acting on behalf of the government, takes private property for a public use. According to Washington state law, a blight designation must be triggered by one or more of the following issues: unsafe buildings; inadequate streets, sidewalks, sewer systems, water systems, and other public facilities; buildings violating zoning regulations or ordinances; overgrown or vacant lots; buildings or other improvements which endanger the safety or health of the public; and economic distress resulting from economic obsolescence caused by outside forces, such as changes in technology or the local marketplace.

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What is a blight designation?

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