Any owner of housing units who violates Section 22.205.060 shall be subject to a civil penalty of $3,500.
E.
Anyone who obstructs, impedes, or interferes with an attempt to inspect a building
or premises pursuant to the authority of an inspection warrant issued by any court
or an attempt to inspect a housing unit after consent to inspect is given by a tenant
of the housing unit shall be subject to a civil penalty of not more than $1,000.
F.
Civil actions to enforce this Chapter 22.206 shall be brought exclusively in Seattle Municipal Court, except as otherwise required
by law or court rule. The Director shall request in writing that the City Attorney
take enforcement action. The City Attorney shall, with the assistance of the Director,
take appropriate action to enforce this Chapter 22.206. In any civil action filed pursuant to this Chapter 22.206, the City has the burden of proving by a preponderance of the evidence that a violation
exists or existed. The issuance of a notice of violation or an order following a review
by the Director is not itself evidence that a violation exists.
G.
The violator may show, in mitigation of liability, that correction of the violation
was commenced promptly upon receipt of notice, but that compliance within the time
specified was prevented by an inability to obtain necessary materials or labor, inability
to gain access to the subject building, or other condition or circumstance beyond
the control of the violator, and upon a showing of the above described conditions,
the court may enter judgment for less than the maximum penalty.