Has Your Property Been Damaged by Graffiti or Tagging?
In 2024, Mill Creek City Council passed an ordinance (MCMC Chapter 8.10) to declare graffiti a public nuisance and put in place procedures for remediation. The ordinance requires property and business owners to remove graffiti visible from roadways, rights-of-way, parkways, alleys, sidewalks, or other facilities open to the public as soon as possible.
In response to this ordinance, the City created its first-ever Graffiti Abatement Program to provide Mill Creek residents and business owners options to help deal with damage to their property caused by graffiti or tagging.
Clean-Up Kits
The City has partnered with Lowe’s Home Improvement in Mill Creek to provide a DIY option for free clean-up kits for our residents and business owners.
Clean-Up Kit Details
- Are FREE for Mill Creek residents & businesses.
- Include graffiti removal tools plus paint or stain.
If DIY is not an option, or if additional assistance is needed, the Graffiti Abatement Program offers a list of professional abatement businesses in the area, and staff can assist in coordinating volunteers when needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Graffiti Removal
What are my vendor options for graffiti removal?
Mill Creek has multiple professional graffiti abatement businesses in the area that offer fast service and support for graffiti removal. We have listed just a few potential businesses that specialize in this type of clean-up and restoration:
A.S.A.P Graffiti Removal and Pressure Washing
(206) 778-5226
See business reviews.
Graffiti Busters
(206) 525-0301
See business reviews.
GraffitiCo
(206) 720-4777
See business reviews.
If you choose to hire a professional graffiti abatement vendor to come out and clean your property instead of utilizing the free DIY kit, please use this resource list to help you begin your search for a removal service that meets the criteria for graffiti removal. Please note that the cost to hire a professional vendor is to be covered by the property owner.
What if I need a volunteer?
For members of our community with limited physical mobility or resources, please email us at graffiti@millcreekwa.gov and let us know that you require additional assistance so we can help coordinate your needs with volunteers.
Do you have any tips or tricks for graffiti removal?
- Report all active tagging to Mill Creek PD by calling 911.
- Commercial and residential property owners are responsible for graffiti removal on their properties within a reasonable time period.
- If you’re a repeat victim of tagging and you have already used an abatement vendor before, the City can assist financially on the second round. Please reach out to staff for more information.
- City owned properties must be cleaned within reasonable time of reporting.
- How you could remove graffiti:
- Paint over it (cost effective and fast; best for porous surfaces such as concrete walls, sidewalks, wood).
- Pressure wash it (best for concrete walls, sidewalks, stairs, brick walls, or wood that has not been stained or weathered).
- Scape it off with a razor blade (best for stickers or paint marker on glass).
- For business owners: contact building management to remove graffiti, add lighting, install cameras.
- Contact WSDOT at NWReportGraffiti@WSDOT.wa.gov to report graffiti along any WA State interstate or state routes.
Notices & Reporting
What if I receive a Graffiti Notice of Removal?
Mill Creek City Council passed Ordinance 2024-923 to declare graffiti a public nuisance and put in place procedures for near immediate remediation. Active code enforcement will be critical for overall maintenance, including the appearance, of the City. Staff will work quickly to send out Graffiti Notice of Removal letters to property owners with graffiti visible from roadways, rights-of-way, parkways, alleys, sidewalks or other facilities open to the public. Property owners must abate graffiti as soon as possible within 30 days from the date letter is received.
An infraction of $25 for each violation will be assessed, with each day the reported violation remains unresolved as a separate infraction. Property owners can abate using our free clean-up kit or choose to hire out a professional abatement vendor for ease and quicker completion.
See the full code on graffiti abatement here.
How do I report graffiti I see on someone else's property?
An important aspect to maintaining Mill Creek’s upkeep is for the community to keep the City informed about existing and new instances of graffiti on property, both private and public. To achieve this, Mill Creek City Council passed Ordinance 2024-923 to declare graffiti a public nuisance and put in place procedures for near immediate remediation.
To report discovered graffiti:
- Open our Citizen Support Center Portal
- Click “All Request Types”
- Scroll to and click on the Graffiti option
- Enter the information for where the graffiti was spotted
- You will then be prompted to create an account with the Citizen Support Center Portal
- Once submitted, staff will proceed with graffiti code enforcement action to demand graffiti abatement per MCMC 8.10.060.
To Request Your Graffiti Abatement Cleanup Kit
Use the form below to request your free DIY graffiti abatement kit. For any additional questions, please feel free to reach out at graffiti@millcreekwa.gov.