Mold Removal in Hansville, WA

Hansville is an unincorporated coastal community at the northern tip of the Kitsap Peninsula, about 16 miles northeast of Poulsbo and about 23 miles from Seattle in a straight line. Point No Point Light, the oldest lighthouse on Puget Sound, stands on its eastern shore. Hood Canal lies to the west, Admiralty Inlet to the northeast and Puget Sound to the east, with Buck Lake inland.

An exposed shoreline

Kitsap County's sea level rise risk assessment, a non-regulatory planning document, lists Hansville and Point No Point among the shoreline areas most affected by coastal flooding exposure. Of the sites studied, they had the highest modeled wave run-up, with concentrations of at-risk buildings, roads and outfalls. Shorelines fall under the county's Shoreline Master Program, and the county's coastal FEMA base flood elevation is 13 feet NAVD88.

For homeowners, that means two kinds of water to watch:

1. Storm water from outside. Waves and spray during winter storms can wet siding, decks and low crawl spaces. Dry anything soaked within 24 to 48 hours, per EPA, or assume mold.
2. Moisture from inside. Cold walls facing the water, closed-up rooms and bath fans that don't vent outdoors create condensation all winter.

Crawl spaces and attics are the usual places mold builds up unseen, so check them after long storms.

County permits and code compliance

Hansville is unincorporated, so Kitsap County's Department of Community Development Permit Services issues building permits, including post-storm repair permits. Mold removal itself isn't permitted work. The DCD's Code Compliance office takes reports through its Report a Code Violation process, and the Kitsap Nuisance Abatement Team deals with nuisance properties.

Renters

Kitsap Public Health says landlords must repair building problems that let water in, such as roof and plumbing leaks and structural moisture, and that tenants should report leaks promptly in writing. Washington law doesn't require landlords to perform mold remediation itself. The Washington Department of Health's renters page covers the basics. This is general information, not legal advice.

Health questions

Kitsap Public Health District doesn't inspect or test private homes for mold, but it has a mold page and a water-damage guidance line. EPA says people with asthma or weakened immune systems should stay away from moldy areas.

What to expect

You'll be connected with an independent local mold remediation company. Washington has no state mold license or certification, so verify registration with Washington L&I as a construction contractor on L&I's Verify a Contractor tool and ask for a written scope.