Mold Removal in Port Ludlow, WA

Port Ludlow is an unincorporated resort and master-planned community in Jefferson County, about 26 miles from Seattle in a straight line. It grew up after the Hood Canal Bridge opened in 1960, and its marina on Port Ludlow Bay is a popular stop. The bay opens onto Admiralty Inlet and Puget Sound, and water covers about 18 percent of the community's area.

Moisture and mold here

Being on a protected bay doesn't keep moisture out. Damp marine air, long gray winters and homes that may sit empty for stretches all add up. Where to look:

• Attic sheathing above bathrooms and laundry rooms.
• Crawl spaces and the bottom of exterior walls on the downhill side.
• Window frames and sliding door tracks that collect condensation.
• Closets on outside walls where air barely moves.

Keep the heat on and fans running through the wet months, and check under the house after long storms.

Floodplain rules

Jefferson County says many of its waterbodies are mapped as floodplain by FEMA, and activities in mapped floodplains must follow the county's flood damage prevention ordinance through the Department of Community Development. Standard homeowners policies don't cover flood damage, but because the county takes part in the National Flood Insurance Program, residents can buy separate flood coverage.

Permits and code compliance

Jefferson County's Department of Community Development Building Division reviews building permit applications and does inspections for unincorporated areas like Port Ludlow. Mold removal isn't permitted work, but replacing structural parts or drywall can be.

DCD's Code Compliance takes concerns about building, land use and health code violations through an online form and works with Environmental Public Health. Anonymous complaints aren't accepted, and the page doesn't name rental mold specifically.

Renters

Give your landlord written notice of any leak or moisture problem. Washington law requires landlords to keep units weathertight and give tenants Department of Health-approved mold information, and written notice starts repair timelines. Jefferson County Public Health links to the state's "Renters, Landlords and Mold" guidance. This is general information, not legal advice.

Health questions

Jefferson County Public Health has a mold page and lists Environmental Public Health in Port Townsend as its contact. EPA says people with asthma or weakened immune systems should stay away from moldy areas.

When you call

You'll be connected with an independent local mold remediation company. Washington has no state mold license or certification, so confirm the company is registered with Washington L&I as a construction contractor on L&I's Verify a Contractor tool before work begins.