Granite Falls City Zoning Code
CHAPTER 19
01 GENERAL PROVISIONS
§ 19.01.010 Title.
This title shall be known as the Granite Falls unified development code (UDC).
(Ord. 740 § 1 (Exh. A), 2007; Ord. 905 § 1 (Att. A), 2016; Ord. 1069, 2025)
§ 19.01.020 Purpose.
The general purposes of the development code are:
(A)
Implement Comprehensive Plan. To implement the comprehensive plan in accordance with Chapter 36.70 RCW et seq. (Planning Enabling Act) and Chapter 36.70A RCW et seq. (Growth Management Act) and implementing a six-year transportation improvement program consistent with the comprehensive plan in accordance with RCW 35.77.010;
(B)
Promote Health and Safety. To promote public health, safety, and general welfare through regulation of physical development of the city;
(C)
Orderly Development. To plan for future development of the city in an orderly and predictable fashion;
(D)
Adequate Public Facilities. To provide for adequate public facilities and services to support land development;
(E)
Promote Well-Being. To promote social and economic well-being through integration of aesthetic, environmental, and economic values;
(F)
Protect Property Rights. To protect property rights;
(G)
Protect Resources. To encourage protection of environmentally critical or historically significant resources;
(H)
Ensure Adequate Space. To ensure provision of adequate space for commercial, industrial, residential, and other activities necessary for public welfare;
(I)
Administration of Regulations. To provide for efficient and effective administration and enforcement of the regulations;
(J)
Provide Light and Access. To provide adequate light, air, privacy, and convenience of access to property;
(K)
Elimination of Nonconforming Uses. To provide for the gradual elimination of those uses of land, buildings and structures which do not conform to the standards of the district in which they are located and are adversely affecting the development and taxable value of property in the district.
(Ord. 740 § 1 (Exh. A), 2007; Ord. 905 § 1 (Att. A), 2016; Ord. 1069, 2025)
§ 19.01.030 Interpretation and application – General.
(A)
Minimum Requirements. In interpreting and applying the provisions of this UDC, they shall be held to be minimum requirements, adopted for the promotion of the public health, safety, and general welfare. It is not intended by this UDC to interfere with or revoke or invalidate any easement, covenant, or other agreement between parties.
(B)
Greater Restrictions. When the provisions of this UDC impose greater restrictions than are imposed by other applicable city, Snohomish County, state, and federal regulations, the provisions of this UDC shall control.
(C)
For the purpose of the unified development code, all words used in the code shall have their normal and customary meanings, unless specifically defined otherwise in this code.
(D)
Ambiguities or Differences. In case of any ambiguity or difference of meaning or inconsistencies between the text and any illustrations or other graphics, the text throughout this UDC shall control.
(E)
Construction of Words. Unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, words in the present tense can include the future tense, and words in the singular can include the plural, or vice versa. Except for words and terms defined in Chapters 19.02 and 19.07 GFMC, all words and terms used in this UDC shall have their customary meanings.
(F)
Shall, Should, May, Will. The words "shall," "should" and "will" are always mandatory and not discretionary. The word "may" is discretionary.
(G)
The word "used" includes designed, intended, or arranged to be used.
(H)
Distance shall be measured horizontally unless otherwise specified.
(Ord. 740 § 1 (Exh. A), 2007; Ord. 905 § 1 (Att. A), 2016; Ord. 1030 § 1, 2022; Ord. 1069, 2025)
§ 19.01.040 Severability.
If any section, subsection, clause, or phrase of this UDC is for any reason held to be unconstitutional or invalid, such unconstitutionality or invalidity shall not affect the validity or constitutionality of the remaining portions of this UDC.
(Ord. 740 § 1 (Exh. A), 2007; Ord. 905 § 1 (Att. A), 2016; Ord. 1069, 2025)
§ 19.01.050 User's guide.
(A)
Chapters. This UDC contains 10 chapters:
(1)
General Provisions. Establishes the purpose, title and basic rules for using the city development code.
(2)
Basic Definitions. Provides definitions for words used throughout the UDC. Words or terms used only in the environmental regulations chapter, Chapter 19.07 GFMC, are defined in that chapter.
(3)
Zoning. Lists and describes the zoning classifications, allowed uses for each zone, and the density, intensity, setback, and open space requirements for each zone.
(4)
Code Administration. Combines and coordinates the application, review, and approval procedures for land development in the city.
(5)
General Permits. Provides application procedures, decision criteria, and development standards for conditional use permits, planned residential developments, annexations, variances, and temporary uses.
(6)
Development Standards. Provides development standards such as density, setbacks, height, hard surface coverage, landscaping, buffering, fences, signs, loading, parking, access, and other standards to cover general and specific uses; also covers home occupations, day care facilities, accessory dwelling units, group homes, adult entertainment, manufactured home parks, RV parks, nonconforming uses, and public works construction standards.
(7)
Environmental Regulations. Establishes the policies and regulatory process for implementing the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) and to identify and protect environmentally critical areas; also incorporates by reference the Granite Falls shoreline master program, and provides regulations for flood damage prevention.
(8)
Siting Essential Public Facilities. Provides a comprehensive and efficient process for siting essential public facilities.
(9)
Land Use Fees and Deposits. Establishes fees and deposits for various services, actions, and permits regarding land use as per the unified development code and shall be established by resolution of the city council.
(10)
Vacations of Streets and Access Easements. Establishes the procedure and criteria that the city will use to decide upon vacation of streets, alleys, and other types of public easements relating to street, pedestrian or travel purposes.
(B)
Numbering Scheme. The numbering scheme used in this title operates as shown below:
Title | Chapter | Section | Subsection |
|---|---|---|---|
19. | 05. | 010 | (A)(1)(a)(i), (ii), (iii) |
(C)
Format. Each chapter begins with a purpose statement for the chapter. Basic definitions are contained in Chapter 19.02 GFMC. Cross references to other chapters and sections of this UDC can be found throughout the document.
(Ord. 740 § 1 (Exh. A), 2007; Ord. 862 § 54, 2013; Ord. 905 § 1 (Att. A), 2016; Ord. 937 § 9 (Exh. H), 2017; Ord. 1069, 2025)
