Kittitas County Unincorporated
City Zoning Code
City Zoning Code
CHAPTER 17
31 CA - COMMERCIAL AGRICULTURE ZONE
§ 17.31.010 Purpose and intent.
The commercial agriculture zone is an area wherein farming and ranching are the priority. The intent of this zoning classification is to preserve fertile farmland from encroachment by nonagricultural land uses and protect the rights and traditions of those engaged in agriculture.
(Ord. 96-15 (part), 1996)
§ 17.31.020 Uses permitted.
Uses allowed in the commercial agriculture zone include those uses pursuant to KCC Chapter 17.15.
(Ord. 96-15 (part), 1996; Ord. O-2006-01, 2006; Ord. 2007-22, 2007; Ord. 2011-013, 2011; Ord. 2013-001, 2013)
§ 17.31.030 Repealed.
(Ord. 96-15 (part), 1996; Ord. O-2006-01, 2006; Ord. 2007-22, 2007; Ord. 2009-25, 2009; Ord. 2013-001, 2013)
§ 17.31.040 Lot size required.
Minimum lot (homesite) requirements in the commercial agriculture zone are:
1.
Twenty (20) acres, unless within a conservation plat as provided for in KCC Chapter 16.09, Cluster Platting and Conservation Platting.
2.
One half (½) acre for lots in a conservation plat.
3.
Commercial agricultural zones. In no case shall there be more than one (1) dwelling (residence) on any lot or tax parcel unless such parcel is twice the required minimum (twenty-(20)-acre) size.
(Ord. 96-15 (part), 1996; Ord. 2007-22, 2007; Ord. 2013-001, 2013; Ord. 2016-023, 2016)
§ 17.31.050 Yard requirements - Front yard.
There shall be a minimum front yard of twenty-five (25) feet unless previous building lines less than the required minimum exist, in which case the Hearing Examiner may grant a variance of up to ten (10) feet.
(Ord. 96-15 (part), 1996; Ord. 2012-009, 2012; Ord. 2013-001, 2013)
§ 17.31.060 Yard requirements - Side yard.
Side yard shall be a minimum of five (5) feet. Side yard setbacks may be modified in accordance with KCC § 16.10.065.
(Ord. 96-15 (part), 1996; Ord. 2013-001, 2013; Ord. 2019-013, 2019; Ord. 2022-005, 2022)
§ 17.31.070 Yard requirements - Rear yard.
There shall be a rear yard with a minimum depth of twenty-five (25) feet. Rear yard setbacks may be modified in accordance with KCC § 16.10.065.
(Ord. 96-15 (part), 1996; Ord. 2013-001, 2013; Ord. 2022-005, 2022; Ord. 2022-017, 2022)
§ 17.31.075 Yard requirements - Zones adjacent to Commercial Forest Zone.
Properties bordering or adjacent to the Commercial Forest zone are subject to a two hundred (200)-foot setback from the Commercial Forest Zone. (KCC § 17.57.050(1)). For properties where such setback isn't feasible, development shall comply with Kittitas County Code 17.57.050(2).
(Ord. 2007-22, 2007; Ord. 2013-001, 2013)
§ 17.31.080 Yard requirements - Sale or conveyance restrictions.
No sale or conveyance of any portion of a lot for other than a public purpose shall leave a structure or the remainder of the lot with less than the minimum lot, yard, or setback requirements of this zone.
(Ord. 96-15 (part), 1996)
§ 17.31.090 Dimensional requirements.
The minimum average lot width shall be two hundred (200) feet. No platted lot or parcel may be created with a dimensional ratio greater than 4:1.
(Ord. 96-15 (part), 1996; Ord. 2013-001, 2013)
§ 17.31.100 Access.
No dwelling shall be constructed or located on a lot or parcel which is not served by a legal sixty-(60)-foot right-of-way or existing county road.
(Ord. 96-15 (part), 1996; Ord. 2013-001, 2013)
§ 17.31.110 Special setback requirements.
None of the following uses shall be located within the distances indicated of any public street or road, any school or public park, or any dwelling (except such dwelling as may exist upon the same property with the restricted use):
1.
Within one and one-half (1½) miles:
a.
Farms or establishments for feeding of garbage or other refuse to hogs or other animals:
i.
Provisions made that all other operations shall be conducted in compliance with all state and county health regulations, and
ii.
Reasonable protection from any potential detrimental effects such use might have on surrounding properties will be provided.
2.
Within one hundred (100) feet:
a.
Barns, shelters, or other buildings or structures for keeping or feeding of any livestock, poultry, or other animals or birds whether wild or domestic.
3.
Feed lots containing fifty (50) to one hundred (100) head at a density of less than five hundred (500) square feet per head for a period of six (6) months or more shall be located no closer than three hundred (300) feet to any existing home, school or park.
(Ord. 96-15 (part), 1996; Ord. 2013-001, 2013)
§ 17.31.120 Off-street parking.
Note: Former § 17.31.120, derived from Ord. 2007-22, was repealed by Ord. 2013-001, 2013.
1.
Residential parking exceptions.
a.
Garages are not required to meet minimum parking spaces required in Table 17.11.039(4)(a)(i).
b.
Parking spaces that count towards minimum parking requirements may be enclosed or unenclosed.
c.
Tandem parking spaces must count towards meeting minimum parking requirements at a rate of one space for every 20 linear feet with any necessary provisions for turning radius.
d.
Existence of legally nonconforming gravel surfacing in existing designated parking areas may not be a reason for prohibiting utilization of existing space in the parking area to meet local parking standards, up to a maximum of six parking spaces.
e.
Parking space sizes shall be eight feet by 20 feet, except for required parking for people with disabilities.
f.
Off-street parking is not required as a condition of permitting a residential project if compliance with tree retention would otherwise make a proposed residential development or redevelopment infeasible.
g.
Parking spaces that consist of grass block pavers may count toward minimum parking requirements.
h.
Existing parking spaces that do not conform to the requirements of this section by June 6, 2024, are not required to be modified or resized, except for compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act[1]. Existing paved parking lots are not required to change the size of existing parking spaces during resurfacing if doing so will be more costly or require significant reconfiguration of the parking space locations.
[1]
Editor's Note: See 42 U.S.C. Section 12101 et seq.
(Ord. 2026-004, 6/16/2026)
§ 17.31.130 Existing residential exceptions.
1.
A portion of exterior wall assemblies that include insulation shall be allowed to project up to an additional eight inches into the setbacks on all sides.
2.
A building shall be allowed to exceed the maximum allowable roof height by eight inches to accommodate additional insulation.
3.
Gross floor area shall be measured from the interior face of the exterior walls, which includes drywall, as typically depicted on the architectural floor plans.
(Ord. 2026-004, 6/16/2026)
