A. Encourage land use decision-making in accordance with the public interest and applicable laws of Washington State;

B. Protect the general health, safety and welfare;

C. Implement the Monroe comprehensive plan goals and policies through land use regulations;

D. Provide for the economic, social, and aesthetic advantages of orderly development through harmonious groups of compatible and complementary land uses and the application of appropriate development standards; and

E. Mitigate or eliminate physical hazards and adverse environmental impacts caused by development. (Ord. 005/2019 § 10 (Exh. B))

A. The Monroe UDR shall provide for the implementation of goals, policies and plans through the adoption, administration and enforcement of plans, regulations, procedures, capital improvements, and municipal services and programs.

B. The UDR shall be considered during review and revision of Monroe’s comprehensive plan goals and policies and city regulations and procedures.

C. The Monroe comprehensive plan shall be the basis for designating land use zones, applying development and shoreline requirements, and guiding development in areas presently outside the city but which may be annexed subsequent to the adoption of the UDR. The Monroe UDR is to be used as a guide by other governmental agencies when taking action within the Monroe urban growth area (UGA).

D. Conformity Required.

E. The provisions and standards contained in this title are held to be minimum standards with which compliance is essential to the permitted uses, and shall not be construed as limiting the legislative discretion of the city council to further restrict the permissive uses, or for the city to withhold or revoke permits for uses where, notwithstanding the existence of the minimum standards set forth in this title, the promotion and protection of the public health, safety and welfare bears a substantial relation to the withholding, denial or revocation of permits or uses. (Ord. 005/2019 § 10 (Exh. B))

A. The more specific regulation applies to a land use application. Regulations, conditions or procedural requirements that are specific to an individual land use shall supersede regulations, conditions or procedural requirement of general application.

B. A land use includes the necessary structures to support the use unless specifically prohibited or the context clearly indicates otherwise.

C. Chapter and section headings, captions, illustrations and references to other sections or titles are for reference or explanation only and shall not be deemed to govern, limit, modify, or in any manner affect the scope, meaning or intent of any section. In case of any ambiguity, difference of meaning or implication between the text and heading, caption or illustration, the text and the permitted use tables shall control. All applicable requirements shall govern a use whether or not they are cross-referenced in a text section or land use table.

D. The words “will,” “shall,” and “must” are mandatory, and the word “may” is discretionary. The word “should” is mandatory unless waived by the zoning administrator due to special circumstances.

E. Unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, words in the present tense shall include past and future tense, and words in the singular shall include the plural, or vice versa. Except for words and terms defined in this title, all words and terms used in this title shall have their customary meanings.

F. Words in the masculine gender include the feminine and vice versa.

G. Distances shall be measured horizontally unless otherwise specified.

H. The word “building” includes a portion of a building and a portion of the lot on which it stands.

I. Except where otherwise expressly noted, the term “days” as used in this title means calendar days, not working days. (Ord. 005/2019 § 10 (Exh. B))

A. Zoning Administrator. The zoning administrator or authorized representative, as the duly appointed representative of the mayor, as established by MMC 2.28.010, is charged with the responsibility of the administration of the provisions of the comprehensive plan and the unified development regulations (UDR) for Monroe. Responsibilities of the zoning administrator shall include:

B. Development Review Committee. The development review committee (DRC) is a staff committee composed of city department heads or designees and may include representatives from affected utility districts, the fire district, and any other entities or agencies, as deemed appropriate by the zoning administrator. The purpose of the DRC is to bring multidisciplinary knowledge and judgment to situations that emerge through the application of these unified development regulations and other matters related to planning, design, and development. Responsibilities of the development review committee shall include:

C. Planning Commission. The planning commission is the designated planning agency for the city per Chapter 35A.63 RCW. Responsibilities of the planning commission shall include reviewing and making recommendations on the following actions:

D. Hearing Examiner. The office of the land use hearing examiner, “examiner,” is created pursuant to RCW 35A.63.170 to hear applications for projects subject to the regulations designated in this title and the Monroe Municipal Code. Chapter 22.84 MMC, Permit Processing, sets out the authority of the hearing examiner regarding specific land use actions.

E. City Council. The city council is responsible for establishing policy and legislation affecting land use within the city. The city council also acts on the recommendations of the planning commission and the hearing examiner in legislative and quasi-judicial matters. (Ord. 020/2025 § 3 (Exh. B); Ord. 005/2019 § 10 (Exh. B))

A. Performance Financial Security for Building Permits. Pursuant to Section 111.3 of the International Building Code, the building official may authorize the issuance of a temporary certificate of occupancy conditioned upon the subsequent completion or satisfaction of unfulfilled requirements or regulations, or uncompleted development proposals. A condition for issuance of such temporary permit may be the posting with the city of a performance financial security to ensure fulfillment of all conditions to which such permit is subject. The conditions to which such temporary certificate of occupancy is subject shall be listed upon the permit or attached thereto. No certificate of occupancy shall be issued until all such conditions are satisfied. If the conditions are not satisfied within the date of the deadline specified in the temporary certificate of occupancy, demand may be made by the city against the financial security for completion and performance. Prior to such demand being given, the zoning administrator shall give ample notice to the person or persons involved.

B. Amount of Financial Security. The performance financial security shall be in a form acceptable to the city, and represent one hundred fifty percent of the fair cost estimate of the uncompleted portion of the proposed development or improvements as determined by the zoning administrator.

C. Performance Financial Security for Plats. Financial securities required for plats within the city are governed by MMC 22.68.040.

D. Insurance. Prior to issuing a permit or approving an application, the city may require the applicant to provide a certificate of general liability insurance, with limits of liability in an amount acceptable to the city attorney, from an insurance company authorized to do business in Washington, insuring against injury to persons and damage to property, and may require that the city be named as an additional insured.

E. Record of Certificates – Issued. The zoning code administrator or their delegate shall circulate a request for a certificate of occupancy for a change in use to all city departments and shall maintain a record of all certificates of occupancy issued. (Ord. 001/2025 § 3 (Exh. B); Ord. 005/2019 § 10 (Exh. B))

A. Eligibility. Any person claiming to have a handicap or disability, within the meaning of the Fair Housing Amendments Act (FHAA), 42 U.S.C. 3602(h) or the Washington Law Against Discrimination (WLAD), Chapter 49.60 RCW, or someone acting on their behalf, who wishes to be excused from an otherwise applicable requirement of these unified development regulations pursuant to the requirement of the FHAA, or the WLAD, that reasonable accommodations be made in rules, policies, practices, or services when such accommodations may be necessary to afford persons with handicaps or disabilities equal opportunity to use and enjoy a dwelling, shall make such request for reasonable accommodation to the zoning administrator.

B. Procedure.

A. Compliance. Compliance with the requirements of this title shall be mandatory. It is unlawful for any person or entity to own, use, construct, erect, enlarge, alter, repair, move, improve, convert, equip, occupy, maintain, locate, demolish or cause to be constructed, located or demolished any structure, land, or property within the city of Monroe in any manner that is contrary to the provisions of this title, or any permit, condition, order, rule, or regulation imposed or adopted pursuant thereto. The general penalties and remedies established in this code for such violations shall apply to any violation of this title. The enforcement actions authorized under this chapter shall be supplemental to general penalties and remedies in this code.

B. Enforcing Authority. The zoning administrator, or their authorized designee, shall be responsible for enforcing this title, and may adopt administrative rules to meet that responsibility.

C. Violation and Penalties.

A. Review of Approved Permits. Any approval or permit issued under the authority of the unified development regulations may be reviewed for compliance with the requirements of the development regulations, or to determine if the action is creating a nuisance or hazard, has been abandoned, or the approval or permit was obtained by fraud or deception.

B. Revocation or Modification of Permits and Approvals.