The purpose of the Agritourism Overlay District (AOD) is:

1.

To preserve working lands and support the agricultural industry of Thurston County as a viable economic activity.

2.

To discourage the conversion of lands used for agriculture to other incompatible uses by supporting agricultural viability and economic activity.

3.

To provide clear legislative authority for agricultural landowners to launch agritourism activities in specific rural areas of Thurston County to supplement their income, educate visitors about their way of life, and share their agricultural heritage with others.

4.

To protect and promote agriculture as an important component of the Thurston County economy.

4.

To implement the goals and objectives of the Thurston County Comprehensive Plan, which recognizes the economic, environmental, and cultural benefits of our agricultural and working lands.

5.

To empower farmers and other rural landowners to start new, entrepreneurial endeavors that augment, and highlight the importance of local agriculture.

6.

To entice visitors to rural Thurston County to see and experience the value of local agricultural lands to our culture, economy, landscape, and local food supply.

7.

To boost agricultural commerce in rural Thurston County by establishing a broad overlay district that reduces barriers and inconsistencies among the base zoning districts, while maintaining and promoting the high quality of the environment and the economy.

(Ord. No. 16370, § 3(Att. C, § III), 2-20-2024)

If a specific AOD standard or regulation conflicts with other specific development standards in the Thurston County Zoning Ordinance (Title 20 TCC), the AOD rules and standards shall apply. Additionally, if any section, subsection, sentence, clause, phrase or other portion of the ordinance from which this chapter is derived or its application to any person is, for any reason declared invalid, illegal or unconstitutional in whole or in part by any court or agency of competent jurisdiction, said decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions hereof.

(Ord. No. 16370, § 3(Att. C, § III), 2-20-2024)

General use standards for all AOD uses identified in this chapter shall be as follows:

1.

Agricultural Use Protections. New AOD uses shall be located, designed, and operated so as not to interfere with normal agricultural practices on and off-site. Where feasible, AOD uses shall be located on lands with non-prime farmland soils.

2.

Compliance with other county, state and federal standards may apply.

3.

Design Standards. Unless otherwise authorized by this chapter, impervious surface coverage, building height and building setback standards for AOD uses shall be the same as the underlying zoning district.

4.

Parking, Landscaping, and Signage Standards. Unless otherwise authorized by this chapter, all AOD uses shall provide parking and loading, landscaping and screening, signs and lighting in accordance with Chapters 20.40, 20.44, and 20.45 TCC.

5.

Noise Standards. All AOD uses generating noise detectible off-site shall observe Chapter 10.36 TCC, Public Disturbance Noise.

(Ord. No. 16370, § 3(Att. C, § III), 2-20-2024)

Exempt AOD uses are those uses permitted as a matter of right under this chapter subject to the use standards contained in Section 20.08G.020 and any other local, state, or federal permit requirements. Exempt AOD uses are limited to the following except as otherwise authorized by the director:

1.

An accessory commercial or retail use offering direct sale of agricultural products grown and/or produced on-site involving four hundred or less square feet of floor area, subject to all other applicable requirements. This shall include, but not be limited to roadside farmstands, cottage food operations, and farm bakeries.

2.

Manned and unmanned you-pick operations, including, but not limited to, vegetable and berry picking, pumpkin patches, and similar uses.

3.

Christmas tree sales.

4.

Hayrides/sleigh rides.

5.

Farm tours and agricultural clinics, seminars or classes, organized group activities such as nature watching or star gazing with no permanent overnight accommodations.

6.

Farmers markets operating under the guidelines of the Washington State Farmers Market Association as amended, where no permanent structures are involved.

7.

Agricultural home stays where no permanent structures are involved.

8.

Activities and uses defined as nature tourism, geo-tourism, culinary tourism, art tourism, or eco-tourism, where no permanent structures are involved. This shall include, but not be limited to activities such as photography classes, art exhibits, archery ranges, guided fishing, and hunting,

9.

Agriculturally related experiences occurring on a farm where no structure is involved. This shall include, but not be limited to corn/crop mazes, hay bale sculptures, and similar crop art installations, animal feeding, petting zoos, archery ranges, fee fishing, and similar low-intensity activities.

10.

Short-term, agritourism events including, but not limited to, food and wine festivals, art shows, weddings and similar temporary gatherings are permitted subject to the special use requirements of TCC Section 20.54.070, subsection 41.5(d). Short-term agritourism events shall be allowed up to twenty-one days per year and shall be limited to three consecutive days per event, with a minimum of five days between events unless otherwise approved by the director. For temporary events lasting two or more days with an expected daily attendance exceeding two hundred individuals, the on-site manager or owner shall notify all adjacent neighbors bordering the subject property in writing of the date, time, duration, and description of the event. Notification shall occur at least five business days prior to the beginning of the event.

(Ord. No. 16370, § 3(Att. C, § III), 2-20-2024)

The following AOD uses are permitted subject to the development standards contained in Section 20.08G.020 and the requirements provided in this section.

1.

Permitted Uses—General Siting Standards.

a.

Establishment of any permitted use provided for in this section shall be subject to an administrative site plan review process (Section 20.60 TCC).

b.

Any proposal to increase the allowable square footage of a permitted use provided for in this section shall be subject to a special use permit process (Section 20.54 TCC).

c.

Permitted uses may be located within an existing, nonconforming structure that does not meet the square footage or setback requirements of the underlying zoning district if the director determines the use and all related appurtenances can be accommodated on site.

d.

Permitted uses shall be limited to lands with non-prime farmland soils. Up to one acre of prime farmland soils can be converted for a permitted use if non-prime farmland soils are not present on the property or cannot be readily accessed without adversely impacting a primary agricultural use, or if there are other site constraints.

e.

New structures and parking areas shall be located to minimize adverse impacts to adjacent residential uses. In addition to the standards set forth in Chapter 20.44 TCC, parking areas shall be set back a minimum of twenty-five feet from external property lines and landscaped to soften the visual appearance from adjacent residential uses and public rights-of-way.

2.

Permitted Uses—Specific Siting Standards.

a.

Farmers markets operating under the guidelines of the Washington State Farmers Market Association as amended, where one or more permanent structures are involved totaling less than eight thousand square feet.

b.

Accessory nonagricultural commercial or retail uses involving a building or structure greater than four hundred square feet and less than one thousand six hundred square feet in size where the primary use of the property is agriculture.

c.

Small scale wineries, microbreweries, cider mills, craft distilleries, and similar small scale craft beverage production facilities less than eight thousand square feet in size, including any associated tasting room and retail space.

d.

Country inns less than eight thousand square feet in size located a minimum of one hundred feet from all property lines.

e.

Agricultural home stays where the size of individual guest accommodations shall be limited to six hundred square feet of area.

f.

Activities and uses defined as nature tourism, geo-tourism, culinary tourism, art tourism or eco-tourism, where there are one or more permanent structures involved totaling less than eight thousand square feet.

(Ord. No. 16370, § 3(Att. C, § III), 2-20-2024)