The purposes of this chapter are to:

1.

Protect public health and safety by reducing development in environmentally sensitive and hazardous areas such as the flood prone Salmon Creek Basin and lands lying over aquifers with elevated chloride levels;

2.

Provide for residential uses, agriculture, forestry, conservation and associated uses appropriate for a low density rural area that will not require urban services; and

3.

Provide for mining through a special use process.

(Ord. 13884 § 6 (part), 2007)

Subject to the provisions of this title, the following uses are permitted in this district:

1.

Single-family dwellings (limited to one primary residential structure per lot);

2.

Agriculture;

3.

Forest practices and forest management activities; and

4.

Outdoor recreation.

(Ord. 13884 § 6 (part), 2007)

(Ord. No. 14773, § 7(Att. F), 7-24-2012)

Subject to the provisions of this title, the following accessory uses are permitted in this district:

1.

Home occupations per Section 20.54.070(16);

2.

Accessory uses involved in the growing, harvesting and transport of timber and forest products such as scales and weigh stations, temporary crew quarters, storage and maintenance facilities, sawmills except as provided in Section 20.54.070(38), residue storage and disposal areas and other related uses, subject to the additional standards for special uses in Chapter 20.54;

3.

Composting of plant material grown on site and manure from animals on site:

4.

Greenhouses used to extend the growing season of plants to be harvested on site; and

5.

Accessory uses for agriculture and forestry involving the storage of explosives, fuels and chemicals, subject to all applicable local, state and federal regulations including the additional standards for special uses in Chapter 20.54. Also, see the Thurston County Agricultural Activities Critical Areas Ordinance, Chapter 17.15, and the Thurston County Critical Areas Ordinance, Title 24.

(Ord. 13884 § 6 (part), 2007)

(Ord. No. 14773, § 10(Att. I), 7-24-2012; Ord. No. 14961, § 3(Att. C), 12-17-2013)

See Chapter 20.54 for the special uses permitted in this district and associated standards.

(Ord. 13884 § 6 (part), 2007)

1.

Farm Housing. Upon written approval by the department of an affidavit submitted on a form available at the department and recorded with the county auditor, farm housing accessory to the farm residence on property meeting the definition of a farm in RCW 84.34.020 to accommodate agricultural workers and their families employed on the premises, as provided:

a.

For legal lots between ten and 19.99 acres in size, one farm housing unit is permitted.

b.

For legal lots between twenty and 39.99 acres in size, two farm housing units are permitted.

c.

For legal lots between forty and 59.99 acres in size, three farm housing units are permitted.

d.

For legal lots between sixty and 79.99 acres in size, four farm housing units are permitted.

e.

For legal lots eighty acres or larger in size, four farm housing units are permitted, and additional farm housing units may be permitted based on the same formula, subject to approval of a special use permit in accordance with Section 20.54.070.

f.

Farm housing units may only be leased or sold subject to the density provisions of Section 20.09C.040; otherwise, the maximum density provisions of subsections (1)(a) through (e) of this section apply to farm housing units.

g.

Farm housing must have a sewage disposal system, adequate water source, and all other applicable permits approved by the county.

2.

Family Member Units. Upon written approval by the department of an affidavit submitted on a form available at the department and recorded with the county auditor, one temporary mobile/manufactured home or modular home, in addition to the maximum number of dwelling units authorized by TCC 20.09C.040 and excluding farm housing units, may be located upon a lot for the purpose of housing a person or persons who are family members to a person residing in an existing structure on the lot. A person is a family member when related by blood, civil union, marriage or adoption. Approval is subject to the following conditions:

a.

Persons wishing to establish a family member unit shall furnish proof of family member status;

b.

Dwelling units placed on a lot pursuant to this section shall be removed when the family member no longer occupies the family member unit;

c.

Dwelling units which are located pursuant to this section shall be removed prior to sale of the property, unless the purchaser provides an affidavit to the county stating that the family member unit will be occupied by a family member, consistent with this section; and

d.

A family member unit must have a sewage disposal system, adequate water source, and all other applicable permits approved by the county.

(Ord. 13884 § 6 (part), 2007)

(Ord. No. 14773, § 10(Att. I), 7-24-2012)

1.

The maximum density for residential uses in this district is one dwelling unit per ten acres; and

2.

The maximum number of dwelling units allowed on a site shall be calculated by subtracting all submerged lands as defined in the Shoreline Master Program for the Thurston Region from the area of the parcel and, then applying the allowed zoning density in Section 20.09C.040(1).

(Ord. 13884 § 6 (part), 2007)

(Ord. No. 14773, § 7(Att. F), 7-24-2012)

All divisions of land, construction of structures, and other development in this district shall comply with the following standards:

1.

Subdivision Alternatives. Land within this district may only be divided as follows:

a.

Large lot subdivisions, or

b.

Subdivisions or short subdivisions in conformance with Chapter 20.30A, Planned Rural Residential Development.

2.

Minimum Lot Size. The minimum lot sizes in this district are as follows:

a.

Large lot subdivision—ten acres, or 1/64 of a section;

b.

Planned Rural Residential Developments—none, subject to applicable standards for provision of water and sewage disposal contained in Articles III and IV of the Thurston County Sanitary Code, and the standards of Chapter 20.30A, Planned Rural Residential Development; and

c.

Special uses for which a minimum lot size is not established by Chapter 20.54—Five acres, with the exception of fire district facilities which may be located on lots of less than five-acres.

3.

Maximum Building Coverage. Building coverage for fire district facilities shall be specified through the special use permit process and/or SEPA environmental review process as applicable.

4.

Maximum Building Height. Building heights shall not exceed thirty-five feet, except for structures exempted from this height requirement pursuant to Section 20.07.080.

5.

Minimum Yard and Setback Requirements. See Chapter 20.07.030.

6.

Maximum Coverage by Hard Surfaces. Maximum impervious surface coverage for new development in this district is as follows (also see Chapter 20.07):

a.

Lots two and one-half acres or greater: Ten percent for the first five acres; five percent for remaining area.

b.

Lots less than two and one-half acres: Sixty percent or ten thousand square feet, whichever is less.

(Ord. 13884 § 6 (part), 2007)

(Ord. No. 14377, § 3, 7-6-2010; Ord. No. 15204, § 3, 10-27-2015; Ord. No. 15355, 1(Att. A, § U), 10-18-2016)

Refer to the following chapters for provisions which may qualify or supplement the regulations presented above:

1.

Chapter 20.07, Lot, Yard, Use And Structure Regulations;

2.

Chapter 20.30A, Planned Rural Residential Development;

3.

Chapter 20.34, Accessory Uses and Structures;

4.

Chapter 20.40, Signs and Lighting;

5.

Chapter 20.44, Parking and Loading;

6.

Chapter 20.45, Landscaping and Screening;

7.

Articles III and IV of the Thurston County Sanitary Code;

8.

Chapter 15.05, Thurston County Drainage Design and Erosion Control Manual; and

9.

Chapter 17.15, Thurston County Agricultural Activities Critical Areas Ordinance;

10.

Title 24, Thurston County Critical Areas Ordinance.

(Ord. 13884 § 6 (part), 2007)

(Ord. No. 14773, § 10(Att. I), 7-24-2012; Ord. No. 14961, § 3(Att. C), 12-17-2013)