The purposes of this chapter are to:

1.

Provide for low density residential uses, agriculture, forestry, conservation and associated uses in areas contiguous to urban growth areas, cities and towns that appear to be capable of eventually supporting urban density development; and

2.

Provide for development in a configuration that enables efficient redevelopment at urban densities upon inclusion in an urban growth area and provision of urban utilities and services.

(Ord. 13884 § 7 (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 § 7 (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;

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. Also, see the Thurston County Agricultural Activities Critical Areas Ordinance, Chapter 17.15, and the Thurston County Critical Areas Ordinance, Title 24.

(Ord. 13884 § 7 (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.

(Ord. 13884 § 7 (part), 2007)

Additional housing units are allowed in this district as follows:

1.

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 Section 20.09D.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 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 § 7 (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 five acres, or one unit per 1/128 of a section of land; 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 20.09D.040(1).

(Ord. 13884 § 7 (part), 2007)

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

The following standards are established to insure that the purposes of this district are achieved and maintained as lots are created and buildings are constructed:

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—five acres;

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. For all other special uses with no maximum building coverage specified in chapter 20.54 TCC, the maximum building coverage shall be six thousand square feet for parcels five to ten acres in size and twenty thousand square feet for parcels over ten acres in size.

4.

Maximum Building Height. Buildings shall not exceed a height of 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 hard 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.

b.

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

7.

Future Development Plans. Approval of large lot subdivisions, subdivisions, short plats, Planned Rural Residential Developments, and new dwellings proposed on individual lots over one acre in size shall be contingent upon approval of a future development plan. Such plans shall demonstrate how the parcel(s) can be potentially redeveloped to accommodate urban densities (i.e., four dwellings per acre or the minimum density in the adjacent urban growth area district, consistent with the provisions of that district, whichever is less) and provided with public utilities following inclusion in an urban growth area. Such plans shall depict a schematic lot layout, septic system placement, the approximate location of utility easements and the potential street layout and access points. The plan shall not be required to be stamped by an engineer or surveyor, nor will it bind future development, but the initial development must be consistent with it. Developers of individual lots shall locate individual or community sewage disposal systems, to the extent possible, where they can be efficiently converted to a public sewage collection system in the future.

(Ord. 13884 § 7 (part), 2007)

(Ord. No. 14377, § 4, 7-6-2010; Ord. No. 15204, § 4, 10-27-2015; Ord. No. 15355, 1(Att. A, § V), 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 § 7 (part), 2007)

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