Productive farmland is an irreplaceable and limited resource in Thurston County. Therefore, it is essential to preserve agricultural land, particularly those lands which are adjacent to an urban growth area, by limiting this district to agricultural uses and activities, discouraging agricultural nuisance claims from nonfarm areas, and protecting these lands from encroachment of existing or potential residences within the Nisqually Valley and along the adjacent wooded hillsides. The primary use within this zone will be agricultural activities and this zone meets the long-term agricultural lands criteria for the state Growth Management Act. The standards of this zone are unique to the Nisqually planning area and this zone is applied to those lands within the Nisqually planning area which: (1) contain large farms on primary agricultural soil, (2) have been farmed for several generations; or (3) are enrolled in or eligible for enrollment in the Agricultural Open Space Tax Program.

(Ord. 11398 § 3 (part), 1997: Ord. 10199 § 9 (part), 1992)

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

1.

Agriculture, including forest practices (refer to the definition in Section 20.03.040; does not include wholesale greenhouses);

2.

Accessory uses and structures including but not limited to farm residences, barns, garages, storage buildings for crops, feed and equipment sheds, shipping, receiving and handling facilities and retail facilities for the sale of agricultural products primarily produced on the premises and related products;

3.

Farm stands for retail sale of agricultural products grown in the Pacific Northwest are permitted as a matter of right, i.e. no land use approval is required, provided the farm stand is a membranous structure (e.g. tent or canopy), does not exceed four hundred square feet if enclosed on one or more sides, or seven hundred square feet if open on all sides and meets the standards contained in Section 20.54.070(11.7)(a). The stand may not be in place for more than six months out of the year. Wood or metal framed structures meeting all applicable Building Code requirements and the standards contained in this section may operate year around;

4.

On-site advertising signs of no more than four square feet meeting the standards of TCC Section 20.40.035 are exempt from Thurston County review and approval. Larger signs are permitted pursuant to Chapter 20.40 TCC and may require a building permit.

5.

Bare root nurseries for the growing and raising of nursery stock and/or Christmas trees, provided that the plants are grown in the ground and not in containers;

6.

Single-family dwellings and farm residences with lots conforming to provisions of Sections 20.08C.040, 20.05C.045, and 20.08C.050 (limited to one primary residential structure per lot, not including farm housing); and

7.

Farm housing facilities accessory to the main farm residence to accommodate agricultural workers and their families employed on the premises, or housing for family members of the farm owners as provided:

a.

These housing facilities are only permitted on parcels containing at least twenty acres and shall not exceed two farm housing units for parcels in excess of forty acres,

b.

These housing facilities may only be leased, sold or subdivided subject to the density provisions of Section 20.08C.040; otherwise, the maximum density provision of Section 20.08C.040 does not apply to farm housing units, and

c.

The sewage disposal and water supply shall be approved by the environmental health department.

(Ord. 12032 § 20, 1999; Ord. 11804 § 44, 1998: Ord. 11398 § 3 (part), 1997: Ord. 10199 § 9 (part), 1992)

(Ord. No. 14678, § 3, 11-15-2011; Ord. No. 14773, § 7(Att. F), 7-24-2012)

1.

See Chapter 20.54 for special uses permitted in this district.

2.

Wholesale greenhouse expansions are permitted, subject to approval of a special use permit, provided that the maximum lot coverage standards of Section 20.08C.040(4)(a) and (b) are not exceeded.

(Ord. 12032 § 21, 1999; Ord. 11804 § 45, 1998: Ord. 11398 § 3 (part), 1997: Ord. 10199 § 9 (part), 1992)

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

1.

Minimum yard requirements shall be as follows:

a.

Single-Family Residential.

i.

Front yard—see Chapter 20.07;

ii.

Side yard—fifteen feet;

iii.

Rear yard—twenty-five feet;

b.

Single-family residential on lots created in accordance with the planned rural residential development chapter, Chapter 20.30A;

c.

All other structures (e.g., barns, stables, etc.) are subject to Section 20.07.030 or the standards which may be required of special uses in Chapter 20.54.

2.

Maximum building height shall be thirty-five feet subject to Section 20.07.080.

3.

Maximum lot coverage shall be as follows:

a.

With single-family house, farm housing, farm structures and access roads, excluding manure holding ponds, shall not exceed five percent.

b.

When a clustered lot subdivision is approved pursuant to Section 20.08C.050 and Chapter 20.30A, Planned Rural Residential Development, these lots and those uses listed in subsection (1) above shall not exceed ten percent.

c.

Those parcels which have lot coverage exceeding these limitations will not be eligible for the purchase of development rights program.

(Ord. 11398 § 3 (part), 1997: Ord. 10199 § 9 (part), 1992)

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

1.

The calculation of maximum density within this district shall vary subject to its use:

a.

Single-family residential: one unit/forty acres;

b.

Single-family residential on lots created under the planned rural residential development standards (Chapter 20.30A TCC): one unit per/five acres; and

c.

Purchase or transfer of development rights: one unit/five 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, as amended, from the area of the parcel and, then applying the allowed zoning density in Section 20.08C.045(1).

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

Any division of land within this district shall comply with the following requirements:

1.

Land may be subdivided for agricultural uses, subject to the following requirements:

a.

Only agriculture and accessory uses, farm residences and farm housing are permitted on lots created pursuant to this section as long as the lots are within this district.

b.

The minimum lot size for a farm residence is forty acres.

c.

The minimum lot size for nonresidential agricultural use is five acres.

d.

Divisions of land between 39.99 acres and five acres in size may be created when the following wording has been affixed to the plat, title and deed of the parcel stating that: "This parcel shall only be used for agricultural uses as provided in the Thurston County Zoning Code and the construction of a single-family residence is prohibited."

2.

Land may be subdivided for nonagricultural uses subject to the following requirements:

a.

The subdivision shall meet the subdivision design standards established in Section 20.30A.060, in Chapter 20.30A, Planned Rural Residential Development, to the extent consistent with this chapter, except the density bonus provisions of Section 20.30A.060 shall not apply within this district. Where the requirements in Section 20.30A.060 conflict with the requirements of this district, the more restrictive standards shall apply.

b.

There shall be no minimum lot size for nonagricultural use lots. The lot size must meet the requirements of the Thurston County Sanitary Code to safely accommodate an approved water supply and on-site sewage disposal system, including space for a reserve drainfield.

(Ord. 11398 § 3 (part), 1997: Ord. 10199 § 9 (part), 1992)

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

1.

Chapter 20.30A, Planned Rural Residential Development;

2.

Chapter 20.32, Open Space;

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.

(Ord. 11398 § 3 (part), 1997: Ord. 10199 § 9 (part), 1992)

(Ord. No. 15952, § 1(Att. A, § II), 12-15-2020)