Whatcom County Unincorporated
City Zoning Code

The purpose of the Neighborhood Commercial District is to provide for small, concentrated land areas intended for retail sales of convenience goods and services to persons residing within or visiting a neighborhood trade or service area, as well as to provide job and economic development opportunities for rural residents. When located outside urban growth areas, the Neighborhood Commercial District shall comply with the rural land use policies and criteria set forth in the Comprehensive Plan. An additional purpose of the district is to provide developmental standards aimed at achieving cohesive, coordinated development within this district and achieving compatibility between commercial and surrounding residential uses. This district may be located in an urban growth area, a rural community, or rural business area, as designated in the Comprehensive Plan. New development or redevelopment in an NC District located in a rural community designation is limited to that which is consistent with the character of the area on July 1, 1990, in terms of building size, scale, use, or intensity. New development in a rural business designation is limited to isolated small-scale businesses.

The following permitted uses shall be allowed subject to an evaluation by the zoning administrator pursuant to the provisions of this chapter and Chapter 20.80 WCC. In a rural community designation, nonresidential uses listed below are permitted if a use of the same type existed in that same rural community designation on July 1, 1990, per WCC § 20.80.100(1). In a rural business designation all uses are permitted. Residential type uses listed below are permitted in rural community and rural business designations. In addition, each permitted use shall be administered pursuant to the applicable provisions of the Whatcom County SEPA Ordinance, the Whatcom County Subdivision Ordinance and the Whatcom County Shoreline Management Program.

In a rural community designation, uses listed below may be conditionally permitted if a use of the same type existed in that same rural community designation on July 1, 1990, per WCC § 20.80.100(1). In a rural business designation all uses listed below may be conditionally permitted. Unless otherwise provided herein, conditional uses shall be administered pursuant to the applicable provisions of Chapter 22.05 WCC (Project Permit Procedures), the Whatcom County SEPA Ordinance, the Official Whatcom County Subdivision Ordinance and the Whatcom County Shoreline Management Program.

All uses not listed as permitted, accessory, or conditional uses are prohibited, including but not limited to the following, which are listed here for purposes of clarity:

The minimum lot size shall be consistent with the area required to meet the building setback, lot coverage and development standards of this district.

For the purpose of dividing property, minimum lot frontage shall be sufficient to provide adequate access and utility development, and meet applicable building setback, buffer, open space and development standards of the district. In no case shall the frontage be less than 30 feet.

Building setbacks shall be administered pursuant to WCC § 20.60.550 and § 20.80.200.

Maximum building height shall not exceed 25 feet.

At least 15 percent of the site shall be kept free of buildings, structures, hard surfacing, parking areas and other impervious surfaces.

Sign regulations shall be administered pursuant to WCC § 20.80.400.

Individual development within a Neighborhood Commercial Zone District shall be designed to accommodate additional commercial development on adjacent property in an integrated manner. Consistent architectural treatment among structures is encouraged. Each development shall screen roof-mounted mechanical equipment so as not to be visible by surrounding uses or roads.

If located outside an urban growth area, design of the proposed use in the Neighborhood Commercial Zone District shall be consistent with the scale and intensity of the existing uses in the area and consistent with the Comprehensive Plan rural land use chapter.

Refer to WCC § 20.80.300 for landscaping requirements.

Sidewalks shall be installed pursuant to the requirements of the county engineer.

All development activities are subject to the stormwater management provisions of WCC § 20.80.630 through § 20.80.635. No project permit shall be issued prior to meeting those requirements.

Consistent with WCC § 20.80.640, driveway plans shall be reviewed by the county engineer or State Department of Transportation, as applicable.

Access shall conform to the provisions of WCC § 20.80.565.

Lighting shall be designed to avoid excessive glare onto neighboring properties, and to create safety hazards or unreasonable interference with adjacent uses.

Should the commercial use be developed as part of a binding site plan, it shall be administered pursuant to WCC Title 21 (Land Division Regulations) and additional requirements, as applicable.

The following provisions shall apply to all uses within this district: