Whatcom County Unincorporated
City Zoning Code

The purpose of the Tourist Commercial District is to supply sufficient areas arranged in a concentrated form that would allow land use activities which serve the traveling public. The district shall be located and implemented consistent with the goals, objectives and policies of the Comprehensive Plan. The district should be located near major transportation corridors in such a fashion as to provide safe and convenient access that would not impact adjacent noncommercial activities. Further, the district should be in areas where adequate public services such as roads, sewer, water and drainage are available. The district should provide for uses which normally serve the traveling public and encourage a type of development which occurs in a well-designed pattern considering aesthetics and safety. This district may be located in an urban growth area, rural community, rural tourism or rural business area as designated in the Comprehensive Plan. If located in a rural tourism area, the uses in the district shall rely on the rural location and setting, and provide recreation and tourist uses that are small in scale, and compatible with existing uses and intensities. New development or redevelopment in a TC 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 tourism designation must be consistent with the Comprehensive Plan's policies governing uses in rural tourism areas. New development in a rural business designation is limited to isolated small-scale businesses.

The following permitted and accessory 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). Residential type uses listed below are permitted in rural community and rural business designations. In a rural tourism designation, uses below are permitted provided they are consistent with the Comprehensive Plan's policies governing uses in rural tourism areas. In a rural business designation all uses are permitted.

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 tourism designation, uses below may be conditionally permitted provided they are consistent with the Comprehensive Plan's policies governing uses in rural tourism areas. 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 this chapter, Chapter 20.80 WCC (Supplementary Requirements) and Chapter 22.05 WCC (Project Permit Procedures).

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:

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 § 20.63.550 and § 20.80.200.

Maximum building height shall not exceed 40 feet. Height of structures shall also conform to, where applicable, the general requirements of WCC § 20.80.675.

Sign regulations shall be administered pursuant to WCC § 20.80.400.

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

Design of the proposed use in the Tourist Commercial Zone District outside of urban growth areas shall be consistent with the Comprehensive Plan rural land use chapter.

Refer to WCC § 20.80.300 for landscaping requirements.

Off-street parking and loading shall be administered pursuant to WCC § 20.80.500.

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.

Access shall conform to the provisions of WCC § 20.80.565.

Lighting shall be designed to avoid excessive glare onto neighboring properties, and to not 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: