Whatcom County Unincorporated
City Zoning Code

Single-family dwellings, single-family attached, duplexes, and multifamily dwellings consistent with the density requirements of the district; provided, that if the total number of dwelling units per lot is greater than four, the site plan shall be reviewed by the technical committee for consistency with the general development criteria of this district as set forth in WCC § 20.22.650. Adequate right-of-way and street improvements may also be required so that adjacent public roadways will conform with the road standards section of the county development standards. In the Bellingham Urban Growth Area, roads must also conform with the city of Bellingham's road standards.

Public parks and recreation facilities included in an adopted city or county Comprehensive Plan or Park Plan.

Private, noncommercial boat docks when located on a manmade canal designed for boat traffic pursuant to the Whatcom County Shoreline Management Program.

One one-story detached accessory storage building per lot; provided, that the floor area shall not exceed 200 square feet and shall only be used for personal storage and not for habitation or business; and provided further, that the storage building shall contain no indoor plumbing but may be served with electrical power for lighting.

Accessory dwelling units when consistent with WCC § 20.80.910.

Trails, trailheads, restroom facilities and associated parking areas for no more than 30 vehicles.

Co-living housing, provided the density requirements in WCC § 20.20.252 are not exceeded.

Adult family homes as defined in Chapter 70.128 RCW.

Boarding homes that are similar in size, facilities and occupancy to other residential structures permitted in the zoning district.

Mental health facilities that provide residential treatment and are similar in size, facilities and occupancy to other residential structures permitted in the zoning district.

Substance abuse facilities that provide residential treatment and are similar in size, facilities and occupancy to other residential structures permitted in the zoning district.

Type I home-based businesses pursuant to WCC § 20.80.970.

Private noncommercial boat docks, launches, ramps, floats, moorages and boathouses pursuant to the Whatcom County Shoreline Management Program.

Other accessory uses incidental to the primary permitted uses.

Temporary dwelling units which have full living accommodations including sleeping, self-contained cooking, bathing, and toilet facilities where the plumbing is connected to permanent site sewage and water systems, including those travel trailers and recreational vehicles that meet the above description, for use by owners during the period of construction of a permanent dwelling while building permit is valid, not to exceed two years.

Day care homes.

Bed and breakfast establishments.

Vacation rental units.

A temporary second dwelling unit of no more than 1,248 square feet in floor area, in the form of a manufactured home, a fully serviced travel trailer, park model trailer, or motor home, to provide:

Type II home-based businesses pursuant to WCC § 20.80.970.

Public and community facilities including police and fire stations, libraries, community centers, recreation facilities, and other similar noncommercial uses, excluding correction facilities other than those listed in WCC § 20.22.184.

Public schools; and parochial or private schools; provided such schools shall be approved by the State Superintendent of Public Instruction.

Churches, educational and religious training institutions, summer camps and cemeteries.

Retirement and convalescent homes; social and health rehabilitation centers; day care centers; mini-day care centers; and adult care centers not in a family dwelling; and other health-related services consistent with the purpose of the district.

Rooming houses, or bed and breakfast inns.

Mobile home parks.

Golf courses.

Private, noncommercial boat docks, launches, ramps, floats, moorages and boathouses pursuant to the Whatcom County Shoreline Management Program for owners of legal lots of record abutting the shoreline. The conditional use permit shall be approved if the hearing examiner finds that the proposal will not be hazardous or disturbing to neighbors and all applicable zoning requirements are satisfied. The criteria of WCC § 22.05.026 shall not apply.

Activity centers.

Public or private parks that are not included in an adopted city or county Comprehensive Plan or Park Plan.

Public campgrounds.

Trailheads with parking areas for more than 30 vehicles.

Athletic fields.

Major passenger intermodal terminals.

State education facilities.

Transitional correction facilities for juveniles and adults with 10 or less residents. These facilities include "juvenile rehabilitation administration" (JRA) facilities run by the state and residential adult work release facilities.

Type I solid waste handling facilities.

Boarding homes that are larger than other residential structures permitted in the zoning district.

Mental health facilities that provide residential treatment and are larger than other residential structures permitted in the zoning district.

Substance abuse facilities that provide residential treatment and are larger than other residential structures permitted in the zoning district.

Mitigation banks as a form of compensatory mitigation for wetland and habitat conservation area impacts when permitted in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 16.16 WCC; provided, applications for mitigation banks shall be processed as a major development project pursuant to Chapter 20.88 WCC.

Reserved.

Adult businesses.

Mental health facilities that provide crisis care.

Substance abuse facilities that provide crisis care.

Outpatient mental health facilities.

Outpatient substance abuse treatment facilities, including opiate substitution treatment clinics.

Aerial application of chemicals, including but not limited to pesticides and insecticides, previously regulated by the DNR as Class I, II, III or IV-Special forest practices, when located within an urban growth area.

Slash burning, when located within an urban growth area.

Secure community transition facilities for sex offenders.

Where the lot clustering land division method is used, the minimum lot size is based on consideration of the zoning district's setback requirements and the Whatcom County health code regulations for sewage systems and drinking water, but shall not be less than that shown above. Where a maximum lot size is imposed, clustered lots shall be as small as allowed by the health department.

In the URM-24 Zones, transferable development rights (TDRs) must be used to achieve net densities higher than 10 dwelling units/acre, pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 20.89 WCC, Transfer of Density Rights. Each development right transferred may be used to develop three dwelling units in the URM-24 zone.

Multifamily development as provided in WCC § 20.22.050 shall have a minimum parcel size equal to the gross density of the zone; provided, that under no circumstance shall the minimum parcel size be less than 7,000 square feet.

Mobile home parks shall have a density consistent with WCC § 20.22.252(l) and a minimum net parcel size of two acres.

The purpose of lot clustering is to provide an alternative method of creating economical building lots with spatially efficient sizes. Clustering is intended to reduce development cost, increase energy efficiency and reserve areas of land which are suitable for forestry, open space or future development.

Lot clustering is required for residential land divisions except when both public water and sewer are available.

Building lots should be designed and located to the fullest extent possible to be compatible with valuable or unique natural features, as well as physical constraints of the site.

Where public water and sewer are not available, all clustered building lots shall be grouped together in a single cluster. In all other cases, where practical, the majority of building sites should be arranged in a concentrated pattern to be compatible with physical site features, and have no more than two common encroachments on existing county roads. The arrangement of concentrated building lots is intended to discourage development forms commonly known as linear, straight-line or highway strip patterns.

After a site is initially subdivided pursuant to this chapter, the reserve tract may be retained by the subdivider, conveyed to residents of the subdivision or conveyed to a third party.

The reserve tract may be considered as a building lot; provided, that it is included in the overall density calculation of the original parcel of record.

Where public water and sewer are not available, the reserve tract may be considered a building lot only under one of the following additional conditions:

The reserve tract may be further subdivided only through the long subdivision process and only under one of the following circumstances:

For sites located within urban growth areas, wells, sewage disposal systems, and associated easements may be located on the reserve tract only if:

The purpose of the reserve tract as stated in subsections (1), (2), (3) and (4) of this section shall be communicated in writing on the face of the plat or short plat. The number of developable building sites remaining (if any) with the original parcel of record, based on the assigned density, shall also be prominently displayed on the plat or short plat. Whatcom County shall make every effort to assist all agents in communicating clearly such information to all purchasers and prospective purchasers of building lots or reserve tracts.

That the above stated requirements in subsections (2) through (5) of this section shall be recorded as a deed restriction at the time of filing of the final plat or short plat, and shall constitute an agreement between Whatcom County and the owner of record. Said deed restriction may be amended by mutual agreement between said parties after review for consistency and compliance with the Official Whatcom County Zoning Ordinance, the Whatcom County Subdivision Ordinance and the Whatcom County Comprehensive Plan.[1]

In the Bellingham Urban Growth Area, the city of Bellingham's design and development standards and guidelines shall apply (see WCC § 20.22.665).

All Developments. Each development shall screen roof mechanical equipment so as not to be visible by surrounding uses or roads.

Conditional Uses. All conditional uses provided by WCC § 20.22.150 shall be designed consistent with the scale of a project, to:

Duplexes and Multifamily Dwellings. All duplexes and multifamily dwelling uses shall be designed, consistent with the scale of the project, to:

Nonresidential Development. All nonresidential development as provided by WCC § 20.22.150 shall be designed, consistent with the scale of the project, to:

Mixed Use Development. All projects containing both duplexes and multifamily dwellings and nonresidential developments as allowed by this chapter shall be designed, consistent with the scale of the project, to:

In the Bellingham Urban Growth Area, the city of Bellingham's design and development standards and guidelines shall apply (see WCC § 20.22.665).

Refer to WCC § 20.80.300 for landscaping requirements.

In the Bellingham Urban Growth Area, the city of Bellingham's design and development standards and guidelines shall apply (see WCC § 20.22.665).

Parking shall conform to the requirements of WCC § 20.80.500. However, recreation vehicles, and boat parking and storage shall be limited to side and rear yard areas.

In the Bellingham Urban Growth Area, the city of Bellingham's design and development standards and guidelines shall apply (see WCC § 20.22.665).

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

In the Bellingham Urban Growth Area, the city of Bellingham's design and development standards and guidelines shall apply (see WCC § 20.22.665).

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

In the Bellingham Urban Growth Area, the city of Bellingham's design and development standards and guidelines shall apply (see WCC § 20.22.665).

Access shall conform to the provisions of WCC § 20.80.565. Roadways shall be provided pursuant to the requirements of the county engineer.

In the Bellingham Urban Growth Area, the city of Bellingham's design and development standards and guidelines shall apply (see WCC § 20.22.665).

Outdoor lighting shall be provided to adequately illuminate on-site streets, parking and, where applicable, pedestrian walkways. Light shall comply with the requirements of the county engineer, and shall be sized and directed to avoid adverse impacts on adjacent properties.

There shall be no storage or handling of hazardous, explosive, highly flammable materials which would cause fire, explosion or safety hazards, except the storage and dispensing of gasoline in service stations.

There shall be no production of noise at any property line of any use in this district in excess of the average intensity of street and traffic noise found in the district.

There shall be no emission dust, dirt, odors, smoke, or toxic gases and fumes.

There shall be no production of heat, glare or vibration perceptible from any property line of the premises upon which such heat, glare or vibration is being generated.