Thurston County, Washington

The content on the Thurston County website is currently provided in English. We are providing the “Translation” for approximately 10 languages. The goal of the translation is to provide visitors with limited English proficiency to access information on the website in other languages. The translations do not translate all types of documents, and it may not give you an exact translation all the time. The translations are made through an automated process, which may not result in accurate or precise translations, particularly of technical and legal terminology.
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Thurston County Washington

Community Planning and Economic Development

More about Planning Your Project

Planning a building or development project starts by determining what is allowed by zoning and other regulations. Most county codes come from state and federal environmental, health and safety regulations per the Washington State Legislature’s Growth Management Act. 

How to Get a Firm Answer

To find out exactly what you can and can’t do with absolute assurance, you have to apply for a permit. The county will review your application forms and all the documents, drawings, reports and other information that you submit as part of your packet. The county will either issue a permit, or let you know next steps.

The county can’t provide absolute assurance of what can or can’t be done based on speculative or future plans. As staff, we relate to the struggle, and wish we could give firm answers to questions before you submit an application, but as a regulator, the county role is to review actual submitted applications, drawings, site plans, environmental reports and other detailed documents against county codes.  

Suggested Actions to Help You Make Decisions

  • Start by checking the property’s tax parcel data sheet or the County Maps to see which (if any) regulated environmental or hazardous geological areas are mapped on a property. (See  Planning Your Project, steps 1-4) 
  • Complete a Critical Areas Determination if a property is mapped with regulated critical or environmental areas so that you'll know exactly where the setbacks and buffers are, and which critical areas codes apply.
  • Request a Pre-submission Conference meeting if you have plans you want to discuss with county building, environmental, septic and other experts. You can discuss your ideas without committing the time or money to fully develop a project.  The county still can’t give firm answers, but you will know a lot more about the code realities you’ll need to consider.
     

What Staff Do with Feasibility Questions

When asked “Can I do this with my property?” authorized staff work through the steps and considerations listed on the Planning Your Project web page.