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Gophers, Wetlands, Shorelines, Flood Areas, Slopes, Zoning & Property Regs Information

Codes & How They May Apply to a Property or Project

To know which codes may apply to your property or your plans for it, start with Look Up Your Property. It's fast and easy to find a property's zone, and if regulated environmental areas (called Critical Areas) are on it. With that information, you'll have a better idea of which codes to look up below. The codes are where you'll find detailed regulatory requirements, design specifications, and other information that will help you plan. This page includes development code regulations common to many projects. To see everything, go all codes below.


All Codes

To look up regulations you don't see listed on this page, go to the full list of all Thurston County Code of Ordinances

https://www.co.thurston.wa.us/permitting/landuse/landuse-list.html

https://www.co.thurston.wa.us/permitting/landuse/landuse-home.html

Critical Areas (Wetlands, shorelines, land that drains into a drinking aquifer, etc.) 

Properties mapped with the areas listed below are regulated by the Critical Areas Ordinance because they are prone to natural hazards, drain to drinking water aquifers, or have wildlife habitat. Read the draft HCP Ordinance (not yet adopted by the BoCC). Learn more about the Habitat Conservation Plan. 

Link to Code

  • If you're planning to build, your building and asll assoiated construction and activites must be designed, located on the property & developed following the details in Title 24.

How it May Affect Plans & Projects

What is regulated
HCP regulations determine what you can build, where it may be located on the property, etc. Digging, moving dirt, grading, clearing, adding or removing any building or structure, digging wells, adding or removing septic systems, Adding or removing any grass, plant, rock or grass.

Learn More


Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP)

Properties mapped with the areas listed below are regulated by the HCP ordinance because they are prone to natural hazards, drain to drinking water aquifers, or have wildlife habitat. Read the draft HCP Ordinance (not yet adopted by the BoCC). Learn more about the Habitat Conservation Plan. 

What to do

  • If you're planning to build, your project and building must be developed using the required Best Management Practices (See Appendix C in the HCP document) to the fullest possible extent. 
  • Complete the HCP Worksheet (PDF) and submit it with your application packet.
  • Estimate your mitigation (PDF).

What is regulated
HCP regulations determine what you can build, where it may be located on the property, etc. Digging, moving dirt, grading, clearing, adding or removing any building or structure, digging wells, adding or removing septic systems, Adding or removing any grass, plant, rock or grass.


Hazards (land slide areas, steep slopes, flood areas, etc.)

Properties mapped with the areas listed below are regulated by Title 24 because they are prone to natural hazards, drain to drinking water aquifers, or have wildlife habitat. Read the CAO - Title (and Chapter) 24. Learn more about the Critical Areas Ordinance.

  • What to do
    Depending upon what you plan to build or do, the permit 

  • What is regulated
    CAO regulations determine what you can build, where it may be located on the property, etc. Digging, moving dirt, grading, clearing, adding or removing any building or structure, digging wells, adding or removing septic systems, Adding or removing any grass, plant, rock or grass.

Drinking water & sewage treatment, or well & septic


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Stormwater, Rainwater Runoff Drainage, Erosion control


​Zoning

What you can build on or do with a property, depends a lot on what zone the property is located in. For properties located within unincorporated Thurston County, the Jurisdiction of Influence and the zone determine which code title regulations apply. Zoning regulations determine property use, setback (how far a project must be from critical areas), density (how many dwellings are allowed per acre), lot size (if subdividing or consolidating), design standards (height limits), and more. 
  • How to look up zoning:
    1. Find a property's zone using Step 1 & 2 on Look up your property. 
    2. in Step Go to the correct code title linked below, then paste the zone (example zone: RRR1/5, Rural Residential/Resource) into the search bar at the top of the code page to find info about that zone faster. 
  • For properties with Jurisdiction of Influence: Same as Permitting Jurisdiction, see Thurston County Code Title 20.
  • For properties with Jurisdiction of Influence in the Lacey Urban Growth Area (LACUGA) of unincorporated Thurston County see Title 21.
  • For properties with Jurisdiction of Influence in the Tumwater Urban Growth Area (TUMUGA) of unincorporated Thurston County see Title 22.
  • For properties with Jurisdiction of Influence in the Olympia Urban Growth Area (OLYUGA) of unincorporated Thurston County see code Title 23. 
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