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County Maps
Use the county's online maps to look up a property's permitting jurisdiction, zoning and which critical and regulated environmental areas may be on it. The online county maps show many property details, including an optional aerial base map with clear images of the property features. These powerful maps take a little trial and error to figure out, but the step-by-step instructions linked below and The Thurston GeoData Center's Basic Training video can speed the learning curve. The Thurston GeoData Center is the name of the county's map department.

Basic Property Look Up 

  • Open the basic Property Map
    • This map shows owner name, parcel number, parcel boundaries, address, zip code, and whether or not the property is in a city. 

Property Jurisdiction & Zoning Look Up 

  • Find step-by-step instructions at zoning lookup instructions or quick start by using the info below.

  • Open Map & Find the Property
    • Open the Show Me Everything Map 
      • This map shows jurisdiction & zoning plus critical, environmental & shoreline areas; park & fire districts; roads & rights of way; county utilities.  
    • Click Find in the top map menu. Then choose By Parcel Number or By Address. Enter the parcel or address, then click Find. 
    • The property should appear on the map.

  • Look Up Jurisdiction & Zoning 
    • Click on Maps & Layers in the top map menu, then select Show Layer List. 
    • In the layers list, scroll down to Planning & Land Use, next check the boxes for Permitting Jurisdiction, Urban Growth Areas (part of the zoning info) & Zoning to turn on those layers for the selected property.
    • The county only permits properties in unincorporated areas of Thurston County marked COUNTY jurisdiction. 
    • Uncheck and close those sections to make critical areas look up easier.

Property Critical & Environmental Areas Look Up


  • Open Map & Find the Property
    • Open the Show Me Everything Map 
      • This map shows critical, environmental & shoreline areas plus jurisdiction & zoning, park & fire districts; roads & rights of way; county utilities.  
    • Click Find in the top map menu. Then choose By Parcel Number or By Address. Enter the parcel or address, then click Find. 
      • To get a parcel number, enter property address in parcel search and if the property has a parcel number it should appear on the screen.
    • The property should appear on the map.

  • Check for Critical or Regulated Environmental Areas
    • Check the map to see if flood, gopher / HCP, high ground water, prairie, shorelines, steep slopes, wetlands, or a combination are on a property.
    • Scroll through the layers list and click Environmental & Public Health. Next click
    • Scroll through the layers list and click, Flood and Ground Water. Next click
    • Scroll through the layers list and click Habitat Conservation Plan. Next click
    • Scroll through the layers list and click Natural Resources. Next click

  • Look Up the Codes that Apply to the Property (& find out your next steps)
    • Go to Environmental Codes and learn more about the codes, permitting rules & next steps for your project.
    • If you found critical and/or environmental areas mapped on the property, a next step may be environmental reports before you apply for permits.
       

What to expect when using online county maps

  • Online maps take a little trial & error to figure out. Please allow yourself some time, and read the instructions. 
  • You can use a property address or parcel number to search for a property. Using a parcel number can bring up the right property faster. 
  • Maps don't meet legal, engineering or survey standards because land and water-flow change over time. 
  • Sometimes property owners hire their own experts to confirm actual conditions on a property, and exact location of any critical areas (like wetlands) or other regulated environments (like Mazama pocket gopher habitat, shorelines, etc.). 
  • Use county maps to start your research, but you may want to consult with your own experts before making decisions.

Online map features: cool things you can do with the map

  • Base maps - Maps open on a standard street view, but you can switch the base map to an aerial to see buildings, roads, trees and other features clearly. Learn how.
  • Layers - You can turn layers on and off to see what's on a property. Once in a map, click Maps & Layers at the top left, or click Layers at the bottom left. Also check out the 3:50 mark in The Thurston GeoData Center Training Video.
  • Drawing - Add a rectangle or square to show where your bulding project will be. Save drawings to your computer, or send a drawing to someone else.
  • Not so cool features - you can't save your work and come back to it, but if you draw a shape on a map, you can save that to your computer or thumb drive.

Disclaimer

We try to make great maps, but they are not survey accurate, nor do they meet legal, engineering or survey standards. This data is not perfect. Nor is our geospatial data survey grade accurate. You must not use this data in place of or to substitute for professional guidance. Consult with experts before making decisions. Full Disclaimer.

Visit The Thurston County Geodata Center online at www.geodata.org to see other maps


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WEBSITE FOR INFORMATION ONLY. The descriptions, maps, links, and information on this website are for informational purposes only. Maps may not accurately represent current ground conditions now or at the time of application. Maps, regulatory descriptions, information and explanations don't meet legal, engineering or survey standards. Consult with your own experts before making decisions.

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