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Skagit County, WA Building Setbacks & Zoning: Lot Coverage Limits (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

RI zone cap
35% max lot coverage
RVR/RC/RVC/RVC Alger cap
50% max lot coverage
RRv zone
No flat cap, set per use, SCC 14.11.200
OSRSI zone
No lot coverage limit
Governing table
Table 14.11.030-1, SCC 14.11.030

Summary

Table 14.11.030-1 caps impervious lot coverage in unincorporated Skagit County's Rural Mixed-Use zones: 35 percent in Rural Intermediate, 50 percent in Rural Village Residential, Rural Center, and both Rural Village Commercial zones, and no printed limit in Public Open Space of Regional/Statewide Importance. Rural Reserve coverage is set zone-by-zone under SCC 14.11.200.

These county ordinances apply to unincorporated areas of Skagit County. Incorporated cities within the county may have their own rules that take precedence over county-level regulations.

RI ... RRv ... RVR ... RC ... RVC ... RVC Alger ... OSRSI ... Lot Coverage ... Maximum lot coverage (%) ... 35 ... * ... 50 ... 50 ... 50 ... 50 ... –

Full Breakdown

030-1 lists maximum lot coverage as a percentage for each zone in the Rural Mixed-Use chapter. Rural Intermediate (RI) is capped at 35 percent. Rural Village Residential (RVR), Rural Center (RC), and both Rural Village Commercial zones (RVC and RVC Alger) are capped at 50 percent. 100-1 key defines as no limit or inapplicable when a cell stands alone. 200(3)(a)(i) fills that in for at least one use, capping agricultural accessory or processing structures in the Rural Reserve zone at 35 percent. Lot coverage is measured against total lot size, and the same dimensional standards table also sets the minimum lot size feeding that percentage, so a larger RI or RVR parcel supports proportionally more covered area under the same percentage cap.

Planning and Development Services checks proposed building footprints, driveways, and other coverage against this table during building and land-use permit review, and a site plan that would push coverage over the applicable percentage needs either a variance or a demonstration that the additional area qualifies for one of the code's exceptions before the County will issue a permit.

Violations & Fines

Building beyond the applicable lot coverage percentage without a variance is a Title 14 violation. Planning and Development Services can issue a stop work order or administrative order under SCC Chapter 14.09, the property owner is jointly and severally liable, each day the excess coverage continues is a separate offense under SCC 14.09.120(5), and an uncorrected violation can bring a misdemeanor fine up to $1,000, up to 90 days in jail, or both, under SCC 14.09.130(1).

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the maximum lot coverage in the Rural Village Residential zone?
Table 14.11.030-1 under SCC 14.11.030 caps lot coverage at 50 percent in the Rural Village Residential (RVR) zone, the same cap that applies in the Rural Center and both Rural Village Commercial zones.
Does Rural Reserve have a lot coverage limit?
The dimensional standards table marks Rural Reserve lot coverage with an asterisk, meaning the limit is set within the zone's own section instead of the table. SCC 14.11.200(3)(a)(i) caps agricultural accessory or processing uses there at 35 percent.
Is there a lot coverage cap in the Public Open Space zone?
No. Table 14.11.030-1 lists a dash for Public Open Space of Regional/Statewide Importance (OSRSI), and the code's Table 14.10.100-1 key defines a dash as no limit or inapplicable when it stands alone in a table cell.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Skagit County

All Skagit County rules

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