Chelan County, WA Building Setbacks & Zoning: Lot Coverage Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Zone
- RR20, Rural Residential/Resource, 1 unit/20 acres
- Max lot coverage
- 35% of lot area
- Citation
- Chelan County Code § 11.08.020(4)
- Enforcing agency
- Dept. of Community Development
- First-time fine
- $750 civil penalty (§ 16.16.010)
- Repeat fine
- $1,500 civil penalty
- Variance appeal window
- 21 days to Superior Court (§ 11.95.090)
Summary
In unincorporated Chelan County's RR20 district (Rural Residential/Resource, one dwelling unit per 20 acres), Chelan County Code § 11.08.020(4) limits lot coverage: buildings and structures cannot occupy more than thirty-five percent of the lot. The identical thirty-five percent ceiling repeats in the adjacent RR10 district under § 11.10.020(4), and Community Development checks it at permit review.
All development in this zone shall meet the applicable provisions of the Chelan County Code, including without limitation the following: ... Maximum lot coverage: buildings and structures shall not occupy more than thirty-five percent of the lot area.
Full Breakdown
08 of the Chelan County Code sets the development standards for the Rural Residential/Resource - 1 Dwelling Unit per 20 Acres (RR20) district, the largest-lot rural residential zone in unincorporated Chelan County. 020(4) states that 'buildings and structures shall not occupy more than thirty-five percent of the lot area,' a ceiling that governs every principal residence, garage, barn and accessory structure counted together on an RR20 parcel. 020(4), so the standard does not loosen simply because the minimum lot size drops from twenty acres to ten.
020(9). The Chelan County Department of Community Development calculates lot coverage as part of building permit review, and a proposal that would push coverage past thirty-five percent cannot be approved outright. 080). 090).
Violations & Fines
Exceeding thirty-five percent lot coverage without an approved variance is a civil code violation under Chelan County Code § 16.02.030, enforced by the Department of Community Development. The Administrator issues a notice and order under Chapter 16.06, and civil fines run $750 for a first violation and $1,500 for a repeat violation under § 16.16.010, with each day of continued violation counted separately. Uncorrected violations can bring a lien against the property.
Frequently Asked Questions
What percent of my RR20 lot can I build on?
Does the coverage limit change in other rural zones?
Can Chelan County grant relief from the 35 percent cap?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Chelan County
Compare Chelan County to another location·View the Washington building setbacks & zoning overview
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