Skagit County, WA Building Setbacks & Zoning: Setback Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Applies to
- All buildings/structures/lots in unincorporated Skagit County
- Secondary front setback
- 10 ft (20 ft if garage faces road)
- Measurement rule
- Right angles to nearest property line
- Fence exemption
- 6 ft or less (8 ft in some zones)
- Administering dept
- Planning and Development Services
Summary
SCC Chapter 14.28 sets minimum building setbacks for every structure and lot in unincorporated Skagit County. Setbacks are measured at right angles from the property line, front and rear lines are set by zone, and the secondary front setback is fixed at 10 feet, or 20 feet where a garage door faces the road.
(1) An application for a project permit must observe the minimum setbacks applied by this Chapter and adopted for the subject zone in Division 1 of this Title. ... (a) No structure or portion of a structure may be located within the minimum setback applicable to a lot except as permitted in this Chapter. ... All setbacks must be measured at right angles, or as near to right angles as possible, to the nearest property line in a plane horizontal to the ground. ... The secondary front setback is always 10 feet, except where a vehicle garage door opening faces a public roadway, in which case a 20-foot setback is required.
Full Breakdown
16. 030(3). 050 defines four setback types: a front setback from the lot line carrying the lot's primary access; a secondary front setback, fixed at 10 feet from any other street-fronting lot line or access easement, rising to 20 feet if a garage door opening faces the public roadway; an interior side setback from lot lines without a front or rear setback, measured at the zone-specific depth, with no interior side setback required between individual townhouse units; and a rear setback from the lot line opposite the front. 59. 040.
Violations & Fines
A structure placed inside a required setback is subject to the Unified Development Code's general enforcement process under SCC Chapter 14.09, administered by Planning and Development Services, which can require correction, order removal or relocation of the encroaching structure, and pursue civil penalties for a continuing violation; a landowner may seek relief through a variance under 14.28.030(6) rather than after-the-fact enforcement.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where do I find the actual setback distance for my zone in Skagit County?
Do I need a permit before building a fence up to the property line?
Can Skagit County ever reduce a required setback?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Skagit County
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