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Thurston County, WA Building Setbacks & Zoning: Setback Rules (2026)

Some Restrictions

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

Key Facts

Front yard: 16 ft (20 ft with street-facing garage)
Side yard: 5 ft minimum
Rear yard: 15 ft minimum
Small accessory building rear: 3 ft (under 200 sq ft)
Governing chapter: TCC 21.12.050

Summary

Thurston County sets yard setbacks by zoning district under Title 21. In the Low-Density Residential District 0-6, single-family lots need a 16-foot front yard, 5-foot sides, and a 15-foot rear yard.

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

Minimum front yard1, 2 Garages facing the street 16 feet 20 feet Front yard on flanking street 10 feet Minimum side yards3 5 feet Minimum rear yard 15 feet4

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 77).

Full Breakdown

Thurston County zoning code (TCC Title 21) fixes minimum yard setbacks per zoning district rather than one countywide number. The development-standards table for the Low-Density Residential District 0-6 (Chapter 21.12, TCC 21.12.050) requires a 16-foot front yard, or 20 feet where a garage faces the street; a 10-foot front yard on flanking streets for corner lots; 5-foot minimum side yards; and a 15-foot minimum rear yard. Accessory buildings under 200 square feet get reduced setbacks: 16 feet front, 5 feet side, 3 feet rear. Other zoning districts in Title 21 (commercial, industrial, other residential tiers) carry their own separate setback tables.

Violations & Fines

Building or adding onto a structure without meeting the required setback blocks permit issuance and can draw a stop-work or correction order from the county, with the encroaching portion subject to removal or relocation.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the minimum front yard setback in Thurston County's low-density residential zone?

16 feet, or 20 feet if a garage faces the street; corner lots need only 10 feet of front setback on the flanking street side, per TCC 21.12.050.

Are setbacks the same in every Thurston County zoning district?

No. TCC Title 21 sets a separate development-standards table for each zoning district, so the Low-Density Residential District 0-6 numbers under 21.12.050 apply only to that zone.

Sources & Official References

[1]Thurston County Code § 21.12.050 (Municode)

Other rules in Thurston County

Lot Coverage LimitsSome Restrictions Structure Height LimitsSome Restrictions Noise Ordinances: Barking DogsSome Restrictions Parking Rules: Loading ZonesSome Restrictions Parking Rules: Driveway RulesSome Restrictions Parking Rules: Abandoned VehiclesSome Restrictions Fence Regulations: Retaining WallsSome Restrictions Animal Ordinances: Cat RulesSome Restrictions

All Thurston County rules

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