Skagit County, WA Building Setbacks & Zoning: Structure Height Limits (2026)

030-1 sets a single 40-foot maximum building height across every zone in the Rural Mixed-Use chapter: Rural Intermediate (RI), Rural Reserve (RRv), Rural Village Residential (RVR), Rural Center (RC), Rural Village Commercial (RVC and RVC Alger), and Public Open Space of Regional/Statewide Importance (OSRSI). 100(5)(a) fixes how that 40 feet is measured: for most structures, height runs from the average elevation of the ground under the structure to the highest point of a flat roof, or to the average height of a gable, shed, hip, or other peaked roof.

Antenna height is measured differently, from the base of the antenna support structure at grade to its highest point, and if the support sits on sloped ground the average of the high and low grade is used instead. Flagpoles, ham radio antennas, church steeples, water towers, meteorological towers, and fire towers are exempt from the 40-foot cap outright. 100, and in the AVR and AEO zones height is measured from mean sea level datum rather than natural grade unless the code states otherwise. 59 rather than under this general height rule.

Planning and Development Services applies this 40-foot figure when reviewing building permits in the unincorporated Rural Mixed-Use zones, and a proposal exceeding it needs a variance or must qualify for one of the listed exemptions before a permit will issue.