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

Some Restrictions

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

Key Facts

Zone: RR20, Rural Residential/Resource, 1 unit/20 acres
Max height: 35 feet (also RR10 under § 11.10.020(3))
Citation: Chelan County Code § 11.08.020(3)
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 Rural Residential/Resource district (RR20, one dwelling unit per 20 acres), Chelan County Code § 11.08.020(3) caps building height at thirty-five feet. The identical limit applies in the adjacent RR10 district under § 11.10.020(3). Community Development checks every proposal against the cap during permit review, and exceeding it without a variance is a civil code violation.

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

All development in this zone shall meet the applicable provisions of the Chelan County Code, including without limitation the following: ... Maximum building height: thirty-five feet.

View official code

Full Breakdown

08 sets the standards for the Rural Residential/Resource - 1 Dwelling Unit per 20 Acres (RR20) district. 020(3) states that development in RR20 'shall meet the applicable provisions of the Chelan County Code,' and among the numbered standards listed is a maximum building height of thirty-five feet. 020(3), so a landowner moving between the county's two largest-lot rural zones faces an identical cap. The Chelan County Department of Community Development reviews building permit applications against this limit before construction begins; a design that exceeds thirty-five feet cannot be permitted as a matter of right. 95. 080). 090). 06, and the property owner has fourteen days to request a hearing before the order becomes final.

Violations & Fines

Building without a permit, or exceeding the thirty-five-foot cap without an approved variance, is a civil code violation under Chelan County Code § 16.02.030. The Administrator issues a notice and order under Chapter 16.06; fines run $750 for a first violation and $1,500 for a repeat violation under § 16.16.010, with each day of continued noncompliance counted separately. Unresolved violations can lead to permit denial and a lien against the property.

Frequently Asked Questions

How tall can I build in Chelan County's RR20 zone?

Chelan County Code § 11.08.020(3) caps building height in the Rural Residential/Resource - 1 Dwelling Unit per 20 Acres district at thirty-five feet. The Department of Community Development checks every building permit application against that limit before issuing approval, and the same thirty-five-foot ceiling applies in the neighboring RR10 district under § 11.10.020(3).

Can I get an exception to the height limit?

Yes. Chapter 11.95 lets the Hearing Examiner grant a variance if strict application of the height cap creates undue hardship tied to unique topography, lot size or shape that the applicant did not create. The Hearing Examiner decides within 120 days of a completeness determination and cannot use a variance to allow a de facto rezone or added density.

What happens if I build over the height limit without a variance?

The Chelan County Administrator issues a notice and order under Chapter 16.06 citing the specific code section violated and the corrective action required. Civil fines run $750 for a first violation and $1,500 for a repeat violation under § 16.16.010, and failure to correct the violation can lead to denial of future permits and a lien against the property.

Sources & Official References

[1]Chelan County Code (eCode360)

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All Chelan County rules

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