Building Setbacks & Zoning in Island County, WA (2026)
3 rules for unincorporated Island County, Washington.
Verified from official government sources
Setback Rules
In the Rural (R), Rural Agriculture (RA), Rural Forest (RF), and Rural Residential (RR) Zones of unincorporated Island County, front-yard setbacks run 20 to 100 feet depending on the abutting road's classification, under Island County Code section 17.03.180.S.3.
Island County Rural Zone Yard Setbacks
Some RestrictionsIsland County Code § 17.03.180.S.3
3.Setbacks/yard requirements for the Rural and Rural Residential Zones.a.The front yard, street rear yard, and street side yard setbacks shall be based upon the classification/function of the abutting public or private road(s) and access easements as follows: Road Classification Setback RR Zone R, RA and RF Zones Existing Lot New Lot/Parcel (i) Local access, including private access easements s...
Structure Height Limits
In the Rural (R) Zone of unincorporated Island County, Island County Code section 17.03.060.D caps building height at 35 feet, while specifically exempting chimneys, flagpoles, utility poles, water tanks, skylights, silos, HVAC equipment, and church spires from that height calculation.
Island County Rural Zone Building Height Limit
Some RestrictionsIsland County Code § 17.03.060.D
D.Height. Maximum building height shall not exceed thirty-five (35) feet. Chimneys, smokestacks, fire or parapet walls, ADA-required elevator shafts, flagpoles, utility lines and poles, water tanks, skylights, silos, communication sending and receiving devices, HVAC and similar equipment, and spires associated with places of worship are exempt from height requirements.
Lot Coverage Limits
In the Rural (R) Zone across unincorporated Island County, impervious surface is capped at 25 percent of a parcel five acres or smaller, dropping to 10 percent above that, and total building coverage tops out at 5 percent of gross site area, under Island County Code section 17.03.180.S.1.
Island County Rural Zone Lot Coverage Limits
Some RestrictionsIsland County Code § 17.03.180.S.1
S.Site coverage and setbacks.1.Site coverage. Lot or parcel site coverage is established by a ratio percentage based on the gross site area of the property. Specific coverage ratios are as follows: ... All Residential uses in the R Zone including Accessory Residential Uses Rural PRD Rural Center Uses Rural Village Uses Camano Gateway Village Uses All NR or Institutional Uses in the R, RA, RF, C...
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