Building Setbacks & Zoning in Skagit County, WA (2026)
3 rules for unincorporated Skagit County, Washington.
Verified from official government sources
Setback Rules
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.
Yard Setback Rules in Unincorporated Skagit County
Some RestrictionsSkagit County Code §§ 14.28.030, 14.28.050
(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 poss...
Structure Height Limits
In the Rural Mixed-Use zones of unincorporated Skagit County, including Rural Village Residential (RVR), Table 14.11.030-1 caps building height at 40 feet. SCC 14.10.100(5) explains how that limit is measured: from average ground elevation to a roof's highest point, or its average height on gable, shed, or hip roofs.
Building Height Limits in Unincorporated Skagit County
Some RestrictionsSkagit County Code §§ 14.10.100, 14.11.030
(5) Maximum Building Height. (a) Determination of Height. (i) For most structures, height is determined by the vertical distance measured from the average elevation of the area occupied by the structure to the highest point of the structure or roof for flat roofs, and the average height of the roof on gable, shed, hip or other peaked roofs. ... RI ... RRv ... RVR ... RC ... RVC ... RVC...
Lot Coverage Limits
Table 14.11.030-1 caps impervious lot coverage in unincorporated Skagit County's Rural Mixed-Use zones: 35 percent in Rural Intermediate, 50 percent in Rural Village Residential, Rural Center, and both Rural Village Commercial zones, and no printed limit in Public Open Space of Regional/Statewide Importance. Rural Reserve coverage is set zone-by-zone under SCC 14.11.200.
Lot Coverage Limits in Unincorporated Skagit County
Some RestrictionsSkagit County Code § 14.11.030
RI ... RRv ... RVR ... RC ... RVC ... RVC Alger ... OSRSI ... Lot Coverage ... Maximum lot coverage (%) ... 35 ... * ... 50 ... 50 ... 50 ... 50 ... –
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