Whatcom County requires a grading permit for significant excavation or fill. Drainage cannot be redirected onto neighboring land, and grading on steep slopes or eroding marine bluffs triggers geotechnical review under the WCC 16.16 critical areas rules.
Whatcom County regulates grading and drainage through its building and development standards, applying the International Building Code grading provisions. A permit is required once excavation or fill passes the code threshold, and site grading must direct runoff away from structures and adjoining parcels. Grading on mapped geologically hazardous areas, including the county's unstable coastal bluffs and steep ravines, triggers geotechnical review under WCC 16.16. In the Lake Whatcom watershed, clearing and grading also meet the overlay district's seasonal timing and stormwater standards. Retaining walls over four feet, measured from the bottom of the footing, need engineered plans and a separate permit. Owners maintain drainage facilities on their own land.
Unpermitted grading brings a stop-work order and fines. Redirecting drainage onto a neighbor's property requires corrective work and can create civil liability for resulting damage or slope failure.
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