Whatcom County, WA Homelessness & Encampment Rules: Encampment Sanitation (2026)
Key Facts
- Permit required
- Administrative approval use permit
- Location limit
- Urban growth areas only
- Capacity cap
- 50/site, 100 countywide
- Duration
- 190 days to 5 years
- Cleanup deadline
- 1 week after vacating
Summary
Whatcom County only allows a temporary homeless encampment, tent camp, safe-parking area or tiny-house camp inside an urban growth area, and only under an administrative approval use permit that locks in sanitation duties: potable water at all times, sanitary portable toilets set back from property lines, hand-washing stations, food-tent controls and dedicated refuse receptacles.
(13) The sponsor and managing agency shall assure all applicable public health regulations, including but not limited to the following, will be met for: (a) Potable water, which shall be available at all times at the site; (b) Sanitary portable toilets, which shall be set back from all property lines as determined by the director; (c) Hand-washing stations by the toilets and food preparation areas; (d) Food preparation or service tents; and (e) Refuse receptacles. (14) Public health regulations (Chapter 246-215 WAC and Chapter 24.03 WCC) on food donations and food handling and storage, including proper temperature control, shall be followed and temporary homeless facility residents involved in food donations and storages shall be made aware of these Whatcom County health department requirements.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4963078; v4 updated 2026-06-23; through 06-23-2026).
Full Breakdown
17 WCC creates a single permitting track for what it calls temporary homeless facilities, covering tent encampments, safe parking areas, tiny house encampments and building encampments. 290. 060(13): the sponsor and managing agency must guarantee potable water available at all times, sanitary portable toilets set back from property lines as the director determines, hand-washing stations at the toilets and food preparation areas, food preparation or service tents, and refuse receptacles, with a regular trash patrol required under subsection (16). 03 WCC under subsection (14). 050.
060(21)-(22) requires the sponsor to remove all structures and debris within one calendar week and restore the site, including replanting removed vegetation where the director requires it.
Violations & Fines
The director may deny, condition or revoke an administrative approval use permit under WCC § 20.17.080 if the sponsor or managing agency fails to comply with the chapter's sanitation and health duties, including the potable water, toilet, hand-washing and refuse requirements of § 20.17.060(13). A denied, conditioned or revoked decision, including permit extensions, may be appealed to the hearing examiner under WCC § 22.05.020(1) and § 22.05.160.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Whatcom County require running water at a homeless encampment?
Where can a temporary homeless encampment operate in Whatcom County?
How long can a tent encampment or tiny house village stay open?
What happens when a Whatcom County encampment closes?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Whatcom County
Compare Whatcom County to another location·View the Washington homelessness & encampment rules overview
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