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Snohomish County, WA Parking Rules: Loading Zones (2026)

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

Key Facts

Governing section
SCC 13.50.040
Permit required
Type C1 right-of-way permit
Hazard review
Engineer must find no traffic hazard
Design standard
Must meet county EDDS
Cost of signage/striping
Billed entirely to permittee

Summary

Placing a loading zone, bus stop, or shelter pad in a Snohomish County road right-of-way takes a Type C1 permit under SCC 13.50.040, and the county engineer won't issue one unless the site poses no hazard to traffic and meets road design standards.

City-specific rules exist: Marysville, and Everett have their own loading zones rules that differ from Snohomish County's county-level regulations. If you live in one of those cities, check the city-specific page instead.

Type C1 permits authorizing use of the opened right-of-way for bus stops, shelter stations, including associated shelter pads and loading zones, are subject to the following additional conditions: (1) A Type C1 permit shall not be issued unless the engineer determines that the proposed location will not present a hazard to vehicles or pedestrians utilizing the opened right-of-way. (2) The proposed structure will meet all applicable EDDS requirements. (3) All costs of striping, signing or other traffic control devices required by the engineer, whether or not installed by the county, shall be installed at the sole expense of the permittee. (4) The proposed location for the structure will best serve the need for the proposed station, zone or other transportation-related structure in the area.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through legislation passed August 12, 2026).

Full Breakdown

50 SCC governs 'Type C' transactions, permits for physical objects or features placed within an opened county road right-of-way. 040 spells out the additional conditions that apply specifically to loading zones and bus stops. First, a Type C1 permit shall not be issued unless the engineer determines that the proposed location will not present a hazard to vehicles or pedestrians utilizing the opened right-of-way. Second, the proposed structure must meet the county's Engineering Design and Development Standards (EDDS). Third, all costs of striping, signing, or other traffic-control devices the engineer requires, whether the county installs them or not, are billed entirely to the permittee.

Fourth, the engineer weighs whether the proposed location best serves the need for that particular loading zone or transportation structure in the area. Fifth, the engineer has discretion to cover multiple loading zones, bus stops, or shelters under a single Type C1 permit, so long as each structure and location is individually listed. 030, including a requirement that permittees maintain any permanent structure in a neat and orderly manner and remove it, restoring the right-of-way, once the permit expires, is suspended, or is revoked. 120. 652(4)(b).

Violations & Fines

Installing a loading zone, bus stop, or shelter pad in a county right-of-way without an approved Type C1 permit, or without meeting the engineer's hazard, EDDS, and striping conditions under SCC 13.50.040, is a right-of-way permit violation. The department of public works can require removal and restoration of the right-of-way at the responsible party's expense, and unresolved right-of-way violations are enforced through the county's general right-of-way permitting enforcement process.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a permit to put in a loading zone on a county road?
Yes. SCC 13.50.020(1) classifies loading zones, along with bus stops and shelter pads, as a Type C1 use of the opened right-of-way, and SCC 13.50.040 requires the county engineer to approve the location before a permit issues.
What will the county engineer check before approving a loading zone permit?
Under SCC 13.50.040, the engineer must determine the location will not present a hazard to vehicles or pedestrians using the right-of-way, confirm the structure meets the county's Engineering Design and Development Standards, and judge whether the location best serves the need for that loading zone in the area.
Who pays for the striping and signs at an approved loading zone?
The permittee does. SCC 13.50.040(3) states that all costs of striping, signing, or other traffic control devices the engineer requires are installed at the sole expense of the permittee, regardless of whether Snohomish County itself does the installation.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Snohomish County

All Snohomish County rules

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