Snohomish County, WA Parking Rules: Loading Zones (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.
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.
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?
What will the county engineer check before approving a loading zone permit?
Who pays for the striping and signs at an approved loading zone?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Snohomish County
Compare Snohomish County to another location·View the Washington parking rules overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.