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Yakima County, WA Sidewalk & Pedestrian Rules: Encroachment Permits (2026)

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

Key Facts

Permit issued by
County engineer's office
Minimum driveway width
20 feet at shoulder line
Minimum culvert size
12-inch diameter, 24 feet long
Appeal path
Board of County Commissioners, decision final
Maximum penalty
$300 fine or 90 days jail

Summary

Anyone building a private driveway or commercial road approach onto a Yakima County road needs a permit first. Code Chapter 10.08 requires a road approach permit from the county engineer for both commercial and noncommercial approaches, sets design and drainage standards, and makes unpermitted construction a misdemeanor.

City-specific rules exist: Yakima has its own encroachment permits rules that differ from Yakima County's county-level regulations. If you live in Yakima, check the city-specific page instead.

Permits are required and may be issued for either commercial or noncommercial road approaches to a county road. The actual construction of any privately owned road approach is on the basis of a permit. Permits may be granted for any location except on designated limited access roads, that will not conflict with the safety and free movement of road traffic. Construction and maintenance of these approaches is subject to the design and construction controls described later in these rules. ... Application for a road approach permit must be made by application to the county engineer's office. The applicant must be the owner, purchaser or lessee with consent of the owner of the property to be served by the road approach, or his authorized agent.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4871853; v6 updated 2026-04-21; through 04-21-2026).

Full Breakdown

08 of the Yakima County Code, Approaches to County Roads, Construction and Maintenance, requires a permit before anyone builds, modifies or reconstructs a private connection to a county road. 020 requires permits for both commercial and noncommercial road approaches and allows the county engineer to grant them at any location except on designated limited-access roads, so long as the approach will not conflict with the safety and free movement of road traffic. 030 sets who may apply: the property owner, purchaser or lessee with the owner's consent, or an authorized agent, filing directly with the county engineer's office.

040 makes the permittee responsible for maintaining the approach between the road shoulder or pavement edge and the right-of-way line and gives the county the right to inspect the installation at any time and require repairs at the permittee's expense. 060 sets noncommercial driveways at a minimum 20-foot width at the shoulder line with the same drainage-pipe minimums. 090 lets an applicant appeal a denied permit to the Board of County Commissioners, whose decision is final. 100, punishable by a fine of up to $300 or up to 90 days in jail, or both.

Violations & Fines

Constructing, modifying or reconstructing an approach to a county road without a permit from the county engineer violates Section 10.08.040 and is a misdemeanor under Section 10.08.100: a fine of not more than $300, imprisonment in the county jail for not more than 90 days, or both. The county engineer can also require repairs or changes at the permittee's expense after inspection.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a permit to add a driveway onto a Yakima County road?
Yes. Section 10.08.020 requires a road approach permit from the county engineer for any private driveway or commercial approach connecting to a county road, and Section 10.08.040 bars construction, modification or reconstruction of the approach without one.
Who is responsible for maintaining a driveway approach after it's built?
The permittee is. Section 10.08.040 makes the permit holder responsible for maintaining the approach between the road shoulder or pavement edge and the right-of-way line, and the county engineer can inspect it at any time and require repairs at the permittee's expense.
What if the county engineer denies my road approach permit?
Section 10.08.090 lets you reapply to the Board of County Commissioners, and their decision on the appeal is final. All road approach permits are otherwise issued directly by the county engineer at the courthouse.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Yakima County

All Yakima County rules

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