Island County, WA Water Use Rules: Recycled Water Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Recycled water minimum
- 50 percent of water used
- Max car wash size
- 900 square feet
- Orientation
- bay may not face public ROW
- Use type
- accessory to fuel service stations only
- Governing section
- Island County Code § 17.06.340(G)(10)
Summary
In the Freeland zoning code, an accessory car wash bay is capped at 900 square feet, must meet the principal building's setbacks, cannot face the public right-of-way, and is required to run an operational recycled water system that reuses at least 50 percent of the water it uses.
10.Car wash allowed as accessory use. A one-bay car wash may be allowed as an accessory use. The car wash shall meet the setbacks for the principal use and not exceed 900 square feet in area. The car wash bay shall not be oriented toward the public ROW. Car washes are required to have operational recycled water systems where a minimum of fifty (50) percent of water utilized is recycled.
Full Breakdown
340(G) regulates fuel service stations in the Freeland Non-Municipal Urban Growth Area, and subsection G(10) folds in a specific water-conservation rule for any accessory car wash. A gas station or fuel service use may add one car wash bay as an accessory use, but that bay cannot exceed 900 square feet, has to meet the same setbacks required for the principal fuel service structure, and its opening cannot face the public right-of-way, a placement rule meant to keep spray and noise away from the street.
The same subsection then requires the car wash to have an operational recycled water system in place, and sets a hard minimum: at least 50 percent of the water the wash uses has to come from that recycled system rather than a fresh potable supply. 15. Car-wash openings must also be oriented away from public view where practical, and the whole fuel service site is subject to Island County Public Health's food service and stormwater rules found elsewhere in the code.
Violations & Fines
Operating an accessory car wash without an operational recycled water system meeting the 50 percent threshold, building one larger than 900 square feet, or orienting the bay toward the right-of-way violates section 17.06.340(G)(10) and can be cited by Island County Planning and Community Development during site plan review or a later code enforcement inspection.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much recycled water must a Freeland car wash use?
Can a car wash be built anywhere on a gas station lot?
Is a standalone car wash allowed in Freeland?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Island County
Compare Island County to another location·View the Washington water use rules overview
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