<\/p>\n
Frequently Asked Questions<\/h5>\n
The content on this page is intended for informational purposes and while all effort has been made to present current summary facts, the reader should contact the appropriate entity for details and up-to-date information. In no circumstance should you use the information on this page here as a substitute for the appropriate advice.<\/em><\/p>\n The Clark County Title 40 Code<\/a> contains much of the information in this fact sheet.<\/p>\n Small acreage landowners often find it difficult to navigate the maze of Clark County and state codes pertaining to land use. Many elements of these codes are required by state and\/or federal laws. These codes attempt to balance your rights with your neighbor\u2019s rights, while promoting a clean and healthy environment that maintains livable communities for all Clark County residents. County ordinance states that county codes \u201csafeguard public health, safety, and general welfare of the citizens of\u00a0 Clark County.\u201d<\/p>\n No permit is necessary if the structure you plan to build is 100% for agricultural use. This means that you cannot use the building to park your RV, but you can use it to park a tractor and store agricultural implements. Of course, housing livestock and\/or related supplies (feed, hay, etc.) is fine, too. However, this building could not be used for processing or packaging agricultural products (no cooking up your favorite salsa recipe) or be open to the public (e.g., farm produce stand). Additionally, no one may live in the structure. Even when a permit is not required, you will still need to follow the current Washington Building Code and meet setback requirements. Additional information on ag buildings can been seen at Clark County Agricultural Structure Permit Exemption.\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n If you plan to plumb water, heat or wire the place for electricity, you will still need a permit even if you do the work yourself.<\/p>\n Other than the agricultural building above, most construction projects require permits. Any work on a building\u2019s structural components, plumbing, and mechanical work requires a permit regardless of the dollar value of the work. This includes reroofing, re-siding, retaining walls over four feet high, fences over six feet high, or building a deck. Codes require a permit for garden sheds over 200 twenty square feet in area or eighteen feet or more in height.\u00a0 Even when your project does not require a permit, these buildings must conform to the current county code, meet setback requirements, be separated by eight feet from any other building on the property, and meet environmental requirements.<\/p>\n The permit center provides some sample plans for commonly built private buildings.\u00a0 You can also talk to a plans examiner at the permit center who will answer your specific questions.\u00a0 In some cases, you may need to hire a professional engineer to ensure that your building project complies with the current standards.<\/p>\n For information on requirements, contact the Permit Center<\/a> (1300 Franklin Street, Vancouver, WA) at 564-397-2375. You will need to leave a message for a permit technician who will return your call by the next business day.<\/p>\n Setback requirements vary by how your property is zoned and what type of structure you are building. Based on information found on the Clark County Community Development Building FAQ’s<\/a> page or the previous table summarizes setback requirements for most rural zoning classifications. In most cases, mowing, cutting, and legal herbicides can be used to maintain your property and keep brush and other vegetation in check.<\/p>\n If you plan to use heavy equipment to clear brush or if you plan to clear brush within 200 feet of your creek or wetland, a Habitat Permit review may be required, except when clearing nuisance vegetation like blackberry, Scotch Broom, and Tansy Ragwort. Clearing these are exempt from the Habitat Permit review if you use hand tools and do not disturb the soil or other vegetation. Disturbing soils near streams can lead to erosion that harms aquatic life in the stream.<\/p>\n Before you start clearing in these areas, call Clark County Environmental Services<\/a> at 564-397-6140 for the appropriate methods to use. They can also direct you to any other agencies that you may need to work with.<\/p>\n A Habitat Permit review<\/a> is required for proposed clearing in riparian or priority habitat areas. Begin by calling Clark County Environmental Services at 564-397-5855.<\/p>\n On more projects involving multiple permits and agencies, completing a joint aquatic resource permit application (JARPA) can streamline the permitting process since several permitting agencies accept this single application form. The time frame for permits varies greatly depending on the work and the sensitivity of the area, but can take up to seven weeks for the process.<\/p>\n Interested in providing habitat? Leave that snag! As long as the snag does not present a danger to buildings or people, they supply important nesting sites for birds. The decaying wood also returns organic matter to your woodland soil.<\/p>\n Removing trees for firewood for your own personal use does not usually require a permit. You can also remove a hazard tree without a permit if it is within one and a half tree lengths from an existing building. You will need to obtain a permit from Clark County Environmental Services the when:<\/p>\n Any activity in streams, wetlands, rivers, and on unstable slopes also requires a Habitat Permit<\/a> from Clark County Environmental Services at 564-397-5855. Additional information Forest Practice Reviews<\/a>.<\/p>\n A Forest Practices Permit may be required from Department of Natural Resources<\/a> \u00a0(564-577-2375).<\/p>\n The notice most likely tells you that your property harbors weeds considered noxious The notice includes color photos of the noxious weed(s) and instructions by the state. State law declares that landowners are responsible for controlling the spread of noxious weeds.<\/p>\n This notice includes color photos of the noxious weed(s) and instructions on what to do next. You will need to contact Vegetation Management<\/a> and tell them what you intend to do to control the weed(s). Advice and recommendations for controlling weeds are available from Vegetation Management.<\/p>\n Vegetation Management staff follow-up within twelve days to see that you have taken steps to control the weed. If you have not taken measures to control the noxious weed, you will receive a violation notice by certified mail. You have ten days from receipt of the violation notice to stop seed propagation. Vegetation Management will work with landowners, to develop a land management plan to obtain meaningful control for the noxious weeds on your property. For those few who refuse to work to control their noxious weeds, failure to heed the violation notice can result in an infraction and Vegetation Management obtaining a warrant to enter your property and control the weeds at the landowner\u2019s expense or issuance of a notice of civil infraction with fines ranging from $500 to $1,000 per weed species, per day.<\/p>\n A list of noxious weeds, mowers and certified sprayers can be obtained through Vegetation Management<\/a> and is available on their website. Controlling weeds is important since weeds often compete with crops, poison people and livestock, and create fire hazards. Weeds also threaten wetlands, rivers, and lakes and other native plant communities. For information, contact Clark County Vegetation Management<\/a> at 564-397-6140.<\/p>\n You can divert this runoff to the ditch along the county road as long as it is just clean water. However, if the rainwater becomes contaminated or muddy, you cannot route it to the ditch. Contamination may come from animal manure, vehicle oils, chemicals (herbicides, pesticides), or other sources. Once these contaminants enter a ditch, they flow downhill until they enter into a creek. Contaminants can affect not only the health of aquatic life, but also that of humans when they recreate.<\/p>\n In general, infiltrating the rainwater on site presents the best solution. This recharges ground water, reduces erosion, and helps maintain a healthy watershed. For structures such as a house, one alternative would be a rain garden, a shallow depression planted with native flowers, shrubs or grasses that collects rainwater from gutters and allows it to soak back into the ground. Larger structures, such as barns, would need more than one rain garden. For more information on rain gardens visit WSU Extension Rain Gardens<\/a>. raingarden.wsu.edu.<\/p>\n Constructing drywells or diverting rainwater to other vegetated areas offers other possible solutions.<\/p>\n Every property is different and needs to be evaluated separately. If you want to deepen a ditch, the best advice is to contact Clark County\u2019s Permit Center<\/a> at 564-397-4078. It is necessary to be careful when digging to avoid stirring up sediments or contaminants that might be transported to streams or other waterbodies since these can damage aquatic life and sometimes degrade the stream habitat as well.<\/p>\n Many older ditches were dug years ago to drain wetlands. Work in these ditches may require a Wetland or Habitat permit from Clark County. Some projects might require a Hydraulic Project Approval (HPA)<\/a> permit from Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife<\/a> (360-902-2534), especially if the ditch flows into a fish bearing stream. To avoid disturbance (sediment and other contamination) to nearby creeks, any grading should be done during the drier summer months.<\/p>\n You can visit the Permit Center<\/a> at 1300 W. Franklin in Vancouver to speak with someone in person about your project. Doing this ensures that you are doing everything necessary before beginning any work.<\/p>\n No, but some agricultural activities are exempt from permit requirements. Generally, activities considered \u201cnormal farming practices\u201d are exempt. For example, farmers can generally maintain and repair existing agricultural facilities such as agricultural buildings, animal waste management structures, roads (they may not change culvert sizes or the embankment), and ponds (they may not enlarge a pond).<\/p>\n Agricultural operations may clear vegetation, stumps and undergrowth 4 without a permit unless clearing is within 200 feet of a stream or wetland. This may require a habitat or wetland permit. These operations may also use soil amendments such as fertilizer, compost and animal waste. However, these should not be applied where they are likely to be washed into streams or other waterbodies due to the harmful effects this might have on the stream or its aquatic life.<\/p>\n When in doubt, an ad hoc committee from the USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service<\/a> (360-883-1987), the Clark Conservation District<\/a>, and WSU Extension<\/a> make recommendations to Clark County on what constitutes normal farming practices.<\/p>\n Farming activities that require importation or excavation of fill material (exclusive of soil amendments) may not be exempt. The total amount of material imported and\/or excavated triggers grading permits<\/a>, not the specific activity. On urban lots over one acre and rural lots under five acres moving 100 cubic yards or more of material, requires a grading permit. On rural lots over five acres, moving over 200 cubic yards requires a grading permit. In critical areas the threshold for permit requirements is 50 cubic yards (Clark County Code 14.07) Since this is not a large amount of material, most grading activities will need permits. (Consider that a 20\u2019 x 20\u2019 x 3 1\/3\u2019 deep hole produces 50 cubic yards.)<\/p>\n What is a \u201cyard\u201d or \u201ccubic yard\u201d of material? Calculate the length times the width times the depth of the area (measured in feet) to be excavated or moved, and divide the result (cubic feet) by 27. This provides the number of cubic yards of material. For example, a mound 30 feet long, 12 feet wide and 2 feet tall, equals 26.7 cubic yards.<\/p>\n Grader Beware! Grading and inspection fees double if you grade without a permit, even if you were unaware you needed a grading permit. For information, contact, Clark County Public Works<\/a>, 564-397-6118<\/p>\n This is a complex question, so we have written a separate factsheet to help you out. Start by reading Constructing Ponds and Water Features: What Does it Take? (PDF)<\/a> so you know what agencies you might need to talk to.<\/p>\n Stocking a pond with fish requires a permit from the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW)<\/a> to assure that stocked fish do not escape into streams and other water bodies. Stocked fish that escape can replace native fish species by competing for habitat and food, introducing diseases, and predation.<\/p>\n Fish suitable for Washington include rainbow trout, largemouth bass, bluegill, sunfish, and channel catfish. You can contact the WDFW for a list of certified disease-free fish growers.<\/p>\n Getting the permit<\/a>. Along with a $24 fee and $70 processing fee, submit the permit application to the SW Regional WDFW office at 2108 Grand Boulevard in Vancouver (360) 906-8972). WDFW will arrange for a fish biologist to inspect your site\u2019s water quality, source, inlet and outlet structures, and other parameters, in addition to your proposed source of fish. Stocking permits may take 30 days to process. If other permits are required, it could take longer.<\/p>\n The short answer is no. Stream water belongs to the public and altering flows requires a \u201cwater right.\u201d A water right grants individuals or groups the use of a certain amount of water, but not ownership. Legally, a water right \u201cis a legal authorization to use a predefined quantity of public water for a designated, beneficial purpose.\u201d<\/p>\n Water rights law involves a very complex set of rules throughout the 5 Landowners do not need a water right to use well water if consumption is less than 5000 gallons per day when the water is used for single or group domestic purposes, stock watering, industrial purposes, or lawns and non-commercial gardens of a half acre or less. Amounts over 5,000 gallons require a water right.<\/p>\n Considering that an average household uses 300 gallons of water per day, a 5,000 gallon limit does not impact most landowners.<\/p>\n This information can be found on the Department of Ecology\u2019s<\/a> web site.<\/p>\n On October 12, 2009, the Department of Ecology<\/a> issued an Interpretive Policy Statement clarifying that a water right is not required for rooftop rainwater harvesting. Once you have collected the rainwater there are no limitations on its use.<\/p>\n The rainwater storage system may also be used for rainwater collection to store groundwater withdrawn under the groundwater permit exemption for future beneficial use (i.e. an owner may pump groundwater in the winter under the permit exemption, store it, and then use it in the spring and summer). According to the new rainwater interpretive policy, an \u201consite\u201d rooftop\/guzzler system means the storage and use of the rainwater occurs on the same parcel as the roof from which the water was captured.<\/p>\n For more information on rainwater collection visit the Department of Ecology\u2019s website<\/a>.<\/p>\n An easement allows another person or entity to use a part of your property for a specified purpose, even though you own the land. Your property title or deed should state any easements recorded on your property. If you cannot find this, your title company will usually provide a copy of the paperwork to you at little or no charge. The Clark County\u00a0Department of Assessment and GIS<\/a> (360-397-2391) can also provide a copy for a fee or you can visit Clark County Maps Online.<\/a>\u00a0 View the Instructions for using Maps Online<\/a>.<\/p>\n Not all easements are created equal. The county road easements allow the county to build or expand a road without obtaining your approval. Power line easements usually allow utility company access and restrict the height of vegetation growing under the lines. It is not uncommon for \u201clandlocked\u201d properties to have easements on a property to allow access to a nearby road. In this latter case, you would not be able to build or otherwise limit vehicle access to the landlocked property.<\/p>\n Buying property? Make sure that you understand and are comfortable with any restrictions or easements placed on the use of your property before you sign. The bottom line is, if an easement shows on the title search, ask your realtor and be sure you understand what it means before you sign.<\/p>\n Always ask questions. Ask until you understand exactly what permits are required, from which agency, and in what sequence before starting on a project. While permits can get complicated and restrictive at times, remember that codes are in place to protect you, your property, your neighbors and their property, and the environment.<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n <\/p>\n Small Acreage Program<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n ~ Small Acreage Program Listserv ~<\/a><\/strong> <\/p>\n Terry Koper<\/strong> Justin O\u2019Dea<\/strong> <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Clark Conservation District<\/strong> Clark County Community Development<\/strong> Clark County Environmental Services<\/strong> Clark County Public Works<\/strong> Clark County Vegetation Management<\/strong> Department of Ecology, Southwest Region<\/strong> Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife,<\/strong> Washington State Department of Labor and Industries<\/strong> Washington State Department of Natural Resources<\/strong> U.S. Army Corps of Engineers<\/strong> USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service<\/strong> WSU Clark County Extension<\/strong> <\/p>\n <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n <\/p>\n\n
<\/a>
\nI’d like to build a barn. Do I need a permit?<\/h6>\n<\/a>What Projects need a building permit?<\/h6>\n
\nFor information on construction work, contact the Permit Center<\/a> at 1300 Franklin Street, Vancouver, WA or call 564-397-2375.
\nElectrical work can be done either by an electrical contractor or the homeowner. Permits must first be acquired from the Department of Labor and Industries<\/a> 360-896-2300, located at 312 SE Stonemill Drive Suite 120, Vancouver, 98684-3508. Completed electrical work must be inspected by an L&I licensed inspector. To determine the fee for the permit,\u00a0visit the Washington Dept of Labor and Industries fee page<\/a>.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/wpcdn.web.wsu.edu\/wp-extension\/uploads\/sites\/2079\/2020\/11\/WhatYouCanDoOnYourLand_Zoning_Spec_Chart-396x222.jpg\")
<\/p>\n<\/a>I want to build a tool shed, but someone told me I need a permit to build it. Is that true?<\/h6>\n
<\/a>What are the setback requirements?<\/h6>\n
\nYou can also find information about setback requirements on your land using Clark County Maps Online<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/a>Do I need a permit to clear vegetation from my property? What about next to my creek?<\/h6>\n
<\/a>Can I cut down a tree or use a tree for firewood on my property?<\/h6>\n
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<\/a>Can you explain the notice I received from Vegetation Management<\/h6>\n
<\/a>Can I outlet rainwater from the roof of my house, barn, or outbuilding directly to the ditch along the county road by my property?<\/h6>\n
<\/a>Can I deepen or work in an existing ditch on private property that may have silted in over the years?<\/h6>\n
<\/a>I\u2019ve heard that farmers don\u2019t need to get any permits. Is that true?<\/h6>\n
\nThis might include constructing an agricultural building pad, new drainage ditches, ponds, roads, or bridges.<\/p>\n<\/a>What kind of activities will trigger the need for a grading permit?<\/h6>\n
<\/a>If I want to build a pond on my property, what do I need to know before I build one? What if I just like the sound of running water, can I build a water feature?<\/h6>\n
<\/a>Can I raise trout? How about other fish species?<\/h6>\n
<\/a>Can I draw water from the small stream that flows on my property?<\/h6>\n
\nwestern U.S. For more information, contact the Washington State <\/a>
\nDepartment of Ecology, Southwest Region 360-407-6300 or view their web site on water rights.<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a>If I cannot use surface waters, what about using my well water?<\/h6>\n
<\/a>Can I collect rainwater to use on my property?<\/h6>\n
<\/a>What is an easement and how does it affect the use of my property?<\/h6>\n
<\/a>What general advice would be good when looking at doing projects on my acreage?<\/h6>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/wpcdn.web.wsu.edu\/wp-extension\/uploads\/sites\/2079\/2020\/12\/SA_What_Can_You_Do_FAQ_PDF_Front-396x512.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n\n
\n
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\nReceive emails about upcoming classes and events.<\/em><\/p>\nContact Us<\/h5>\n
\nWSU Small Acreage Coordinator – Clark County<\/strong><\/em>
\n1919 NE 78th St Vancouver, WA 98665-9752
\n564-397-5729
\nterry.koper@wsu.edu<\/a><\/p>\n
\nRegional Agricultural Specialist Faculty \u2013 WSU Clark County Extension<\/strong><\/em>
\n1919 NE 78th St Vancouver, WA 98665-9752
\n(564) 397-5701
\njustin.odea@wsu.edu<\/a><\/p>\n
\n<\/h6>\n
Agencies<\/h6>\n
\n813 West Main Street, Suite 106
\nBattle Ground, WA 98604
\n360-859-4780
\nhttps:\/\/clarkcd.org\/<\/a><\/p>\n
\n1300 Franklin Street, Floor 1
\nVancouver, WA 98660
\n564-397-2375
\nhttps:\/\/clark.wa.gov\/development\/<\/a><\/p>\n
\n1300 Franklin Street
\nVancouver, WA 98660
\n564–397-2121
\nhttps:\/\/clark.wa.gov\/<\/a><\/p>\n
\n1300 Franklin Street
\nVancouver, WA 98660
\n564-397-6118
\nhttp:\/\/clark.wa.gov\/publicworks\/<\/a><\/p>\n
\n4700 NE 78th St, Building G
\nVancouver, WA 98665
\n564-397-6140
\nhttps:\/\/clark.wa.gov\/public-works\/vegetation-management<\/a><\/p>\n
\n360-407-6300
\nWater Resources Program DOE
\n360-407-6872
\nhttp:\/\/www.ecy.wa.gov\/<\/a><\/p>\n
\nRegion 5<\/strong>
\n5525 S 11th Street
\nRidgefield, WA 98642
\n306-696-6211 FAX 360-906-6776
\nhttps:\/\/wdfw.wa.gov\/places-to-go\/weekender\/southwest<\/a><\/p>\n
\n312 SE Stonemill Drive Suite 120
\nVancouver, 98684-3508
\n360-896-2300
\nhttp:\/\/www.lni.wa.gov\/<\/a><\/p>\n
\nHeadquarters 360-902-1000
\nPacific Cascade Region 360-577-2025
\nhttp:\/\/www.dnr.wa.gov\/<\/a><\/p>\n
\nSeattle District, Regulatory Branch
\nPost Office Box 3755
\nSeattle, WA 98124-3755
\n206-764-3495 FAX 206-764-6602
\nhttp:\/\/www.nws.usace.army.mil\/<\/a><\/p>\n
\n500 W. 12th Street
\nVancouver, WA 98660
\n360-768-3045
\nhttp:\/\/www.wa.nrcs.usda.gov\/<\/a><\/p>\n
\n1919 NE 78th Street
\nVancouver, WA 98665
\n564-397-5729
\nhttps\/\/extension.wsu.edu\/clark\/<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a>Permits & Permitting Agencies \u2013 A Short Guide<\/strong><\/h6>\n
\n
\nRelates to forest practices defined as any activity conducted on or directly pertaining to forest land and relating to growing,
\nharvesting, or processing timber.<\/li>\n
\nwith appropriate habitat mitigation measures.<\/li>\n
\nRequired for all new or replacement plumbing fixtures and fittings. The permit provides for inspection by a licensed
\ninspector when work is complete.<\/li>\n