Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Town of Starbuck, Washington

Town of Starbuck’s own rules

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land in Starbuck town (Columbia County); evidence concerns the 2021 annexation area

  • Only an annexation ordinance was found; the town's zoning code and 'Guide to Community Development' were not located online.
  • Annexed area zoned commercial/residential.

  zoning of annexed area: commercial/residential

  “zoning: the area shall be zoned commercial/ residential.”

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  Parcels in the 2021 annexation area of Starbuck town (zoned commercial/residential)

  • Applies only if city water and sewer are provided.
  • Stated in an annexation ordinance, not a district schedule; town-wide district limits not located.

  minimum parcel size: >= 5000 square feet (if city water and sewer are provided)

  “designated individual parcel size must be a minimum of 5,000 square feet if city water and sewer are provided.”

• Mandatory utility hookupSewer (with conditions)

  New homes in the 2021 annexation area (Ordinance 2021-172) of Starbuck town

  • Applies to homes within 200 feet of the wastewater collection line; beyond that an onsite septic system is allowed.
  • Water connections must meet criteria in Starbuck ordinance 121.
  • Rule stated in an annexation ordinance; town-wide rule (Ordinance 141) not located.

  sewer hookup distance: <= 200 feet

  “all future homes in the development area, within 200 feet of the wastewater treatment collection line, will hook to the existing town of starbuck wastewater treatment potw”

Rules another office applies inside Town of Starbuck

Town of Starbuck does not set these itself; the county, a health district or the state does, and they apply to every address inside its limits.

• Building code adoptedAdopted

  State building code applies in all cities and counties, including Starbuck town

  • Adopted by reference by statute; 'except as otherwise provided in this chapter'.

  “except as otherwise provided in this chapter, there shall be in effect in all counties and cities the state building code which shall consist of the following model codes which are hereby adopted by reference”

• Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

  Onsite septic systems inside Starbuck town in the 2021 annexation area lying more than 200 feet from the town sewer line

  • Within 200 feet of the town collection line, homes must connect to the town sewer.
  • Tank size and design must meet the town of Starbuck standards.

  sewer connection distance: <= 200 feet (beyond 200 feet an onsite system is allowed)

  “if the development lies outside the 200-foot boundary, an individual onsite septic tank system can be installed and will fall under the jurisdiction and guidance of the columbia county department of health”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Town of Starbuck or Columbia County directly.

• Building permit — Building permits inside Starbuck town
• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder in Starbuck town
• Inspections — Inspections inside Starbuck town
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificates of occupancy inside Starbuck town
• Zoning districts — Zoning districts inside Starbuck town

Each answer was extracted from an official source and independently re-checked against that source by a second reviewer. That is an evidence check, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with the authority before you buy or build.