Bolthole Index

Grays Harbor County, Washington

Building permits, zoning and land rules in McCleary, Washington

McCleary, Washington requires city Building Official approval and payment of building-permit fees before construction, subject to exemptions for specific work.1 McCleary sets its own zoning inside city limits; Grays Harbor County Environmental Health handles septic systems, while city rules limit private wastewater disposal and require sewer connection when the applicable conditions are met.234

At a glance

Building permit
City approval and fees before construction; specific work may be exempt1
Zoning
McCleary zoning districts and city land-use table apply2
Septic
County Environmental Health handles septic; city sewer and private-disposal rules also apply34
RV living
Private-property occupancy could not be confirmed; ask McCleary Planning Department5
Tiny homes
State building-code compliance and local location and installation approval apply6
Owner-builder
Conditional state contractor-registration exemption; building approval still applies71
Private wastewater lot area
At least 12,500 square feet for subsurface soil absorption; not automatic septic approval4

Who to call

Building permits

City of McCleary Building Department

Receives construction and land-use applications inside McCleary; contact for building approval and inspections.

360-495-3667 Ext. 161

[email protected]

100 S 3rd St. McCleary, WA 98557

Zoning

City of McCleary Planning Department

City zoning changes, subdivisions, boundary-line adjustments and conditional-use applications.

(360) 495-3667

100 South 3rd Street McCleary, WA 98557

Septic permits

Grays Harbor County Environmental Health Division — On-Site Sewage Section

County septic design, application and records assistance, including systems inside McCleary.

(360) 249-5579

[email protected]

100 W Broadway, Montesano, WA 98563

Online permits →

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 11, 2026.

Off-grid gear

Going off-grid in McCleary means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

These are affiliate links — we may earn a commission, at no cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, Bolthole Index earns from qualifying purchases.

Do you need a building permit in McCleary, WA?

McCleary requires the Building Official to approve building permits and the applicant to pay fees before construction begins; applications are available as a fillable PDF or at City Hall.1 McCleary has a local reroofing exemption for roof-covering replacement that does not include repair or replacement of roof sheathing or other structural components.8 Ask the Building Department to identify the approval needed for your exact scope before ordering materials.9

Washington’s owner-builder exemption concerns contractor registration and does not remove building, electrical, plumbing, mechanical, land-use or inspection requirements; work on an owner’s property for selling, demolishing or leasing falls outside the stated exemption.7

Who issues building permits in McCleary, and how do you reach the office?

The McCleary Building Department receives applications for construction and land-use changes through Public Works; use the city office for a project inside McCleary.9 Contact the Building Department at 360-495-3667 Ext. 161 or [email protected], at 100 S 3rd St. McCleary, WA 98557.9 The city building page lists a current building-permit fee schedule; ask the office for the fees applicable to your proposed work.9

McCleary’s building page lists Tuesday inspections from 12:00PM–4:00PM; confirm the appointment arrangements with the Building Department.9 Grays Harbor County Environmental Health remains the septic contact for a city parcel requiring an on-site sewage system.3

Does McCleary have zoning, and what about lot size and setbacks?

McCleary has city zoning, with residential, commercial, industrial and forest/open-space districts governed by the municipal land-use table and zoning map.210 McCleary Planning Department handles zoning changes, short and long plats, boundary-line adjustments, conditional-use applications and binding site plans.5 Ask McCleary Planning Department to identify the parcel’s district and the allowed use, lot area, setbacks and building envelope before committing to a house design.5

We could not confirm McCleary’s minimum dwelling floor area or complete city lot-size and setback standards; request the applicable dimensional requirements from McCleary Planning Department.5 For property outside city limits, see the Grays Harbor County guide: county zoning applies to unincorporated land rather than replacing McCleary’s city rules.11

How do septic permits work inside McCleary?

McCleary’s private wastewater rules require at least 12,500 square feet of lot area for a system using subsurface soil absorption, prohibit septic-tank or cesspool discharge to a natural outlet, and require public-sewer connection when the code’s availability and distance conditions are met.4 Meeting the lot-area threshold alone does not establish that a parcel qualifies for septic instead of sewer.4

Grays Harbor County Environmental Health requires septic designs from a Washington-licensed On-Site Designer or Professional Engineer, and new septic applications must include the design.12 Submit septic applications electronically through the county SmartGov portal; the county accepts paper drawings but no longer paper applications.12 Washington requires an on-site sewage permit before covered installation, repair, modification, connection or expansion begins, with a minor-repair exception.13

Can you live in an RV or tiny home on land in McCleary?

We could not confirm permission to occupy an RV on private land in McCleary, including while building a home; ask McCleary Planning Department about the proposed use and duration before relying on an RV as housing.5 McCleary’s camping restriction for parks and cemetery grounds does not establish a private-property RV occupancy rule.14

Washington’s tiny-house guidance covers dwellings no larger than 400 square feet, including kitchen, bathroom and sleeping/living space, built to the Washington State Building Code; local foundation, installation and location approval still applies.6 We could not confirm a complete McCleary tiny-home occupancy rule; ask the city Building Department to review the proposed structure and location.9 A manufactured home in McCleary must receive the city’s installation inspection and valid certificate of occupancy before anyone occupies the home.15

Building a home in McCleary: what are the steps, in order?

  1. Start with McCleary Planning Department to identify the parcel’s zoning and discuss any land-use change, boundary adjustment or subdivision needed for the proposal.25
  2. Resolve wastewater service before finalizing the site layout: McCleary’s sewer-connection conditions and private-disposal lot-area rule apply, and County Environmental Health reviews septic designs and applications.412
  3. Submit the city building application, obtain Building Official approval and pay the building-permit fees before construction.1
  4. Arrange city inspections and keep work covered by the state energy-code inspection requirements visible and accessible until approved.916

For a floodplain parcel in McCleary, contact the city about the floodplain development permit; Washington requires local approval for development work in a floodplain.17 A driveway connection on a state highway right-of-way needs written Washington Department of Transportation permission before construction.18

Watch-outs

  • McCleary’s 12,500-square-foot private wastewater threshold is a subsurface-disposal rule, not a general residential minimum lot size or a promise of septic approval.4
  • Grays Harbor County does not currently require septic inspections for private-home point-of-sale transactions, but lenders or other parties may require a licensed pumper’s report.19
  • Washington’s domestic groundwater water-right exemption allows up to 5,000 gallons per day per project, but additional restrictions may apply and the drilling notice of intent is not approval to use water.20
  • We could not confirm private-well approval or general driveway-access requirements inside McCleary; ask the city Building Department to identify the required review before purchasing land for either plan.9

Sources

  1. cityofmccleary.com (McCleary), quoted and re-checked
  2. 17.20.030 - Table of land uses for all zoning districts (McCleary), quoted and re-checked
  3. Septic & Wastewater Systems, quoted and re-checked
  4. 13.12.040 - Unauthorized wastewater disposal facilities (McCleary), quoted and re-checked
  5. City of McCleary Planning Department (cityofmccleary.com)
  6. Tiny Houses (Washington statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  7. RCW 18.27.090 — Exemptions (Washington statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  8. 15.04.040 - International Residential Code—New provisions added (McCleary), quoted and re-checked
  9. City of McCleary Building Department (cityofmccleary.com)
  10. 17.20.030 - Table of land uses for all zoning districts (McCleary), quoted and re-checked
  11. Planning & Zoning, quoted and re-checked
  12. Grays Harbor County Environmental Health Division — On-Site Sewage Section (graysharbor.us)
  13. WAC 246-272A-0200 Permit requirements (Washington statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  14. 12.16.110 - Camping prohibited (McCleary), quoted and re-checked
  15. library.municode.com (McCleary), quoted and re-checked
  16. WAC 51-11R-10500 — Section R105—Inspections (Washington statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  17. Planning & regulation — Washington State Department of Ecology (Washington statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  18. RCW 47.32.150 — Approach roads, other appurtenances—Permit (Washington statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  19. Septic & Wastewater Systems, quoted and re-checked
  20. Groundwater permit exemption (Washington statewide rule), quoted and re-checked

Written October 11, 2026 from the rules quoted below, each taken from an official source and re-checked by an independent reviewer. This is research, not legal advice: rules change, so confirm with the office before you buy or build.

Answers from the rulebook for McCleary

McCleary’s own rules

  • Building permitRequired

    Construction inside McCleary city limits.

    • Permit applications are available as a fillable PDF or at City Hall.
    • Permits must be approved by the Building Official and fees paid before construction.
    • Specific work may be exempt under the adopted building code.
    “Permit applications are available as a fillable PDF or at City Hall. Permits must be approved by the Building Official and fees paid prior to any construction.”
  • Building code adoptedPartial

    Construction inside McCleary city limits.

    • The cited ordinance adds local provisions to the International Residential Code; the complete currently applicable code set was not established from the opened materials.
    “There shall be added to Section R105.2 of the International Residential Code entitled "Work exempt from permit," the following provisions: 12. Roof covering replacement (reroofing), not including the repair or replacement of the roof sheathing or other structural components.”
  • Certificate of occupancyLimited

    Manufactured homes placed inside McCleary city limits under Chapter 17.32.

    • The city building official or designee must inspect installation before occupancy.
    • No manufactured home may be occupied before a valid city certificate of occupancy is issued.
    • A replacement manufactured home requires a new certificate.
    “The city's building official or designee shall inspect the installation of manufactured homes prior to occupancy and issue certificates of occupancy for manufactured homes placed in accordance with this chapter. No manufactured home shall be occupied until after the city issues a valid certificate of occupancy.”
  • Local zoningPresent

    Land inside McCleary city limits; the city administers zoning districts including R-1, R-2, R-3, C-1, C-2, C-3, I, and F/OS.

    • Zoning classifications and dimensional standards are subject to the McCleary Municipal Code and zoning map.
    “Land Use R-1 R-2 R-3 C-1 C-2 C-3 I F/OS Accessory uses and structures”
  • Zoning districtsPublished

    Zoning districts inside McCleary city limits.

    • The adopted land-use table identifies R-1, R-2, R-3, C-1, C-2, C-3, I, and F/OS districts.
    • The city forms page publishes a zoning map.
    “Land Use R-1 R-2 R-3 C-1 C-2 C-3 I F/OS Accessory uses and structures”
  • Camping on your landLimited

    Camping in McCleary city parks and cemetery grounds.

    • Camping is allowed only at places within a park designated and posted for camping.
    • Prior written approval of the director is required.
    • The cited provision does not establish a citywide private-property camping rule.
    “It is unlawful to camp in any cemetery nor shall any camping be allowed in any park except at places within a park so designated and posted and with the prior written approval of the director.”
  • Off-grid sanitationLimited

    Private wastewater disposal inside McCleary city limits.

    • Privies, septic tanks, cesspools, and other wastewater disposal facilities are unlawful except as provided in Article III.
    • A subsurface soil-absorption system requires a lot of at least 12,500 square feet.
    • No septic tank or cesspool may discharge to a natural outlet.
    • Connection to public sewer is required when the code’s availability and distance conditions are met.

    minimum lot area: >= 12500 sq ft (For private wastewater disposal employing subsurface soil absorption.)

    “No permit shall be issued for any private wastewater disposal system employing subsurface soil absorption facilities where the area of the lot is less than twelve thousand five hundred square feet. No septic tank or cesspool shall be permitted to discharge to any natural outlet.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask McCleary or Grays Harbor County directly.

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential construction inside McCleary city limits.
  • Minimum dwelling size — Single-family residential districts inside McCleary city limits.
  • Lot coverage — Lots inside McCleary city limits.
  • Building height — Principal buildings inside McCleary city limits.
  • Tiny homes — Tiny-home occupancy inside McCleary city limits.
4 more unanswered
  • Well permit
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Driveway access
  • Short-term rentals

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.

Unanswered questions are usually a sign that McCleary publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Grays Harbor County’s page lists the county offices to call.

← All of Grays Harbor County: county rules, score and offices