Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Richland, Washington

Richland’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Building work inside Richland city limits, except work expressly exempted under the adopted codes and City amendments.

  • One-story detached accessory structures used as tool and storage sheds, playhouses, and similar uses are exempt from a building permit only when floor area does not exceed 200 square feet under the IRC or 120 square feet under the IBC.
  • Even an exempt structure requires a City location-placement permit before construction or erection.

  IRC exempt detached accessory-structure floor area: <= 200 square feet (Tool and storage sheds, playhouses, and similar uses.) · IBC exempt detached accessory-structure floor area: <= 120 square feet (Tool and storage sheds, playhouses, and similar uses.)

  “One-story detached accessory structures used as tool and storage sheds, playhouses, and similar uses, provided the floor area does not exceed 200 square feet (IRC) and 120 square feet (IBC), are exempted from the requirements for a building permit. A permit for location placement of such exempt structures shall be issued by the City of Richland prior to construction or erection of these structures.”

• Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

  Building construction inside Richland city limits.

  • The City also adopts additions, deletions, and amendments in RMC Title 21 and Title 20.
  • The listed codes include the International Residential Code with statewide amendments.

  “All building and building-related codes as currently adopted, or as shall be adopted in future enactments by the state of Washington pursuant to RCW 19.27.031, together with all amendments as currently enacted, or as shall be enacted by the state of Washington, are hereby adopted as, and are herein referred to as, the building codes for the city of Richland; provided, that all additions, deletions, and amendments as set forth in this title and in RMC Title 20 are also adopted.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Richland city limits.

  • Richland Municipal Code Title 23 contains zoning regulations.

  “Title 23 Zoning Regulations (§ 23.01.010 – § 23.70.280)”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Residential zoning districts inside Richland city limits.

  • The referenced chapter lists five residential classifications: R-1-12, R-1-10, R-2, R-2S, and R-3.

  residential zone classifications: 5 districts

  “Five residential zone classifications permit a variety of housing and population densities without conflict.”

• Who permits septicMixed (with conditions)

  Private sewage disposal systems serving land inside Richland city limits.

  • The City code permits private systems only where a public sanitary sewer is not available within 300 feet of the property line.
  • The Benton-Franklin district health department issues the written private sewer permit and sets private-system requirements.

  “Where a public sanitary sewer is not available within 300 feet of the property line under the provisions of RMC § 17.08.040, the building sewer may be connected to a private sewage disposal system complying with the provisions of this title and the requirements of the Benton-Franklin district health department.”

• Off-grid sanitationLimited

  Private sewage disposal serving land inside Richland city limits.

  • A private system is allowed only where public sanitary sewer is not available within 300 feet of the property line.
  • The system must comply with City-code provisions and Benton-Franklin district health department requirements.
  • The building sewer must connect to either a public or private sewage disposal system.

  public sanitary sewer availability threshold: < 300 feet (Measured from property line; private system may be used where the public sewer is not available within this distance.)

  “Where a public sanitary sewer is not available within 300 feet of the property line under the provisions of RMC § 17.08.040, the building sewer may be connected to a private sewage disposal system complying with the provisions of this title and the requirements of the Benton-Franklin district health department. But, in any event, the building sewer shall be connected with either a public or private sewage disposal system.”

• Mandatory utility hookupSewer (with conditions)

  Houses, buildings, and properties used for occupancy, employment, recreation, or other purpose inside Richland city limits that abut or contain a City sanitary-sewer right-of-way.

  • The owner must install suitable toilet facilities and directly connect to the proper public sewer at the owner's expense.
  • The connection deadline is 90 days after official notice.

  connection deadline after official notice: <= 90 days

  “The owner of each house, building, or property used for human occupancy, employment, recreation, or other purpose, situated within the city and abutting on any street or alley, or abutting on or containing a right-of-way in which there is located a public sanitary sewer of the city, is hereby required at his expense to install suitable toilet facilities therein and to connect such facilities directly with the proper public sewer in accordance with the provisions of this title within 90 days after the date of official notice to do so.”

• Permit feesVariable (with conditions)

  Richland building permits, related inspections, and development applications inside City limits.

  • Building and related-inspection fees use the referenced Table 1-A and applicable valuation rules.
  • The fee schedule is reviewed and updated as part of the annual budget process, mainly using CPI-W August-through-July changes and other processing-cost factors.

  factory-assembled structure installation fee: 300 USD per installation (Notwithstanding other Code provisions; structures attached to factory-assembled structures use valuation-based building-permit and plan-review fees.)

  “Notwithstanding any other provision of the Richland Municipal Code, fees for installation of a factory-assembled structure, including structures meeting the requirements of Title 23 of the Richland Municipal Code for manufactured homes or designated manufactured homes, shall be three hundred dollars ($300.00) per installation.”

• Permit processPartial

  Development applications inside Richland city limits.

  • No application, SEPA review, or appeal is accepted or processed until City-code or City-fee-schedule fees are paid in full.

  “No application, SEPA review or appeal shall be accepted or processed for action until such fees as set forth in the Richland Municipal Code or city fee schedule have been paid in full.”

Rules another office applies inside Richland

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

• Septic permitRequired

  Construction of a private sewage disposal system inside Richland city limits.

  • A system is permitted under the City code where public sanitary sewer is not available within 300 feet of the property line.
  • The permit must be written and issued before construction begins.

  “Before commencement of construction of a private sewage disposal system, the owner, his agent, or his sewer contractor shall first obtain a written private sewer permit issued by the Benton-Franklin district health department.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Richland or Benton County directly.

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential construction inside Richland city limits.
• Minimum dwelling size — One-family detached dwellings in the R-1-12 district inside Richland city limits.
• Camping on your land — Temporary camping on private land inside Richland city limits.
• Tiny homes — Tiny-home occupancy inside Richland city limits.
• Septic inspection — Private sewage disposal systems inside Richland city limits.

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.

Off-grid gear

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

• Water Crystal Quest Filter any source — well, rain, or creek — to drinking-clean.
• Power Bluetti Solar generators and home battery backup for living off the grid.
• Septic Soil percolation test kit Run your own perc test before paying an engineer — the first thing a septic office asks about.
• Water Well water test kit Bacteria, nitrates, hardness — know what the well on a parcel is really pumping.

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