Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Clyde Hill, Washington

Clyde Hill’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Construction, alteration, repair, movement, improvement, removal, conversion, or demolition of buildings and structures inside Clyde Hill city limits.

  • Exceptions are specified in the adopted building code, including certain small accessory structures, fences, retaining walls, sidewalks, driveways, temporary stage sets, and other enumerated work.
  • A separate permit for each building or structure must first be obtained from the building official unless an exception applies.
  • Storm-drainage systems are included in the building permit.

  “Except as specified within this code, no building or structure shall be erected, constructed, enlarged, altered, repaired, moved, improved, removed, converted or demolished unless a separate permit for each building or structure has first been obtained from the building official.”

• Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

  Buildings and construction inside Clyde Hill city limits.

  • The city adopts listed codes by reference, including the 2021 International Building Code and International Residential Code with identified appendices and statewide amendments.
  • City code also includes local amendments.

  “The following codes, together with the specifically identified appendices and the amendments in the Washington Administrative Code (WAC), and as further amended in this title, are hereby adopted by reference:”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Clyde Hill city limits.

  • Zoning classifications and districts are established by the official city zoning map, as amended.

  “That certain map designated "Official District (Zoning) Map of the City of Clyde Hill," as hereafter amended, prepared and submitted by the city engineer, the original of which is on file with the city clerk, shall constitute the official map of the city and the designation and delineation of use districts shown thereon shall constitute the official land use zoning classifications and districts of the city.”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Land inside Clyde Hill city limits.

  • The official zoning map is on file with the city clerk and may be amended.
  • The code identifies R-1 Residence, G-1 Government, S-1 School, and B-1 Business Districts.

  “R-1 Residence District G-1 Government District S-1 School District B-1 Business District”

• Permit feesVariable (with conditions)

  Building permits and related plan review and inspections inside Clyde Hill city limits.

  • Council sets plan-review fees, permit fees, and inspection/additional-plan-review costs by resolution.
  • Permit valuation includes enumerated labor, materials, overhead, profit, finish work, building systems, storm drainage, improvements, and permanent equipment.
  • The building official may adjust an inaccurate estimated valuation before permit issuance.

  “The city council shall set plan review fees, permit fees and costs for inspections or additional plan review by resolution.”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  New homes, substantial remodels, additions, decks, and other projects inside Clyde Hill city limits.

  • A pre-application conference is required for all new homes, substantial remodels, additions, decks, or other projects valued over $50,000.
  • A conference may also be requested by the property owner or agent, or required by the building official or public works director.
  • The conference fee is set by council resolution.

  project-value pre-application threshold: > 50000 USD (Applies to other projects; new homes, substantial remodels, additions, and decks are separately listed)

  “A pre-application conference, as defined in Section 19.02.001 CHMC, shall be required for all new homes, substantial remodels, any additions, decks or other projects that have a value over $50,000.”

Rules another office applies inside Clyde Hill

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

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  Lots or tracts in Clyde Hill's R-1 Residence District.

  • Minimum frontage is 100 feet on a public street; irregular-lot frontage is measured at the front-yard setback line.
  • Minimum lot or tract depth is 100 feet.
  • A private road or pipe-stem driveway is excluded from lot square footage for determining compliance.

  minimum lot or tract area: >= 20000 square feet · minimum frontage: >= 100 feet (Must be on a public street) · minimum depth: >= 100 feet

  “The minimum lot or tract area in the R-1 residence districts shall not be less than 20,000 square feet with a minimum frontage of 100 feet, which frontage shall be on a public street. For irregularly shaped lots, the minimum frontage width shall be measured at the front yard setback line. The minimum lot or tract depth shall be 100 feet.”

• SetbacksSpecified

  Buildings and structures in Clyde Hill's R-1 Residence District.

  • Front-yard setbacks are at least 30 feet; certain swimming pools and described accessory structures may be allowed where the cited accessory-structure requirements are met.
  • Side and rear setbacks, accessory structures, corner lots, and private-road/access-easement lots are subject to the detailed R-1 provisions.

  minimum front-yard setback: >= 30 feet (Measured from existing or proposed right-of-way line to eave line or outermost projection, whichever is closer to lot line) · minimum rear-yard setback: >= 35 feet (Accessory buildings may be allowed under stated limits)

  “In R-1 use districts, front yard setbacks shall be not less than 30 feet in depth measured from the existing or proposed right-of-way line to the eave line or the outermost projection of the building or structure, whichever is closer to the lot line.”

• Lot coverageSpecified

  Building sites in Clyde Hill's R-1 Residence District.

  maximum structural coverage: <= 30 percent of building site · maximum impervious coverage: <= 60 percent of building site

  “Structural coverage shall be limited to 30 percent of the building site. Impervious coverage shall be limited to 60 percent of the building site.”

• Building heightSpecified

  Buildings and structures in Clyde Hill's R-1 Residence District.

  • Chimneys and small dish antennas may extend no more than five feet above any part of the building or structure.
  • Accessory structures may not exceed 12 feet above original grade.

  maximum building or structure height: <= 25 feet above original grade (Except chimneys and small dish antennas) · maximum accessory-structure height: <= 12 feet above original grade

  “The height at any point of a building or structure, except chimneys, and small dish antennas, shall not exceed 25 feet, measured vertically thereto above the original grade. Chimneys and small dish antennas shall not extend more than five feet above any part of the building or structure. No accessory structure shall exceed 12 feet in height above original grade.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Clyde Hill or King County directly.

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential construction inside Clyde Hill city limits.
• Minimum dwelling size — Dwellings in Clyde Hill's R-1 Residence District.
• Living in an RV — Long-term occupancy of a recreational vehicle on private land inside Clyde Hill city limits.
• Camping on your land — Temporary camping on private land inside Clyde Hill city limits.
• Tiny homes — Tiny-home occupancy inside Clyde Hill 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 Clyde Hill 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.

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