Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Des Moines, Washington

Des Moines’s own rules

• Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

  Real property, buildings, and structures inside Des Moines city limits.

  • The adopted codes are amended, added to, or excepted as provided in Title 14.
  • The code lists the IECC, IBC, IRC, IMC, IFC, Uniform Plumbing Code, and Washington Cities Electrical Code among adopted materials.

  “The following codes, standards, rules, and regulations, as amended, added to, or excepted in this Title, are adopted by reference pursuant to chapter 19.27 RCW and RCW 35.21.180 as presently constituted or as may be subsequently amended, added to, or excepted as though fully set forth in this Title:”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Zoning districts inside Des Moines city limits.

  • The residential use chart identifies SFR, RA-3,600, RM-2,400, RM-1,800, RM-900, RM-900A, RM-900B, R-SE, R-SR, and PR-R zones.

  “Use is:P: Permitted P/L: Permitted, but with special limitations CUP: Conditional use review required UUP: Unclassified use review required | SFR | RA-3,600 | RM-2,400 | RM-1,800 | RM-900 | RM-900A | RM-900B | R-SE | R-SR > 35,000 | R-SR < 35,000 | PR-R”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Subdivision activity inside Des Moines city limits.

  • Requirements are contained in the city subdivision title; the operative approval standards were not retrieved.

  “Title 17 Subdivisions (§ 17.01.010 – § 17.52.090)”

• Permit feesVariable (with conditions)

  Permits issued by Des Moines under Title 14.

  • The provision applies except as otherwise provided in Title 14.
  • The fee is established by the City Manager or the City Manager's designee.

  “Except as otherwise provided in this Title, the fee for any permit issued by the City under the authority of this Title shall be established by the City Manager or the City Manager's designee.”

• Permit processPartial

  Title 14 construction and land-use review inside Des Moines city limits.

  • Land-use review procedures in chapter 18.20 apply in addition to Title 14.
  • The complete application and approval process was not retrieved.

  “Land use review procedures provided in chapter 18.20 DMMC, Land Use Review Procedures, shall apply in addition to the provisions within this Title.”

Still unanswered

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

• Building permit — Residential construction inside Des Moines city limits.
• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential work inside Des Moines city limits.
• Inspections — Residential construction inside Des Moines city limits.
• Certificate of occupancy — Buildings inside Des Moines city limits.
• Minimum dwelling size — Residential zoning districts inside Des Moines 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 Des Moines 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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