Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Tonasket, Washington

Tonasket’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Building work inside Tonasket city limits governed by Chapter 15.04.

  • The detailed permit section could not be opened from the official code cache; exceptions and thresholds remain unresolved.

  “Work. Except as specified in Sections 105.2 and J103.2 IBC, 105.2 IRC, 106.2 IMC, 1103.1.2 UPC and as provided by WAC 51-16-080(1), no building or structure or plumbing or mechanical system thereof regulated by this title shall be erected, constructed, enlarged, altered, repaired, moved, converted, installed, replaced or demolished, without a separate permit for each building or structure having first been obtained from the building official.”

• Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

  Construction inside Tonasket city limits.

  • The code table of contents identifies a city chapter adopting the state building code.

  “There shall be in effect in the city of Tonasket the State Building Code, which consists of the following codes which are hereby adopted by reference:”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Tonasket city limits.

  • Uses are subject to the applicable zoning district and its listed approval type.

  “The district use chart is established as a tool for the purpose of determining the specific uses allowed in each district.”

• Manufactured homesLimited

  Manufactured homes inside Tonasket city limits.

  • Individual manufactured homes are allowed in R-1, R-2, R-R, MU, and PU districts and prohibited in C-1, C-2, M-1, and AI under the published chart.

  “Manufactured home, individual lot | A | A | A | X | X | A | X | X | A”

• Accessory dwellingsLimited

  Accessory dwelling units inside Tonasket city limits.

  • The chart assigns CUP in R-1, allows the use in several districts, and prohibits it in M-1; § 17.70.090 regulations also apply.

  “Accessory dwelling units – regulations in TMC § 17.70.090 | CUP | A | A | A | A | A | X | A | A”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Subdivision proposals inside Tonasket city limits.

  • Subdivision requirements are contained in the city's Title 16; the zoning chart marks subdivisions as allowed in each listed zoning district.

  “Subdivisions | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A”

• Short-term rentalsLimited

  Short-term vacation rentals inside Tonasket city limits.

  • The zoning use chart marks short-term vacation rentals AP in every listed district; AP means Administrative Permit.

  “Short-term vacation rentals | AP | AP | AP | AP | AP | AP | AP | AP | AP”

• Permit processPartial

  City building permits inside Tonasket city limits.

  • The city code identifies a permit-required provision, but application materials, exceptions, review steps, and fees were not available in opened text.

  “Chapter 15.04 ADOPTING THE STATE BUILDING CODE [...] § 15.04.050 Permits required.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built dwellings inside Tonasket city limits.
• Inspections — Building work inside Tonasket city limits.
• Certificate of occupancy — Occupancy of buildings inside Tonasket city limits.
• Minimum dwelling size — Single-family dwellings in Tonasket zoning districts.
• Minimum lot size — Single-family dwellings in Tonasket zoning districts.

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 Tonasket 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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