Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Sultan, Washington

Sultan’s own rules

• Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

  Buildings and structures inside Sultan city limits.

  • Except as otherwise provided in SMC Chapter 15.01.
  • Appendix V — Dwelling Unit Fire Sprinkler Systems is excepted.
  • The listed codes are adopted as amended by the Washington State Building Code Council.

  International Building Code edition: 2021 (With statewide amendments and local amendments stated in the ordinance.) · International Residential Code edition: 2021 (With statewide amendments.)

  “The 2021 International Building Code, published by the International Code Council, Inc., with statewide amendments and as amended within this document;”

• Certificate of occupancyLimited

  A proposed use for which Sultan requires a sewer general facility charge.

  • Applies only where a sewer general facility charge is required.
  • The connection fee must be paid before a building permit or certificate of occupancy issues.

  “If a sewer general facility charge is required, no building permit or certificate of occupancy shall be issued until the corresponding connection fee is paid.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Sultan city limits.

  • Land and buildings must conform to the regulations of the zoning district shown on the official zoning map.

  “No building or land shall be used and no building shall be erected or altered except in conformity with the regulations herein prescribed for the district designated and identified on the zoning map in which such building or land is located.”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Zoning districts inside Sultan city limits.

  • The official zoning map is filed with the city clerk/treasurer, with copies in the community development director's office.
  • Land and buildings must conform to the mapped district regulations.

  zoning districts: 8 districts (Plus one overlay district.)

  “The City of Sultan is hereby divided into eight zoning districts and one overlay district as follows:”

• Manufactured homesAllowed (with conditions)

  HUD-certified manufactured homes inside Sultan city limits, in zoning districts permitting single-family dwellings.

  • Pre-June 15, 1976 manufactured housing must be HUD-certified and found by city inspection safe and fit for residential occupancy.
  • The housing remains subject to City building, zoning, and subdivision regulations.

  “Manufactured homes as defined in SMC § 16.04.130.2, and manufactured housing constructed prior to June 15, 1976, which has been HUD-certified and found by inspection of the city to be safe and fit for residential occupancy, are classified as single-family dwellings and permitted in all zoning districts in which single-family dwellings are permitted.”

• Off-grid sanitationLimited

  Privies, septic tanks, drain fields, cesspools, and other sewage-disposal facilities inside Sultan city limits.

  • Routine maintenance of an existing, fully functional septic system is excepted.
  • New septic systems are subject to Sultan General Sewer Plan Chapter 5 and SMC § 16.20.045 reasonable-use and future-sewer-connection provisions.

  “Except as hereinafter provided, it shall be unlawful to construct, enlarge, replace, or modify any privy, privy vault, septic tank and/or drain field, cesspool, or other facility intended or used for the disposal of sewage except for new septic systems as allowed by Sultan General Sewer Plan Chapter 5, Septic Systems Policies, and Sultan zoning code regulations SMC § 16.20.045, New septic system reasonable use exception – Future sewer connection required, notwithstanding the routine maintenance of an existing, fully functional septic system.”

• Mandatory utility hookupSewer (with conditions)

  Properties inside Sultan corporate limits with public sewer available.

  • Public sewer is available when the downstream boundary is within 300 feet of a sewer main.
  • A Department of Health mandate also triggers connection.
  • For new residential, commercial, industrial, or institutional development abutting a right-of-way containing public sewer, or otherwise provided a service connection, all sewage-generating structures must connect regardless of distance, subject to the cited Sultan General Sewer Plan and SMC § 16.20.045 exceptions.

  sewer-main availability distance: <= 300 feet (Measured from the downstream property boundary.)

  “Within the corporate city limits where a public sewer is available, it must be used. Connection to the public sewer shall also occur when mandated by the Department of Health. Public sewer is considered available where the downstream boundary of the property is within 300 feet of that sewer main.”

• Permit feesVariable (with conditions)

  Sewer connections and sewer general facility charges inside Sultan city limits.

  • Sewer rates and general facility charges are set by separate ordinance and attached to the annual city-council fee schedule.
  • Actual installation and inspection costs are paid by the party seeking service.
  • Commercial/multifamily charges are determined case by case.

  “Sewer rates shall be set by separate ordinance and included as an attachment to the annual fee schedule adopted by the city council.”

• Permit processPartial

  Connection to Sultan's public sewer system.

  • The permit must describe the connection and its distance from the nearest manhole.
  • The applicant must guarantee compliance with city ordinances.
  • Plans, specifications, or other information may be required at the public works director's or designee's judgment.
  • Applicable fees and charges are required for application.

  “No person shall uncover, make connection with, alter or disturb any public sewer or appurtenance without first obtaining a permit from the public works department.”

Rules another office applies inside Sultan

Sultan 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

  Detached building forms in Sultan's Low Density Residential zone.

  • Existing lots are exempt from minimum-area requirements; other dimension and density requirements apply.

  minimum lot area: >= 8600 square feet (Existing lots are exempt from minimum-area requirements.) · minimum lot width: >= 70 feet · minimum lot depth: >= 100 feet

  “Detached building forms | 8,600 sq. ft. | 70 | 100 | 20 | 5 | 15 | 30 | 50”

• Lot coverageSpecified

  Detached building forms in Sultan's Low Density Residential zone.

  maximum lot coverage: <= 50 percent

  “Uses Permitted | Minimum Lot Size Dimensions | Minimum Yard Setback(ft) | Max. Bldg. Height(ft) | Max. Lot Coverage(%)”

• Building heightSpecified

  Detached building forms in Sultan's Low Density Residential zone.

  • Flood pedestals in flood-prone areas are not counted toward building height.

  maximum building height: <= 30 feet (Flood pedestals in flood-prone areas are not counted toward building height.)

  “Flood pedestals are encouraged in flood-prone areas. Flood pedestals will not be counted towards building height and should be sized according to need based on FEMA flood maps.”

Still unanswered

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

• Building permit — Residential construction inside Sultan city limits.
• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residences inside Sultan city limits.
• Inspections — Residential building construction inside Sultan city limits.
• Minimum dwelling size — Detached residential building forms in Sultan's Low Density Residential zone.
• Living in an RV — RV occupancy on private land inside Sultan 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 Sultan 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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