Unless otherwise provided herein, permitted and conditional uses shall be administered pursuant to the applicable provisions of Chapter
20.80 WCC (Supplementary Requirements) and Chapter
22.05 WCC (Project Permit Procedures), the Whatcom County SEPA Ordinance, the Whatcom County Subdivision Ordinance and the Whatcom County Shoreline Management Program.
.051 Automobile, motorcycle, marine and farm implement sales, repair and service; provided, that all repair services are conducted within an enclosed building.
.052 Automobile service stations, car washes and public garages.
.053 Mobile home and recreational vehicle sales.
.054 Eating and drinking establishments; provided, that such uses require a conditional use permit if located within airport overlay zone 2 or 3 as shown in Whatcom County Comprehensive Plan Appendix H.
.056 Indoor commercial recreation facilities limited to bowling alleys, skating rinks, indoor theaters and physical fitness centers; provided, that such uses require a conditional use permit if located within airport overlay zone 2 or 3 as shown in Whatcom County Comprehensive Plan Appendix H.
.057 Passenger terminal facilities.
.058 Service establishment including but not limited to barber and beauty shops, laundries, dry cleaners, furniture repair, frozen food lockers, funeral parlors, animal hospitals, auction houses, financial institutions, fraternal organizations and professional offices.
.059 Retail establishments including but not limited to grocery, liquor, drug, sundries, variety, building supplies, clothing, florist, nurseries, optical, sporting goods, appliance, music, pet stores and marijuana retail facilities.
.060 Printing and publishing establishments.
.061 Repealed by Ord. 2023-018.
.062 Self-service storage facilities.
.063 Public and community facilities including police and fire stations, libraries, community centers, recreation facilities, and other similar noncommercial uses; provided, that such uses require a conditional use permit if located within airport overlay zone 2 or 3 as shown in Whatcom County Comprehensive Plan Appendix H.
.064 Hotels and motels; provided, that such uses require a conditional use permit if located within airport overlay zone 2 or 3 as shown in Whatcom County Comprehensive Plan Appendix H.
.065 One single-family dwelling per lot of record subject to:
(1) Health department requirements regarding sewage disposal and water supply.
(2) Height regulations, lot coverage, open space, development standards and performance standards shall be in accordance with the provisions of Chapter
20.20 WCC; except that side and rear yard setbacks shall be 10 feet from vacant, adjacent, commercially zoned properties.
(3) A deed restriction recorded with the Whatcom County auditor is attached to the lot(s) at the time of building permit issuance stating that the dwelling(s) is located in a General Commercial Zone and buyers should be aware that commercial uses will be allowed on surrounding parcels and owners have no grounds for protest.
(4) Such use requires a conditional use permit if located within airport overlay zone 2 or 3 as shown in Whatcom County Comprehensive Plan Appendix H.
(5) Within the Columbia Valley Urban Growth Area, single-family dwellings are not permitted in the General Commercial Zone.
(6) For the purpose of creating new building lots in the Birch Bay UGA, single-family dwellings shall have a minimum net density of seven units per acre and be served by public water and sewer.
.066 Duplexes, co-living housing, and multifamily dwellings not to exceed 18 units per gross acre subject to all of the following requirements:
(1) Availability of adequate public sewer, public water, and appropriate stormwater management facilities.
(2) In the Birch Bay UGA, the minimum net density on the portion of the parcel being developed with residential uses shall be eight dwelling units per acre.
(3) Provision of adequate right-of-way and street improvements to bring adjacent roadways up to necessary standards.
(4) Height regulations, lot coverage, open space, development standards and performance standards shall be in accordance with the provisions of Chapter
20.22 WCC.
(5) Site plan review shall be done by the technical review committee to ensure compliance with the intent of the general development standards in WCC §
20.62.650. Four or less units per acre are exempt from this requirement.
(6) A deed restriction recorded with the Whatcom County auditor is attached to the lot(s) at the time of building permit issuance stating that the dwelling(s) is located in a General Commercial Zone and buyers should be aware that commercial uses will be allowed on surrounding parcels and owners have no grounds for protest.
(7) Duplexes, co-living housing, and multifamily dwellings shall not be located within airport overlay zone 2 or 3 as shown in Whatcom County Comprehensive Plan Appendix H.
(8) Within the Columbia Valley Urban Growth Area, duplex, co-living housing, and multifamily development shall not occupy more than 25 percent of the total land area in the General Commercial Zone. This restriction does not apply to dwellings located above ground-floor commercial development.
.067 One one-story detached accessory storage building per lot; provided, that the floor area shall not exceed 200 square feet and shall only be used for personal storage and not for habitation or business; and provided further, that the storage building shall contain no indoor plumbing but may be served with electrical power for lighting.
.069 Day care centers; provided, that such uses require a conditional use permit if located within Airport Overlay Zone 2 or 3 as shown in Whatcom County Comprehensive Plan Appendix H.
.070 Public parks and recreation facilities included in an adopted city or county Comprehensive Plan or Park Plan.
.071 Trails, trailheads, restroom facilities and associated parking areas for no more than 30 vehicles.
.080 Major passenger intermodal terminals.
.088 Adult family homes as defined in Chapter
70.128 RCW; provided, that such uses require a conditional use permit if located within airport overlay zone 2 or 3 as shown in Whatcom County Comprehensive Plan Appendix H.
.089 Boarding homes that are similar in size, facilities and occupancy to other residential structures permitted in the zoning district.
.090 Mental health facilities that provide residential treatment and are similar in size, facilities and occupancy to other residential structures permitted in the zoning district.
.091 Substance abuse facilities that provide residential treatment and are similar in size, facilities and occupancy to other residential structures permitted in the zoning district.
.094 Secure community transition facilities for sex offenders.
(1) A secure community transition facility shall not be located adjacent to, immediately across the street or parking lot from, or within the line of sight of existing risk potential facilities, which are:
(e) Licensed preschool facilities;
(g) Publicly dedicated trails;
(j) Recreational and community centers;
(k) Churches, synagogues, temples or mosques;
(m) Public and private youth camps; and
(n) Other uses identified by the State Department of Social and Health Services pursuant to RCW
71.09.020(11).
shall mean that it is possible to reasonably visually distinguish and recognize individuals. An unobstructed visual distance of 600 feet shall be considered to be within the line of sight. Line of sight may be considered to be less than 600 feet if the applicant can demonstrate that visual barriers exist or would be created that would visually screen the risk potential facility from the secure community transition facility.
(2) No more than one secure community transition facility, with a maximum of three people (other than staff), shall be located within Whatcom County.
(Ord. 87-11, 1987; Ord. 87-12, 1987; Ord. 88-13, 1988; Ord. 88-28, 1988; Ord. 88-53, 1988; Ord. 94-017, 1994; Ord. 96-056 Att. A § M1, 1996; Ord. 99-062, 1999; Ord. 99-068, 1999; Ord. 2004-014 § 2, 2004; Ord. 2004-026 § 1, 2004; Ord. 2005-004, 2005; Ord. 2005-079 § 1, 2005; Ord. 2009-034 § 1 (Att. A), 2009; Ord. 2011-016 § 3 Exh. C, 2011; Ord. 2015-006 Exh. A, 2015; Ord. 2023-018 § 1 (Exh. A), 2023; Ord. 2023-036 § 4 (Exh. D); Ord. 2023-078 § 1 (Exh. A § 9), 2023; Ord. 2025-060, 12/9/2025)