(1) 
Purpose and Scope. The purpose of this article is to provide procedures and criteria for the review and approval of adjustments to boundary lines between platted or unplatted lots, tracts or parcels, or both in order to:
(a) 
Allow the enlargement or merging of lots, tracts or parcels to improve or qualify as a buildable lot or for any other lawful purpose;
(b) 
Rectify defects in legal descriptions;
(c) 
Achieve increased setbacks from property lines or critical areas;
(d) 
Correct situations wherein an established use is located across a lot line; or
(e) 
For other similar purposes.
This article is also intended to ensure compliance with the Survey Recording Act, Chapter 58.09 RCW and Chapter 332-130 WAC.
(2) 
Prohibited Boundary Changes. This article shall not apply to boundary changes that would:
(a) 
Result in the creation of an additional lot, tract, parcel, site within a binding site plan or division as defined in Chapter 18.10 JCC;
(b) 
Result in a lot, tract or parcel or site within a binding site plan that does not qualify as a buildable lot as defined in Chapter 18.10 JCC;
(c) 
An adjustment that crosses zoning district boundaries. Adjustments may be allowed across different rural residential densities;
(d) 
Be inconsistent with any restrictions or conditions of approval for a recorded short plat or long plat; or circumvent the short subdivision or long subdivision procedures set forth in this chapter.
(3) 
Lot Consolidation. The consolidation of two or more lots, tracts or parcels for the purpose of creating a single lot, tract or parcel that meets the requirements for a buildable lot shall in all cases be considered a minor adjustment of boundary lines and shall not be subject to the short subdivision or long subdivision provisions of this chapter. Lot consolidations shall not require a survey or soil evaluation.
(4) 
Adjustments to Binding Site Plans. Recognized lots in an approved binding site plan shall be considered a single site and no lot lines on the site may be altered by a boundary line adjustment to separate lots to another property not included in the original site plan of the subject development.
(5) 
Rectifying legal defects, such as an established use located across a lot line, and the adjustment of boundary lines to match water bodies, roads, or fence lines, shall be considered minor adjustments and shall not require a soil evaluation.
(6) 
Time Limitations. If more than two lots, tracts or parcels have been subject to a boundary line adjustment process, those lots shall not be permitted to use the boundary line adjustment process again for five years with the exception of lot consolidations, testamentary divisions, civil cases, court orders, rectifying legal defects, or the adjustment of one line between two or more property owners for the purpose of settling a dispute.
(Ord. 8-06 § 1; Ord. 14-18 § 4 (Exh. B); Ord. 9-22 § 4 (Appx. C); Ord. 9-24 § 3 (App. A (Exh. 2)))
To be considered complete, applications for boundary line adjustments shall include the following:
(1) 
Applications for boundary line adjustments shall be made on forms provided by the Jefferson County department of community development and shall be submitted to the department of community development, along with the appropriate fees established under the Jefferson County fee ordinance;
(a) 
A single application may be submitted for multiple BLAs for adjacent parcels, lots, tracts or sites within a binding site plan. However, standard application fee(s) shall apply to each BLA after the first two per additional parcel, lot, tract or site;
(b) 
In instances of lot consolidation, standard application fee(s) shall apply based on the number of resulting parcels or lots;
(2) 
A completed land use permit application form, including all materials required pursuant to Chapter 18.40 JCC;
(3) 
A digital copy of a clean and legible drawing suitable for recording showing the following:
(a) 
The proposed lines for all affected lots, tracts or parcels, indicated by bold solid lines;
(b) 
The existing lot, tract or parcel lines proposed to be changed, indicated by light broken lines;
(c) 
The location and dimensions of all structures/improvements existing upon the affected lots, tracts or parcels and the distance between each such structure/improvement and the proposed boundary lines, with structures proposed to be removed from the site depicted with broken lines and structures to remain on the site depicted with solid lines;
(d) 
A north arrow indication and scale;
(e) 
All assessor's tax parcel numbers for the affected lots, tracts or parcels;
(f) 
The location of the property as to quarter/quarter section;
(g) 
The location and dimensions of any easements within or adjacent to any affected lots, tracts or parcels;
(h) 
The location, right-of-way widths, pavement widths and names of all existing or platted streets or roads, whether public or private, and other public ways within or adjacent to the affected lots, tracts or parcels;
(i) 
The area and dimensions of each lot prior to and following the proposed adjustment;
(j) 
The existing on-site sewage system components and reserve areas and the proposed location for on-site sewage systems and soil test pits for all affected lots that are not currently served by an on-site sewage system or other approved wastewater treatment system;
(k) 
The location of all existing and proposed water and storm drainage facilities; and
(l) 
The approximate location and extent of any critical areas identified in Chapter 18.22 JCC. The following notice will be recorded on the drawing when the parcels that are part of the boundary line adjustment include, or are adjacent to, critical areas:
Notice to Public: Current Jefferson County geographic information systems (GIS) maps identify the presence of a critical area such as stream, wetland, flood, landslide hazard, erosion, aquifer recharge area, fish and wildlife habitat, shoreline, etc., lying within and/or adjacent to the revised parcels encompassed by this Boundary Line Adjustment. Prior to any land disturbing activity or construction activity, applicant/owner shall contact the Jefferson County department of community development regarding compliance for such critical areas. Approval of this Boundary Line Adjustment does not guarantee a buildable site within said parcel(s). Such determination is dependent on approvals of water, septic, bulk and dimensional setbacks, and critical area requirements.
(4) 
The original legal description of the entire property together with new separate legal descriptions for each lot, tract or parcel, labeling them each as existing parcel A, existing parcel B, revised parcel A, revised parcel B, etc. The drawing shall be attached to or include on the face a formal legal declaration of the boundary line adjustment, signed and notarized by all legal owners of the subject properties. In cases where the property has not been surveyed, the following disclaimer shall be recorded on the drawing:
DISCLAIMER LANGUAGE FOR BLA STATEMENT OF INTENT: Your request for a Boundary Line Adjustment (BLA) has been approved. Since no survey was submitted as part of your BLA application, the County accepts no liability for what facts a survey might have revealed. A survey might have revealed that a structure or improvement believed to be on the applicant's property is, in fact, located wholly or partially upon someone else's property or upon property that is not the subject of this BLA. But in the absence of a survey, the applicant bears sole responsibility if such a problem arises.
(5) 
A copy of any covenants, conditions and restrictions (CC&Rs), deed restrictions, or planned rural residential development (PRRD) agreements pertaining to or affecting the property; and
(6) 
If applicable, the applicant shall provide written verification from the Jefferson County department of environmental health that the lots, tracts, parcels or sites, as each would exist after the boundary line adjustment, are adequate to accommodate an on-site sewage disposal system. The location of soil logs must be shown on the drawing to show land area sufficient to meet environmental health requirements for each resultant lot, tract, or parcel that does not contain a dwelling.
This requirement shall be waived for resultant parcels that have limited the use of the resultant parcel to agriculture, forestry, or open space through conservation easements, restrictive covenant, or similar legal arrangement. The open space tax program shall not be used to fulfill this requirement;
(7) 
The application shall be accompanied by a current (i.e., within 30 days) title company certification of the following:
(a) 
The legal description of the total parcels sought to be adjusted;
(b) 
Those individuals or corporations holding an ownership interest and any security interest (such as deeds of trust or mortgages) or any other encumbrances affecting the title of said parcels. Such individuals or corporations shall sign and approve the final survey prior to final approval;
(c) 
Any lands to be dedicated shall be confirmed as being owned in fee title by the owner(s) signing the dedication certificate;
(d) 
Any easements or restrictions affecting the properties to be adjusted with a description of purpose and referenced by the auditor's file number and/or recording number; and
(e) 
If lands are to be dedicated or conveyed to the county as part of the subdivision, an American Land Title Association (A.L.T.A.) policy may be required by the director of the department of public works.
(Ord. 8-06 § 1; Ord. 14-18 § 4 (Exh. B); Ord. 9-22 § 4 (Appx. C); Ord. 9-24 § 3 (App. A (Exh. 2)))
(1) 
Prior to approval, a proposed boundary line adjustment shall be reviewed by the Jefferson County assessor.
(2) 
Based on any comments solicited and received from the department of public works, the department of environmental health or other applicable departments and agencies, the administrator shall approve the proposed boundary line adjustment only upon finding that the adjustment would not:
(a) 
Create any additional lot, tract, parcel, or site within a binding site plan or division or relocate any lot, tract, parcel, or site within a binding site plan or division to another parent parcel;
(b) 
Result in the creation of a lot which is not a buildable lot, unless such lot is restricted by recorded instrument acknowledging the lot is for the purpose of conservation, open space, or other similar purpose;
(c) 
Result in a lot, tract, parcel, site within a binding site plan or division that results in insufficient area or dimension to meet water availability and the minimum requirements for area and dimension as set forth in Chapter 18.15 JCC and state and local health codes and regulations;
(d) 
Diminish or impair drainage, water supply, existing sewage disposal, and access or easement for vehicles or pedestrians, utilities, and fire protection for any lot, tract, parcel, site (i.e., within an approved binding site plan), or division;
(e) 
Diminish or impair any public or private utility easement or deprive any parcel of access or utilities;
(f) 
Diminish or impair the functions and values of critical areas designated under Chapter 18.22 JCC, or create an unsafe or hazardous environmental condition;
(g) 
Create unreasonably restrictive or hazardous access to the property;
(h) 
Create a nonconforming lot, tract, or parcel or increase the nonconforming aspects of an existing lot, tract or parcel relative to Chapter 18.15 JCC;
(i) 
Replat or vacate a short plat or long plat, or revise, amend, or violate any of the conditions of approval for any short or long subdivision; or
(j) 
Create a lot, tract, or parcel that crosses zoning district boundaries, with the exception of an adjustment across rural residential densities.
(3) 
Following approval by the administrator, a final record of survey document shall be prepared by a licensed land surveyor in accordance with Chapter 58.09 RCW and Chapter 332-130 WAC. The document shall contain a land surveyor's certificate and a recording certificate. The final page of the record of survey document shall contain the following signature blocks:
(a) 
The Jefferson County assessor's office, to be signed by the Jefferson County assessor or their designee; and
(b) 
The department of community development, to be signed by the administrator.
(4) 
Upon approval the following statement of intent shall be recorded by the auditor and referenced by auditor file number on the final survey:
THIS RECORDING IS FOR THE PURPOSE OF ASSISTING WITH A BOUNDARY LINE ADJUSTMENT PURSUANT TO RCW 58.17.040(6). IT DOES NOT CREATE ANY ADDITIONAL LOTS, TRACTS, PARCELS, OR A DIVISION AS THE LAND DESCRIBED HEREON SHALL MERGE OR BE INTEGRATED INTO ABUTTING PROPERTY PRESENTLY OWNED BY THE PROPONENTS. NOR DOES THE BOUNDARY LINE ADJUSTMENT RESULT IN ANY LOTS, TRACTS, PARCELS OR DIVISION WHICH CONTAIN INSUFFICIENT AREA AND DIMENSION TO MEET MINIMUM COUNTY AND SANITATION REQUIREMENTS FOR WIDTH AND AREA FOR A BUILDING SITE.
(5) 
Pursuant to RCW 84.56.345, current year and any delinquent taxes shall be paid before approval of any boundary line adjustment.
(6) 
Applications for boundary line adjustments shall be processed according to the procedures for Type I land use decisions established in Chapter 18.40 JCC.
(Ord. 8-06 § 1; Ord. 14-18 § 4 (Exh. B); Ord. 9-22 § 4 (Appx. C); Ord. 9-24 § 3 (App. A (Exh. 2)))