Regulatory & Development

Yakima County

The Environmental and Natural Resources Section assists property owners and applicants who wish to improve or develop their properties, analyzes natural resources for community planning, reviews development applications, and participates in efforts to promote environmental sustainability for county residents, businesses and visitors.

 Projects within a floodplain or near rivers and streams are required to get permits from Yakima County Planning Division. This review and permit may relate to Critical Areas regulations or the Shoreline Management Act, depending on the project.

For more information on Environmental Planning & Permitting requirements and explanations, follow the link below:

• County permits and a FEMA certificate are required for any project within the floodplain. See below:
  • Grading & Excavation Permit
  • Flood Hazard Application
  • FEMA Elevation Certificate
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• Yakima County Code: Review codes specific to your project, especially:
  • Chapter 12.10 - Stormwater and Drainage Authority
  • Title 16A - Critical Areas (Agricultural)
  • Title 16C - Critical Areas (Non-agricultural)
  • Title 16D - Shoreline Master Program

Other Agencies

There may also be permits and/or review requirements from other agencies:

• Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW)
  • Projects that disturb the streambed or stream banks must obtain a Hydraulic Project Approval (HPA) permit from the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. This permit is also known as a JARPA (Joint Aquatic Resource Permit Application).
• Washington Department of Ecology
  • Construction Stormwater General Permits - If your construction project disturbs 1 or more acres of land through clearing, grading, excavating, or stockpiling of fill material and there is any possibility that stormwater could run off your site during construction.
  • Point Source Pollution / Industrial Permits - A wastewater discharge permit is required for disposal of waste material into "waters of the state," which include rivers, lakes, streams, and all underground waters and aquifers. A wastewater discharge permit is also required for certain industrial users that discharge industrial waste into sanitary sewer systems. A wastewater permit may be required for facilities that have stormwater runoff to Water Resources Divisions.
• These agencies regulate actions that affect species listed under the Endangered Species Act:
  • U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Permits
  • National Marine Fisheries Service
  • The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) 

Related Links

• Washington State Department of Natural Resources, Geologic Maps
• U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resource Conservation Service, Soil Survey Reports
• Washington Department of Ecology, Washington Well log Viewer