A resource for shoreline property owners
How far from the shoreline do I need to build my home?
A vegetated shoreline buffer is important to protect the health of the marine environment.
County Requirements:
paraphrased from 18.50.330.D
- Setbacks are measured from the top of the bank. The distance is determined by the amount
of vegetated screening that exists along the shore:
- 50 ft. for a well screened shoreline that has trees and native ground cover.
- 100 ft. for a shoreline with fewer trees.
When placing a home consider:
- Type of Shoreline:
- Rocky
- Low beach
- Steep bank or bluff
- Coastal wetland or estuary
- Erosion: How well is the bank vegetated? Do the waves reach the toe of
the bank regularly? What other erosion factors exist?
- Are the trees and shrubs stabilizing the property? Do they also serve to screen
buildngs from boaters and/or neighbors and protect your privacy?
This home maintains native vegetation and beach structure
while allowing for views and shoreline access.
- If the bank or bluff is eroding is a greater setback of structures practical? Will the placement
of the buildings be safe 10 or 20 years from now?
- The unique characteristics of your property
- Professionals who
can make site visits and provide technical assistance include:
- Certified arborists
- Coastal geologists
- Archeologists
- Landscape architects
- Storm water engineers
How can I get information about my parcel?
- The County offers Residential Pre-Application site visits to help property owners determine their setback and discuss other development
requirements. These site visits are available for a fee to prospective property owners, new property owners or existing home owners.
Contact Fay Chaffee at ph.378-2354 email: fayc@sanjuanco.com
- San Juan Islands Conservation District provides free
Natural
Resource Inventory site visits. The Natural Resource Inventory identifies soil
types, slope, existing vegetation, site planning issues, shoreline type and
other ecological features.
- San Juan County's parcel search
provides basic information and aerial views of your property.
- The Washington Department of Ecology's Coastal Atlas offers aerial views of
coastline properties and GIS information about vegetation and habitat, slope stability and a variety of other physical and ecological features.