Chapter 14.74
LAND DIVISIONS
Sections:
14.74.030 Types of land divisions.
14.74.040 Eligibility for division.
14.74.050 General requirements.
14.74.100 Preliminary approval—Application requirements.
14.74.110 Preliminary approval—Review criteria.
14.74.120 Preliminary approval—Revisions.
14.74.130 Preliminary approval—Duration of validity.
14.74.140 Construction plan approval.
14.74.200 Final approval—Application requirements.
14.74.210 Final approval—Review criteria.
14.74.220 Final approval—Recording.
14.74.010 Purpose.
The intent of this Chapter is to carry out the policies of the Comprehensive Plan, the Countywide Planning Policies, and the laws of the State of Washington relating to land division. (Ord. O20250005 § 2 (Exh. A))
14.74.020 Applicability.
(1) This Chapter applies to all divisions and redivisions of land for the purposes of sale, lease, or transfer.
(2) This Chapter applies to all types of land divisions, including CaRDs and binding site plans.
(3) Exceptions. Consistent with RCW 58.17.040, this Chapter does not apply to:
(a) Cemeteries and other burial plots while used for that purpose;
(b) Divisions made by testamentary provisions, or the laws of descent, except that use of the newly created parcels may be limited by SCC Chapter 14.70;
(c) Divisions of land into lots 80 acres and greater (for purposes of computing the size under this exemption of any lot that borders on a street or road, the lot size may be expanded to include that area which would be bounded by the centerline of the road or street and the side lot lines of the lot running perpendicular to such centerline);
(d) A division for the purpose of leasing land for facilities providing wireless facility services while used for that purpose;
(e) Any other exemption in RCW 58.17.040. (Ord. O20250005 § 2 (Exh. A))
14.74.030 Types of land divisions.
(1) All land divisions are accomplished via one of the following processes:
(a) A short subdivision (for division into four or fewer lots);
(b) A long subdivision (for division into five or more lots); or
(c) A binding site plan (for division into any number of commercial/industrial lots).
(2) Each short or long subdivision is one of the following:
(a) A standard land division;
(b) A one-acre segregation for agricultural land preservation per SCC 14.76.200;
(c) A one-acre-lot Urban Reserve Residential (URR) land division per SCC 14.76.300; or
(d) A unit lot subdivision, which may also be a portion of another land division, per SCC 14.76.400; or
(e) A conservation and reserve development (CaRD) land division per SCC Chapter 14.78.
(3) Each land division requires a two-stage approval process as described in this Chapter:
(a) Preliminary approval, whereby the layout of lots is approved;
(b) Final approval, whereby the installation of improvements and infrastructure is reviewed for consistency with preliminary approval, the land division is finalized, and lots are authorized for sale.
(4) Two or more contiguous lots in any common ownership may be divided through a short subdivision into a maximum of eight lots. Five years must pass before another contiguous short subdivision in common ownership interest may be approved. (Ord. O20250005 § 2 (Exh. A))
14.74.040 Eligibility for division.
(1) Only a legal lot (as determined per SCC Chapter 14.70), or a combination of two or more contiguous legal lots, may be divided.
(2) Only land within an official designated boundary of a Skagit County Fire Protection District may be divided, unless the division is to divide land for sale only and no development right is desired.
(a) In the Industrial Forest—NRL zone, a parcel must have been within the boundaries of a fire district as of July 26, 2005, to be considered for development additional to that which is allowed pursuant to SCC 14.10.080(2)(c). The one exception is for land divisions for residential purposes on certain saltwater islands, as further described and allowed under SCC 14.10.080(2)(d).
(b) Prior to approval of any residential land division outside of a Skagit County Fire District, there must be a water supply to each lot that meets the minimum flow and pressure requirements for operation of a fire sprinkler system installed per National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 13D or such other fire protection system as approved by the Skagit County Fire Marshal.
(3) If any portion of a proposed land division is located within a flood control zone as provided in RCW Chapter 86.16, written approval must be obtained from the State Department of Ecology per RCW 58.17.120.
(4) If the lot to be divided was created through a prior short subdivision, at least five years must have passed since the recording of such prior short subdivision. Additional short subdivisions on the remainder of such lands are not eligible for approval for five years unless the total divisions are less than four on a single legal lot or less than eight on two or more legal lots. In such instances, the total divisions may not total more than four or eight, respectively, during the five-year period. (Ord. O20250005 § 2 (Exh. A))
14.74.050 General requirements.
(1) Applicability.
(a) This Section applies to all types of land divisions.
(b) In addition to all other applicable provisions of Skagit County Code, a land division must comply with the provisions of this Section and any applicable standards in SCC Chapters 14.76 through 14.79.
(2) Minimum Lot Size. The land division must meet the size requirements in the underlying zone or the alternatives in SCC Chapters 14.76 through 14.79, as applicable.
(a) For the purpose of determining the gross acreage of a proposed land division, the acreage includes the area that would be bounded by the centerline of any existing public road or street, that is adjacent to the land division, and the side lot lines of the lot running perpendicular to such centerline.
(b) For the purposes of determining whether proposed lots within a proposed land division meet the minimum lot size of the zone, the proposed lot acreage includes:
(i) The area that would be bounded by the centerline of any existing public road or street that is adjacent to the lot and the side lot lines of the lot running perpendicular to such centerline; and
(ii) The area that would be bounded by the centerline of any proposed public or private road or street, which is adjacent to the lot and internal to the land division, and the side lot lines of the lot running perpendicular to such centerline.
(c) For a public safety facility in certain zones, the Director may reduce the minimum lot size required for a land division per SCC 14.10.100.
(3) Access. Each lot within a land division must have approved access to a street conforming to County road standards, unless an alternative standard has been approved by the County Engineer in a pre-application meeting and documentation of such approval is submitted with the development application. To ensure safe and adequate access, the County Engineer:
(a) May approve private streets if (i) the private street requirements contained in the County road standards as adopted in SCC Chapter 14.66 are met, and (ii) adequate provision is made for access to the private street by future land divisions;
(b) May limit direct access to certain streets and require on-site public or private streets in lieu of individual driveways, in accordance with the County road standards;
(c) Must be satisfied that the applicant has demonstrated sufficient access right, and appropriate pro rata contributions for the entire access route, where access to the land division is gained via a private road;
(d) Must require off-site improvements to public or private streets needed to provide access from the subdivision to a road acceptable to the County Engineer; and
(e) Must ensure that the number of lots to be served by the road system complies with the road standards.
(4) If access is proposed off of a State highway, a State access permit must be obtained by the applicant. The access permit must be approved prior to the start of construction of on-site improvements, or final plat, whichever is sooner.
(5) Safe Walking Conditions for School Children. In cases where a school is located within a quarter mile of a long subdivision, where it is likely the children will walk to school, information regarding pedestrian needs generated by the project will be required and reviewed. Where deemed necessary, safe walkways between the land division and the school may be required.
(6) Public Street Rights-of-Way. Dedication or deeding to the County of right-of-way or a portion thereof for public streets is required within or along the boundaries of all land divisions or of any lot(s) within them where facts support that such dedication is reasonably necessary as a result of the impact created by the proposed development and where one or more of the following circumstances are met:
(a) The County’s transportation plan indicates the necessity of a new or additional right-of-way or portion thereof for street purposes;
(b) The dedication is necessary to extend or to complete the existing or future neighborhood street pattern to provide a public transportation system that supports future development of abutting property consistent with the Skagit County Comprehensive Plan or Skagit County Zoning Code;
(c) Where necessary to provide additions of right-of-way to existing County right-of-way to meet County road standards.
(7) Minimum road frontage of each lot must be 70 feet except when located on a cul-de-sac, then 40 feet. Individual lots may be accessed by a 20-foot right-of-way. Panhandled lots may only be allowed if there is no other feasible access, as determined by the Director in a pre-application meeting and documentation is submitted with the development application. Newly constructed contiguous or adjoining easements for access purposes are not permitted.
(8) Parkland and Facilities. The developer must either provide parkland and facilities within the land division in accordance with the standards in the Skagit County Comprehensive Park and Recreation Plan or pay a fee in lieu of required land or facilities or both.
(9) Open Space Corridors. Open space easements must be provided by any land division when such divisions are located within any community or regional open space corridor identified by the Skagit County Park and Recreation Plan. The residents or lot owners of the development must be provided access to the open space easement. The area of the open space easement must be counted as part of the site for purposes of density and floor area calculations. Maintenance of the open space easement is the responsibility of the County.
(10) Evidence must be supplied from the applicable purveyor of the availability of water to serve the projects and adequate provision for sewage disposal. The method of sewage disposal must also be provided, including soil data, if individual sewage disposal is to be used, or if public sewer or community septic disposal is used, the name of the system. If individual wells are to be utilized, documentation approving the well sites must be provided, pursuant to SCC Chapter 12.48. A land division within a seawater intrusion area (as defined in SCC 14.24.380) may not propose to use a well where chloride levels are 200 ppm or greater.
(11) Concurrency of services, per SCC Chapter 14.62.
(12) A proposed land division that borders waters of the state may be required to provide public access to and along such waters pursuant to the County’s Shoreline Master Program.
(13) Stormwater. Permanent stormwater facilities must be designed to accommodate all land and planned development within a land division. The Director may require facilities to be designed for individual lots or groups of lots within the proposed land division.
(14) For a subdivision of more than 10 lots, a public transit stop must be provided in coordination with Skagit Transit if the project is located on a transit route. (Ord. O20250005 § 2 (Exh. A))
14.74.090 Violations.
(1) Pursuant to RCW 58.17.300, it is a gross misdemeanor to sell, offer for sale, lease, or transfer any lot, tract, or parcel of land in violation of RCW Chapter 58.17 or this Chapter.
(2) Each sale, offer for sale, lease, or transfer of each separate lot, tract, or parcel is a separate and distinct offense.
(3) This Chapter may also be enforced per SCC Chapter 14.09. (Ord. O20250005 § 2 (Exh. A))
14.74.100 Preliminary approval—Application requirements.
(1) In addition to the application requirements of SCC 14.06.230, an application for preliminary approval of a land division must include:
(a) A preliminary land division map, prepared by a registered engineer or a registered land surveyor, that includes the following:
(i) The name and address of all owners of record, the developer, and the registered land surveyor or registered engineer preparing the plat;
(ii) Legal description of the boundaries of the land;
(iii) A certificate by a registered land surveyor certifying that the boundaries of the land have been surveyed and monumented and that all distances and bearings on the preliminary plat are accurate;
(iv) Section map showing the boundary of the plat in relation to the section, with notation of Section, Township, and Range. This information may be done as an insert drawn to a convenient scale or included within the boundary of the parcel as approved by the Director;
(v) A vicinity sketch at a minimum scale of two inches equals one mile;
(vi) Number and dimensions of all proposed lots and tracts, which must be sequentially numbered or lettered;
(vii) The square footage and acreage of each individual lot;
(viii) Total acreage of the portion to be platted, adjacent tracts when under the same ownership, and of individual phases;
(ix) The date, scale (written and graphic), and a north arrow;
(x) The scale must be provided suitable to the size of the project;
(xi) Existing structures including building envelopes and building setback lines;
(xii) The layout of existing and conceptual horizontal layout of proposed roads and utilities, including existing and proposed easements;
(xiii) The location of municipal boundaries, township lines, and section lines;
(xiv) The location, width and names of existing and proposed roads;
(xv) Additional right-of-way required for substandard roads. Proposed roads must be differentiated as such;
(xvi) Names of all roads serving four or more existing or proposed lots;
(xvii) Building front, rear and side setback lines with distance from the property line indicated. This may be shown by a typical insert;
(xviii) All horizontal control survey work must be Class “3.” Angular error of closure must not exceed 20 feet √N. The total linear error of closure must not exceed 1/5,000;
(xix) Maximum error in feet must not exceed +/- 0.26 feet;
(xx) A survey of the portion of the section in which the plat is located showing the original or established corners, a description and the original traverse of the same showing error of closure and method of balancing must also be submitted. This is to be accompanied by a subdivision insert showing all calculations necessary to determine the corners and distances of the plat;
(xxi) Floodway and floodplain lines;
(xxii) Notation of flood hazard zone and map panel reference number;
(xxiii) Protected critical area buffers pursuant to SCC Chapter 14.24, Critical Areas Ordinance;
(xxiv) If the land division is to be served by a well or wells, the area reserved for the well and the protection of same must be shown on the plat;
(xxv) The location of any wellhead protection areas within the subject property from any adjacent off-site wells;
(b) A title report issued within 90 days of application, showing all persons having an ownership interest, a legal description describing exterior boundary of application site and listing all encumbrances affecting said site;
(c) A completed environmental checklist, if required by SCC Chapter 16.12, State Environmental Policy Act, and WAC Chapter 197-11;
(d) Proposed articles of incorporation, bylaws, and covenants, conditions and restrictions (CC&Rs), if any;
(e) If critical areas are present on the site or within 200 feet, a critical areas assessment pursuant to SCC Chapter 14.24;
(f) The method of sewage disposal, including soil data, if individual sewage disposal is used, or if public sewer or community septic disposal is to be used, the name of the system, and letter of approval;
(g) Compliance with all provisions outlined in SCC 12.48.240(1) (water requirements for land division) and any applicable State and Federal regulations regarding water use;
(h) All restrictions proposed to be imposed on the use of the land;
(i) A stormwater site plan per SCC Chapter 14.32;
(j) Documentation of the date and method of original segregation for the subject property verifying that the lot or lots were not created in violation of the short subdivision or subdivision laws in effect at the time of creation;
(k) A list of any other permit applications having been filed for the same site;
(l) Any required fees;
(m) Any additional information determined to be necessary to demonstrate compliance with other portions of the Skagit County Code;
(n) If any portion of a proposed land division is located within a flood control zone as provided in RCW Chapter 86.16, written approval from the State Department of Ecology per RCW 58.17.120; and
(o) If access is proposed off of a State highway, evidence of the application for a state access permit.
(2) Additional Requirements for a Long Subdivision. In addition to the requirements of Subsection (1) of this Section, an application for a long subdivision must include:
(a) Ground contours with intervals of five feet or less;
(b) Location, number, and description of types of any existing and proposed community recreational facilities on site;
(c) A conceptual grading plan showing proposed clearing and vegetation retention pursuant to SCC Chapter 14.24 and proposed topography detailed to five-foot contours.
(3) The Director may waive specific application requirements determined to be unnecessary for review of the application.
(4) Phased Development.
(a) An application that proposes to develop a site in phases must also include a phasing plan.
(b) The phasing plan must describe any site improvements designed to relate to, benefit, or be used by the entire development (such as stormwater detention pond or tennis courts in a residential development); and must relate completion of such improvements to completion of one or more phases or stages of the entire development.
(c) Once a phasing plan has been approved, the information contained therein must be shown on, or the phasing plan must be attached to and made a part of, the land division.
(d) Approval of a phasing plan does not constitute approval of the land division. (Ord. O20250005 § 2 (Exh. A))
14.74.110 Preliminary approval—Review criteria.
(1) An application for preliminary approval of a land division is subject to the type of review specified in SCC 14.06.150.
(2) An application for preliminary approval of a land division must be evaluated for conformity with:
(a) The requirements of this Chapter, especially SCC 14.74.050, General requirements;
(b) The dimensional and other requirements of the applicable zone(s), or SCC Chapter 14.76, Standards for Special Land Divisions, or 14.78 Standards for CaRD Land Divisions, as applicable;
(c) SCC Chapter 12.05, On-Site Sewage Code—Rules and Regulations;
(d) SCC 12.48.240, Water requirements for land divisions;
(e) SCC Chapter 14.24, Critical Areas;
(f) SCC Chapter 14.32, Stormwater Management; and
(g) SCC Chapter 14.62, Concurrency.
(3) Based on the criteria in this Section, the proposed land division may be granted preliminary approval or approval with conditions, or may be denied. (Ord. O20250005 § 2 (Exh. A))
14.74.120 Preliminary approval—Revisions.
An application to revise a land division that has received preliminary approval, but not final approval, must comply with the following:
(1) A revision that results in any substantial changes as determined by the Director, must be treated as a new application for purposes of vesting and must be reviewed under the same process required for a preliminary approval. For the purpose of this Section, substantial change includes:
(a) The creation of additional lots;
(b) Changes in access points that are inconsistent with the Road Standards; or
(c) Changes in the proposal that lead to built or natural environmental impacts that were not addressed in the original approval.
(2) When revising an approved preliminary land division to a CaRD, only half of the original application fees may be charged.
(3) Approval of the following modifications by the Department are not substantial revisions:
(a) Engineering design, unless the proposed design alters or eliminates features specifically required as a condition of preliminary land division approval;
(b) Changes in lot dimensions that are consistent with SCC Title 14 Division 1, Zoning and Land Uses, or the applicable provisions in SCC Chapter 14.76 or 14.78;
(c) A decrease in the number of lots to be created. (Ord. O20250005 § 2 (Exh. A))
14.74.130 Preliminary approval—Duration of validity.
(1) A preliminary land division must receive final approval for lots to be created and eligible for sale.
(2) A preliminary land division must obtain final approval within the following time periods:
(a) Preliminary short subdivision approval is valid for 36 months.
(b) Preliminary long subdivision approval is valid for the time period listed in RCW 58.17.140, as amended.
(3) If any condition is not satisfied and the final land division is not recorded within the approval period, the preliminary plat approval is null and void.
(4) If the final plat is being developed in phases, the initial phase must be recorded within the approval period, or the land division is null and void. Additional phases may continue to have validity, based on a phasing schedule established by the preliminary approval.
(5) Any applicant who has received preliminary short or long subdivision approval who submits a request for extension in writing to the Director at least 30 days before the preliminary approval expiration date may be granted a one-year extension of the preliminary approval by the Director or designee upon a showing that the applicant has attempted in good faith to submit the final land division within the preliminary approval period set forth in Subsections (2)(a) and (2)(b) of this Section. Only two such extensions may be allowed.
(6) Any applicant who has received preliminary short or long subdivision approval on or before April 1, 2014, who submits a request for extension in writing to the Director at least 30 days before the preliminary approval expiration date may be granted a one-year extension of the preliminary approval by the Director or designee upon a showing that the applicant has attempted in good faith to submit the final land division within the preliminary approval period set forth in Subsections (2)(a) and (2)(b) of this Section. Only 10 total extensions may be allowed pursuant to this Subsection and Subsection (5) of this Section.
(7) Approval of any extension may contain additional or altered conditions and requirements, including a requirement that stormwater designs be updated to reflect stormwater requirements in effect at the time of the application for an extension. (Ord. O20260004 § 1 (Att. 2); Ord. O20250005 § 2 (Exh. A))
14.74.140 Construction plan approval.
(1) Engineering plans for roads and other proposed or conditioned public improvements must be prepared and submitted by the applicant and reviewed and approved by the County Engineer prior to the commencement of on-site clearing or construction activities and approval of the final subdivision.
(2) Construction plans may be submitted for review during the pendency of the preliminary plat application, but may need to be revised after preliminary plat approval to conform to the conditions of approval. (Ord. O20250005 § 2 (Exh. A))
14.74.200 Final approval—Application requirements.
(1) Purpose. The purpose of this Section is to specify provisions that must be satisfied prior to the final approval and recording of final land division maps, for those preliminarily approved long and short subdivisions. Issuance of building permits or sale or lease of lots within a land division is not permitted until the final land division is recorded with one exception. In recognition of the original building right, one building permit on the original parcel may be pursued during the subdivision process, so long as it conforms to the preliminary subdivision.
In addition to the general application requirements of SCC 14.06.230, an application for final approval of a subdivision must include:
(a) A final subdivision map drawn consistent with the specifications for a preliminary subdivision map in SCC 14.74.100 and showing:
(i) A scale not less than 100 feet to the inch, unless otherwise determined by the Director, on maps 18 inches by 24 inches, with a two-inch border on the left edge, and one-half-inch border on all other sides;
(ii) All existing monuments of record, courses and distance necessary to re-stake any portion of said plat from said map. All other surrounding property must be labeled in dotted lines whether platted or otherwise;
(iii) Bearings of all lots, tracts, and centerlines of public and private roads within the project boundary;
(iv) Individual lot accesses, distance of accesses to property lines, and road names;
(v) A certificate giving a full and correct description of the lands divided as they appear on the plat, including a statement that the subdivision has been made with the free consent and in accordance with the desires of the owner or owners;
(vi) Official seals of attesting officers and of the registered land surveyor who platted said property must be platted on the final tracing;
(vii) The final plat must show acknowledgments, dedications, Treasurer’s certificate, approvals by the Chairman of the Board of County Commissioners, the Hearing Examiner, the County Engineer or Director of Public Works, the Director of Planning and Development Services, and the County Health Officer or their designees, and the certificate of the registered land surveyor who platted said property. Any conditions of approval will be noted on the face of the plat, or reference must be made to any recorded documents containing conditions of approval or any pertinent covenants and restrictions. The subdivision must contain all certifications required by the County based on the most current standard plat notes, plat water notes as required by SCC 12.48.240(3), and any other notes or certifications that the Director determines are necessary to satisfy the conditions of plat approval;
(viii) All proposed lots less than five acres in size will require the well-protection zone(s) and approved on-site sewage system area(s) to be shown on all preliminary and final plat maps. If the well-protection zone exercises the right to provide this sanitary control of the land through other legal provisions, such as recorded covenants or easements, these must be depicted on or recorded references must be shown on the plat;
(ix) When a private road is included in the land division the following note must be included on the final plat:
In no case may the County accept a dedication or any obligation as to any such road, street, and/or alley until the same and all roads, streets, and/or alleys connecting the same to the full, current County road system have been brought to full, current County Road Standards and a right-of-way deed has been transferred to and accepted by the County;
(x) The final plat must contain a note that states:
(A) The total amount of impervious surface that the common stormwater facility is designed to accommodate; and
(B) For each lot, the amount of impervious surface that the common stormwater facility is designed to accommodate;
(b) A certification from the Skagit County Treasurer’s Office that property taxes for the subject property are not delinquent;
(c) A deposit to cover anticipated taxes and assessments, for the current year is required for final short subdivisions, and for the current year and next year for final long subdivisions;
(d) All required fees, including required bonding, and fees in lieu;
(e) An electronic copy of protective deed covenants, if applicable. (Ord. O20250005 § 2 (Exh. A))
14.74.210 Final approval—Review criteria.
(1) An application for final approval of a land division is subject to the type of review specified in SCC 14.06.150.
(2) An application for final approval of a land division may be approved only if:
(a) The application demonstrates conformity with all the conditions in the preliminary approval.
(b) Each plat set or document must be stamped, signed, and dated by a professional surveyor.
(c) The improvements required by the preliminary approval have been constructed, except that improvements may be bonded as allowed by:
(i) SCC Chapter 14.66 for public works standards;
(ii) SCC Chapter 12.05 for on-site sewage; and
(iii) SCC Chapter 12.48 for drinking water.
(d) If public sewer or community septic disposal is to be used, the system must be constructed and stub-outs provided to each lot or appropriately bonded pursuant to SCC 12.48.190 and SCC Chapter 12.05.
(e) The design and construction of drainage facilities must comply with SCC Chapter 14.32, Stormwater Management, and any easement for inspection or maintenance required by that Chapter must be provided to Skagit County.
(f) One-inch diameter iron pipes or one-half-inch rebar with identifying plastic cap must have been set at all lot corners (pipe length determined by soil conditions); cased monuments must be set in asphalt roads. Temporary staking may be substituted prior to and during construction. Final staking must be completed after utilities have been installed and roads constructed to subgrade standards.
(g) Roads leading to or within a plat or subdivision, whether dedicated public roads or private roads, are constructed in compliance with Skagit County road standards unless otherwise approved by the County Engineer.
(3) In no case may the County accept a dedication or any obligation as to any such road, street, or alley until the same and all roads, streets, and alleys connecting the same to the County road system have been brought to full, current County road standards and a right-of-way deed has been transferred to and accepted by the County.
(4) Where a driveway easement provides access to a lot not accessible directly from a road built to Skagit County road standards, the driveway must be built to driveway standards contained in the International Fire Code Section 503 as amended by Skagit County prior to final plat approval. Driveway easements must be a minimum of 20 feet wide and must have additional width as required to contain any cuts, fills and slopes required to build a driveway.
(5) All final plats submitted for approval must be accompanied by the written recommendation for approval or denial by the County Health Department or other agency furnishing sewage disposal and supplying water as to the adequacy of the proposed means of sewage disposal and water supply, including approval of the engineering details for such facilities. Prior to approval by the Skagit County Health Officer, engineering design and construction documents that comply with WAC Chapters 246-290 and 246-291, as-built documents approved by the purveyor or its designee, and a letter of acceptance by the purveyor must all be acknowledged in writing, and placed on file by the Planning Department. Requests for final approval must comply with SCC 12.48.240(2) and SCC Chapter 12.05, On-Site Sewage Code—Rules and Regulations.
(6) All final subdivisions submitted for approval must be accompanied by the written recommendation for approval or denial from the County Engineer. (Ord. O20260004 § 1 (Att. 2); Ord. O20250005 § 2 (Exh. A))
14.74.220 Final approval—Recording.
(1) All final plats must be recorded in the County Auditor’s Office.
(2) Final plats may not be recorded until:
(a) Approved by the decisionmaker on the application; and
(b) All required fees have been paid by the applicant.
(3) The Department is responsible for recording of the final plat within 30 days of approval.
(4) After the plat tracing has been filed for record with the County Auditor, it becomes the property of Skagit County.
(5) Lot certification for newly created lots must be issued and recorded for all lots upon recording of the plat map, either separately or as a note on the short plat or plat map. (Ord. O20250005 § 2 (Exh. A))
14.74.300 Alterations.
(1) Alterations after a final subdivision has been approved and recorded must:
(a) Be processed in accordance with RCW 58.17.215 through 58.17.218; and
(b) Comply with regulations in effect at the time the application for an alteration is submitted.
(2) Application Requirements.
(a) An application for an alteration and recording documents must contain the signatures of the majority of those persons having an ownership interest in lots, tracts, parcels or divisions in the subject subdivision to be altered or any portion to be altered.
(b) If the final subdivision is subject to restrictive covenants that were filed at the time of the approval of the final subdivision, and the application for alteration would result in the violation of a covenant, the application must contain an agreement based on the terms and conditions of the covenants providing that the parties agree to terminate or alter the relevant covenants to accomplish the purpose of the alteration of the subdivision or portion thereof.
(c) Any features contained in the original land division that has been relied upon in subsequent land development or County planning decisions must be incorporated into the alteration.
(3) Review.
(a) An application for an alteration of an approved final short or long subdivision is subject to the type of review specified in SCC 14.06.150.
(b) The application may be approved if the proposed alteration is consistent with the requirements of the applicable land division code.
(c) After approval of an alteration, the applicant must produce a revised drawing of the approved alteration of the final subdivision, to be processed in the same manner as set forth in this Chapter for final approvals of a land division. (Ord. O20250005 § 2 (Exh. A))
14.74.400 Vacations.
(1) An application for a vacation of a subdivision is subject to the type of review specified in SCC 14.06.150 and must follow the requirements of RCW 58.17.212.
(2) An application for vacation of a County road may be processed pursuant to this Chapter only when such a vacation is proposed in conjunction with the vacation of the plat. An application for a vacation limited to one or more County roads must be processed in accordance with RCW Chapter 36.87 and SCC Chapter 11.08. (Ord. O20250005 § 2 (Exh. A))