4545 Rural Ave, Bellingham, WA 98226

Agricultural District

The primary purposes of this district are to implement the agricultural designation of the Comprehensive Plan, established pursuant to RCW 36.70A.170, preserve, enhance and support the production of food and fiber in Whatcom County, to maintain a sufficiently large agricultural land base to ensure a viable agriculture industry and to maintain the economic feasibility of supporting services. Whatcom County supports agricultural activities as the highest priority use in the Agriculture District, with all other uses being subordinate to agricultural activities. Whatcom County seeks to minimize conflict with surrounding zoning districts, in conjunction with Chapter 14.02 WCC, Right to Farm. In order to limit the further fragmentation of the commercial agricultural land base, the Agriculture District includes smaller areas of land with poorer quality soils or nonagricultural uses, which do not meet the definition of agriculture lands of long-term commercial significance.; A secondary purpose of this district is to serve as a holding district when located within the urban growth area Comprehensive Plan designation to allow agricultural uses in the near term while protecting the area from suburban sprawl and preserving the potential for future urban development consistent with the protection of the resource land.