Off-Grid Living in Skamania County, Washington

Skamania County, Washington sits deep in the Columbia River Gorge, and like most rural Washington counties, it runs its own zoning and building program layered on top of state code. I've dug through the county's Community Development pages (which combine Planning, Building, and Environmental Health under one roof) to piece together what off-grid living actually looks like here. As always: I'm summarizing public research, not giving legal advice, so verify specifics with the county before you buy land or break ground.

Zoning. Skamania County has adopted a countywide zoning code (Title 21) with zones like RES-20, Rural, and Conservancy. RES-20, for instance, requires a minimum 10-acre lot and is meant for low-density, less-developable land. Simply living on raw land without an approved dwelling isn't a recognized use in the code, so your occupancy rights are tied to getting a dwelling or temporary-use permit approved.

Dwellings, tiny homes, and RVs. The county defines a single-family residence as a structure with a kitchen and sanitary facilities, explicitly excluding RVs and "park model" units. You can't live in an RV for more than 14 consecutive days or 120 days a year without a temporary dwelling permit, and that permit is only available in two narrow situations, per SCC 21.70.120: you're actively building a permanent home for yourself, or you're giving/receiving live-in caregiving on the parcel. The county's own planning staff have noted that Washington doesn't regulate tiny homes much at the state level, so this is very much a local-rule situation.

Building permits. Washington State code (RCW 19.27) sets the baseline (IBC, IRC, plumbing, mechanical, fire codes), and Skamania County enforces it locally. Most structures need a permit; small exemptions exist (per SCC 15.08.030(A)) for things like small accessory buildings under 200 sq ft with no plumbing, short fences, and low decks. But exemption from a building permit doesn't mean exemption from zoning setbacks or critical-area buffers, so check both.

Septic and greywater. Skamania's Environmental Health Division administers on-site sewage under the state's WAC 246-272a rules. Repairs versus expansions are treated differently under that WAC. The county has flagged a septic inspection requirement tied to property transfers, reportedly effective in 2027, though I couldn't confirm full details, so ask Environmental Health directly. Greywater reuse has no distinct county ordinance I could find, it appears to default to the state's WAC 246-274, so confirm with the county before setting up a system.

Rainwater harvesting. No county-specific rule turned up in my research. Washington State's general Department of Ecology stance allows rainwater catchment for non-potable use without a water right, and that seems to be the default here too.

Wells and water rights. Any building permit or land division requires proof of adequate water supply, called a Water Adequacy Verification. Groundwater wells generally need a water right unless you fall under small-use exemptions in RCW 90.44.050. The county was delegated authority by the Department of Ecology to handle well sealing, decommissioning, and tagging locally. There's also a local option for a "2-party shared well" for very small systems, though full code details weren't published in what I reviewed.

Utility disconnection. There's no ordinance banning off-grid living outright, but a legal dwelling still needs an approved septic system and verified water source before a building permit issues. Solar or independent power itself isn't restricted in anything I found.